dreams

Deep-Night Prowling

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It’s midnight
when a sound wakes me,
a thud from downstairs.
I listen, alert for a second,
then settle back into my pillow.
I know that sound.
The cat has jumped down from a chair.
Or maybe a counter.
Thud.
Always a perfect landing.
She is a deep-in-the-night prowler.
She snuggles next to me in bed,
our breathing soft and gentle,
but I wake some time later
to realize she’s missing.
She has slipped away to prowl again.
But she’ll be back.
I listen for another bump,
another thud.
All is quiet.
I pull the covers to my chin.
It seems such a little-girl thing to do,
this tucking in,
but my night prowling happens
only when I slip into my dreams.
I breathe easy, trusting that
I’ll be back,
most likely to find
a dozing cat at my side.
-kh-

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:


Shadow of the week:

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Text and photos © Karyn Henley 2025. All rights reserved.

Wishing I Could Fly

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A V of geese, calling out,

crossed the cloud-rippled sky,

and I, below, watched them go,

wishing I could fly.

I’d go west too but visit

every garden on the way

to where the sunset colors glow

and twilight cools the day.

But this is now and that is dream.

I’ve been west, and I know

that here is where life hums to me;

it’s where my gardens grow.

The hug-warm sun sets here as well

and paints the twilight sky.

Still, I look up and fill with dreams

when flocks of geese fly by.

– kh –

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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

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

Nature. Art. God.

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“The course of Nature is the art of God.”

– Edward Young –

 

Linger,

heart open,

intent on the smallest bit

of nature’s art—

a pebble,

a butterfly,

a bud,

raindrops;

let wonder widen,

dreams deepen,

hopes stretch and soar

up and out and into

the eternal mystery

that many call

God.

–KH

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

 

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

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

Broken Dreams, Beautiful World

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“Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive God to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.” – Max Ehrmann, “Desiderata”

 

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week – shadows and reflections in a double paned window:

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

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

Simple Things

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“[G]ive us a heart for simple things:

love, laughter, bread, wine and dreams;

fill us with green growing hope!”

– Barry Rose –

Nurture peace, cultivate loving-kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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

For my posts on life, faith, and the mystery we call God, link here.

Long, Easy Strides

 

Text and photos © 2017 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.