First Friday of Advent

Wild animals and all cattle,
   creeping things and flying
         birds!
Praise the LORD! Psalm 148:10, 14c

the deer standing
motionless at
      the edge of
      the creek;
the little birds
swirling around
   the feeder;
the kitten stalking
them behind the
   safety of the window,
all
teach us
      your songs
of joy.

(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman