the expression of respect and gratitude as an act of worship
I walk upon this Earth in praise of autumn’s approach:
Evening arrives earlier each day
and chilly Dawn breaks in clouds of muted color
Alder dons a shawl of yellow gold
while Tomato brightens to orange then scarlet
Air smells moist and dust settles down
Rain hovers ready to quench Soil’s long summer thirst
Chrysanthemums bear buds with a hint of maroon in their centers
even as Last Lily surprisingly opens in a final ode to summer
Squirrels high in Maple’s reddening canopy bite off stems full of pods
and Newt, far below them, does push-ups among the fallen cache
Coyote, so brazen and young, howls incessantly outside my bedroom window
just as Barred Owl joins his two A.M. serenade
Breeze comes to “sing” the bamboo chimes
and Junco chit-buzzes an alarm call to her nearby kin
Oregon Grape turns burgundy
Slug brings out her extended family for a slide through wet Grass
Weaver, too, arrives with her cousins to decorate the world in webby designs
I walk through trees, along pathways, among friends, along the shore,
in fog or rain or summer-faded sun,
feet on pebbles or humus or pine needles or delightfully crunchy leaves,
and I pray for Them, sing to Them, bless Them, caress Them (Amphibian and Hemlock), draw and paint Them, dream about Them, cry for Them, thank Them
all in loving praise, celebration, grateful recognition, admiration, adoration, and profound reverence
