Blush of Dawn

Some moments scream out at me like this rubix cube in the river.  Many others are much more subtle and easy to miss; I call these “pebble moments.”

As I go through my days, I’ve been experimenting with widening my scope of awareness and narrowing it.  A wide scope of awareness includes the entire day or landscape, the general feeling or mood of it, such as heat or a feeling of ease.  A narrow scope of awareness involves a close-up view, such as a single strand of cat fur or freckle on a leaf. 

Capturing small stone moments is like taking a photograph, although writers are not limited to sight.  They can include sounds, smells, flavors, sensations, and emotions or thoughts in their observations.

*
the journal that should have contained today’s entry
makes a soft thud when it drops empty.

*

late morning sun:
freckled, heart-shaped leaves fall open―
the whole day blossoms out of this light.

*

tall grass grazes varicose veins on her ankles

*
public transit

a periwinkle, crinkled mask hides her eyes; she sighs aloud.
he carries two jumbo bags filled with tinkling things.
another one mumbles; again and again, he tugs his overgrown mustache.

after the redness fades from my eyes,
gratitude uncurls from her sleeping place
and the scene appears as it is–
incandescent and fully alive

*

the familiar way the microwave slams shut
and its high-pitched bell
the way my mother lies and says
she doesn’t want what’s left of the vegetables,
her favorites!
i push the bowl towards her and say
neither do i