Fascinated and Bewildered I am a sunflower facing the sun, How could I ever know you? What is wild and free is never understood. Yet here I stand in my silent majesty, Wait for you to take a moment’s pause. Under the blue sky, reaching outward In blissful ignorance, I face my only Sunlit Lord— your back turned, there is no anger; only the wind that sways me. —

The Poetry of Nature In this vastness, I listen to the trees, I hear their whispers, as if they know my name. Leaves with gentle voices, telling secrets sweet; The world around me, alive, a living thing. Birds sing anew each dawn, their joy unfurled, As we dance through a garden, wise like Pear tree, young like the rose, strong as the oak. —

Lilies Each petal a soft promise, the lily blooms, Delicate, poised, alive— Sonorous notes in the breeze. Kissed by dew of the dawn, in silver light it gleams; A lily unfolding, dreams whisper low, The world boundless, below. —

Hyacinth All fragrances blend, land and sky, together, I breathe, too, the music, in the air is vibrato. Nature’s stringed harmony plucking at my heart, In a garden of shadows, even in silence I thrive. —

The Meadow Here in the meadow, I see earth at its play; The wildflowers sway, under the watchful sun, Nature’s vast chorus sings, alive in resonance, My spirit entwined with the beauty that lives, A pulse shared with the world. —

Autumn Leaves Golden ochre falls, as the season shifts, A dance of death and birth, painting the ground, Each leaf a farewell, soft, sweet surrender, To the whispering wind, that carries me onward, Each crumbling piece whispers, it’s time for rest. —

Wistful Dawn At dawn, as beauty breaks, the light creeps, Whispering to the petals— time to awaken. Nature stretches, yawns soft, A calm breath to the world, This tranquil moment, the heartbeat of earth, And I, a witness, stand in silent awe. —

Evening’s Embrace As dusk falls, I hear the rustling leaves, Nature’s lullabies weave stories of the day, Each whisper holds magic, sweet and low; Each star above, a promise yet to be— The world slows, wrapped in love and light. —

The Autumn Moon A silver gleam, a mirror in the sky, The autumn moon glows, in the still of the night. A vestige of warmth, she whispers in dreams, Holding close the seasons, like soft silk gauze. —

Roses Fragrant blooms in the night, their beauty surrounds, Gentle to the touch, a softness profound, Pink and red like sunsets, hues of longing and grace; I find myself ensnared in the maze of their essence. —

Reflections Amid the trees, my mind recollects, Nature’s mirror reflecting, all that is divine, I reach for the branch that bends, in a dance with the clouds, Echoes of laughter, in the whispers of winds. —

Glimpse of Wonder Oh, the joy I find, nestled in the green, The fields like oceans, swaying to the tides, Life moves effortlessly, under a joyous sun, In nature, there is peace, and a glimpse of wonder. —

Whispers of Spring Amidst the melting snow, life beckons return, Delicate as the crocus, breaking through soft clay, Each bud a promise, nurtured by the warmth, As spring unfolds like a tale, precious and pure. —

Chasing Shadows In the forest, I chase the dappled light, Where shadow dances beneath ancient boughs, Breath of the earth, a sacred embrace, Each rustle a testament, to the unseen life. —

The Sky Above me—endless, a canvas of dreams, Streaks of color painting, the aspirations of life, The clouds, wandering spirits, freeing their thoughts, And I, beneath their gaze, stand humbled in awe.

• Jessie Redmon Fauset