Yesterday's Clouds

Yesterday's Clouds 

As we headed west during yesterday’s run

Clouds in the sky got our attention.

Most often on runs at that early hour

It is clouds in the east that have that power.

Often times purple and sometimes blue

Against a pink and pastel-y hue

Of the sunrise over the reservoir

Or over the water in the harbor.

But yesterday the entire bank of clouds

Seemed like it stood still and stood out

And the break between the clouds and sky

Was cleaner that anything that had ever caught my eye.

To the north and directly above us, light blue

Looking further west then, a darker hue.

The sky not yet fully lit by the sun

Given how early we’d met for our run.

And then to the south of the blue shades

Was a sharp white line at the edge

Of a cloud bank extended as far as I

Could see to the south in the morning sky

And beyond that sharp line was mostly gray

For a cloudy start to a busy day.

The edge between the clouds and clear

Was sharp and fine and not a smear

That one often sees with wispy clouds

That do not have lines that make them stand out.

And besides making a comment about the sky

I did have a question in my mind

Wondering what else might be as clear

Was there something far or something near

That I had been pondering for some time

Seeking to make reason or rhyme

Of something that otherwise seemed not to make sense

That might suddenly come off the fence

Of balancing in uncertainty

And instead be clear for me to see.

Or perhaps that wasn’t the meaning of what I saw

Maybe it wasn’t a sign at all

Maybe it was just a random event

A glimpse of clarity for a moment

To simply remind me to clear my brain

So that I can better ascertain

The answer to questions that float in my mind

The ultimately depend on my having the time

To sketch, to ponder, and sort out

What each one is truly all about

The world is not here to provide clarity

If anyone will make sense—it must be me.

The world provides so much from which to choose

But only I can choose to win and not to lose

Whatever happens I can learn and grow

That is the one thing I clearly know.

As clear as the line in the clouds yesterday

Reminding me to find clarity in my way.

Radiating Joy

I heard an interview with Yo-Yo Ma on a public radio program called On Being this morning.  In the discussion, the interviewer noted that one of her producers had seen Yo-Yo Ma up close and that he radiated joy when he played.  I hope I radiate joy most of the time.  Energy and positivity.  About my running.  About my professional activities.  About my family.

I know I am not perfect.

I know I have down days.

I know I may even drag others down sometimes.

But my goal is to live what I heard about Yo-Yo Ma this morning--to radiate joy.  For others to share.

In my family life, in my professional life, in my personal life, and in my volunteer life.   

Some Running Verse

Running in Gentle Flurries

Overnight snow

Pretty on the tree branches

Softly on the grass

Flurries falling from the sky

The sidewalk is mostly wet

The streets are only wet.

I wear my bright colors

Yellow running tights

Black and yellow shirt

White and red hat

Orange and black gloves

Florescent green shoes.

I begin slowly.

Looking for hills

Based on the workout

Assigned by my coach.

But today I am more worried

About safety than about hills.

Streets that are well lit.

Streets that are not too heavily traveled.

An opportunity to just run.

Not to push myself.

Not to think too hard.

Mostly to let my muscles

And my brain

Relax.

I run the six miles

At an average 9:15 pace

And I clear the clutter

From my brain

Making me ready

For another day of much interaction

At the office,

At dinner,

At a concert.

And life is good.