The Importance of Layers

Early spring, and the trees cut a silhouette at the far side of the field.
Wind blows. A quiet breeze that holds off the surprisingly hot sun.
New leaves rustle. In the distance, beyond the treeline, there is sky.

Blue with clouds in a hurry. Where you wonder, is their destination
and how is it different from yours? Do they know,
or are they, as you have been so long, in search of something more

than meaning?

You sit. You watch. You feel. Knowing
if you only see the big picture, you do not see the big picture.
Life, like art and the best scenery, like conversations that matter,

has layers.

and it takes time. Sitting with your heart and the hearts you encounter
to understand how one affects the other, that the layers, each of them
is worth the slow work of paying attention.

About this poem.

Layers in this one. More of that poetry is never about one thing thing. (Oh! Two “things” in a row is driving spell check crazy. That makes me smile.)

About scenery and art. About reinventing yourself, which I have been doing over the past year or two and am still doing. About relationships. About Seeing. About love and faith. About making judgements slowly, very slowly. About what happens when we slow our lives down.

The photograph was taken not far from my home in West Pawlet, Vermont.

Be well. Travel wisely.

Tom