the camera in my brain clicks
to capture the golden leaf 
midair on its once-in-a-lifetime descent

later that evening
bidding farewell to 5 young treasures
sporting their "you are here" t-shirts
I remember a long-forgotten lesson on prayer
"prayer is the journey to nowhere"
the journey to now, the journey to here

in all the possible when's and where's of the risen Jesus
every time I turn my face to Him
right now, right here
He is

this morning I ran with a song in my head
my eyelashes and hair grabbing drops
out of the fog-weighted air
I sang past the milkweed under
its grey-sparkled blanket
a spider's home illumined
its loopy strands bridging trees across the path
raspberry plants proudly sporting pendant necklaces
near Floradale Road the cicada song
rose to take the lead vocal
and I forgot for a moment to sing
until I touched my wet hair 
and realized I was soaked in praise