Some time ago
Before the womb that carried me was flesh,
The animals of this rich land were categorized and named.
And with educated and permanent naming
Of such wild and beautiful things,
From then on, created those
Who encountered such
In which they did or do not know
And are forced in reaction to wonder
What.
And perhaps feel inadequate or frustrated
About not reading some manual
That contains this knowledge they lack
Before making their trek into this habitat.
Where are you now?
You who have halted my imagination
And leave me feeling uneducated.
You, who have also brought relief.
For if at that moment,
I know what name you have given these,
My world is laid out before me.
Like a bed still made by a mother
Long past her due.
With your help
I encounter Mule Deer on the paths
Looking for food after a heavy snow.
I observe Hermit Thrush from my window
Cleaning their soft bodies in the morning rain.
I hear the White-Headed Woodpecker
As she drags me from my sleep
In the Captain’s Quarters.
I hug Giant Sequoia on long walks
To get free from my burdens.
Now, the mist is rising from the wet soil
To the tips of the trees and beyond.
Light is shining through the drops of rain
Clinging to the bare branches.
And I still can’t decide if I am thankful
For your naming of these
Some time ago.
