Globe Terrestre

It’s all yours—

This globe terrestre

in suspense

with no strings attached.

Each Douglas fir and silver birch

and field full of native Irish yarrow.

I placed it all,

here,

where the surprise encounter

would bloom

in the doubting heart

and eventually grow

in the openness of

a sun-spilt mind.

A robin atop the open gate

nods her head as if to say

“you’ll learn to see our way”

and two magpies

join the chorus

from an apple tree

that sways.

Now, here you come again

over the southeastern ridge,

illuminating An Corran and

imparting courage to

kittiwakes’, cormorants’

and herons’ nests.

In the time

it takes you to rise

this morning,

I am filled with wonder

and this contented yearning—

for what you promise

lies ahead