She breathes life into the ground, air, and sky.
And with great vibrancy, nature's display bursts into life.
Rejuvenation at it's finest.

She meticulously orchestrates her symphony,
creating the finest of melodic overtures with the purest of sounds.
You can hear the harmony through the birds' sweet voices, a babbling brook,
and the gentle whistling of the winds.
The trees and grasses break into a waltz,
bending gracefully to the melody produced.

She continues her aristry by pulling out her paintbrush,
carefully selecting her lively color palette.
With the gentlest of strokes, she creates a masterpiece.
The billowing clouds against the rich "Carolina" blue skies
make a perfect backdrop for the colorful changes taking place on the earth.
The color hue brightens as the grass transforms into a lush velvety green rug.
The budding trees and flowers add just the right amount of vibrancy
​for completion of the priceless piece.

And with the wave of her hand,
she summons the warm rays of the sunshine and the gentle Spring showers
to provide all the nutrients for the display to shine.

As she sits back to admire the exhibition, she smiles.
Her love and care is abundant in all that is created.
She is an artist in the truest of forms.
​

The final dance of the season.
A billowing breeze darts playfully through the crowd.
It reaches her.
She shutters as the last leaf falls to the ground.
Humility transcends as she bows her head.

A broken limb, a gnarled branch, a crooked trunk.
Exposing all her imPERFECTIONS.
It is only now when naked and bare,
that her true beauty begins to shine.

​Just as the last note plays,
she gazes into the forest's masses.
Her eyes rest upon the ground.
Covered as far as the eye can see.
Layers upon layers are shed.
What beautiful souls.
All is not lost.

​​She sits quietly envisioning the design.
Gazing at the pieces laid before her,
the arrangement begins.​
Their purpose takes shape.
All colors, shapes, and sizes.
Each plays an intricate role.
And with every stitch of her golden thread,
she lovingly infuses all.
A chill creeps across the valley.
The time has come.
As she drapes her patchwork across the land,
the earth is transformed with vibrant hues rich in color.
A sight to behold.
Its warmth and splendor spreads to all.

Old Man Winter wakes from his nap.
Peeking over the ledge,
he catches a glance at the world below.
"I wasn't asleep for that long," he says
shaking his head in disbelief.
Bustling chaos fills the streets.
He calls for Mother Nature to come take a look.
"This just won't do!" she says.
Their heavy hearts meet.

With eyes locked, their smiles shine.
The dance is ignited.
Winds roar and clouds thicken.
A collision of mighty strength and grace.
And so it begins.
Falling ever so gently.

Layer upon layer blanketing the earth.
Tranquility's gentle magic is cast.
Muting all the earth's sounds.
A city frozen present in time.
Stillness comes to the busy minds.

​Peace is upon them.
The message is clear.
"Be still and listen.
Moments of reflection are upon you."

The earth is thirsty.
For it chokes with every breath it takes.
It gasps for air and begs for relief.
There's no escaping its clutches.
Hope dwindles.

As the perils of their cry echo throughout the land,
Mother Universe hears them.
Grief stricken, she bows her head,
covering her face in disbelief.
The path of scarring and destruction is vast.

She mourns all living things that are not spared from death's grip.
Grief overcomes her for the pain endured.
A sea of tears stream down her face.
They spill to the earth, covering the land.
The relief is welcomed and honored.
Hope returns.

​She fills the hearts of all, as she spreads her promise,
"The beauty of life will return.
Stronger, brighter and better than ever.
Here's to beginnings.
For the music will return to these sacred grounds once again."

The cold damp mound of earth sits listless,
waiting for life to emerge.
It calls for me.

​Reaching down, I gently lay my hands upon it.
Inspiration begins to flow through me.
A soft voice speaks of its form and purpose.

I begin to shape and mold.
Intricate details surface.
The design enfolds with every pinch of clay.
I continue until the transformation is complete.
A perfect figure ascends.

I embrace the hollow figure and begin to pray.
The breath of life fills the emptiness inside.
Slowly it awakens and is filled with a kind, warm spirit.
A new life is born.
Unique with a purpose all its own.

Standing back at a distance,
I marvel with delight at all its wonder.
For I am pleased with the divine creation.
Full of such beauty and grace.
​
As it begins its descent,
a blessing is heard in the distance,
"Go out into the world with the message of hope.
Radiate your love and shine your light upon the ill, fallen, and lost.
For we are one and I am with you always."

Just as the night sky falls upon me,
there's a gentle tap at the door.
Do I dare answer that?
I'm paralyzed.

​For a brief moment it stops.
Only to begin again with great force and urgency.
My chest tightens and my hand trembles,
as I fumble for the key.
With great hesitancy, I pull back.
I'm met with resistance and a gentle nudge.
I give in.

The door slowly opens.
My eyes begin to focus from their blurred state.
I gaze into the distance.
Such a sight to behold.
The twinkling stars begin to frolic and
dance in the night sky.
A ring of light is cast from the moon.
It radiates the hillside,
illuminating me in a blanket of light.
I am at peace.
Protected.

Surrounded by the vastness of our Universe,
I soon realize there was no one at the door.
But a voice, offering guidance to my life's purpose.
​
For I've not unlocked an ordinary door.
This door leads to a world rich in beautiful synchronicities
and amazing life lessons to be learned.

As I begin to walk back, I pause as I look one last time
into the night sky.
Thank you.
I'm grateful for the key.
​

There is a path that leads to a mystical land.
A land where I am connected with all.
Shortly upon entering,
the trail narrows and the underbrush thickens.
Muffled sounds of the little town off in the distance fade quickly.
I drift off forgetting about the world I leave behind.
Ready to explore.​

It's a neighborhood to many.
Their safe haven and playground.
Protected and sheltered from man.
Untouched.
Left to live in peace.
​
Hovering high above the land are the birds of night,
casting their spell on all who seek refuge here.
As the magic unfolds, the clattering begins.
All are happy, as the news spreads quickly of my arrival.

The pixies suddenly appear,
jumping on their makeshift rafts
for a fun filled ride down the rapids.
Their antics begin, as they taunt and tease,
pushing each other off into the cold waters.
Lucky for me. No tricks.
They are preoccupied with their own shenanigans.

The forest darkens.
Night is upon me.
My time is cut short with my friends.
An exchange of goodbyes are in order,
as I'm guided back to where it all began.
​
As they fade into the shadows, an invitation is announced.
"Please join us again!"
And I will do just that.
Counting the minutes until my next fun filled adventure.

Gazing at the objects around me,
I shutter at the thought of ever parting.
Each piece treated reverently,
delicately nestled in its resting place.

​The vault opens.
Life's memories are stirred.
The walls fade into the distance,
as my life is played out on screen.

Scenes flash quickly.
Moments of love, laughter, and tears shed.
People and places that have touched my life in a special way.
A blanket of warmth envelops my body.

As it continues,
untapped emotions begin to surface.
I struggle with the feeling of letting my guard down.
A sense of helplessness and weakness drowns me.
Protection and shut down mode churn inside.

A new kind of strength is summoned.
The release of control.
I surrender to the moment.
The flood gate opens fully.
Freely the energy flows,
exposing the magic of the moment's rawness.

As the box is sealed,
I struggle to find just the right words for the label.
There are none.
The marker is laid to rest.
The box is left blank and added with the others.

Just before the curtain closes,
the last scene flashes on the screen.
To be continued...

​As the thoughts of my sequel take over,
I can't help but smile thinking of the journey ahead.

The rooms and walls are empty now.
They echo with the sounds of the unknown.
​But just on the other side of that echo,
Lies something very powerful.
A heart opening wide and a growing soul.
Both very thirsty and starving to be fed.
A New Life, A New World.
"Welcome" the Universe whispers.
​
If you enjoyed this piece, take a look at The Directions, The Big Picture, The Tempest's Display, The Sanctuary, The Key and The Greatest Gift of All.

At it again!
Showing off its great power
wanting to be seen and heard.

​Setting the stage, the sky darkens
as the clouds are called upon to roll in.
They fill the sky and bring
a brief stillness to the air.

Suddenly the winds arrive.
Whipping and cutting through the air,
the pack's howling begins.

The stage is set for the grand fireworks display
to begin across the sky.
The energy created has a
raw, edgy brute strength and force behind it.

Streaks of jagged symmetry make their way
from the heavens to the earth.
Topped off with light filling the sky
as if it were daylight.
Casting an eerie glow on all.

There is an element of surprise and suspense
in the timing of it all.
Mesmerized and in a trance like state,
you stare blankly at the sky.
Wanting to be caught off guard,
you brace for the the next strike to hit.
​
The sky crackles and pops.
Deep rumbles vibrate and shake all of the earth.
Ripples of rolling thunder continue
echoing through the sky.

And without further ado another is introduced.
Sheets of rain pelt the earth
adding its own flair to the show.
You take in a deep breath as your lungs fill with
the scent of the fresh clean air that resonates.

And just as quickly as it makes its debut,
it ends making a peaceful exit.
The traveling show's sights and sounds
fade into the distance
making its way to the next town.

​And as you close the window,
you pause for a quick moment.
"No more fear! Bring it on!"

Where the river of tranquility flows ever so gently
along its surrounding lush banks.
A place where all your worries are cast aside
and carried away through the rippling tide.

You are at peace here.
Out of sight, out of mind from the world.

If you look carefully off into the distance,
you will catch a glimpse of your
innermost thoughts and desires.
Locked away and buried deep within.

You sigh. It's different here.
Every inch of the grounds calls out to you
as they want to be explored.

You are free to get lost and play.
In a world where time stands still.

I​t is here that your soul rests.

As you close the gate's door,
you pause and smile.
Until next time...

​For more inspiration, be sure to read Through a Child's Eyes.

As the moon returns home, she whispers to the sun,
"Time to rise and shine. The world awaits you."

​While the sun stirs, he peeks his head out from underneath
the blanket of the night's sky.
He stretches and yawns, slowly making his way up to the grand stage.
​
He looks back to catch a glimpse of his love and smiles.
She winks back. "Show time!"
In an instant, he is ready to embrace the world again.

And with his arms spread wide open,
he gently kisses the horizon,
releasing his beautiful display of strength and splendor for all to enjoy.

As he makes his way higher into the sky, he calls out to all who listen,
"Hello big beautiful world! It's a brand new day. So make it a good one!"