What if you lived in praise

Of earth soils, moist grass, bird seed spilling from its bowl

Of oregon grape flowers

Honeysuckle yellow

Grape hyacinths, magnolia, lavender, jasmine

Cherry blossoms

And the fallen petal, and the dried up leaf

And the brown grass in the mouth 

Of the yellow finch

Who is building a nest in the blue spruce

Outside the window

I am learning how to praise

The other

How to commune, to make contact

I offer water in a bowl with the word dream

Etched along its bottom

I offer a dance and think the words

“I love you”

I almost sing, I almost say it outloud

What if you lived in praise of the beauty of this world?

What if you lived beyond amazement, 

In total ecstasy 

What if you let yourself come, undone

In your praising?

What if praising is what your body is meant to do?