i thank you God for most this amazing

day:  the leaping greenly spirits of trees

and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything

which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,

and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth 

day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay

great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing

breathing any—lifted from the no

of all nothing—human merely being

doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake

now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

–e.e. cummings

Opening poem chosen and read by Amy W.

A New Look at Gethsemane

entering the garden

unaware of my held expectation

that all the miracles wrapped in

coral white magenta crimson ruby 

would still be here

safeguarded by cool spring mornings

I am greeted with absence

those bold profusions of camellia, azalea, 

dabs of dogwood 

only days ago slowing my steps

announcing with words intimate and inviting:

stay awake, abide—

now silent

did I really believe the everyday lushness 

would end so soon?

was it as real as I remember?

I search frantically for evidence–

divine whispers

blooming in shade, occasional

carpets of petals attesting to 

the flourish that was.

I wonder if the disciples

on their Holy Saturday 

searched like this–  

bittersweet signs to postpone 

their acceptance of loss;

maybe they sat together and recalled

how blossoms seemed lighted from within,

how alive they felt walking in the midst.

and, whether they expected to find  

new signs appearing–

undaunted buttercups, 

periwinkles dotting the grass, 

bashful violets, stands of elegant iris

waving hosannas in the wind.

–Photos and poem by Amy Webb, April 16, 2022

Green shades astonish

Trumpeting in spring glory

“Most this amazing day”.

Photos and haiku by Nancy L.