Noticing

This morning I am aware of so much suffering. The people of the Jamaica awaiting Hurricane Melissa, essential workers who are serving the people of the United States without a paycheck during the government shutdown, everyone who is being targeted by ICE, and those who are losing their federal food aid. My heart is breaking. For me, the way to survive is by keeping my eyes open to the small joys happening right in front of me ... like this noticing from a recent walk down my street.

October late afternoon. 

Sunlight slanting through the trees.

The leaves crunching under my feet. 

I see the neighbor with his leaf blower. 

His two young daughters run from the house,

dressed in matching pumpkin orange dresses,

full skirts and billowy sleeves. 

They dance around the yard, laughing. 

He points the nozzle at them,

and their skirts fly around their legs.

There are shrieks of delight. 

Then they stand, backs to him, 

arms straight out in cruciform shape,

feet far apart, planted on the ground. 

The leaf blower catches the billowing fabric.

They are poised to take off, 

two small, schooner ships,

with pumpkin orange sails,

departing for other shores. 

Two kites straining against their strings,

just at the point of liftoff. 

This moment captured by my eyes, my imagination, my heart.

This image of joy and wonder and love.

Two wee girls, sails aloft, soaring into the October sky.