And I Walk Among Them

Around here animals
are allowed to be
themselves, at home
utterly in the cradle
of creation.

Come Spring
and the mama cows
walk up into the forest
bordering their pasture
to give birth
under the cedar trees,
and the midwifing birds
sing encouraging songs
to them.

Down the road
and around the bend
at sundown hens
and roosters fly
into the low tree
branches and prepare
for avian dreams.

And I walk among them,
at last an animal
happy in her whole being,
singing and greeting
and blessing and being
blessed and thanking God.

            Renee Alla Bozarth