A friend and former teaching colleague of mine, Patti Hardee Donnelly, is a superb photographer whose work I’ve long admired. A small offshoot of her photography has been her finding small HEARTS in many forms in nature and in life. I am often surprised, frequently amused, and always delighted by what Patti comes across in her daily life. This summer she posted this beautiful picture of an old tree stump she came across very early one morning on her daily run. I was mesmerized by the beauty of it, the color and texture and most of all by the image I saw within the heart. I know that if I had been walking that path that morning, I would have totally missed this beautiful creation of nature.
Thank you, Patti, for your amazing photo and talent. It immediately inspired me to write this poem, which is dedicated to you.
I’ve recorded an audio of me reading this poem. To hear it, simply click on the link below. It will take a few seconds before it begins.
Heartwood (photo by Patti Hardee Donnelly © 2014)
Heartwood
~for Patti Hardee Donnelly
This heartwood is no more
Than a bit of grey crackling,
More a silvered wood fungus
Than what was once the lifeline
Of a tree, an umbilical hotline
From the sun to the leaves
Down to roots fastened in earth.
Now this aging heart of wood
Reveals elegant scalloped wings,
An angel dancing, a floor
Made of rough pine straw
Softening her delicate steps.
In the silence of morning,
I glimpsed an angel,
But you found her heart.
A Poet in Time 
There is an angel in that old piece of heartwood. There is so much beauty around us in nature if we just take time to look around and notice. Beautiful poem.
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I love that Patti and I saw two things, both of which worked perfectly together. I love when someone makes/guides/helps me see something I would otherwise miss. Patti “finds” hearts everywhere. It’s a beautiful gift for everyone.
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I couldn’t see the heart at first when I saw the picture, but when my friend showed me, I really found the beauty in it. Your poem was touching and made me really think about the picture.
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Thank you, Rachel, for such a thoughtful comment. It’s fascinating what we can see when we really look. Mrs. Donnelly was a real inspiration to me.
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You are a very creative poet and I think that the tree looks like a bird kinda
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Isn’t that fascinating? You saw a bird, while I saw an angel. Thanks for sharing that with me and for reading my poems today.
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You and Patti help us see beauty all around us.
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Thank you. Patti is a real inspiration. I love how others see things with such different eyes.
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I love it … you are such a talent
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James, a complement like that coming from you is very flattering. Thank you so much.
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So lovely
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Why thank you, Yolanda. I’m glad you liked it.
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