A fear of falling
Something I understand
and consider more often
the older I become
The same fear that
sneaks in as I push my
granddaughter on the swings
“Higher, Gigi, Higher!”
But falling is also
something to be
chased after
To experience
Falling in love
That one I understand
Fear may try to creep in
but it doesn’t win out
I wish I could think
of falling more in
terms of a waterfall
A sense of letting go
A freefall releasing
the weight of fear that
sometimes freezes,
only to thaw in an instant
Releasing my true self
as you watch, cheering
me on-reaching out
your hand when I do fall
Helping me back up or
lying down next to me
on the ground, until
I’m ready to try again
Tag: hope
Simply Sunday
Purple Blanket
You stood in the
tall green grass
Its blades almost
above your head
I wasn’t sure if
I’d see you again
in light of current
proposals for change
Changes in the name
of progress, of course
Giving little consideration
to your fragile forest home
Your mom stands steady
near the tree line’s edge
Her gaze fixed on you as
your head tilts and ears perk
She is still and quiet
while you explore
Always curious about the
world outside of your own
And I watch, grateful to see
you, Doe and Fawn, securely
wrapped in the soft, pale
purple blanket of morning
Simply Sunday
Butterfly
Some would say her
emergence mirrors
our beginnings
Damp wings gently
fluttering to dry
before taking flight
But I would argue her
flight more closely
mirrors our ending
For she has already
journeyed from leaf to
twig, across blades of grass
Over terrain, smooth and
rough, picking up bits
of life all along the way
Eventually wrapping
herself in so many layers
no room remains for living
Only room for reflection-
Like that required for
our final transformation
Leaving behind the shell
that faithfully held us
to the end of our journey
When our spirit, like the
newly flown butterfly,
experiences true freedom
Until it was Time
Nobody told me
how much I would miss you
Maybe they assumed I knew
Common sense and all
But common sense is not
the same as preparation
And missing you is something
I couldn’t prepare for anyway
I suppose they were
trying to do me a favor
A way to enjoy time with
no thoughts of finality
If I even believe in time
Truth is, I already knew
No warning needed
I knew, just kept the
knowing buried deep
Buried deep
until it was time
to remember both
the happy and the sad
Simply Sunday
TRY AGAIN
The drought spreads
dry, dusty air
into my lungs
Seeps under my skin
Hardens my heart
Oppresses my soul
I search for
A sip of water
A drop of rain
Any semblance of relief
I know it exists
That kind of help
already at work
before you even
know it is needed
A light breeze
carrying a cloud
A heavy cloud
releasing the rain
I try to sing
but the words
get caught
in the back
of my throat
You quietly whisper
I am here. Try again
One note carries another
and soon, a melody emerges
from a time long gone-
Restoring body, heart, mind, and soul
“He hides my soul in the cleft of the rock that shadows a dry, thirsty land.” Fanny Crosby
The Daffodil and Me
Buried deep in the earth
surrounded by fertile soil
a cycle of moisture
and warmth from
an unseen source above
Encouraging the tiniest of stretches
Baby roots begin
to reach while
grounded- In chorus,
ready to follow
an unknown path
The hard work of
seed to sprout-
The patience of
bud to flower
while weathering storms
Until the sun affectionately
lifts her lovely face
toward the sky
begging the question
What comes next?
This poem is from my collection The Space Between Clouds.
Simply Sunday
IN THE CLOUDS
Posed on a calm
quiet breeze
or shouted
in frantic storms
the question remains the same
Do you see me?
My soul longs
to slow down
to be still
Locking my eyes on
the whole of you
Do you see me?
Recognizing the purpose
provided in your design
whether serene or inclement
Answering your question
as you answer mine
Yes! There you are! I see you!
Simply Sunday
CLEANSING RAIN
Cold, heavy rain falls
No end in sight
A constant hum
forcing quiet
contemplation
The sound of troubles
being washed away
Cleansing the
Cluttered
Landscape
Reminding my heart
even while we live
under the same sky
our needs vary place
to place, day to day
If this day found you
weary, parched or hollow
May it leave you
refreshed, quenched
and overflowing
I am grateful for the opportunity to share my poetry this afternoon at Tidewater Winery in Drumright, OK. I wanted to share one of the poems I will be reading with you.❤️
I have been absent from WordPress lately- just life- and have missed reading your words. I plan to get back in a routine soon.
Simply Sunday
Some days call for revisiting, revising, and then sharing again. Today is one of those days. Sending Love. 💙
Living Kindness
Thirst quenched
with a cup
of cool water
Hunger eased
with a tasty
morsel of food
Fears calmed
within the warmth
of safe shelter
Hands in
desperation
seeking to survive
Hands in
kindness
seeking to share
Hand to heart
Heart to hand
Soul to soul
Doorways opened
Pathways cleared
Kindness lived out
Felicitous Fissure
A heavy haze dimmed
the morning sun-
Smoke from distant fires
Your sudden appearance
displayed a momentary
ray of light
A welcome distraction
from the dusty horizon
I thought you were alone-
Standing, innocent,
out in the open
The lovely green field
a perfect contrast
with your soft tan coat
Then I saw the other-
Your sibling, perhaps?
Barely visible, camouflaged
by a patch of tall grass,
as if hiding
An early morning game
of hide-and-seek?
Do soft, tan fawns
play hide-and-seek?
The thought causes me
to smile as I
continue driving
Hopeful I will soon
break through the
gauzy veil threatening
to steal my breath
An unexpected fissure
begins to form as I
imagine you hopping
into the tall grass-I found you!
