Bless these thy gifts,
these creatures of flesh and blood—
the raptors
who fish to satisfy their hunger
and never grasp at more;

The black bear
who walks on silent paws 
streamside
past the sleepers in their tent;

The coyotes
whose playful chorus
echoes in the canyon.

Bless the canyon wrens
whose song is pure
as water cascading over rocks.

Bless the mule deer
who stand sentry round
the fawns bathing in the lake.

Bless the trout
whose rainbow stippling
glitters.

Bless the ponderosa saplings
birthed by fire.

Bless the cholla
who ask so little
and bloom so profusely.

Bless the multitudes of grasses,
the mute roots of the aspen,
the steadfast constellations.

And bless the great blue heron 
who sings only when he’s startled, 
and who has startled me
into song.