Lessons Unfolding

Outside my classroom window
a house shaped feeder awaits
corn, millet, seeds and nuts
a songbird's favorite mix

Finches arrive on any day
brown wings, red head and neck
along with a nuthatch and
black capped chickadee or two
Red headed woody comes only a bit

Monday is bird day for new birders
anticipating, watching, waiting
the flying acrobats unpredictable
stopping here, there, throughout a day

Tuesday far better to observe-
temperatures dropped, forecasts anew
flurries to be expected next day
Brown, red, black, gray and yellow
all debuted in the great maple tree
Taking turns, they feasted from the feeder

"Ooo's! and Aaah's!" bellowed out
Captured by creation's beauty
Every young mind engaged with awe
Showing up Tuesday, only a day late

Injured

I watched the Beagle
Her right hind leg limping
To her dish, she hobbled

Weeks later, she cried
A high pitched "Yip!"
From the sofa to floor
She collapsed in pain

I nudged the dark gelding
My heels signaled to him
Trot, trot we began

Stumbled, rebalanced
We circled around
His head pulled downward
"Hoe."-his rhythm was off

A tall, skinny child recoiled
Spirit deadened within her
Eyes empty and void of light

Muscles or cartilage torn
A soul condemned and stunted
Activities injured
All three wounded and lame

Back home, the Beagle sleeps
Carefully repaired and sedated
Confined for months to heal

Led back to his stall
Untacked and cared for
The gelding rests and drinks
Perhaps only temporary relief

The grown up child hibernates
Unlimited potential asleep
She asks, "Where is my healing?"