PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

How blessed are we to have nature as our teacher

although her biggest obstacle

 which leads to her biggest concern

is how even the greatest teacher cannot teach

those who are unwilling to learn.

I was out in Deborah’s garden the other day when what should catch my eye

flitting from flower to flower but a monarch butterfly.

A walk through Deborah’s flower garden is brimming with surprises…

Like when that monarch was joined by other butterflies of all colors, shapes and sizes.

Nature is always trying to teach us…for she is experienced, enlightened and wise…. 

and her most basic lessons are being taught to us…by her butterflies.

Like how nothing is ever permanent…no matter in what stage we’d like to stay

We…and everything around us…all change a little every day.

Like how knowing all life is fragile…once our delicate wings have finally unfurled

we should treat everything with gentleness as we add our beauty to the world.

Like how all butterflies share the flowers…no butterfly is rich…no butterfly is poor…

Like how you never see a butterfly carrying a weapon…or marching off to war.

The average butterfly lives only two weeks…they have only two weeks to try and reach us

which means they cram a lot of material in the lessons they try to teach us.

Nature knows we are not fast learners however…so she has found a way

to keep a kaleidoscope of butterfly teachers constantly coming our way.

I hope one day we will have learned their lessons…

that we too will be experienced enlightened and wise….

It’s a dream that I’ll keep dreaming…

as long as there are butterflies.

I stopped to admire the stars this morning long before my walk was through.

When the moon has set and the sky is clear it’s something I often do.

As I stood there gazing up…there…in the blink of an eye

I saw a shooting star streak across the sky.

I often look for shooting stars and, I imagine, you’ll agree…

It’s ironic on a night I wasn’t looking how a shooting star found me!

Seeing a shooting star is magical as it flashes then disappears without a trace.

So I took a moment to remember all I could about that time and place. 

I was standing next to a magnolia tree…

it’s one bloom in the morning breeze swayed.

And I wondered if that bloom refused to close last night 

or was getting a head start on the day?

I heard a night owl hoot…her song crisp and clear and clean.

And I wondered since she’s up at night…

how many shooting stars she’s seen?

I didn’t ask the owl about it…or the magnolia tree.

Sometimes with the magic of nature…it’s best to let it be.

No, I was content for the three of us to sit back and admire

one of life’s evanescent moments that flash briefly…then expire.

A reminder of how each moment when it arrives is significant in its own way

Beautiful and vital for but a moment before it quickly fades away.

It was a moment like no moment ever was…or ever again will be…

and I felt blessed to share that moment with an owl and a magnolia tree.

Even at 71 years old I still think of nature as my mentor…her lessons are everywhere…

For instance…on my walk this morning…I felt a sadness in the air.

It was a very windy morning so it’s difficult to proclaim…

on the wings of which wind it blew in…from whence this sadness came.

I’m not sure whose sadness I was feeling…whose grief, whose agony…whose woe 

since it flew in on a gust of wind…I imagine I’ll never know.

But if my morning walks have taught me anything…

when I think sadness and darkness and grief will never go away…

the moon and stars…like friends…help illuminate my way.

As does the evening primrose, the jasmine shining bright…

the moonflowers and the water lilies…that only bloom at night.

All reminders that even in our darkest moments…seeds of hope and love are sown

that even when engulfed in sadness…we are not alone.

I sent these thoughts out on the wind…along with my good wishes and my prayers

hoping the wind returns them to the source of the sadness…

to let them know a person cares.

I can’t be sure about this…but I imagine nature would agree…

Perhaps that’s why this sadness found it’s way to me.

So I could let this person know…that he or she is blessed…

By sending these thought upon on the wind…and letting nature do the rest.

And when they land upon the person..for a moment they might ease their woe…

as the winds of nature bring them comfort…from a person they’ll never know.