For those who remain in the countryside

the door is open and the path clear

July 21, 2024

Had I not been stirred awake by the earliest light and slipped into the cool morning air to walk the garden paths, I would not have heard the call. 

Had I not been outside, I would have missed the two young hawks that screech back and forth as they move from ponderosa to cottonwood. 

Had I not been listening with all my senses, I would not have heard the hawks' alternating calls layered on top of the other birdsong and the vibration of hummingbird wings. They greet the sun, perhaps even welcoming me into the fold. 

Had I not been pruning flowers after the sun had set, shaded yet still wrapped in warmth, I would have missed the glow of the rising moon, the scent of honeysuckle, the night blooming datura and nicotiana opening to reveal their sweetness to a thirsty moth. 

For those who notice the nuance and watch with your entire body, may you keep the spirit of the countryside close. And when you are out, either in wild or rugged terrain or city scapes you recognize a different kind of language. 

Yours, Erin