In the hush of the emerald glade where sunbeams braid the leaves,
Five images unfold like petals of a dream:
Each a circle of fur and feather, gathered round a single page,
Where wonder writes its scripture on the hearts of beasts and wings.
First Tableau: The Council of the Curious
An owl, wide-eyed as midnight moons, perches high in thought’s embrace,
A deer with antlers like cathedral spires leans in with gentle grace.
A squirrel, tail a question mark, a fox with mischief in his grin,
A rabbit soft as whispered prayers, a badger bold with kohl-dark chin.
They sit in hush, a parliament of paws upon the open book—
The words are rivers, forests, stars; each creature takes a look.
No king, no prey, no hunter here—only the shared surprise
That letters bloom like fireflies beneath their wondering eyes.
Second Tableau: The Lion’s Quiet Roar
A lion, mane a wildfire crown, yet tender as a lullaby,
Holds court with paw upon the page where ancient verses lie.
A rabbit white as altar cloth, a parrot bright as psalmody,
A bear with honey in his smile, a bluebird small as prophecy.
The lion reads, and thunder softens to a murmur in his throat;
The rabbit listens, ears like sails catching mercy’s note.
Here strength kneels low to listen, pride forgets its golden name—
For stories make the mighty small, and small things bold with flame.
Third Tableau: The Lamb and the Playful Word
A lamb with wool like cumulus drifts, a lion cub with yarn-ball glee,
Two foxes—one with collar blue—giggle at what they see.
An owl aloft, a hedgehog curled, a book that spills its ink in rhyme:
“This is a tale where rabbits rule, and lions learn to climb.”
The lamb turns page with velvet nose, the foxes clap in delight—
Even the hedgehog uncurls to laugh beneath the forest light.
Here innocence is sovereign, play the only law that binds;
The book becomes a playground where every creature finds.
Fourth Tableau: The Autumn Assembly
Leaves of amber, crimson, gold rain down like blessings from the trees,
A lion reads of bread and fish, of storms that quiet on the seas.
Squirrels dance on either side, a lamb lies soft against his mane,
A rabbit gray as evening mist, an owl with wisdom’s steady flame.
The forest holds its breath to hear the tale of loaves and wine;
Even butterflies pause mid-flight, their wings a stained-glass sign.
Autumn itself leans closer, painting every listening face—
For stories are the harvest that no season can erase.
Fifth Tableau: The Covenant of Creatures
A bear with arms like oaken beams, a lion bright as covenant sun,
A rabbit, duck, and phoenix bold, a goose with laughter on her tongue.
The book is open wide—HOLY—its letters large as mercy’s span;
The duck points with a feathered wing, the rabbit lifts a tiny hand.
The bear’s deep chuckle rumbles low, the lion’s eyes are soft with awe—
Here predator and prey forget the ancient teeth and claw.
The goose honks joy, the phoenix sings, the forest glows with light;
For in the circle of the book, all creatures are made right.
The Poem Beneath the Pictures
Five scenes, one silent sermon:
That every claw and hoof and wing
Can bow before the open word
And hear the wild world sing.
No fang need bare, no ear need fear,
When stories gather round—
The forest becomes cathedral,
The book, the hallowed ground.
And we, who look upon these beasts
With hearts of dust and dream,
Are invited to the circle too—
To read, to laugh, to gleam.
Five images unfold like petals of a dream:
Each a circle of fur and feather, gathered round a single page,
Where wonder writes its scripture on the hearts of beasts and wings.
First Tableau: The Council of the Curious
An owl, wide-eyed as midnight moons, perches high in thought’s embrace,
A deer with antlers like cathedral spires leans in with gentle grace.
A squirrel, tail a question mark, a fox with mischief in his grin,
A rabbit soft as whispered prayers, a badger bold with kohl-dark chin.
They sit in hush, a parliament of paws upon the open book—
The words are rivers, forests, stars; each creature takes a look.
No king, no prey, no hunter here—only the shared surprise
That letters bloom like fireflies beneath their wondering eyes.
Second Tableau: The Lion’s Quiet Roar
A lion, mane a wildfire crown, yet tender as a lullaby,
Holds court with paw upon the page where ancient verses lie.
A rabbit white as altar cloth, a parrot bright as psalmody,
A bear with honey in his smile, a bluebird small as prophecy.
The lion reads, and thunder softens to a murmur in his throat;
The rabbit listens, ears like sails catching mercy’s note.
Here strength kneels low to listen, pride forgets its golden name—
For stories make the mighty small, and small things bold with flame.
Third Tableau: The Lamb and the Playful Word
A lamb with wool like cumulus drifts, a lion cub with yarn-ball glee,
Two foxes—one with collar blue—giggle at what they see.
An owl aloft, a hedgehog curled, a book that spills its ink in rhyme:
“This is a tale where rabbits rule, and lions learn to climb.”
The lamb turns page with velvet nose, the foxes clap in delight—
Even the hedgehog uncurls to laugh beneath the forest light.
Here innocence is sovereign, play the only law that binds;
The book becomes a playground where every creature finds.
Fourth Tableau: The Autumn Assembly
Leaves of amber, crimson, gold rain down like blessings from the trees,
A lion reads of bread and fish, of storms that quiet on the seas.
Squirrels dance on either side, a lamb lies soft against his mane,
A rabbit gray as evening mist, an owl with wisdom’s steady flame.
The forest holds its breath to hear the tale of loaves and wine;
Even butterflies pause mid-flight, their wings a stained-glass sign.
Autumn itself leans closer, painting every listening face—
For stories are the harvest that no season can erase.
Fifth Tableau: The Covenant of Creatures
A bear with arms like oaken beams, a lion bright as covenant sun,
A rabbit, duck, and phoenix bold, a goose with laughter on her tongue.
The book is open wide—HOLY—its letters large as mercy’s span;
The duck points with a feathered wing, the rabbit lifts a tiny hand.
The bear’s deep chuckle rumbles low, the lion’s eyes are soft with awe—
Here predator and prey forget the ancient teeth and claw.
The goose honks joy, the phoenix sings, the forest glows with light;
For in the circle of the book, all creatures are made right.
The Poem Beneath the Pictures
Five scenes, one silent sermon:
That every claw and hoof and wing
Can bow before the open word
And hear the wild world sing.
No fang need bare, no ear need fear,
When stories gather round—
The forest becomes cathedral,
The book, the hallowed ground.
And we, who look upon these beasts
With hearts of dust and dream,
Are invited to the circle too—
To read, to laugh, to gleam.
The Sunday Circle