a salamander in her hand

the gifts all around

every moment is a present to us,

and within each present are countless other presents

ready to be opened and enjoyed if we can but see them,

I watch my wonderful middle schoolers

play in the water, adventure through the woods,

marvel at vista and waterfall,

and work hard to see and open what present is given to them,

while, at the same time, distractions pull them this way and that,

as if by magicians who want to keep them from seeing

the simple miracles that abound,

I love it when they slow down and learn to see,

and hole the moment sure,

like a salamander who visits us in one student’s hand.

by Henry H. Walker

May 21, ’14