There are mornings I wake And feel the world breathing along with me, The soft rustle of leaves, a gentle wind, That carries whispers from the earth. The sun stretches its golden fingers, Gently nudging the stars away, And in those lively moments, I remember— Nature’s pulse syncs with my worries, Welcoming me into its expansive embrace, As I breathe into this vastness, find a quiet haven in the warmth Of life renewing itself, here, now, A secret known in the blooms of spring.

— “Morning Embrace”

• James Wright