i was given a gift, a surprise!

a piece of fire and ancient sun,

strung with bits of tiger’s eyes and ancient coral –

a necklace of sunlight and fire from a friend,

it matches some earrings my mother wore, that my grandmother made.

 Thus listening adornment,

i place them into holes in my ears first pierced my my grandmother when i came of age.

but i now have more holes in my ears than utility demands …

so to keep the amber company, a small dog carved from nut adorns one side ,

and a chatoyance squirrel on the other—

and i wonder at the wisdom of such pairings

as i am the bridge in between .

I go outside into the garden and as i walk in prayer,

to prepare for the day –

You are there, dashing forward above my head on tenuous twigs –

from tree to tree, trusting  your path.

and i listen to the wisdom.

and go out into the fire of the day.