The snowy owl sleeps
through the day,
resting her wings,
her body, her eyes
She waits until darkness
falls to take flight
What path will she take this night?
The familiar line following trees
along the river and up
into the mountains?
She knows it well
But something stirs her, gently
ruffles her feathers-Calling
her out of the familiar
and into the Valley
Not a sad place, but
a place to grow –
until once again, the sun
rises and she sleeps
Tag: life-long learning
Crisis Averted
The morning air was damp-
Did I brush my hair
before stepping outside?
The feeling of hurry wasn’t helpful-
funny what makes me frantic
Well, maybe not frantic
but slightly concerned-
A dying phone battery
being away from home
bringing the wrong charger-
Purchase made, crisis averted
Sitting quietly with my
tea and my thoughts
Hopefully my curious smile
reaches past my frazzled
brain and frizzy hair
Enjoying a weekend of being surrounded by fellow writers! Writercon
Learning, relearning, and someone even said unlearning. 🤍🩶
Effortless
Gigi, look at the sky!
I always seem to be
looking at the sky.
Had my granddaughter noticed?
Either way, the reminder
brought a fresh curiosity.
What did her eyes see when
looking at the sky?
I knew she noticed airplanes.
I’d watched her eyes
respond to hearing one
even before it flew into view.
Then watched as she
waved, asking it to come back.
Listening, looking, responding-
Is it that effortless? I think so.
Gig, look at the sky!
A flood of wisdom in
the simplest reminder
from the tiniest voice.
It’s a Stretch
Rushing out the door,
I noticed my sweet, silly cat
stretched out like a pile of
pulled-apart cotton balls.
Driving to work,
I saw a once fluffy cloud
rolled out across the blue sky.
Reminded me of my cat.
Perhaps I need to unroll, stretch.
Not just my body, but also
my head and my heart.
Remaining too long
curled in a fetal position,
Though somewhat comforting,
is counterproductive.
Touch my toes.
Reach my hands skyward.
Lie flat on my back, eyes closed.
Smile or cry, whichever is needed.
Smile and cry at the same time.
That’s my favorite.
Ask for forgiveness.
Say I’m sorry.
Say I love you.
Slow down and stretch.
Simply Sunday
If only I could remember
What it was like
Being two-
Then perhaps I would know
What you’re thinking
When you look at me
With those curious blue eyes-
Oh, sometimes it’s obvious-
Sit here, Gigi!
Come on, Gigi!
No, Gigi!
It’s those other times
In your own little world
Playing, pretending
Quietly talking-
I wish I knew-
I’m sure the day will come
When you tell me exactly
What you’re thinking-
And I will listen because
I still have a lot to learn
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 stop
To be still
Locking my eyes on
The whole of you-
Recognizing the lessons
Provided in your design
And in your purpose,
Whether serene or inclement-
Answering your question
As you answer mine
Simply Sunday
We teach by example
Intentioned or not
They learn from the example
Intentioned or not
Little eyes watching
Little ears listening
Little hands reaching
Little souls speaking-
If I look long enough
Glimpses of my actions
Will be seen in
The hearts of those I love
There is no avoiding-
Praying I give more thought
To the intention
And reflections seen
Give cause to smile
Winter Wisdom
Each tiny twig
Like a cold hand
Reaches toward the sky-
Too many to count-
Each held in place
With its larger branch
Securely attached to the trunk-
The roots, always unseen
Yet, their presence felt
With every passing storm
Their wisdom entrusted
In this season when youth
Fades with the falling leaves
And lessons emerge
From an intricate design-
A skillfully drawn
Pen and ink against
A blue-pink watercolor sky-
Teaching my outstretched hand
To soak in the warmth of even
The most short-lived
Patch of Sunshine
Remembering my sweet Dad today. Miss him so much. ❤️
Fill in the Blank
World’s Greatest ___________
Chocolate comes to mind
Though I’m not sure that contest
Will ever have a unanimous winner
And it’s certainly not one I can enter-
Let’s keep brainstorming
Mom? Wife? Daughter? Friend?
Each of these is a tall order
And let’s face it, any trophy awarded
Can be instantly taken away
Over one sideways look-
I suppose some things should
Not be a competition
But, instead, a journey
Filled with love, joy, regrets, mistakes,
Forgiveness, grace, dirty diapers, and sleepless nights-
The list and the lessons are endless
Simply Sunday
A sacred space
Exists between
Birth and death
No matter the
Length of time
It is so much
More than time
Influenced by
Persons
Places
Choices
Everyone
Experiencing it
Differently-
We embrace it
Hide from it
Run away from it
But it finds us
And sometimes
Miraculously
Surprise us
Piano Girl 