A STOP ON A BIKE RIDE

"Bike in the Park", oil, Susan Cox

The stream spoke
to the rocks
as it rolled along,
a breeze seemed
to break out in song,
and a few quiet thoughts
came comfortably along
to let me see
how lucky I was,
how loose and wild,
like wheels on a bike
on back roads.

GOOD FORTUNE

"Monarch", pastel, by Karen Margulis

While he was smiling

at his good fortune,

a butterfly unfolded its wings

with what seemed like courtesy,

camped on a modest blossom

in a neighborhood nobody

cared much about,

a quiet, careful place

in Connecticut,

a small spot

on our carefree

and picturesque planet.