Bell Towers

on a bench far from the bell towers, the air silent save for 

the raucous calling of crows 

to interrupt this peaceful Sunday morn; crunching leaves, dry cracked earth, 

squirrels scampered, a backyard barbecue grilled juicy hamburgers. 

a woman played with her child on bright blue and red swings. I imagined 

the tolling of the bells - 

their music drifting into the sky, 

settling over the city in peace and calm.

“For bells are the voice of the church; 

They have tones that touch and search 

the hearts of young and old.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

A Soul Companion

Perched atop my soul

a single black crow

pokes and digs.

“Anger at oneself is a destructive thing.”

~ Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars Quotes

A Winter Peace

I look up to the bare winter branches to see peace in the gray-white winter sky. Rain 

hesitates to fall yet lets go spare drops to dot blue-gray pavement and gray sidewalks.

I look up to the bare winter branches to see peace in the gray winter sky. Cold air hovers quietly. Only a breath away from wind while rose-colouring my cheeks.

I look up to the bare winter branches

to see peace in the gray winter sky.

Even crows sit silently on fence posts 

and high wires in sleek black tuxedos.

I look up to the bare winter branches

To see peace in the gray winter sky.

Soft mounds of faded leaves spread 

and build against broad, gnarled tree roots.

“I pray this winter be gentle and kind ~ 

 a season of rest from the wheel of the mind.”

~ John Geddes,  A Familiar Rain

Hidden In Plain Sight ~ 2

I have never been curious about what kind of bird makes such a raucous, insistent cry - crows really do give themselves away when they screech and scream at anyone for reasons that only they would know. But they do hide well in the trees. This time, with most of the leaves gone, this crow’s hiding spot was fairly easily found. I mean, really - black against orange and blue?

“There is a bird who by his coat, 

and by the hoarseness of his note, 

might be supposed a crow.”

~ William Cowper

A Gentle Morning

Morning quiet settles like a lovely light shawl
Keeping me warm and gentled, the crying and cawing of distant crows 

counterpoint to silence and peace
while morning movement unfolds spontaneously
carefully sensing purpose and desires
until the shawl is set aside in exchange for the world outside.

“Quiet is a blessed gift. In this frantic world how we must cherish 

every moment of it, and carve it our for ourselves every chance we get.

~ Anne Ortlund

As the Crow Flies

Humour sat in a corner waiting for some fun,

when along came brother Charles, always ready with a pun!

So humour got up to thank him, when along came sister Sue. She’d been told her wit was dry. It just made a sneeze ~ ‘AACHOO’.

Humour just shook his head at them, went to the window to stare 

at a big black crow flapping about in the wild and windy air.

So if this little rhyme has caused a tiny bit of a grin

I’m ever so glad, for this rhyme is a little, tiny bit thin!

“You take stuff from different places, and sometimes you stick 

a line in because it rhymes, not because it makes sense.”

~ Van Morrison

Taking a Stand

Take a stand.

Find your line of truth;

like a gymnast on a balance beam,

walk carefully

until time to dismount

and declare your beliefs.

Land squarely on both feet;

bow and smile with grace and confidence

Take a stand.

Cross the line.

Courage and wisdom

will fly in when it is time

to do what must be done

to say what must be said

with kindness and respect.

“The place where you made your stand never mattered. 

Only that you were there….and still on your feet.”

 ~ Stephen King