seat in the tea house
this, second day of autumn 
so cozy, so nice

wind through autumn leaves
white cat drinking at the pond
new chapter unfolds

breeze like white paper
blows open doors to tea house
the wicker chair creaks 

Sixteen birds perched on bird feeder
That is swinging in the wind
Fluttering wildly to fight for food;
To stay on the feeder

This is what the inside of my heart feels like today

Like sixteen birds on a bird feeder
Bouncing, thudding, and flapping
And bumping into one another
So hungry 

The birds at dawn
Signal the start
So I put on my 
Sacred terrycloth robe
Do a single spin
Light the white candle
Boil the water
Pour it over the coffee
Clap three times
Sniff my morning sniffle
Shuffle old, tired slippers
To the toaster
Watch as the bagel
Makes its transubstantiation 
From bread to toast

I remember ringing the bells in the church
And marveling at my power as a ten year old altar girl 

I made tiny little crackers into Jesus Christ himself 

Here, now, in my kitchen
I am performing other ceremonies 

Whisking, whirling, humming 
Whispering measurements 
Into soft white piles of salt and flour
Tiny little incantations 

Creating my very own magic 
Wielding power ever so gently

Ringing those bells