excerpt from “Council from juniper
in the meadow”

The days grow longer. We measure them in our rings.
We do not worry one storm.

Hard to live far from what you love. Harder still from what you need.
We reach for rivers with our roots. We keep reaching.

Find ways to touch each other. Remember,
a dam through some cuts through all.

If fear frightens you, then be frightened!
Fear claimed loses bite. Shared fear grows courage.

We feel the drying, too. The worry in our roots.
But everything spirals around.

Look wider. Don’t waste time staring at the flame.
Learn how to burn and grow back.