I walked out lost
into the silent fog of dawn,
and soon began to find myself …
First chirps of birds – a jay close by,
the turkeys’ distant morning declamations …
A deer appeared, and then another,
moving almost silent, stopping suddenly
on noticing my presence,
heads quickly squared,
ears in a wide Y – then turning to move on
a little faster
I considered: this peace is not
mine to manufacture
with my will or.mind. I can’t
force it from my pen …
Today I walked out looking,
and there was wideness
and there was silence
broken open softly
by beings with their own certainty,
their own way of knowing
I will remember this
for other mornings when I need it.
©Wendy Mulhern
October 15, 2021