This morning was something. A little snow br lay on the ground. The sun floated in a clear br blue sky. The sea was blue, and blue-green, br as far as the eye could see. br Scarcely a ripple. Calm. I dressed and went br for a walk -- determined not to return br until I took in what Nature had to offer. br I passed close to some old, bent-over trees. br Crossed a field strewn with rocks br where snow had drifted. Kept going br until I reached the bluff. br Where I gazed at the sea, and the sky, and br the gulls wheeling over the white beach br far below. All lovely. All bathed in a pure br cold light. But, as usual, my thoughts br began to wander. I had to will br myself to see what I was seeing br and nothing else. I had to tell myself this is what br mattered, not the other. (And I did see it, br for a minute or two!) For a minute or two br it crowded out the usual musings on br what was right, and what was wrong -- duty, br tender memories, thoughts of death, how I should treat br with my former wife. All the things br I hoped would go away this morning. br The stuff I live with every day. What br I've trampled on in order to stay alive. br But for a minute or two I did forget br myself and everything else. I know I did. br For when I turned back i didn't know br where I was. Until some birds rose up br from the gnarled trees. And flew br in the direction I needed to be going. br br br Anonymous submission.