A Leaf Snow Globe

(dedicated to Shusli Baseler-Johnson,
whose Beauty and Love are ALWAYS inspiring)

The storm clouds open
and the sun showers tree tops
of green and red and yellow
that are being shaken by the wind
with a golden carpet
that awakens the soul
to the beauties of nature.

"Let's go for a walk,"
I suggest to Shusli
who sees how tired I am
from my stressful day
and in recovery from my nap.

The wind is loud in the tree tops
drowning out the usual noises of the city
that are usually drowning out
the sounds of nature
and it is amazing and powerful.

"It is like a leaf snow globe,"
Shusli tells me with childlike enthusiasm
as we watch autumn leaves
being lifted from the limbs of trees on the street before us
surrendering every which way
as the wind takes them from the limbs of the trees
who are about to sleep
through the winter.

Leaves are traveling
in large groups
down the street before us
and life is just amazing
in this stormy windy evening.

We get to Columbia Park
and the earth is covered with brightly colored leaves
We laugh at the beauty
of the evening
we share together.

The wind becomes so loud
and powerful in the treetops
we are amazed by its beautiful song.
I wish that the wind
could be pulled to the earth
where Shusli and I would then have to struggle
not to be carried away with the leaves
and laugh and the beauty and power of it all
but the wind is not as strong
on the ground
as it obviously is
in the treetops.

There is a group of young boys
with dark faces
and bright smiles
playing a game of soccer
in the quickly fading sun.

We wander towards the tables
in the area near the playground where
in my youther
there was always an unspoken
peace
in my families.

We find a lone table
in a concrete circle.
We sit and roll a few smokes.
We light cigarettes
which was quite challenging
in the wind
and un-chemicalized papers.

We talk of prayers
and spirits
as we make offerings to the worlds
in which we live.

We head home.
The dusk has sent home
the golden rays of sunshine
and the wind who reluctantly leaves
as she so much Loves
playing with the leaves.

At home
Shusli and I hold each other
talk of the spirit world
our spirits
how we all pray
in so many different ways.

We hold each other
in our hands
and carry each other
in a world
that is both beautiful
and completely insane.

Shusli's beauty is deep and powerful
and I Love her beyond all words.
Everyday is even more beautiful
when it is spent journeying through this world
with her.