COUNTING LEAVES, TOMATOES, KERNELS....AND BLESSINGS

Whenever
     I need a boost
           or want to find inspiration
to write a poem
      I go to my worn copy
             of A THOUSAND MORNINGS"
by  Mary Oliver

This inspiring, perceptive, and yet writer
      of simple verse      never fails me
            It is said   that she was
so dedicated to seeing the wonders
      and beauty of nature      
              and of the world

that she carried a small worn leather
      notebook on her daily morning walks
            in the woods       and had
even stashed spare stubby pencils
       in random tree forks      in case
             she forgot or lost hers

And one day
      when she was writing a poem
            about TREES
friends found her up in the branches
      of one    counting the leaves---
             ....The Compleat Poet !

I learned something from that story---
      Count your heartbeats
          Count your breaths
       Count your tomatoes
           Count your pintos
       Count your minutes
             Count your kernels
                      of corn
and your blessings....
----------------
BY MIL
5 AUGUST 18