When I feel well
and my family, friends,
cat and plants
are well,
then, the rain beating on the roof
day after day
is a welcome,
tap of presence,
wealth,
and care.
When I am down,
I fee fi fo fum,
in a stew of beans,
and fallen stalks.
Softly this morning,
the heater purrs,
accompaniment for my cat.
The day outside is wet,
shooting down, then, up,
exploding in leaves in the plants.
Moisture inside,
honors the routes,
carries
what keeps us alive.
I look through
the past, those daily steps
walked all over,
creating
a brand new map.
I hoist the kitten into the air,
the kitten, now a cat,
climbing,
stalking, catching,
combing the house for rats,
until, slow steps,
expand.
Time wraps,
nose to tail.
The transitioning cocoon,
lays down
new bounds
of birth,
as the caterpillar
learns
to leave
the earth.
acceptance
presiding
as the breath
of our elders
leads the way -
prayer
as the breath
lets go,
and returns to earth -
the body, like placenta,
drops,
inhalation opens
a birth.