Wealth Poem by Diana van den Berg

Lush colours of nature’s palette
master-blended, the backdrop to
avian secrets shared
and tremulously received;
lazy cloud shapes hold my gaze
as they move and change
their shapes
and have their being;
flutter-breeze
tickles a million leaves
into waving to it
and me
and all who care;
Eager canine paws
and closed-eye feline purrs
and four adoring and adored eyes...
have I died and gone to Heaven?
Hadedahs shattering nature’s whispers
with their raucous and much-loved infectious laughter;
blue-headed lizard basking in the sun
safely out of sight of my dog
who does blue-headed lizard patrols
at incredulous puppy speed;
butterflies of all colours and sizes
take their turn
one by flutter-butter one,
on the centre stage;
my two most faithful washingline wasps,
rebuilding their home mostly-demolished in high winds;
children nextdoor singing Happy Birthday
with unabated joy;
birds skimming the sky high overhead
and others descending
with miniscule accuracy on a tree
performing their tiny ablutions;
all this in my own back garden;
how rich and bountiful is life
and how blessed I am;
the rat-race hustle and bustle of life
and all its problems
are dispersed in this Easter Sunday showering
of gratitude and peace;
the sun gilding all I see.

I wrap all this up in my arms
and take it inside
to paint the rest of my working day
with the beauty of nature’s glory,
and peace
and harmonious companionship.

(8 April 2012)