Silenced by the Sea in the Wind

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

On a windy day,

if I close my eyes and open my ears,

I live beside the sea,

though this sea is only waves of wind

surging and ebbing,

a rolling surf of air

swishing through pine needles,

washing over elm leaves,

splashing the fronds of bamboo.

It’s the nature of Nature

to echo herself,

the sea in the wind and the wind in the sea.

Or a bird that chirps like a yipping dog

(or perhaps it’s the dog who yips like the bird).

A leaf that echoes the shape of wings,

wings that echo the shape of feathers,

feathers that echo the shape of feelers

on a fancy, flamboyant moth.

Leaves that echo the scent of lemon

or pepper

or cat pee.

But it’s the sea in the sound of the wind

that silences me,

sparks my dreams,

carries me to distant shores,

to time outside of time.

I suspect that this present moment

is itself an echo

of eternity.

– 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.

The Song of All-is-Done

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

A steady swish and swash

whispers from the dishwasher.

The tide of soap and water

swiftly ebbs and flows

with white noise,

the song of all-is-done,

all-is-well,

no more urgency of

clattering silverware,

clinking dishes,

stirring peppers and potatoes,

cracking eggs,

buttering,

salting,

tasting,

serving,

clearing.

All is done for the day.

I sit by lamplight,

cat in my lap,

book open to the next chapter

to read,

to rest,

to doze to the song of the sea

in a box

and imagine that I’m at the ocean,

waves shushing me,

wind feathering my hair,

my toes in the sand,

leaving footprints as I stroll

along the shore.

This evening,

listening to the swashing song

of day-is-done,

I stroll the shore of my thoughts.

Perhaps even here,

I will leave footprints.

– 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.

The Color of Life

Posted by karynhenleyauthor

The poem claimed that life was the color of

“almost pale white robin’s green…”*

I shook my head,

for I know that the color of life

is blue—

blue like the sky,

blue like the sea,

blue for peace that is meant to be,

blue for cool breath,

blue for color-shifting twilight.

its blue-green glow deepening

to velvet blue

as night falls.

I feel the color of life as blue—

the blue-violet of deep thought,

the sharp-edged gray blue of grief,

the airy, floating blue of hope.

Yes. The color of life is blue—

thirst quenching,

soul resting,

heart holding,

dream painting,

wild-and-tame,

up-and-down,

surge-and-rest,

swimming,

swirling,

settling,

soothing

blue.

I see you shaking your head.

What color is life

to you?

– kh –

* from “Eggshell” by Gerald Stern

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.

Carry the Calm

Karyn Henley

sea

Silenced by the Sea in the Wind

The Song of All-is-Done

The Color of Life