Tuesday, September 30, 2008

October Approaches...


October approaches. Crispness
creeping into air,
leaves rustling with color
pressing rusty hand prints into
sidewalks.

Time for socks and sweaters,
pipes and patched scarves.
Time to bring together
warming lover's hands
on long walks under fading
evening skies.

October smells
of freshly sharpened pencils,
sticks of cinnamon,
distant campfires and
pine needles fallen.

Children grow tall
in October,
their minds and legs
stretching out
before my eyes.
I blink and they are changed.

Anticipation spills over.
Unexpected beauty of a new morning
thrills me with pleasant
surprise.

I should never want to know
a world without
Octobers.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

the quiet things are good for you...


I'm learning lately that I need more quiet things in my life. I'm beginning to realize that it is healthy to spend a more significant amount of time winding down. Someone recently commented how surprising it is that I should enjoy spending an evening alone with a book and glass of wine. In the midst of so little sleep this summer, I think I appreciate the rare hours of peace much more than I ever have.

But, I haven't only found moments of peace in being by myself. I've found it in genuine friendships, long conversations, and community dinners. There is something so wonderful about being able to rest in another person's presence; whether sitting on the porch early in the morning with my roommate, sharing piping hot cups of tea and long conversations at night with a friend or taking a walk through town without feeling like I have to talk. I find solace in things like a simple, heartfelt hug and listening. Listening is something I'm learning to do better. These days, I'm finding new life in listening to other people.

Last night I slept without any external help. Granted, it took me several hours to fall asleep, but I slept nonetheless. I napped today on my own as well, which was incredibly rejuvenating. Tonight I turned on Over the Rhine's Drunkard's Prayer on the porch and took a few minutes to soar high on my tree swing as the sun was setting. I like feeling the thick wind brush against my face. I like rocking in my teak rocking chair under a blue gray sky, the dark fuzzy shadow of of the dogwoods forming a great canopy of peace and quiet around me. The soft, steady chorus of crickets is soothing, with the occasional cicada singing out a bright solo.

I'm hoping to sleep again on my own tonight, perhaps a few hours longer.

Its good to finally be able to say that I feel at home somewhere. I've not felt truly at home in a very long time. I'm getting there. Slowly but surely, I'm getting there.

Photo by ilkin.

Friday, September 05, 2008

sometimes...

...life hands me things that make me smile in spite of myself. :-D