I love that rush of cold air

The first of the season, hopefully here to stay

I feel bad because of something I said today:

“I don’t care”

Did I hurt someone with my words

Maybe I could run off to the beach again

Escape this curse

No matter what I do someone suffers

Because of my very existence someone or something else in the world shutters

Sometimes it seems the whole thing is a sham

When I talk to people, my heart flutters

I try to make sense of what is, of who I am

There’s some comfort at least in those ancient words

Not to be too wicked, not to be too righteous

Are we all headed to the same place

Death ever invites us

But every time I get down

A good deed or the beach or some other beauty always comes around

The brilliant sun on a cold day

The pelicans gliding in their halcyon way

The blue waters in a soft lull

The kaleidoscope of fluttering seagulls

I breathe in that cold air, feel it on my lips and skin

I don’t bundle up or duck but rather give in

I walk the shore with a 100-pound dog

All I see and experience is a delight

Not another soul in sight

But sometimes my soul feels it is a fog

Wish I could stay here

But wisdom says too it’s not good to isolate

So for just a moment I hesitate

Maybe this is my lot

To take some pleasure in what is

To realize it’s a gift

Before the time comes when I can’t see it or feel it

For to everything there is a season

I care

Because He does

The beauty points to something

I anticipate it

The world where no one dies

No one suffers

There are no lies

When my heart is eternally warm