new year pearls

i walked among the trees today
my hand swirling pearls
in the pocket of my vest
mixed with rosemary from NM,
fragrant, smooth, earthy, sea born.

open
 to find a tree
open
 to receive a pearl
the trees  appeared out of the corner of my eye
or right in front of me.

i don't  know why i am drawn to do this
the necklace long ago undone.

you can imagine the pearl
resting in the opening
usually at the base of the tree
sometimes, though, higher up the trunk.

i don't know why i do this
it doesn't matter why.
it's done
in thanks
to the mystery of life,
to this giving and receiving.