Allow

There is no controlling life.
Try corralling a lightning bolt,
containing a tornado. Dam a
stream, and it will create a new
channel. Resist, and the tide
will sweep you off your feet.
Allow, and grace will carry
you to higher ground. The only
safety lies in letting it all in—
the wild with the weak; fear,
fantasies, failures and success.
When loss rips off the doors of
the heart, or sadness veils your
vision with despair, practice
becomes simply bearing the truth.
In the choice to let go of your
known way of being, the whole
world is revealed to your new eyes.

— Opening poem by Danna Faulds, chosen and read by Nancy L.

Fecundity, uprightness, ghosts and fallenness…

Allowing

Allow the grey

to enliven 

what brightness cannot;

allow the uprightness

and the fallenness,

fecundity

and ghosts;

allow even this

unexpected rain

to move us quicker

to take cover

in arms of acceptance,

drinking words like tea,

chewing laughter

like biscuits.

— Photos and poem by Amy Webb, September 23, 2023

Green and brown and copper

a chorus of autumn hues.

Eastern Redbud’s copper seed pods

glisten in the overcast skies.

Mockernut hickory splendors

adorn the earth altar.

The field of once green ferns

settles down for its winter nap.

The many amazing shades of brown

explode!

— Photos and poem by Nancy L.