dancing with Mother Nature

Soon my aching muscles and arthritic joints

will bounce and jump for joy because the snow
and ice will be melting and once again flow north
I will walk with a jump in my step
and will kneel on dampen soil to till
and plant a seed for the spring of day
where colors will once again evince painting
the landscape  

I’ll be careful not to complain of too much rain,

too much wind or too hot of a sun
unless it becomes angry and wishes to take
the land away with floods and winds tearing apart
what my hands have built or the sun ravages the harvest
and aridity prevents children from drinking

Like the strings of an instrument if they are dissonant

and not tuned then I must balance the keys so that
they fit the likings of my ear. then I’ll play the tune
to accompany my voice and I'll sing my song
with Mother Nature, I must acclimate
and adjust to its ever changing seasons so that my
comfort level is to my liking

I need to recognize that I must adjust and accept change,

accept that all else has the right to coexist with me whether
it be another species, a tree, a rock, the stream, the person
who is taller or shorter than me, of different color and ethnicity,
a heart that sings a different tune, hormones or gender
different than mine and may be prettier, softer and
a gentler touch than mine.

If I can adjust, I will be content and free