And Still They Come

In dark silhouette,

a flock of birds

darts,

swift and low,

across a sky cloaked in clouds of gray

in shades that drift

and slowly shift,

now light,

now dark.

Wind, heavy with weather, quickens.

Air thickens.

Branches wag their fingers at the sky.

And still they come,

scores of birds,

arrows speeding,

reading the signs of the clouds,

believing the whine of the wind.

They look so sure of where they’re going.

Some inborn knowing of nature

sends them racing past the trees,

against the breeze.

Are they seeking shelter?

Outrunning the rain?

Or simply celebrating

wings and wind

and the miracle of uplift

on a fresh tide of air

as rain begins to fall.

– kh –

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2023 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Delight in This Day

Spring danced her way into winter today,

slow twirl of skirts,

whispered breath,

face to the sun.

The birds joined her,

singing spring,

announcing her presence,

encircling her scent.

Delight in this day, they sing.

Now is the time,

for when Winter finds

that Spring has stepped into his timeline,

he will blow and blast and send her away,

insistent on taking back his season.

But for this day, this moment,

dear Spring,

you are here,

and I will dance with you.

– kh –

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2023 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

Sunrise and Song

 

“The sun is rising. All the green trees are full of birds, and their song comes up out of the wet bowers of the orchard. Crows swear pleasantly in the distance, and in the depths of my soul sits God.” – Thomas Merton

 

Nature of the week – Gardeners made out of Lego by Sean Kenney for Cheekwood Botanical Gardens’ new art show:

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2021 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

If You Want to See Birds

 

“If you want to see birds, you must have birds in your heart.”

John Burroughs

 

I think, too, that if we want to see peace, we must have peace in our hearts. If we want to see kindness, we must have kindness in our hearts. If we want to find calm, we must carry it within.

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week – A bluebird visited this week, which is a rare event. I barely got a picture of him before he flew away. Yesterday, he and his mate returned carrying grassy twigs and made themselves at home!

Shadow of the Week:

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Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

The Wings of Spring

 

“Birds in the green of my garden,

Blackbirds and throstle and wren,

Wet your dear wings in the tears that are Spring’s

And so to your singing again!”

E. Nesbit, “May Song” –

 

Nesbit’s poem reminds me of a quote from Victor Hugo: “Be like a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing that she has wings.”

Nurture peace. Cultivate kindness. Carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week – a vase of peonies that a neighbor left for me on my porch:

If you want me to send these thoughts to your email each Sunday, simply sign up on the right.

Text and photos © 2020 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

White as Wings of Prayer

“The mists above the morning rills

Rise white as wings of prayer.”

– John Greenleaf Whittier –

 

Need a bit of solace for your soul? Gently soar on the soft music and prayerlike, birdlike wings of this kinetic sculpture, Diffusion Choir. It’s short, and it’s amazing.

Nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week – fragrant ginger, still blooming here in November!

ginger

Shadow of the Week:

shdwflrspikes

For my posts on coming of age in a community of faith, link here.

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

Cares Will Drop Away

 

 

If No Birds Sang

“The woods would be very silent

if no birds sang there

except those that sang best.”

– Henry van Dyke –

 

You don’t have to be the best. Be at home within yourself, and sing as only you can.

Nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

SmWhtFlwrs

Shadow of the Week:

P'tonFncShdw

 

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.

 

Why a Bird Sings

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer.

It sings because it has a song.”

– Chinese proverb –

 

Poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke said, “Live the questions.”

No answers are necessary for your soul to sing.

Nourish peace, cultivate loving kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Ckwd7.16.1

Shadow of the Week:

ShdwInPool

 

Text and photos © 2016 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.