Cycle

When the first buds sprout in spring, begging the day for sun and the night for rain, I speak to each and encourage its efforts. Often by the creek, in solitude, I watch the dragonflies and tadpoles welcoming their new life forms and celebrating the warmer weather. green springs verdant life soft breeze carries dragonfly~ tadpole wriggles home Even in the summer the birds recognize that the abundance of food and foliage will not last and that they must take what they can to prepare for the harsher weather to come. I watch as the colors of the garden become muted and the flowers lose their petals to the brilliant yet brutal sun. song trilled in morning summer blossoms color fades~ dying flowers cry As autumn gives way to cooler temperatures, the most robust flowers lose their resilience and begin to feel the cooler days and seemingly notice it is time to loosen their seed for next year’s life. If only they knew I care. sunflowers droop head tomorrow succumb to end~ time to die alone Just as in summer, the birds choose shelter and food that will enable successful survival through the harsh winter. The trees and shrubs from which they watch the winter pass harbor nutritious berries and insects; the feeders in my garden filled with supplemental sustenance. The bear prepared months ago and slumbers unafraid, awaiting the coming spring. song hummed at midnight snowflake alights like firefly~ polar bear awaits