Morning Coffee Thoughts

As the sun rose
on a calm summer morning,
and I faced the four directions,
asking for balance,
understanding,
and grandmother’s wisdom,
the Hawk circled
then landed on the Elm
down by Willow Creek.

I thought at first
it was looking for its morning meal,
but it turned in my direction,
catching my eye
and spoke
in the ancient language.

“Weathered warrior,
survivor of many journeys;
of countless white men’s wars,
your footsteps are needed once more.
Always remember,
‘home’ is not so much a place,
but a belief
that humanity will overcome
these times of unbalance
and truly soar to touch the stars.
Also remember,
in the vast age of the cosmos,
humanity is but a few seconds of time,
cosmic scatterlings.
It has been said,
human extinction
will be a huge tidal wave on Gaia,
but a minor ripple in the cosmos.
And yet, what this ripple does now
and for the next few days and years
can affect everything in the cosmos.”

As the Hawk took flight,
I pondered these words,
wrote this poem, and
dressed in my torn jeans,
faded shirt and worn moccasins,
put my coffee cup in the sink
and began my day’s journey
joining with others
to bring balance to the world.