Praised Be

Praised be the ugly and the beautiful, the slow decay of leaves, the dew on grass, the thistles and the apples bountiful. Praised be the frozen branches in the pass, the rapids rushing downwards to the spring, the violets sprouting in the morning light. Praised be the feather of the broken wing, the wounded fawn that will not last the night whose heavy clouds obstruct the moon and stars. Praised be the hungry lynx and its last prey, the goshawk flying over woodland scars before it dives into a sea of grey. Praised be the fierce light that forever burns, and life that struggles, dies and then returns.