as time rolls on, the way, my appreciation
incrementally increases
for the unfolding of expected things that,
though expected, still surprise me with their
novelty--an awe and wonder producing novelty.

things like
seasons, but particularly the Fall which descends
and moves by the sound of wind-pushed leaves
harmonizing with sidewalks anticipating rain.
these leaves promise to flame before being extinguished
and i love that in the way of surprise silencing expectation.

and

then there are those relationships that flame
without any signal of extinction in sight,
relationships generously laboring on behalf of survival and pleasure,
ones that flip and flop, and sometimes remain sideways for what seems
like years, but do the work of familiarity and recognition
and tender gracing without asking permission for one simple reason:
they've earned that privilege,
which isn't really a privilege, but the incessantly moving mode of salvation
woven through moments where need and availability collide.
those relationships i love too, in the way of surprise silencing expectation.

and

there are those moments when something simultaneously smaller and grander
than seasons and beloveds
takes a glimpse of itself,
and though it has glimpsed itself before in moments just like this,
the beholding right now feels all/together new and desiring,
so deeply penetrating and non-conforming,
so rich in flavor and vague in mystery
one cannot help but muster the courage to remain open to surprise,
to play the fool in this life of sequence.