wren

The Gathering Season

Posted by

Carolina wren with up-tipped tail
is gathering seeds, her daily energy.
Squirrels with hurry-up focus
scramble through the yard
gathering and stashing Nature’s bounty—
berries from bushes,
nuts dangling precariously from tree limbs,
and tasty autumn delicacies
hidden under piles of crisp brown leaves.
At the farmer’s market down the street,
neighbors browse bins of squashes,
pumpkins, apples, pecans,
for this is the season of gathering.
It’s our instinct—
like that of wrens and squirrels,
chipmunks and bears—
to gather when the sun circles south,
days shorten,
and frosts begin.
It’s our nature to huddle with family and friends,
to bring what we’ve gathered
into our spaces of welcome and warmth,
of light and love.
May we give ourselves to
gathering the gifts of this season—
the rest found in darkness,
the warmth found in firelight,
the sparkle of joy in the eyes of a child.
Delight at the first bite of dinner.
Bask in the glow of grace and giving.
Gather smiles and laughter.
For this is the season of
gathering goodness.
-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 © Karyn Henley 2025. All rights reserved.

Morning’s Gift

Posted by

 

The rising sun traces

outstretched elm branches,

kisses budding tips of topmost twigs

with a warm, bright white glow

like lit candles

honoring this new day.

Wrens and cardinals chip and chirp,

overjoyed with the spreading warmth of sunrise,

with the fresh gold-green fringe of hackberry,

butter yellow buds of forsythia,

delicate white dogwood,

show-off pink azaleas

and whispers of a gentle breeze.

I step outdoors to sit in the sun,

to breathe Spring,

to be witness to silent, stretching leaves,

to birdsong and bloom.

But they need no witness.

It is I who need this,

I who need to witness

their existence,

their persistence,

their extravagance.

It is I who need this hope

of a new day.

– kh –

 

Nurture peace, cultivate kindness, and carry the calm.

 

Nature of the week—lily of the valley:

 

Shadow of the Week—A windy downpour left a puddle on a plastic tablecloth and tossed leaves onto it. When the sun came out, the floating leaves cast this shadow:

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

Text and photos © 2022 Karyn Henley. All rights reserved.