Trading my Why

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

Why does the sun shine?
Why does the moon glow?
Why do stars twinkle?
Why does the bluebird need
a nesting hole just the right size,
no smaller, no larger?
I grew up as a why girl asking—
mostly in silence—
a shy why, why, why?
In all my grown-up years,
raising children of my own,
my why grew boldly curious.
We set about searching for answers.
But these days, I find I’m changing.
Oh, I know there are reasons,
answers to a thousand why’s,
and the reasons can be fascinating,
but in the end,
I don’t need the shy why
or the bold why.
I need only an open heart
welcoming wonder,
admitting awe,
diving deeply into childlike delight,
receiving the simple gifts of
starshine,
moonglow,
sunrise,
sunset,
bluebird building a nest in the bird box,
robin splashing in a puddle,
cat napping,
trees and breeze and budding blooms,
and the cheery tunes of the mockingbird.
Why?
That’s for my younger friends to ask—
and I say, ask away.
Shy or bold, ask.
As for me,
I’m trading my Why for Wonder.
-kh-

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the week:

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I Looked for the Moon

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

I looked for the moon tonight,
wanting to find this faithful friend
who’s currently a waxing crescent.
I wanted to admire her curve,
contemplate the stars beyond,
feel the wonder of time
stretched
into eternity.
I wanted to sit with her serenity awhile.
But the night sky is crowded with clouds
reflecting city-shine,
making the darkness nightlight-soft,
vanishing the vastness of deep space
and disappearing the moon.
Still, the moon is in her place
up in the cold silence
and still, I am in my place
down in the warm hope of home.
The moon is so ancient
she will not remember me.
But I remember her.
I close my eyes, see all her moods,
her shifts and shapes
from plump and playful
to a bright bowl pouring out stars
to a slim curving thread of possibility.
I see all her colors,
her brilliant bride-white joy,
her reddened omen eye,
her haloed softness,
her rising orange-gold bravado.
Sometimes she’s a sky-sailing galleon,
sometimes a pale canoe
caught in the branches of a tree.
I looked for the moon tonight
and found her in my heart.
-kh-

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

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Text and photos © Karyn Henley 2026. All rights reserved.

The Moon was Half

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

The moon was half tonight,
a white porcelain bowl perched
on a thin shelf of hackberry branches
brushing the night sky.
I wanted to reach out,
to cup it in my palms like
a bowl of soup
or an extra large cocoa.
I wanted to drink from it
a magical sweet moonlight.
Surely it would be smooth,
deliciously moon flavored,
a taste that only those who’ve sipped
the milk of the moon would know.
It would satisfy and warm with wonder,
make the eyes sparkle,
make the smile serene.
A child would notice and ask,
“Why are you so happy?”
and I would answer, “Ah,
it’s because the moon
was half tonight,
and I am full to overflowing.”
–kh–

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

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Full of the Secret

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

Plump and round, brightly white,

the full moon smiled down

through my window.

I smiled back,

for I am also full—

full of peace veiled in soft moonglow,

full, too, of the secret we share,

the moon and I.

Maybe you share the secret too,

the secret of flipping the view.

Imagine the wonder of witnessing,

through a space-traveler’s eyes,

the turn-about’s-fair-play way

of gazing not at the moon

but at Earth,

of seeing not moonglow

but earthshine.

That is the secret:

the earth glows

just as the moon does.

Moonbeams drift down to Earth,

earthbeams drift up to the moon.

Full moon smiles down,

full Earth smiles up.

And the best part of the secret?

Maybe you didn’t know that you glow,

but you do, Earthling,

you do.

-kh-

If you want to read more about earthshine, here’s a link.

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

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Magical Moon

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

The moon is magical,

always shifting,

always gifting a glow

not of her making.

She cools the sun’s burning blaze,

lets it sift

and drift peacefully

into our night.

But sometimes—

sweet celestial surprise—

she sails into our day.

Look! A child points.

Adults nod. Yes,

an afternoon moon, and—

did you know?—

at the peak of her power, she can

dim that bold sun,

block its light,

darken the day,

cool the earth,

hush birdsong,

shape rare shadows,

and gather the world’s watchers

who gasp and whisper

as the trickster makes the sun

disappear,

reminding us all that in the heavens,

she too can take center stage.

But a few hours are enough;

she is soon satisfied

and settles into her old habits,

tide-bringer,

love-teaser,

shape-changer

emptying herself,

filling up again, only to

pour herself out once more.

She is generous,

this elegant,

smiling,

powerful,

magical

moon.

– kh –

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

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Something About the Night

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

There is something soft and friendly

about the night,

a slowing,

settling,

deep drift

that creeps silently over the world

as the light folds her brightly colored fan

and fades.

Evening shadows gently wash over

grasses and gardens,

chipmunks and squirrels,

bugs and birds.

Darkness rises to the rooftops,

shoulders over the treetops

until all rests under a dome of darkness

where stars sail and the moon smiles

and the night breeze dances.

When I was young,

I was taught about heaven.

“There is no night there,” we sang,

which saddened me for years.

No night?

No beautiful, calming, restful night?

No chirp of crickets?

No whirr of night bugs?

No lovely call of a lone owl?

I am not convinced about heaven,

but I know the night.

I love the night.

There is something soft and friendly

about the night.

-kh-

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

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The Sky in a Dewdrop

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

“The whole moon and the entire sky

are reflected in dewdrops on the grass,

or even in one drop of water.”

– Dogen Kigen, 1200-53 –

And if I were to peer into your upward-looking eyes, I would see the whole moon, the entire sky, and the beauty of creation that is you.

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week – cat, contemplating:

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For my longer posts on the wonder of life, link here.

The Wind, the Moon, and You and Me

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

I have two poems for you today, the first a nursery rhyme:

The moon’s the North Wind’s cooky.

He bites it, day by day,

Until there’s but a rim of scraps

That crumble all away.

The South Wind is a baker.

He kneads clouds in his den.

And bakes a crisp new moon that – greedy

North – Wind – eats – again!

– Vachel Lindsay –

“[L]ike the moon,

you will sometimes be a crescent

and sometimes full.”

– Rumi –

Whether you’re at the crescent stage or the full moon stage or somewhere in between, may you reflect the beauty of this season back into the world.

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

Nature of the week:

Shadow of the Week:

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