One time a friend and I rescued a hawk that was stuck in a fence. After that, it seemed hawks dipped to thank us as though there was something different about us and the hawks recognized it. Yesterday that friend and I took a walk to Tennessee Valley Beach. The weather was iffy as in huge, deep dark clouds, and one squall had already come through but we went anyway. As we reached the beach, the clouds were white and the sky blue. We came upon a Great Blue Heron along the path. We stood and watched and finally needed to pass, so we walked carefully along expecting the huge bird to fly away, but he walked with us, and we could see the wonderful color in his feathers. We walked up to the bench and he came with us, and stood there with us. It was a magical day.
In addition, it was a Zach day. Because of the cold and rain, we were inside, reading books under a tent blanket. I am blessed with many tastes, textures and colors of this beautiful earth we share. The daffodils are up everywhere, their faces smiling from ruffled bonnets. We begin to enter another beautiful spring, each one a treasure with uncountable jewels.
A Blessing
James Wright
Just off the Highway to Rochester, Minnesota
Twilight bounds softly forth on the grass.
And the eyes of those two Indian ponies
Darken with kindness.
They have come gladly out of the willows
To welcome my friend and me.
We step over the barbed wire into the pasture
Where they have been grazing all day, alone.
They ripple tensely, they can hardly contain their happiness
That we have come.
They bow shyly as wet swans. They love each other.
There is no loneliness like theirs.
At home once more,
They begin munching the young tufts of spring in the darkness.
I would like to hold the slenderer one in my arms,
For she has walked over to me
And nuzzled my left hand.
She is black and white,
Her mane falls wild on her forehead,
And the light breeze moves me to caress her long ear
That is delicate as the skin over a girl's wrist.
Suddenly I realize
That if I stepped out of my body I would break
Into blossom.
--From Above the River
©Farrar, Straus, Giroux, and The University Press of New England