I am choosing
To view wrinkles
In a new light
Especially after
Noticing them
On my eyelids
How does that even happen?
The eyeliner applied resembling
A jagged Jack-O-Lantern smile
Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating
But it did introduce
A new line of questioning
What caused the lines framing my mouth?
Smiling countless smiles
Lines drawn from the corners of my eyes?
Squinting from the brightness of a warm sun
Lines gracing my forehead?
A bit of worry over the ones I love-
All these answers are signs
Traces of living
A life not ready
To be erased
Or to be forgotten
Tag: love
Simply Sunday
Lessons Learned While Hiking
Begin with
Determination
Remembering
As the slope
Increases
Baby steps
Are best
Requiring
Less energy
Rest stops
Are necessary
But never
Long enough
At some point
The destination
Will feel farther
Away than when
You started
But once the end
Is in sight
Relief floods
Body, mind, soul
Celebrating while
Begging for rest
Time to just be
In the place you
Struggled to reach
Grateful, tho once again
Never long enough…
Yesterday, my husband and I cheered on our daughter as she ran her first 5K! Yesterday, our youngest son was in Texas, helping our oldest son and his wife move to a new apartment! Today, I remember how we were all together just two months ago, hiking to Browns Falls in Colorado. Today, I am grateful. ❤️
Simply Sunday
Leaving Calm
They entered
This world
One at time
Their first breath
An indication
Of stories to come
Now they come and go
At various times
For various reasons
Like individual clouds
On a blue-sky day
Offering shade
From the heat
Of the sun
Or raindrops
To water the flowers
And dot the sidewalk
Then there are
Those moments
When they all
Come together
In a storm
Of laughter
That fills the air
And leaves behind
The sweetest calm
Enjoying a weekend with the kids! ❤️
Circle Poems
Not So Obvious
Where am I?
Sitting here
With my feet
Firmly planted
On the floor
Well, that is
The obvious answer
But what about
Those answers
That won’t come
So easily
Answers that lead
Down a path
Holding only
More questions-
How is it a single detour
On today’s path
Can feel like a failure
Sucking the air from
All the colorful balloons
Filled throughout the day
Rising to the top
Leaving behind
Contented smiles-
If only I could
Erase the sound
Of the needle
Popping the one balloon
Not released with joy-
Maybe tomorrow…
Confident Cloud
This morning
I noticed sunlight
Finding its way
Thru layers
Of clouds-
Some clouds
Seemed to bask
In the light
Almost disappearing
While others remained
Dark and gloomy
Allowing only
A few rays
To lightly lay
Across their gray-
Oh, to be the cloud
Completely open
To the sun’s warmth
Boring a hole
Right thru its center
Confident it is now
Ready to face
Whatever storm
May lie ahead
I continue to be encouraged by and grateful for the writing circle. ❤️ If you are interested, check out https://flashlightbatteries.blog/
Simply Sunday
I can feel
The weary
In my heart
Hear it
In my hands
But I play
And share
Then play
Some more…
Left lighter
“How wonderful life is while you’re in the world” ❤️
Simply Sunday
Burn Ban
Seeds of hate
Sown, hidden
Left behind
To grow in
Angry souls
Like dry foliage
In the forest
During a drought
One spark
An ugly word
Or unkind act
Threatens to
Ignite an inferno
Rapidly spreading
Across the landscape
Placing those
Already in pain
In fear of completely
Disappearing
Behind the flames
But what about
A single light
One kind word
Or an act of kindness
Wouldn’t the opposite be true?
Love spreading
Across the landscape
Extinguishing hate
Quenching thirst
Easing the pain
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…Galatians 5:22
Simply Sunday
Morning Streets
On our way
To a coffee shop
Little girl
Laughing
Running
Down the sidewalk
Her little dog
Running alongside
Dad and brother
Close behind
Their destination
An interactive
Statue standing
On the corner
An airplane
With a propellor
Inviting them to spin
Pick us up, Daddy!
Each had their turn
That was so much fun!
They kept walking
I noticed dad’s shirt
It was torn and tattered
They were smiling
I wonder what will be
Their next destination
Driving past
A group of people
Who have no home-
Only make-shift
Shelters made
From cardboard
And blankets
All their belongings
Carefully placed
In large trash bags
Or worn out
Duffle bags
A few smiled
Most looked tired
A kind of tired
I do not know
One crawled
Helplessly
Along the sidewalk-
What are their stories?
I can only guess
And guessing
Is not sufficient-
Who will share their narratives?
I wrote these two poems during our summer trip to Colorado. Our overnight stop was in a typical city, like many other cities in this country. Good restaurants and coffee shops, local charm. Also, like in other cities, many individuals are homeless.
I do not pretend to understand or have answers, but I could not look away. Nor keep from sharing.
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 hand
Heart to heart
Opening
Doorways
Fostering
Pathways
Linking living souls
The most recent episode of the podcast, Revisionist History, is powerful. It really made me think about the space between talking and taking action. Tugged at my heart. Glad my daughter recommended it. Take a listen. ❤️
https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/i-was-a-stranger-and-you-welcomed-me
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:35-36
Simply Sunday
Baby Steps
Your tiny forehead
Tilted to one side
Quizzically
Looking my way
I think I like you?
Tiny strategic moves
On my part
Required
To bring us closer
Do you want to play?
Magic of sunglasses
Tiny red flowers
Silly iridescent mirrors
Yours vs. mine
I see your eyes quietly smiling…
Your tiny forehead
Leaning toward mine
Briefly touching
Before leaning back
Oh yes, I think I like you!
So Much More…
So much
Talk
Of rights
Not yours
In companion
With mine
No, mine or yours
Exclaimed
Over and over
IN ALL CAPS
Making certain
Everyone knows
And no one
Disagrees
How lonely
It must be
Concerned only
With oneself
Not interested
In truly loving
Another
Or in understanding
That our hearts
Are Capable
Of beating
The same rhythm
At any given
Moment in time
Another poem from a recent writing circle with Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/. You never know what’s going to show up on the page. And the critical voice is not invited. Love this process! ❤️
Piano Girl 