A Poem

Driving home from retreat in Marin County up Hwy 101, I was struck, again, by the stunning beauty of the redwoods and the huge maples in full autumn splendor of reds and golds. Breathtaking. 

This week I am settling back into my life and will write more next week. For now, here's a poem I hope you'll enjoy.

You Reading This, Be Ready

Starting here, what do you want to remember?

How sunlight creeps along a shining floor?

What scent of old wood hovers, what softened

Sound from outside fills the air?

Will you ever bring a better gift for the world

Than the breathing respect that you carry

Wherever you go right now? Are you waiting

For time to show you some better thoughts?

Then you turn around, starting here, lift this

New glimpse that you found; carry into evening

All that you want from this day. This interval you spent

Reading or hearing this, keep it for life-

What can anyone give you greater than now,

Starting here, right in this room, when you turn around?

-William Stafford, from The Way it Is