08 Monday Dec 2014
Grandma knew the cures
for scraped knees and upset tummies;
she even had advice for healing
broken hearts and troubled souls;
her kind ways minimized scarring
from the inevitable falls in life.
But I wish she’d shared the secret
of how I’d survive without her,
or how to get over missing her
when holidays and birthdays roll ’round.
Maybe only time can heal this wound.
26 Sunday Oct 2014
Posted in Family, Health, Inspiration, Life, Love, Nature, Philosophy
Tags
Autumn, family, health, inspiration, life, love, Nature, philosophy, seasons
I love the season of autumn
where the colors softly change
from greens to autumn hues.
Blessed with warmer days,
refreshed by cooler nights,
these changes are inevitable,
and they’ll happen to me and you
as we softly enter our autumn,
the last season of our life,
may we see golden treasures
both old and new alike.
01 Wednesday Oct 2014
Crying clouds crowd the dreary gray skies
of October, releasing rivulets of tears
into already mucky, rain-soaked ground.
Hiding under wide-open umbrellas,
adults quickly stride from cars to buildings,
their briefcases safely tucked under,
protecting themselves and their papers
from the non-ending stream from above.
Donned in raincoat and boots,
backpacks bulging, zippers askew,
children splash from puddle to puddle,
giggling and smilng as they frolic to class,
damp, mud-splattered homework in tow.
17 Thursday Jul 2014
12 Saturday Jul 2014
30 Monday Jun 2014
They twitter and chatter,
then, when I turn to look,
…Silence.
Not a luminous eye or
fluttering to be seen.
I pause my movement and
tweet of friendly innocence.
As if an operetta, return answers
are neither rushed nor hesitant,
but beautiful and resonant,
clearly accepting coexistence.
25 Wednesday Jun 2014
Posted in Animals and Insects, Family, Humor, Life, Nature
Mama sat outside and watched,
not saying a word, as
her dogs fought over a toy bone.
She saw Rover snarl and
Tiny retreat, then watched
Rover and bone disappear.
Mama patiently waited
for Rover to come back,
then threw him a ball to chase.
As if King of the mountain,
he ran for the ball,
unaware of the closing door.
After a while, he became
bored with himself and
turned to find his old “friend.”
But as you might surmise,
Tiny wasn’t outside, but
within the comfortable house.
Through the patio door,
Rover could clearly see a
real bone in Tiny’s mouth.
Now, it seems clear to me that
a bone to pick should be
chosen most carefully.
15 Sunday Jun 2014
Posted in Family, Inspiration, Life, Love, Seasonal
Tags
dad, family, father, Father's Day, grief, inspiration, life, love, poems, Poetry
A tribute to my father, who passed away last year.
The church still shone with Christmas,
and personal touches of you were there:
A handmade quilt that you made,
plants and flowers that you loved,
recognition of National Guard duty,
saddened faces of lives you had touched.
You had been called home, and after this day,
I’ll not be able to touch your face,
nor see the twinkle reflected in your eyes
when you smile. I’ll not be able to hear your
child-like excitement as we celebrate Christmas,
the season of your birth and your death.
Yet, I did not protest or fuss;
It was time that your suffering end,
and this day, well,
it couldn’t have been more perfect.
Fifty degrees, the day after Christmas,
plenty of sunshine and blue sky.
It’s as if it were provided for our benefit,
to lift our spirits as your eternal spirit lifted.
Happy Father’s Day!
10 Tuesday Jun 2014
Mama used to say,
“Stop beating around the bush,
Just spit it out.”
But my poetry teacher says,
“Don’t tell us, show us;
Use metaphors.”
Well, I’d really like to comply
so with this story I’ll give it a try…
Little Johnny wanted to drink
but not from the kitchen sink.
So, after bidding his mother farewell,
he headed toward the new-fangled well.
Having heard it dug vast and deeper,
he borrowed Mom’s long-handed dipper.
Holding steadfast, he repeatedly dipped it,
quenched by words and concepts he scripted.
Four years of drinking up knowledge,
earned him a degree from this well-known college.
His mama, having known where he’d been,
wished us to celebrate with her and with him:
Come celebrate, we’re proud as can be—
our own Johnny, a college degree!
—————————————————————–
Now if you ask me,
I think mama was right,
No need to beat around the bush,
Just spit it out.
“Johnny graduated college.
Party tonight.”
29 Thursday May 2014
Posted in Family, Humor, Life, Thoughtful Thursday
Tags
The most expensive vehicle to operate by the mile is the shopping cart.
From Reminisce magazine, August-September 2010, pg 44
28 Wednesday May 2014
19 Monday May 2014
I gave her life,
fed and nurtured her,
and she blossomed before my eyes,
much like my healthy viola.
Encouraged by her surroundings,
she continued to grow and excel
beyond my expectations.
She’s a mature adult now
and has flourished on her own,
encouraging others to
reach out and start on their own.
Violas are beautiful plants known to self-seed (true self-starters), and with the right conditions, can bloom all year.
18 Sunday May 2014
Alternating pressure between feet,
we push down hard on the pedals–
Right, left; right, left; right, left…
The gears start turning, tires start spinning,
and we’re launched down the pathway,
side by side on our bicycles.
We couldn’t be more excited if we were the
Wright Brothers on our first flight.
17 Saturday May 2014
Posted in Children, Family, Inspiration, Life, Nature
I felt his spirit as we worked in the garden
and felt his warmth as we worked the soil,
letting it sift through our fingers, treasuring it
as if pieces of gold.
I saw his smile as we deeply embedded roots
of small, budding flowers into the warm earth.
We were three generations, enjoying our roots,
just as he taught us, flowers and family alike.
16 Friday May 2014
Tags
acceptance, bicycle, children, exercise, family, fun, handicapped, Nature, poems, Poetry
Enjoying the natural beauty
of sunshine, trees and grass,
I tooled around the park today,
so proud on my two wheels.
I changed perspective, however,
as I watched those less fortunate–
Like the mom balancing a small child
as she pushed a suddenly broken trike;
or the adults without adequate balance–
some wobbled and swayed on their two wheels,
some chose the support of three wheels,
while even others required four wheels.
Neither challenges nor handicaps
changed how we viewed our day.
Different but yet the same,
we were just pedal pushers,
out for sun and fun.
11 Sunday May 2014
10 Saturday May 2014
Being a Mother is like a blossoming flower;
it starts slowly, growing hour by hour.
Though budding love for the newborn
is threatened by an occasional thorn,
as the years go by and the petals unfold,
the love of mothering grows to measures untold.
09 Friday May 2014
I blinked through tearful eyes
to see if the yellowed ivory keys
of the old family piano
were really moving.
In my mind’s eye, I saw them
dancing a Sentimental Journey of
Saturday nights growing up;
a special time when we children
forgot animosity and joined together
in harmony, creating memories
more precious than Ivory Palaces.
07 Wednesday May 2014
Posted in Animals and Insects, Family, Life, Love, Nature
when I’d give you puppy eyes,
you’d smile and reach out to hold me,
and I’d jump at the invitation.
As you held me in your arms,
you’d be covered in wet kisses;
then we’d settle in for the evening
snuggling on the couch.
Since I could see better in the dark,
I’d protect you from all harm;
and as you peacefully slept,
I’d be right there by your side.
We’d tell each other secrets
and share our hopes and dreams;
We’d be the best of friends,
forever and till the end.
04 Sunday May 2014
We have woven our lives together,
tangled threads of two individuals
coming together in smooth fashion,
continuing to love one another.
Each stitch of time was treasured
as the fabric of our family was formed,
knit of love and compassion, and
growing in value every year.
Through all the years, however,
we’ve come to discover that
not all stitches were even, and
the edges have unraveled a bit.
But, as with the troubled oyster,
we’ve been blessed with pearls
added to our family heritage,
a daughter and grandson, jewels
that add sparke to our lives.
03 Saturday May 2014
Tasting Summer’s Pleasures
By Absorbing Nature’s Bounties
Absorbing
Tongues innocently lick the mixture of
dripping perspiration mixed with melting
coconut-scented sunscreen as it
careens down sun-drenched faces,
making its way over cheekbones into the
curves of the corners of the mouth.
Nature’s
Subconsciously, hands rise to rub scented pollens
from scratchy eyes and irritated noses, recognizing
too late that instead the mouth inhaled the sensuous
smells of fresh mowed lawns and fragrant roses.
Tastes of nature course through the body as the
nose identifies the delectable aromas of summer.
Bounties
Mouths water as soaked wood chips mix with lit
charcoal briquettes, flames giving rise to a distinct
smoky flavor reminiscent of last summer’s bountiful
outdoor barbecue parties–grill-marked burgers,
chips, dips, relishes, homemade ice cream–
pleasing to palates of all ages, including the family dog.
28 Monday Apr 2014
Posted in Family, Inspiration, Life, Love
She died, and my head felt dizzy as if water surrounded me,
searching for my bearings as I struggled to accept the loss.
And then he died, and I felt engulfed in tidal waves,
ebbing and flowing between my loss and his new peace.
But I’m now caught in an eddie in the sea of grieving,
kicking to stay afloat; stroking to soothe my soul as yet
a younger family member is unexpectantly called home.
Yet I know I’ll not drown for my life raft of inner strength
keeps me afloat as I row toward calmer days.
26 Saturday Apr 2014
Peace and beauty come together as
perfectly shaped, deep purple petals
open to a beautiful inner core, a tulip
of exceptional quality and strength.
Spring ushers in with warmth
to welcome new life, like
my favorite royal flower,
sunny yellow daffodils,
baby animals,
and my beautiful daughter.
Happy 30th Birthday!
23 Wednesday Apr 2014
Posted in Animals and Insects, Family, Humor, Life, Love
Staring pensively,
I keep watching
for you to come home.
I can’t remember how long
you’ve been gone,
but I miss you so.
I’m sure sitting listlessly
won’t bring you back
any sooner, but
I just can’t seem to focus
on anything but you.
We have such fun
when we’re together,
and I get so lonely
when you’re not here.
May wishing you here,
make it so.
Lovingly,
Fido
05 Saturday Apr 2014
Posted in Children, Family, Inspiration, Mountains, Nature, Philosophy
Tags
children, family, foundation, mountains, Nature, philosophy, poems, Poetry, religion, rocks
A solid
foundation
rises
to the
challenges
placed upon it.
Neither large
nor small
burdens
shake or upset
the balance.
