Dancing Sunlight

Dancing Sunlight

spring 1993

jp melville

I have evening’s dancing sunlight in my garden.

I have cold north wind blowing rich indigo sky into star scattered night.

I have quiet, solitude, the chasings of insanity.

I hear the spirit of God.

The day’s warmth full in my heart,

Sweating, turning soil, planting seed, giving water,

Transplanting hyssop, sage, marjoram, sorel, lemon balm,

Day’s scent itself of Gilead.

Transition movement winter spring flow

Stillness in this moment

Here on my horizon washed over me by surprise

A hesitant suspension, time to myself, to my thoughts, to my world, to my love, to God.

So much so often so worried so chased so hurried so concerned so selfish.

I do not hear any rattle of gunshot, bullets ricocheting off the walls.

I do not taste any fetid air stinking of pulp mills or steel mills or petroleum refineries.

None of this is in my hand, no pain no mourning no real fear.

It is temptation that draws me to the meanness of my world

All I have needed is courage

To see differently

To give up

Allow a moment to be torn away

Against all my plans, against all my assumptions, against all my compulsions

To break…

for a moment

and notice

sunlight dancing in this spring's evening's chilling air

cool

clear

a delight in silence without words

that comes with the sparkling water of the creek

that comes with the swaying cedars in the bush

that comes with the bird's nattering on the fence-posts

that comes with the swamp's tender blooming of yellow marsh marigolds

that comes with the stretching shadows

that comes with that first star...

to notice and to remember that now,

in this moment,

Creation glows glorious in me.