Soon I move to the beautiful tree lined valley,

Where the wild river flows, tumbling over rocks down to the sea.

Surrounding the home I built are many aged, graceful trees,

With gnarled branches that house squirrels and birds.

Meadows stretch from my home to the nearest field

Strung with flowers waving in the breeze.

Adjacent pastures provide my horses ample grazing,

With room to playfully gallop together.

The tranquility of this place,

Provides me the grace to embrace those in need.

This home represents my soul;

Here all feel welcome and safe.

When you live well,
     That is, within yourself and the world around you,

          It just happens.

Despite any plotting and planning,

     It unfolds quietly, serenely enveloping you.

It occurred when you occupied a tiny room isolated from crowds.

     You observed the way the light peered through the broken dirty windows.

          When the door opened, the breeze blew in the spring balm.

It was warm; 

      The colors of the faded gray door frame

           Contrasted against the rust-colored leaves

                In the green ivy next to the gate. 

This good life engulfs your senses:

     Welcoming the moment's sensuality.

           Just the way a wild animal comes at you,

                When it is curious.

Raindrops dance at my feet

As I squish down grassy green lanes,

Slick silvery streets, muddy gray beaches and snow-covered peaks.

Stinging rain beats my umbrella like a drum.

It rolls down my cozy canopy,

Dousing dusty alleys with a soggy sound.

Tinkling rain chimes down clouded pathways.

Its random rhythm skips along overcast roofs,

Tapping on windowpanes as it rapidly moves.

Puddles seep where deserted dreams hide.

Reflections in pools mirror brighter inner skies,

Of rain-washed adventurers pouring outside.

Come out and play, the rain calls to me…

All day we rode the trails high in the hills,
     Glimpsing the sea through the fir trees.

Passing by wind-bent cypress trees 

     That stretched over the hills to the sea.

As we sped through pole pines, 

     Their needles quivered to life.

We followed the trickling stream down to the beach,

     Where golden poppies bloomed abundantly.

Giving my horse free rein, 

     She plunged into the surf.

Rainbows of water droplets scattered over everyone,

     As we laughingly welcomed the cool shower.

Returning home, the skies darkened,

     And faint stars began to shine.

Occasionally, fire flies sparkled in the dark, 

     As our journey scattered them from the bush.

Finally, we approached the stables,

     Welcomed by a blazing campfire.

We removed our gear,

      And brushed and dried our horses before gathering at the campfire.

Tales were told, jokes were shared, drinks consumed,

     And friendships were further renewed.

Riding freely with the cool wind in my face,

     I never want this to end.

Walking in the vineyards on a rainy day,

Listening to the crows mock the clouds with voices loud. 

Mustard blooms in spite of the lack of rain.

Weeping willows drape green tears on a shining stream. 

We built a home with stone, wood and plaster,

And stables to shelter the horses.

On the porch, we hear the nearby rushing stream tumble downhill.

The sun sets slowly over the western hills bathing us in gold.

Although we have created our own version of heaven,

It is love that fills our home with laughter and joy.

This pre-dawn meditation altered me deeply.
     I'm struggling to fathom all that I feel.

This weekend, driving through the dry desolation of the San Joaquin Valley,
     I saw blow-torched vineyards,
          Uprooted nut and fruit trees stacked like kindling,
                Abandoned orange groves with fruit rotting on the ground.

All for the lack of water.

Is it folly to build an empire, a dream without carefully nurturing 
     A natural, yet scarce resource?

In our daily lives, do we waste and overlook those special moments
    That, fully embraced, would transform our intertwined lives?

Balancing dreams, planning for the future, and living in this moment
     Requires us to acknowledge we have little control over events.

Stillness, surrender and acceptance of the immediate world around and within us
     Provides a clearer path.

By living in this moment, we achieve the grace to participate in
     Our future.

After all our time together,
     Despite our ups and downs,

We know this love will last forever.

In your smile I find peace,
     For me there will be no other,

No matter what time may bring.

In the memories we created,
     A magic endures rooted in the past.

Not one moment would we retract.

The hard times tested us,
     The sweet times made us lovers.

We know the future offers us great promise.

All that came before,
     And everything that followed,

Made us the greatest of friends.

We know and believe in our love.

     For me, you are the one,
You will always be the only one.

The mind travels,

     Suddenly it arrives.

And experiences what you saw,

     Resulting in an epiphany that overwhelms the mind.

A hint.

     A special event.

           A chance encounter.

You rush to share with a friend.

And at the crossroads,

     You realize it was only an illusion.

What a journey we forged these past few months.

Full of twists and turns,
     That lead us to these crossroads.

This journey has been worth every moment.

Both high and low,
      And, now we face painful choices.

Will it be a life of pure love,
      Or, will our destinies point us to separate horizons?

Oh what a journey we might make;
      If we were in love,
          Together, and made a journey of our own.