day dawned with gloomy skies

not from weather, from smoke

fires miles away, carried on the wind

fowling the air, leaving lungs burning

and silence

birds not chirping and not seen

deer shy and quiet, solitary

few braving the trails or yards

sheltering in thickets, invisible

and silence

even plants seem wary

blooms hiding, few flowers

braving the fumes and smoke

those that do seeming sad

and silence

yet nature always hopes

and shares its dreams, look closely

under tall grasses and weeds

a flower in purple glory

a surprise

or a single towhee

at the top of a willow

singing a challenge to the

foul air that better is coming

a surprise

nature has many silences

before a snow storm

before the wind and rain

hurricane and earthquake, too

nature always surprises