A Happy Place

There are many happy places

in my neighborhood.

One is on a high ground:

a wooden bench

near a strawberry tree hedge,

under the shade of crepe myrtle.

The gravel path below,

is bordered by rosemary.

I sit there and listen to

hummingbirds and finches,

and honeybees.

I gaze at the turkey vultures soaring above

in the blue sky.

I see the vast openness,

girdled by clay hills

covered with trees and shrubs,

oak, toyon, tumbleweeds.

I notice people and nature

living side by side,

hopefully in harmony.

I soak sunlight, smell rosemary,

do botanical, pebble, chalk arts.

Kids trace the gravel with sticks,

we eat foraged pineapple guava.

It is a happy place.

With nature's blessings,

family and creativity,

every nook can be blessing.

Note: How does your happy place look like?