the gopher nocturnal and elusive
left evidence again
of its persistent attempt
to burrow within the garden
 

its hole gapes and I fill it
with my love and a
resounding tone of no
resealing the destructive tunnel
 

for it represents my thoughts
side tracks of sabotage and
polarity shifts to havoc doubts
which must not be encouraged
 

life’s constructive positive direction
inclination in harmonious wholeness
tends the garden as good and beautiful
successfully evolving what is to come
 

a fledgling bird arrives at the feeder
beautiful infancy unafraid
as a joyful observer I glimpse this phenomenon
as symbolic of harmony between human and nature
 

aware there is no parental bird
it has not been taught to fear
it allows me now to carefully hold it
and continues with its calm
 

now reflective of my mind set
gentle and unafraid
will filled of elation ideal
I named the bird believe
 

it hopped away under the brush
instinctively resting in shelter
yet returned once more in late afternoon
perched again upon the feeder