Tag: love

Fingerprints

On By Piano girl3 Comments

From our very first reach,
we leave lasting imprints
Tiny fingers, tiny toes
unaware of the enduring
impact engraved on
all who hold us close

Choice eventually becomes
part of the equation-
Deciding if what we leave behind
is positive, helpful, encouraging,
or cynical, hurtful, disheartening

Each imprint is personal
an identifying set of
lines and ridges
creating a pattern-
Sacred responsibility
held in every touch

I saw such a fingerprint
in the afternoon clouds-
Lines and ridges
creating a pattern
belonging to the one
who holds the sky

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl6 Comments

Pulseline

Sometimes, relief for
anxious hearts is held
in surprising places

Have you ever sat
in a chair beside
the hospital bed of
someone you love?

The steady beep
of a heart monitor
mapping the tempo
of each precious breath

The gentle curves
of a stable pulse line
repeated over and over
reporting all is well

Peace surfaces alongside fear

I have experienced
this peace at other
times, in other places

A morning row of clouds,
their gentle undulation
performing a steady beat
underneath the warmth
of a brilliant sunrise

A skyline of treetops
grown together through
storms, their silhouette
a uniform motif of peace
painted across the horizon

Sometimes, relief for
anxious hearts is held
in surprising places

Peace surfaces alongside fear

Birds

On By Piano girl5 Comments

I picture them perched
along electric wires
carefully watching
as we pass by.

I wonder what they think of us?
Are their conversations more
logical than ours? Friendlier?
They sing such sweet melodies.

Yes, they also squawk
and screech, but for a
purpose-imminent danger
or a particular need.

I can hear them now
calling each other
back and forth across
the yard, tree to tree.

Hey there! Will you fly over for a visit?

Sure! Let me finish feeding the babies.

I gathered some extra twigs to bring you!

Thank you! See you soon!

Perhaps we could learn
from the birds if we
intentionally listen
and quietly observe.

Perhaps we could learn
from each other
the exact same way…

Mourning doves 🤍🩶

Plain Sight

On By Piano girl6 Comments

He sits cross-legged
in the middle of the sidewalk
A tan coat, dirty and worn,
the final layer of protection
over all his belongings

all of his belongings

Hands in pockets
Hood over head
Shoulders hunched
Hidden in plain sight

Foolishness claims he
chose this lifestyle
That throwing away
His belongings will
magically clean
up the streets

Instead, this demolition
paves a dangerous path
toward ignoring our
responsibility to love,
no matter what

A dangerous path
whitewashed as a
much-improved scene,
until close observation
reveals the truth

Someone’s son helplessly
sits in the middle of the sidewalk
Hands in pockets
Hood over head
Shoulders hunched
Hidden in plain sight

First Few Notes

On By Piano girl3 Comments

Like an old friend
whose gentle voice
immediately fills your soul
so is the song whose first few notes
gently pull you into a familiar embrace

Tears and smiles
grapple for their rightful
place in an emotional response
before finally acknowledging the
intention was always to coexist

Working together
they plant melodic lines
and poetic lyrics deep inside
the heart of the youngest listener-
at first, unaware of their influence

Roots grow, weaving in,
out, and around the decisions
and experiences of life, creating
a sweet, pliable core of awareness
always ready for another listen

And then one day…

A familiar chord
A long-fade ending
like a trusted friend
offers a lingering sense of sweet
acceptance…a hopeful see you again soon

Secret of Life by James Taylor
Kelley Morris, piano
Never gets old…
Sweet Baby James

Enduring Imprint

On By Piano girl4 Comments

The sky was dark
except for a few stars
and distant street lights
I watched in amazement
as the space station
flew overhead

It soared like an
undying meteorite
moving in slow motion

My eyes followed
its path until a swath
of mysterious white rays
painted on the horizon
blocked it from view

Had sun rays carved
an evening cloud bank
into evenly spaced beams?
The sun had long since
disappeared from my
little corner of the world

Long out of sight, yes
but its impact remained
quietly reminding me
of the enduring imprint
etched into my once
stilled heart by the
light of lasting Love

Effortless

On By Piano girl6 Comments

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.

Simply Sunday

On By Piano girl1 Comment

Yesterday, we visited Johnstone’s Kiddie Park in Bartlesville, OK. We took our oldest son there when he was little, and now it was his daughter’s turn. 

Some things had changed, mostly cosmetically. However, the idea of a fun and inexpensive family outing (tickets are 75 cents) remains. 

Watching our granddaughter brought back sweet memories of her dad at that age. And now we have more to add to that precious file of good days. 

It’s a Stretch

On By Piano girl5 Comments

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

On By Piano girlLeave a comment

Light and Shadow

I sat with
The heaviness
All-day-long
My heart wrapped
In a blanket of grief
The day wrapped
In weeping clouds

A peak of the sun
Broke my stillness
Only a glance
Out the window
Surely, I should not soak it in
How could I?
Amid so much suffering

That sweet sunshine
Not to be ignored
Determined to draw me out
Shone a little brighter
Bravely displaying
Light and shadow
Simultaneously

I couldn’t help
Whispering
Thank you
Even as my heart
Continued to cry

Today, I am sharing a poem from my recent collection, When the Glass Breaks. Once again, the day, the world, feels anything but simple. And I know there are no simple answers. But I am reminded of the following quote.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr.