Beauty becomes her

Today, July 8th, is my mother Margie's birthday. She would be 97 today were she still in a body. Her love of nature and her love of words are both things that I share with her, so today I honor her day with this poem written in my head while on the lake in my kayak.
FLOATING
She has washed me clean this morning, washed my energy and made it new.
She, the lady of the lake, has shared her delights with me this early morning
She shared the shimmer on the trees, Grandmother Moon setting in the Western sky, the summer grasses holding droplets of dew 
A fairy glen tucked in by one corner of the lake, its mists revealing a beaver, jumping off a log to disappear under the water
fish showing themselves gaily as they splash and play
birds singing singing singing their morning prayers of joy
taking me away on a shamanic journey as I float
drumming the side of my kayak with my hand
returning to see a blue heron sharing space with me at eye level
rushes tall enough to make a giant Brigids cross
dragonflies everywhere winking on the water
joyous heart opening beautiful mother Danu
All of nature within me and I within it
Every day to begin this way
washed by nature's bounty
Rose O'Connor

Love you Mother
​Happy day of your birth