seasons

Barely knowing

Spring and summer come with a lush layer of foliage over reality, but when things start falling away in the autumn and get bare and stark in the winter we’re forced to look at things more as they really are, including ourselves.

—Terri Guillemets

Enclosed

Our bodies were meant
for the sun, the rain,
the gusty winds,
starlight and moon baths,
fresh air and seasons —
so why do we trap ourselves
      in indoor cages?

If we can’t hear the
birds chirp, feel the breezes:
how are we to be refreshed,
to heal, to know the world
beyond the borders
      of our bodies?

—Terri Guillemets

Oh amazing desert, let’s rejoice together!

entire continents of grey-white clouds
hovering serenely in an enormous spring-blue sky
a soaring raven caws out of its element
why are you this far south, beautiful bird?
then all is quiet but for a distant plane
heading to who-knows-where—
what a gorgeous afternoon!
way too beautiful for negative thoughts—
listening to subtle sounds of nature’s energies
oooh, sudden chilly-breeze goosebumps
coolness swirling through sunlit seventy degrees
a day of awe and eerily silent excitement—
winter and spring overlapping at the seams

—Terri Guillemets

Waking welcome

Sun coaxes life
from the earth
with its warmth —

Grow, thrive, breathe
green things of the land
wake from your
winter’s nap and
joyously reach
for the spring —

Colors burst
into vibrant being —
fresh fireworks
on verdant stems of life

—Terri Guillemets