surrender

have you ever looked

closely at the start of a sunflower

before a nubbin of flower 

even starts to appear

ten inches from the dirt and proud

leaves like arms or wings 

open and outstretched in surrender

all green and arced

bending up and out

toward light

with complete trust 

( I want to be more like you)

but I keep walking

in a deciduous sea of trees and green

a Juniper's bark

the color of rust and red clay 

gifts its primordial perfume

smoke - salt - umami earth

a fragrance like nothing else

I know of

dusty coins of eucalyptus

anxiously flutter on the wind

they beg me closer

to share some gossip

about the nosy roses 

next door

and I keep walking

oops

a slug crosses my path

and I do a little jig

to avoid a squish

thank you for starting my day

with dance, little friend

the morning air is haunted by smells

strange scents that go unnamed 

bypassing my thoughts

speaking directly to my soul

a concrete edge of sidewalk

is the closest thing to a pew

I do not kneel but 

carry on 

under the Sun that is beginning to rise

while everyone else

is still sleeping

my beautiful hairy dog friend

glistens in the day's first light

yanking on my limbs

calling on her ancient

dog ability to tear up and down hills

pulling me through woods 

making me partner of her hunt 

every walk

a tiny revelation

a lesson never learned

behind doors