The flame.
Oxygen fans flames
to keep them alive
like souls in bodies.
Breathing in –
inhaling,
dragging, drawing,
sometimes panting,
or even gasping –
to stay alive.
Then the inevitable
exhale.
The contraction of the lungs.
Release.
Relief.
Then expanding once more –
to stay alive.
Fanning the flame of the human spirit.
First the initial spark.
Then brightening,
glowing,
flickering,
dimming than bursting.
Oxygen flowing in and out –
to stay alive.
The seasons.
Throughout the seasons,
the leaves on a tree
change
one by one.
Winter, spring, summer, and fall,
and back again.
In winter,
the barren branches frost over,
covered in crystals,
and slumbering to survive
in the darkness.
In spring,
gradual thawing
leads to growth.
The blossoming begins,
sap seeps through the cracks.
Expanding,
Thriving,
Feeding,
Feasting.
Opening to the sun,
dancing in the rain.
In summer,
the leaves laugh –
tickled by the wit of the wind
breezing by
and reaching up to the light
in a mutual embrace.
Basking,
Glowing,
Giving and receiving.
In autumn,
the preparation begins.
Storing nutrients and
cutting off leaves.
Each turning colors,
then spiraling from sky to soil,
performing its grand finale.
Gradually,
the tree fortifies itself
and lays down to rest.
And then,
the frosting and slumbering
begins again.
Our bodies are like nature
with the intelligence and wisdom of trees.
All of our parts
sensing and feeling the time.
Responding,
Working,
Sharing,
Expanding and contracting,
Sleeping.
And still,
every time the season turns,
we panic as though we’ve never
been through this
dozens of times.
But we have –
We’ve simply
forgotten.
Since,
like the trees,
the seasons
keep us
brand new.
“The seasons.” – bem
heartbreak and cigarettes 