The world is still magic

🌳 notes from beauty

Hello, friend. Happy New Year.

I hope your DeepWinter journey has been blessed. I’m on writing retreat this week and still in the liminal space that is this time of year, so I’ll keep this letter brief and let the poem speak for itself.

May 2025 deepen us in all the best ways, widen our view of possibilities, and be full of miracles.

I wish you a year rich in beauty, coming home to Mother Earth’s embrace, and discovering more of your self.

Happy new year,
Kai

---

graceful giants

🎶 I believe poetry is a song that is meant to be heard as well as read. A poem is a journey for the senses as well as the mind. I invite you to sit back and experience me reading this one to you. You can listen here:

Carmel canyon

The soft gold glow
of Northern California shines
through mossy curves
of ancient oaks 
draped in the living lace
of pale green lichen.

These trees remember
a time and place
when all was well.

Their graceful reach
reminds our hearts
that such a world
is still possible.

I sing them a song,
sacred and simple
and choose a smooth, striped 
caramel-colored acorn 
for my pocket
so I don’t forget.

The world is still magic.
Life is still breathing.
Home is still possible.
And beauty sustains us
in ways nothing else can.


—Kai Madrone

January 4, 2025

Liv e oak acorns. Seed magic. What a wonder that a mighty tree begins in these sweet, tiny packages.