The clouds, stretching
across the horizon. Filtering
brilliant pink and fading

sunlight. Dimming
and giving the moon
sweet visibility. The stars,

such beauty,
what a reminder!
Like every drop on

the tulips coming into
bloom after bearing
the storm and the thunder,

like the maple catching
fire with the warmth
of spring and burning

a loud red, all of these
small and lovely things
show me

to the heartbeat of the Earth
once more. And distract me
from all the lifetimes

I wish were mine.