The Earth’s Cock-Eyed Circle

The seasons are changing

As they do every day,

Incrementally – bit by bit.

Day by day the sun climbs a little higher,

Then slips a little lower,

As we circle it in our cock-eyed fashion.

-   I went outside this morning and one of my cherry tomato plants was leaning over due to some overnight wind.

-    When I took my recycling down the driveway to the street the other day, I noticed yellow leaves on the ground hugging the edge of the street.

-    The irritation our pine trees constantly cause is changing from sap on our cars to pine needles under the windshield wipers and all over our deck. Soon, we’ll be dodging falling pinecones. We’ll be back to sprinkles, then layers of pollen before we know it.

I don’t walk around outside and look at the changing world enough. Summer passes quickly in Northern New England and I find myself scurrying around trying to do all the things I don’t get to do at other times of the year.

But that’s just an excuse. It doesn’t take more than a moment to open the back door, step outside and experience the world.

When I first moved to where I live now – a peaceful place among the pines – I would go out onto the deck in the morning while my coffee was brewing and listen to the wind, experience the cold of winter while still holding the warmth of bed, feel the sun. In the evening I would sometimes lay on the deck at the top of the stairs and watch the bats circle in their crazy pattern catching bugs.

That was years ago before many of us were pulled away from the world’s rhythms.

I can see the pine needles falling

I can see the insects zipping past.

The bluejays landing heavily on the feeder on my window.

And I can see the neighbors’ dogs playing together next door -

Happy to have each other’s company.

The squirrels are building their nests

The rabbits have become scarce

And I’m starting to think about snow tires and shovels

And a hot cup of tea and enjoying the cold wind on the deck while my body is still warm from bed.