Chapter 1
Spring has arrived...
The flowers are now blooming
I see pink flowers by the fence
Yellow flowers growing through the grass
The rain has left the soil damp
I smell the earth on my hands
Cold water slips into my shoes
I laugh at myself
Next time I will wear my boots
For now I keep on walking
I hear a bird on the roof
Singing while the clouds move on
I stand and listen for a moment
There is no need to rush
Back inside I make some tea
The mint tastes cool and fresh
I watch the rain on the window
And think about last year
There were things I wanted to try
But I kept holding myself back
I am still a little afraid
But I will take small steps
I open the window
I let the fresh air in
It is time to try again
I do not need to do everything today
Summer has arrived...
Bringing happiness and joy
The sky is bright and blue
Red roses grow beside the wall
I smell them through the open door
Along with freshly cut grass
I bite into a sweet peach
The juice runs down my wrist
I reach for a cloth
And smile at the mess
The stones feel warm beneath my feet
I hear a bee beside my chair
Children are laughing beyond the fence
They do not want to go inside
I know how they feel
I want to stay here too
Just a little longer
Before the daylight fades
The dishes can wait
I am always finding something to do
Today I will sit for a while
And enjoy the warmth on my skin
I feel happy here
There is nothing special happening
But I am not worrying about tomorrow
And that feels good
Autumn's coolness...
Brushing against my face
Gold and orange cover the path
Brown leaves gather by the gate
I hear them crunch beneath my shoes
Then rain begins to fall
I smell the damp leaves
And smoke from a nearby chimney
My hands are getting cold
I pull my sleeves over them
At home there is apple cake
I taste the sweet fruit and cinnamon
My fingers warm around my mug
Rain taps against the window
I miss the summer evenings
I miss the flowers by the wall
I thought I was ready for autumn
But today I feel a little sad
I put on my old jumper
And close the curtains
I am glad to be home
With nowhere else to go
The harshness of Winter has arrived...
Bringing the dread of coldness
White frost covers the roof
The sky is pale and grey
My scarf feels rough against my chin
My fingers ache inside my gloves
My boots crunch on the frozen path
I hear a dog bark
I walk a little faster
Thinking about my warm kitchen
I smell soup on the stove
And orange peel beside it
Hot chocolate tastes sweet on my tongue
I hold the cup with both hands
The kettle clicks off
The room begins to warm
But I still feel lonely
These dark days can be hard
I think of a friend
I have been meaning to call
I reach for my phone
I do not have to sit alone
We talk and laugh for a while
I am glad I made the call
Winter is still outside my window
But tonight I feel a little better
