I live by a lake
that knows how to wait,
it does not worry.
The rains always come, more or less,
And for longer than I can imagine
the lake is ever renewed.
Its surface rises, then falls,
there is always more than enough
to reflect the sunrise colors.
Its shoreline shrinks, then swells,
no matter, the mallards hatch their eggs
and the tules grow tall and thick.
Its bed receives the dust of spent things
Yet it slowly, mysteriously sinks
And the lake abides through the ages.
~~~
I live by a lake
that with grace-like welcome
receives all drawn to it.
It encourages the wind
to dance on its surface
breezes and gales raise ripples and whitecaps.
It embraces the sun
which nurture green aquatic life
and then warms the chilly nights.
It provides an intimate home
for the ancient hitch and mighty bass,
for thrashing carp and fishy silversides.
It beckons hungry birds,
gulping pelicans, nibbling mudhuns,
to fill their bellies and feed their young.
It gives habitat ofr wild animals,
the swimming otters, turtles, and snakes,
the thirsty deer, foxes, and cougars.
~~~
I live by a lake,
and now the lake lives in me,
ever teaching me its ways.
How to sit still at times
to reflect the beauty of the world
and the cosmos beyond.
How to wait for the ancient cycles,
the rhythms of nature,
to renew and recreate.
How to trust the universe
in times of need or plenty,
in storm or calm of life.
How to be gracious and welcoming,
giving what I can to whom I can,
when I can, however I can.
How to be nurtured as I nurture,
to embrace as I am embraced,
to live and let live.
I live on a lake,
it is the world to me,
a gift from the heart of God.
-- Eucalyptus, 2016
that knows how to wait,
it does not worry.
The rains always come, more or less,
And for longer than I can imagine
the lake is ever renewed.
Its surface rises, then falls,
there is always more than enough
to reflect the sunrise colors.
Its shoreline shrinks, then swells,
no matter, the mallards hatch their eggs
and the tules grow tall and thick.
Its bed receives the dust of spent things
Yet it slowly, mysteriously sinks
And the lake abides through the ages.
~~~
I live by a lake
that with grace-like welcome
receives all drawn to it.
It encourages the wind
to dance on its surface
breezes and gales raise ripples and whitecaps.
It embraces the sun
which nurture green aquatic life
and then warms the chilly nights.
It provides an intimate home
for the ancient hitch and mighty bass,
for thrashing carp and fishy silversides.
It beckons hungry birds,
gulping pelicans, nibbling mudhuns,
to fill their bellies and feed their young.
It gives habitat ofr wild animals,
the swimming otters, turtles, and snakes,
the thirsty deer, foxes, and cougars.
~~~
I live by a lake,
and now the lake lives in me,
ever teaching me its ways.
How to sit still at times
to reflect the beauty of the world
and the cosmos beyond.
How to wait for the ancient cycles,
the rhythms of nature,
to renew and recreate.
How to trust the universe
in times of need or plenty,
in storm or calm of life.
How to be gracious and welcoming,
giving what I can to whom I can,
when I can, however I can.
How to be nurtured as I nurture,
to embrace as I am embraced,
to live and let live.
I live on a lake,
it is the world to me,
a gift from the heart of God.
-- Eucalyptus, 2016