Dear skeptic,

1.

Have you never gasped 

at the golden radiance of cedar

when the morning sun hits just right?

Have you never blushed 

when a black-capped chickadee sings to you, 

hey sweetie, hey sweetie?

Strolling by a rosemary bush,

have you never stuck your head inside  

and sighed, smiling? 

And the blue! The blue of sky 

and the blue of mountains and the dark blue 

of oceans in the distance…

Has blue never made you cry? 

2. 

If there is no god, how 

did a bed of pink and yellow 

tulips save my life 

last spring…they whispered 

love me – and I did. 

When I returned home 

I was wet with tears and mad

at the bright sun for being bright  

but understood a little

something more about walking

one foot at a time.