Such are the ways of Nature...

Nature, Grand Lady of legerdemain performs,
as emerald leaves appear in a lightning flash and sway
to the music of gold breezes
warmed by godly rays of sun,
while pretty things burst forth in rainbows
and tiny creatures take wing and soar
up and down the rows of the circus of life.
Lightning pops in every particle
to be seen and felt, heard and tasted,
igniting to make us the godly mix we are...
But the Lady who gives also takes.
As the orange sun spins a path away,
starving the earth of its fire
and greens turn to brown as creatures flee
while those musical breezes become angry, grow cold and roar.
Color drains away and life stands perplexed and alone,
wondering what is next,
before the final storm
that grabs it all.
Such are the ways of Nature
giving in miracles, then snatching it back
in eruptions of power
bringing man, in the cacophony of change,
to his knees
in love and respect
...and wonder.