Inspiration Comes

I am up early and decide to go watch the sunrise at the Quabbin Reservoir. It's been a long time since I've done this and I am feeling good, remembering how inspiring it is to watch the sun come up, as I jump in the car and drive the short two miles to the beautiful old rock wall on Route 202.

Sitting on "my" wall overlooking a meadow that slopes down to a stretch of forest with the water beyond, I wonder about this area's namesake Chief Quabbin (there is only one online reference to him and it has no detail about his life). I used to imagine what it used to be like to live in a teepee on this perfect piece of land near the water but then reminded myself that this reservoir was manmade and three Western Massachusetts communities were flooded in the 1930's to give Boston drinking water.

As I sit here I'm not getting the inspiration I used to. Down in front of where I sit on the two-foot wall I see two empty wax paper bags, a large french fry box, an empty bag of sour cream and onion chips, an empty bag of smarties candies, a candy bar wrapper and a soda can--along with older trash I can't identify. I also can't quite see the meadow below because the small trees close to the road have grown tall. One day I'd seen a moose not 20 feet from me eating the tops of them!

Two trees are blocking my view of the clouds, but they are breathtakingly gorgeous with the bright pink light of the morning sun reflected on their bellies. The insects are all chirping and despite the incessant rumble of trucks and cars behind me, mother earth in all her majesty is arising for another precious day. Beyond the consumer waste I notice three small patches of lovely white flowers. I breathe deeply and I smile.

Inspiration Comes

From looking deeply

Up to the pink bellies of cloud

Over to tiny white flowers that abound

Inside to the hope in my heart

Good morning sweet bunny

Nice to see you