Arising at four a.m. I witness the flash of dawn, a ritual these days. Teacup warming my hand, I raise the porcelain cup from my grandmother’s tea set treasured, passed on to me, perfect for celebrating each new day on Mother Earth’s green earth.
A hearty hooty-hoot-hoot echoes through the tall trees as the repetitious call interrupts my focus on the silver flash of dawn and the sun breaking over the treetops across the Kennebec.
Sliding glass doors allow a vast view of steaming fog-pods rising from the forest floor out of the lush garden; a thick carpet filled with varieties of green ferns.
Secrets and worries whispered evaporate away, silently upward into the Universe safe forever more.
Burning scarlet rays of the morning sun pulse through layers of chiffon fog revealing crystal rainbow prisms. Dewdrops cling to leaf tips, until they slowly evaporate.
Feathery tender ferns unfurl under the warmth of ole sol, magically awakening dozens of Eastern Tiger Swallowtail cocoons suddenly hatching.
In a gentle swirl, an upward funnel bursting with virgin butterflies releases into the sky, reaching the tallest tree tops only to disappear, guided by instinct to seek the nectar of life.
Feeling the heat Of a blazing orb Warming my soul, Shadows begin to emerge Across the lawn before me.
A lone cardinal rests in a warm sunbeam motionless, beak facing East. Dozens of cheery goldfinch Alight and take off, highlighting the air surrounding me.
Fox tumble and play, Napping on a moss covered Abandoned stonewall, doorstep to their Hillside den where mother Awaits the next feeding.
Phoebe’s announce their presence As though megaphones, Competing with echoes From the riverside Of two pairs of Pileated woodpeckers.
A velvety muscular buck and his brown eyed doe lead their frisky but timid spotty twins through an established path leading from the river up to neighbor’s gardens, just beginning to sprout.
Mourning doves coo And innocently peck At seeds dropped Around the base Of the birdfeeder pole.
Suddenly a sharp-shinned hawk strategically swoops in to clutch away their innocence, returning to her nest with a lifeless body in her lanceolate talons.
Fat frisky grey squirrels get A running start to jump Halfway up the now greased pole Hoping for enough traction To leap onto one of four Seed-filled feeders.
Rusty striped chipmunks, Cheeks filled fat with seeds, Race back and forth From feeder to sub-porch nest Shared with dozens Of garden snakes.
Shadows become shorter now, The day warms and brightens As the little pond across the drive Comes alive with peepers, Providing background music For today’s sunrise event.