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our zoo membership first outing,

an early morning adventure

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9:15 & the parking lot

already a chaotic tangle

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legions of little ones

tiny tots, all those eager faces!

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moms & dads, the grands too

pushing strollers, single

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and double-wide,

tricked-out wagons, very chic

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so much to see & we haven’t yet

even stepped inside the gate

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~ after Mary Oliver

i know it’s not easy

but try not to worry or fret

*

exert yourself in the pursuit

of your own joyful passions

*

remain open

to what is yet to come

*

learn to embrace

this life you’ve been gifted

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when a cool summer day

feels like early autumn,

the dew point is manageable,

and there’s a tease of a breeze

under sunny, pale blue skies,

I’m that wide-eyed 10-year-old

staring up at waltzing clouds

conjuring up audacious adventures

and mysteries I alone might solve,

heedless of the world beyond,

and each of its stark realities

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a burgeoning stream runs down

the middle of the fairway

scattered twigs, leaves & branches

carpet the patio floor

promised blooms of cheery marigolds,

their flaccid stems

slouched over now in defeat

tumbled chairs, tangled chimes

the wet bulk of lush greenery

pervades the gloom of the storm’s fury,

its straight-line winds & heavy rain

and yet, there shines a glimmer

of recompense as light rims

the receding gallery of clouds

and we know that soon

sunshine will once more warm

the tops of our heads,

soft breezes will again delight

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Photo by Mariah Hewines on Unsplash

traversing dense woods & steep elevations,

it’s handy to keep a compass close at hand.

you won’t use it but it will comfort you

knowing that it’s there.

*

binoculars and a camera — though

your cell phone will suffice —

allow for up-close capture of fall’s majesty,

& strange objects on the horizon.

*

you may desire the company of a loved one

to delight together in the joys of discovery

though solitude is an excellent mechanism

for the examination of one’s interior thoughts.

*

hydration is important, always remember that.

a fistful of beef jerky, granola bar, a chunk of parmesan —

these will provide sustenance in case you become fatigued.

also, never worry should you find yourself lost.

*

that is what the compass is for.