THE MORNING OF YOUR LIFE

This is the morning of your life,

the time between now
and the evening of your days,

between stirring and slumber,

will be measured by luck,
strength and wise choices,

be the strongest cub,
be the bravest cub,

the world is dangerous
for one so small,
but you will grow so very tall,
so very powerful,

use your power when needed,
use your wisdom
to someday care
for your own family.

I will teach you all I know
about survival,

listen carefully,
watch closely,
remain alert,

follow my example
and you will find your days
to be rich and plentiful upon the earth.

Photo by Annalies Corbin. Ms Corbin’s photography can be seen at: annaliescorbin.photography and on Instagram @annaliescorbinphotography. She is known for her exceptional wildlife and landscape photography and delights in returning to Hallo Bay, Alaska each summer to observe and photograph the Coastal Brown Bear mothers with their cubs. As with mothers everywhere, the incredible tenderness and care given to their cubs is beautiful to witness. Coastal Brown Bears can grow from 500 to 1000 pounds or more and over eight feet. They are omnivorous and are drawn to the salmon at Hallo Bay.

WHISPER ON THE WIND

Life comes at us
like a hail storm,

or sometimes
like a whisper on the wind,

a cavalcade of news
hard to hear,

or a summer’s drought
of updates,

all of it
beyond our control,

beyond any alerts
our cell phones might send,

or appointments
written on paper calendars,

we are at the whim
of a universe intent on keeping us awake,

nudging us to question

why we are here,
what we have yet to learn,
is there more to discern,

and how to cease
our yearning for easy answers.

The universe replies:
Lean into the whisper on the wind.

Poem by Rita Bourland rbourland53@gmail.com
Photo by Priska Wettstein – fineartamerica.com – Whispers in the Wind