nature7blog

(Chayton)

babies seem to be able to see the mystery beneath the labels we have assigned to things. a baby’s capacity to encounter ordinary existence before familiarity has made it so, is an extraordinary thing to observe.

to see the wonder in their eyes as they gaze at the sky–turn over a simple stone or stare into the shimmering tree tops. 

the fascination in their eyes as they follow the tiny, umbrella-like pappus drifting through the air, or the way they watch a silky strand spun by a spider floating from a branch. 

how alert they become to the sound of the wind rustling through leaves, or the unseen birds tweeting in the background among the trees.

Or the sudden reach for a crawling bug without hesitation. 

and how closely they seem to reflect the very nature of the thing they behold.

by K. Osei

i turned around and you were there—
staring. you wore green like me,
though much brighter, 
with turquoise trousers

in a blur you were gone—
four lucid wings
trailing a dragon’s tail

swift and measured,
your flight accelerated,
halted, and reversed
without a hitch—
skimming the edge of the pond

O darner, your veined wings
are maps of an ancient sky

what is it about mid-September that i love to 
remember?

the feel of crisp air and warm sun against my skin– 
to close my eyes and inhale September in a single breath

listening to the song of leaves gently strummed by a steady breeze 
and the falling colors against the sky.

the calm glow of the canopy as the sun settles.

the soft stillness in the afternoon wind
a quiet fulfillment flooding my senses.
and a moment among trees, i wish would never end

and what of the creatures that fly or crawl upon the  ground
the raptors, swallows and blackbirds beginning their southern flight 

the fading fields of green speckled with dying leaves,
or the dark humus beneath, where new life breeds

the sweeping sound of “hush” all around–

and what of this moment i have finally found

by K. Osei

how sweet it is to sleep.  

to bathe in darkness through the night  
and rise refreshed when dusk uncovers light. 

to feel the stretch of tendons  
and ligaments–  

a mind clear of debris—  
empty space full with possibility.  

to motion through a field of silence  
observing the beginning of each sound,  
while holding the mind steady—  
allowing a thought to drift by.

an overcast sky, 
the lingering scent from the morning rain–
the clapping leaves from a gentle breeze
and to withdraw a single breath from the ether.

by K. Osei