Crumbs for the Journey

There you lay
A mirror
Of priceless value
Nesting within earth’s surface
Reflecting each leaf
Of the bordering mighty oak
Each needle of 
The pine trees
Standing like a loving family
Circling the wagons.

Circles of acclaim
And ripples of thanks
Appear
As you receive each drop of rain
An ethereal mist
Floats across your surface
And hovers within the trees

The sky above
Nearly filled now
With steel grey clouds
Gives your surface a deep slate color
 The clouds release their treasure
Your sheen morphs
As ripples interlock
And reach out
Creating a spirograph drawing 

You accept each new drop
Into your liquid embrace
And rain becomes lake

Lake becomes 
Playground
As you host athletes
Of all abilities
You come alive
As the delight
The love
The joy 
Of each person
Brings life to your shore
To your waters.

An energy 
And excitement
Like that of newfound love
Fills the air
Shouts of greeting
Cheers of appreciation
Erupt 
As the athletes arrive
And are assisted into their kayaks
Embarrassed laughter
Joins the cacophony
As moms board their boats
With the grace
Of fledglings 
Leaving their nest
For the first time

There is a unifying, unspoken love
In this space
Twenty boats are launched
Some turning in circles
Some stalled at water’s edge
As each person, 
Captain of their own kayak,
Learns to navigate the water
The lake receives them all
Welcomes them
And their presence brings life
To these waters

Joy ripples out
As the orange, blue, red and yellow
Watercraft
Move across the water
I stand at the shore
And whisper a prayer
Of gratitude
For this day
This space
These people.

Little Lake Sunapee