not love, not sex, not money, even simpler things --
the walk in the little woods in front of lindley hall
emerging through the energizing trees to head home.
seeing the smile of a stranger.
the release of pent-up joy after fixing a intransgient bug.
the flowing feeling of spiritual birth in music.
the amazingly reverential glory of the stars on a clear night.
once i was fortunate to witness an oncoming thunderstorm
divide the night sky -- half clouds and lightning,
half holding nothing but stars.
rainbows -- the arcs of color racing toward the earth.
i love the seasons, two for the way they change
and two for their solidity.
the feel of a spring day when it goes from cold to *warm*.
watching the flowers bloom causing life to start over
and looking at people as homo sapiens sheds its collective winter coat.
the languid slithering slowness of summer.
melting days that are punctuated by
wonderful cool rivers, pools, and drinks.
the feel of a fall day when it goes from hot to *cool*.
and the overwhelming intensity of sunsets brought to earth
as they fall from a forest of trees as autumn fades.
the snap,crackle,pop cold fire feeling of winter.
the stark beauty of ice lining the trees
and the intensity life requires to stay outside intensifies life.
many moldy days are cold and old
but oh, the joyful ones
bring
the Planet Helium to me
so i can to touch the stars,
smile,
and bask in the warmth of life
to carry a bit of the sun
inside to keep on living.