"Dawn." by Angel Ortega, on Flickr

Every Day
by Jonathan Walton, from The Second Verse, 2006

The eye of heaven
pours its luminance
upon the Earth
and stirs its inhabitants
into a new beginning

Beaks are released
from the tufts of wings
and nature’s chorus
surrenders new songs
for a new day

Eyes of all kinds
rise to find light
filling all spaces
‘tis a blessed sight

To behold this new day
begun in the same way
it may seem routine
and hold no special place

But every single time
that light cracks the east sky
it is the most amazing moment
up to that point in life

Because without that awakening
That initial opening of your eyes
There is no success or excellence
no chance of opportunity

Each and every day
dawn stretches her arms
out over the mountains
and down into the valleys
Into each inlet
and across every island
Around every sound
and through each isle
We all have the greatest
reason to smile
Because endless--
are our possibilities
Amazing--
is our potential
Life is waiting for us
And we must be ready to meet it.