June 13, 2011

Notice Nature Monday


One major reason I live simply is so I can be unhurried enough to notice nature every day. On the weekend we watched our first Common merganser creche of the spring. We wait for it every year, and it never fails to bring joy to our lives after a long winter.

The flotilla consisted of one adult female tending to about 15 hungry, fish-eating puffballs of infinite cuteness. Several tired chicks were hitchhiking on the female's back. Watch out, little ones, for eagles are raising families here, too.

I like to be close to the Earth so I can hear, and learn, her quiet lessons.

Earth teach me stillness
as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.

Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands all alone.
Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls upon the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.

Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep with rain.

- Ute Prayer

2 comments:

  1. So cute! Nothing cuter than baby animals. The Canada Geese young are fat awkward teenagers now.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Geneviève,

    They are precious. We went on a hike in the forest yesterday, and came across a small bird on the trail. We watched as the chick, not yet able to fly, peeped and hopped its way into the bush. Then on our drive home we saw a black bear on the road. It was great - wildlife, new life, everywhere.

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be printed after moderation to eliminate spam. We are proudly a no buying, no selling website.

We enjoy reading all comments, and respond when time permits.

If you put a name to your comment we can all recognize you for your contribution.

Thank you for visiting and commenting.