happiness

There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.

- The Buddha


rain pours increasingly harder
as i rise to begin my day
kittens greet me
with their exuberance

rain, now slowing down-
her sound noticed
through commuters' tires
rolling through wet concrete

birds, less apparent
in this morning; must be
sleeping in, within
the dry nooks of trees

some leaves which did not
transform to their peaked reds
have blown
to the softness of autumn's earth

hardly audible, leaves do
fall gently, unconcerned
with where or how they fall
just flow with wind, and with rain

to follow a single leaf
through treetop,
spiraling through apple scented air,
down to the blessed ground

is all the work i need to do
to understand how to be
gentle with myself
and all of humanity

Kate Lamberg
10/19/11

flaming tree