Stop and think about it,
just for a minute,
yes this minute,
Exhale first,
then fill your lungs with air,
then take another breath.
It's amazing, isn't it?

I am often surprised
by the wisdom of mother nature.
The beating heart,
the lungs filled with precious prana,
fingers and toes in just the right places.
Some with hooves
and others with fins
or tentacles for goodness sake.

And when you see the small red markings on a bird’s wings,
you realize the artistry with which she does her work.

Yes, you can take another breath now.

Now that parts of mine
are past their prime,
if I am being kind,
the wonder that it worked so well
for so long cannot be ignored.

Hands at heart,
I bow to her with gratitude
for this body
and the human experience
it has afforded me
for three quarters of a century.

I cannot wait to see what comes next.