First Few Notes

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

Powerful Peace

The sound of water
rushing over rocks-
A demonstration of power.
An offering of peace.
Where does one end?
Where does the other begin?
What is the source?
Is it the water? The wind?
What about the rocks?
Unmoving, they tolerate
the rushing water.
Over time, the water smoothes
their rough edges.
And the wind? It freely carries
their story of transformation.
Listen. Can you hear their song?
A message of determination, finding
Peace in the middle of chaos.
Can you hear your story in theirs?

Spokane Falls

Riverfront Park-Spokane, Washington 💙

Fear and Hope

The Unknown

Thought of with excitement,
or overwhelming fear.
For me, the fear part usually
rises in the middle of the night.
Like waking up from a dream
with a sudden Gasp!
Except, this kind of fear is not a dream.
Dream or no dream, I have
no control over the outcome.
And worrying about all that remains unseen,
does nothing to enhance my state of being.
Not to say it is easy to push the fear away, but I keep trying…
Breathe.
Look out the window.
Find that glimmer of hope
calling to your soul, ready and waiting
to swallow up your fears.

Her Song

I know her song,
though it changes often.
Depends on the day’s path.
Does she choose her own?
I wonder.
When traveling through
A grove of Aspens,
her melody is gentle and sweet.
Each glistening leaf
adds a note of color.
When coursing over rough rocks
on the shoreline, her melody
grows stronger, driving forward
with each pulse of the current.
Both melodies, both paths,
inspire awe and wonder.
Listen. What is she singing for you today?

Poems from the poetry circle. ❤️

Simply Sunday

Happily Lost

I’ve sensed rhythm
In the rain before
But this time was different-
The raindrops seemed
To create patterns of
Threes and fours
Triplets and sixteenths
Alternating, gently pulling
And pushing the tempo
Of the song playing
On the radio-
How was this possible?
I crinkled my forehead
As if a deeper focus might
Answer my question-
But then the patterns were gone
Whirled away with the wind
Leaving my mind to rest-
No matter-
For just a moment
I was happily lost
Between the rain and a song

Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain
Kelley Morris, piano

Missed Connections

After several days of struggling to express my feelings, three things came my way- A poem, a song, and a verse. The following was inspired by all three. ❤️


The word itself sounds so carefree
Putting it into practice seems easy
Still, loneliness grows
At a surprisingly rapid pace-
Whatever the reason
It sprouts from the same root
-A lack of connections-
Even the longest relationship
Begins Somewhere-
A friendly smile
An acknowledging nod
An honest thank you
Whether two strangers
Develop a fast friendship
Or just continue walking
In opposite directions
That one single action
Holds power for both-
It is a sacred moment
With the ability to multiply into
Our most-needed reminders-
You are seen
You matter
You are loved

Small Kindnesses by Danusha Lameres https://grateful.org/resource/small-kindnesses/


Human Touch by Jackson Browne
and Leslie Mendelson
Human Touch

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Simply Sunday

The Earth is still
Cold and quiet
Not frozen to the core
Yet, longing to
Soak in and reflect
Any ray of sunlight
Able to reach the surface-
What about my heart?
Is it cold, quiet, frozen?
Or simply longing-
Longing to remember
The love sent long ago-
A precious baby
Held close by His mother
Greeted by cattle and sheep
While angels filled the sky

In the Bleak Midwinter-Kelley Morris, piano

Silence

It challenges me-
In my car?
Turn on some music
Home alone?
Flip on the TV
Why not simply sit
With my thoughts?
They tend to shift
Quite rapidly
And are often
Accompanied by
Vivid images-
My quiet time
Quickly becomes
A cacophony
No one else can hear
A barrage of photos
No one else can see-
Perhaps I should
Take a walk-
Listen closely to the
Birds and the Breeze-
Let their songs clear
The cobwebs away
Making room for peace

Morning Song

You make it look so simple
Perched on a wire
With your closest friends
Perched nearby –
They may sit on a
Different wire-there may
Even be a wire
Missing from your staff
But your melodies still
Mingle to create
A sweet morning song-
And while I can’t
Physically hear your songs
Above the music currently
Playing in my head
I can feel it in my soul

Blackbird Kelley Morris, piano

Happy Announcement!

Faith is personal. It ebbs and flows as we move through life. Hymns and scripture are part of my journey. They offer hope and simple reminders of God’s love.

I’m excited to announce my poetry collection, Quiet Embers-A Poetry of Faith. It will be available next Tuesday, June 25!

What a joy to work with tara caribou of Raw Earth Ink https://raw-earth-ink.com/. Her creative attention to design and layout added so much to the collection. Also, a big thank you to my son, Ryan, for the beautiful cover art!

I will post links once it’s available for order! Until then, here’s a sneak peek.

Fifteen Minutes or a Lifetime

Ideas and actions
Some good
Some not so good
Often designed
To bring fame
Even if only
Fifteen minutes worth
Fifteen minutes
Or a lifetime
Eventually, the attention
Rings hollow-
I used to think
I’d like to be a rockstar
Wearing rockstar clothes
Playing piano on stage
But now, I’m grateful
That I get to be
A friend
An encourager
Someone who cries
During sad movies
And laughs at
Her husband’s jokes-
Someone who plays piano
Singing a simple song
Smiling as her granddaughter
Stands nearby swaying
Back and forth to the music…