Praying By Mary Oliver

It doesn’t have to be

the blue iris, it could be weeds in a vacant lot, or a few stones;

just pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don’t try

to make them elaborate, this isn’t a contest

but a doorway into thanks,

and a silence in which

another voice might speak.

I read this a while ago and was reminded of it today and so here are my words from ‘weeds in a vacant lot’

Shell with a hole (by me)

Walking yesterday,

enough to let the chatter fade

and my mind to still.

I turn my mind to see

Shells with a single hole,

how curious;

each step another and another and another.

An invitation to notice, or a question

Do I notice the shell or the hole?

I collect three to ponder this later.