Passion Pit

Surrounded by stone walls reminiscent of Ireland, the grass cushions my back.
Clouds float by overhead like tufts of cottonwood puffs floating lazily down a stream.
The wind racing through the leaves sounds like rain falling on a still lake.
The pink flowers like quiet sentinels sway their heads to and fro with the breeze.
A bird flies by calling across to its companion.
Several others answer back.  “Over here.” “Over here.”
A sanctuary from the world, sunk into the earth.
The moist smell of Mother Nature calms the soul
and the shadows of green and brown are soothing to the eyes.
Resting on the earth, letting all the tensions and cares of the world flow out and away,
I absorb the gentle ebb and flow of Nature.                    

Copyright Dawn Harkness  1991

(a description of a sunken garden study area on the University of Oklahoma grounds)