Hushed

The progression is slow
A snail trailing from one
side of the sidewalk
to the other

A caterpillar inching
from stem to leaf
Ready to face its
final transformation

A curious smile
growing with the
increasing warmth
of the sunshine

The whole sky
shining clear
and blue
and wide

The unease from
yesterday and the
day before and the
day before that…hushed

Simply Sunday

New and fresh
Young and bright
The greenness of Spring

Tried and true
Comfortable and faded
Her countenance in the mirror

Yet, with each new leaf
Each new flower petal
Youthfulness resurfaces

Along with it, a smile,
New and fresh, after all

Shifting Senses

When atmospheric conditions
make it nearly impossible
to discern who is moving
And who is standing still

An out-of-balance feeling
quickly comes and goes
Offering no answers to
the resulting questions

Am I moving forward?
Am I standing still?
What about you?
Where are we headed?

I can’t feel the Earth moving
Yet, it is in constant motion

The clouds are floating
Yet, when layered just right
in front of the sun
It is the sun I see shifting

Do the answers matter?
Or simply the sense of wonder
which precedes the questions

Simply Sunday

Good Morning, Trees

A gentle breeze wakes
each tree, one at a time
They slowly stretch and sway

The mature ones, that is,
held steady by deep,
well-established roots

The younger ones, frenetic,
jump and wave like children,
excited to go outside and play

That was yesterday…

Today, all is quiet
Sleeping in after a
loud, stormy night?

Perhaps, like me, it takes
a bit longer for the warm
sunshine to reach their toes

Goals

They offer the sweetest Good Morning.
A gentle wave, almost imperceptible
when the wind is calm.

I noticed them yesterday.
I noticed them today.
They will not be here forever.

Truth is, neither will I.
Truth is, neither will you.
So, how do our Good Mornings compare?

Some mornings, the words
croak through scratchy cords
as hands rub grit from sleepy eyes.

Even on those days,
I see you smiling over
your first cup of coffee.

And I smile back-
Maybe not quite as sweet
as the Pink Bubblegum Petunias.

Their name alone makes
competing a challenge-
Though it offers a worthy goal.

Sweet Good Mornings
Conceding the temporary
Leaning into the enduring

Happy Earth Day! 🌎🌸

Simply Sunday

How to Greet the Day

With a yawn
and a stretch
Eyes still closed
Lay still, and listen

Listen to the birds
Happily chattering
No fear of creatures
still silently slumbering

Listen to your heart
beating slow and steady
Breathe in grace, mercy, hope
Breathe out a quiet Thank you

I found myself in need of this reminder today. Perhaps you need it, too. ❤️🕊️❤️

Afternoon Blues

Wrap me securely
in afternoon blues-
Only not too tight

A white cottony cloud
gently cradled by
powder blue skies

A newborn baby
swaddled in a
handsewn blanket

Wrap me securely
in afternoon blues-
Only not too tight

Ease the weight
of my fears, as
teardrops freely fall

Bring peace that
lasts through the
deepest midnight

Wrap me securely
in afternoon blues-
Only not too tight

Simply Sunday

Thankful

Newly opened buds
drinking gentle
morning rain

Pines across the
way, soaking in
the afternoon sun

Downy woodpecker
perched on newly
found suet feeder

My heart seeing
Your sweet smile
through the window

My doubts fading
as other hearts
intently listen


I know the world feels heavy, but today I am choosing reasons to be thankful. Though they may seem simple, acknowledging them brings a little peace. 🩷🕊️

Full Capacity

Pink and white azalea blossoms
fall with the gentlest breeze-
A soft blanket on dark, rich soil

Soon, the foundation of
roots, stems, and leaves
will be all that remains
of them until next Spring

Newly planted Bubblegum
Pink Petunias, the babies
of this small flower bed

Huddle quietly, calmly
waiting for roots to take hold
so they can dance, dance, dance

Joseph’s Coat, variety
Alternanthera Chartreuse-
Bright, young, and green,
Their faithful protector

Countless lifetimes
lived in one minuscule
fragment of rich terra firma

Capacity for growing
Capacity for living
Capacity for dying
Capacity for remembering