Look {31 Days of Five-Minute Free Writes}

Nearing the pecan orchard on a hazy summer afternoon, you may see a tangle of knee-deep weeds reaching lazily up from the ground. But if you look, really look, the scene is a carpet of miniature blossoms—delicate purple star-shaped blooms, pinky-sized roses, lemon-tinted florets as small as sand gnats.

Maybe you notice movement above, in the branches. But look, truly look. Before you even turned in his direction, the red-tailed hawk lifted majestic wings and launched a graceful glide to the neighboring property.
He swept soundlessly to a new vantage point where he watches you. Also inspecting you are smoke-colored squirrels, who somehow always skitter to the opposite side of the tree trunks just before your eyes can focus on them. The smear of blue in your peripheral vision was an Eastern bluebird whose nest rests feet away. A mockingbird perches on the fence wire, scanning the ground for activity. She will swoop in and snatch up the beetle wriggling right where you’re about to step, and you’ll miss the whole affair unless you slow and look.

Look up further, patiently look, and see that the cottony clouds you think are white actually glow with yellow and lavender and peeks of silver.

This post is part of 31 Days of Five-Minute Free Writes, an exercise in writing a timed, prompted post every day during the month of October. For me, it's a challenge to move beyond prideful perfectionism, to write more freely, and to share more openly.