Wonder

Does it happen to you often now?

If I’m going, to be honest with you, not-so-much for me either.

But it happened for me the other day around five, after running errands.

It was a glorious Saturday, Summer day, and I felt timeless.

I opened my car door expecting nothing.

Got out.

And then I saw it.

I blinked, and then I focused.

I had never seen such a thing on the western front slope of my yard.

I have seen raccoons, ducks and there’s been a coyote sighting or two,

but I have never seen this animal anywhere near here.

I couldn’t believe it.

I slowly walked to this slope. 

I got up on my tippy toes and peeked up over-the-ledge.

There she was,

curious to the world,

nibbling on grasses and things.

It was a brown baby bunny with cute, tiny ears that stuck up.

Awestruck was I, and at the same time, I wanted to give her something.

I quietly and quickly opened up the house, turned off the alarm, said “hi” to my pet kids

and grabbed some tiny little carrots for this bunny to munch.

Bunny was still there when I ran back to her.

I softly threw the carrots her way.

She only startled when I threw the last few,

and she moved quickly back into the brush of the blackberry thickets bordering this slope.

Later on that night I brought her a porcelain bowl filled with water.

I also threw in some Arugula, maybe to get her to have the notion

that this is not just anyone’s yard

but someone’s yard who might like to care for her with carrots, arugula, and water.

I haven’t seen her since.

It’s three days now.

I keep the porcelain bowl filled with water as a reminder

of the wonder she brought to my life.

~ Beth Lord