lay your back down—
upon the grass or sand
in your secret and sacred
grove of discovery
a peaceful sanctum
of earth’s patient solitude
where every verdant meadow
extends forever
where fertile forests
sway in a unified vitality
where a desert
dresses up in ancient red rocks
where satin clouds
open skies to ethereal light
where the hums of all
infinite life take a pause
to reverence its eyes and ears
to your presence
when these hands
of friendly earth open wide
rivers of meditation
will reflect your soft heart
and pray for your hand
of praise and protection
Doug and his wife Diane live in Oakley, Utah. They have four grown kids with amazing families. Doug is a retired water and energy sustainability director of a large water district in Summit County. He has spent his life in the environmental science industry, focusing primarily on water resource protection, efficiency, and sustainability. He has served in many public positions, including the Oakley City Council and Mayor. He is currently a volunteer on the County Board of Health, the City Planning Commission, and a local trail foundation board. As an avid hiker and naturalist, Doug has spent much of his life writing poetry based upon the unifying aspects of nature, science, and his strong LDS faith. These are tonics of mercy during times of depression and anxiety, as an environmental steward on the “left-hand fork of the river” in Utah.
