Shields and Clouds

To notice Nature
Is to know the tulip's heart asks for little,
Its petals upon sundown
Folding shield upon shield
Over innocence.

The sun,
Also of patience,
Remains willing to allow,
Understands clouds of coolant,
Nature's roiling emotion,
Occasionally needs to vent.

Humans,
On the other hand,
Know less of endurance,
Too occupied with the now,
Ignorant of perfection's infinite plan.

Like a child's first steps,
We wobble through life's forward movement,
Paying little attention to personal shields and clouds,
Becoming instead,
Duplicitous cripples,
Unaware we're but habits of illusion
Wobbling still further,
Until...