I didn’t notice at first.
I made my morning coffee,
sat down at the table to write.
Then the cat mewed and scratched at the screen
and I saw it.
Pots over, crashed, spilled out,
a mess on the back porch.
The screen door ripped open.
I went out to right the pot and scoop
dirt back into it
and touched the scat.
This disaster was not cat
It was raccoon. Obviously, the hellion got in,
but couldn’t get out,
until he did.
I took a walk
in the cool morning breeze,
saw the blooming pollinators,
listened to the birds, and
collected 14 species on the Merlin app
while I watched the sun rise in the east, pink and yellow.
My morning prayer included Gaza and Kate,
all those in any grief or trouble,
then turns to gratitude for my abundance.
Life ain’t no crystal stair.
There is darkness,
a full moon,
and the valley of the shadow of death.
The darkest dark brings out the brightest light.
We gathered outside the church
to sing Hallelujah to begin
the march to the cross.
We find a way to physically see more clearly
that this path of life can
help us see the darkness, feel the anger, the threat
to our happiness, and just as swiftly,
lead us to sacred light.
I’m wishing you a most holy week.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, this! This is such a blessing of peace, your poem and its offering of promise and light. The raccoons and the valley of the shadow of death will be there, yes, birdsong, yes, pain and suffering, yes, but……the cross and eternal life are the greatest yeses we can count on. Thank you for such a blessed poem this morning to start the week.
Your thoughtfulness in this slice is giving me lots to think about. All those different birds recorded on one walk just after discovering that a hellion (perfect word choice) caused havoc on your porch. We have one who causes havok with our pond plants. Nature, people, the world…filled with joyous sounds next to hellions. And you remind me to stick to my path. Thakns for the reminder. Happy Holy Week to you, too.
Your poem, your prayer, for this holy week is deeply reflective and sensitive to the here and now big and small darkness filled moments/days/years of life. Thank you for this beautiful reminder of what is important in life.
Such a gorgeous offering to start Holy Week, Margaret. The overcoming of threat, the disruptions to our peace, life’s thrashing raccoons, realizing “life ain’t nor crystal stair” (how stunning), and searching for the light. I pray this heartsong-prayer with you.
Lovely writing. The mix of disruption and the call for peace. It was a nice way to start the morning. Sorry about the raccoons – they can be nasty fellows! My the rest of this week be peaceful.
Margaret, what a peaceful reflection after “life’s thrashing raccoons” (as Fran so eloquently said), the bird song and singing the Hallelujahs in the midst of darkness. Yes, to Holy Week and all the Truth held in it.
If we have eyes to see…so much truth is all around us. Beautiful writing, Margaret. Thank you for sharing.