the best teacher

pack of guanaco

run away from

the waters edge

…

is the experience

of going through different

trials and tribulations

as every year

we try to accomplish things

we will more often than not

encounter new challenges

life vest

wind chimes ring

approaching from the east

large grey clouds

…

knowing what to do

in situations that require us

to prioritize certain things

and actions over others

is a lesson in preparation

but more significantly

being mindful and present

three forms

water ripples

the blue jay leaves

the morning bath

…

as a solid, water is ice

as a liquid, water is fluid

as a gas, water is vapor

simply by adjusting

the temperature

we can witness

these transformations

interview

clipboard hinge

grasping onto the edge

of ripped paper

…

when it’s all

said and done

we only have

a certain amount

of time to ask

our role models

truly meaningful questions

steep

green lakebed

the matcha covers

my fingertips

…

leaving tea bags

inside our cups

rather than taking them out

as what some instructions

may list or recommend

doesn’t account for

our personal preferences

sandcastles

after the monsoon

a patch of green

rises above puddles

…

even if it’s temporary

and will wash away

when high tide arrives

we can still marvel

at the fact that

these small models

are made of sand

the spine

a golden ring

etched into the side

of the book cover

…

not only holds

our books together

it’s job also calls

for us to critically design

an appealing book cover

to be readily accessible

for everyone to see

sprouts

pale fingertips

reaching out from

broken earth

…

regardless if we decide to throw away

or cut off these toxic ends

to then peel, cook,

and eat our overstored potatoes

we will always

have the choice to replant

them back into the earth

lectures

blackberry thorns

clinging onto gloves

stained in green

…

are lessons learned

from the experiences

our predecessors

and mentors lived through

and distilled into stories

we then hear about

until it turns into a memory

anthem

the garden hose

leaves behind a trail

we forgot existed

…

we seem to gather

and resonate with

musical movements

that at the time

coincide with events

that take place in

and around ourselves

tetris

tetrominoes

a colorful bridge

stacked up and up

…

we would like to believe

this game can be played

until infinity

but the reality of it all

means we need to critically

and intentionally appreciate

how many lines we’ve cleared

turning orange

another friday

watching foliage change

from green to orange

…

as we sit

on the bench

at the park after dark

will we recognize

with our eyes

how many trees

still have their leaves

car freshener

little pines

dangling above

our dashboard

…

lavender can help us sleep

cinnamon can sharpen our mind

pine can relieve our stress

are only a short list

of the amazing

healing benefits

scents provide us with

no wifi

without internet

the garbage truck

still picks up trash

…

what happens

if we are left

without access

to a resource

we feel is essential

to our daily lives

for a period of time?

in the kit

at the orchard

a bucket for sitting

a bucket for blueberries

…

obtaining new skills

and techniques takes

years and years

of refinement and practice

until we feel confident

our abilities are worthy

of our and other’s time

it's just paint

white canvas

little pink dots sprinkled

down the frame

…

don’t be afraid

to make mistakes

and create a mess

as the paint that dries

can always be covered

by another layer of paint

with time and appreciation

rsvp

ripped monogram

half on the envelope

half on the floor

…

making the decision

to attend an event

illustrates our commitment

and devoting our attention

on the day of the celebration

to fully immerse ourselves

into the carousel we call life

kaleidoscope

stained glass

spartacus dahlias bloom

in the morning sun

…

as we set out

to view a very specific

endpoint or goal

we mistakenly miss

how our environment is

not the one changing

but in fact ourselves

everyone benefits

ripe bananas

packaged in the warehouse

for the village

…

when we volunteer

in our communities

to not only serve and help

others work towards their goals

it gives us a sense of pride

and fellowship for the fact

we decided to make a difference

86400

welcoming visitors

the deer bows its head

looking for food

…

are the amount

of seconds in a day

that pass us by

as we look at the sky

and try to think of why, how,

and what we should spend

our time doing next