Alike and Different

Often described
Using words such as
Fluffy, whispy, thin
Their colors varying
From white to gray or blue
Even pink or red
Depending on the position of the sun-
Constantly shifting
Changing direction and shape
As they gently float past each other
That is until light disappears
Pressing them together
In the darkness
No longer able to hold their fear, anger, confusion
And it pours out in a furious storm-
Unlike us, they have no choice
In the length of their encounters
Or the strength of their stormy release
Like us, they have power
To spark imagination
And provide a moment
Of sweet relief on a
Blazing hot summer day-
They, by offering refreshing shade
Us, by giving a glass of water
And a friendly smile

On Display

Sun rays pierce
Dark clouds
Shining their light
Through the rain–
That is a typical
Description
Wouldn’t you say?
But how about this?
Sun rays shining
Over the top
Of a fluffy white cloud
Not through the middle
Somehow
Over the face
As if that cloud was
Made of cotton
Or painted
On a canvas
Hanging in a museum
Underneath the light
Of a brilliant lamp

Worth Repeating


Their design was clear
Visual perspective
Undeniable
High to low
Largest to smallest
Right in front of me
Moving in the same direction-
Of course, their presence was
Fleeting, as we were
Traveling at different speeds-
Me, driving down a
Straight-shot highway
Speed controlled by my foot
On the gas pedal
The clouds, stair-stepping
Their way from the heavens
Down toward the Earth
Speed controlled by the wind
Their design was clear
Visual perspective
Undeniable

Simply Sunday

It is sometimes difficult to slow down in our busy world. Phrases like Just Breathe and Smell the Roses are commonly shared. Easy to say. I hesitate to offer similar advice. And certainly don’t suggest missing an event by trying to capture every moment. But when something catches your eye or your heart, it’s okay to stop and take the picture. 📸

Who is She?

Some might say
She’s too bright
For her own good
Perhaps a bit bossy
Would take up
The whole sky
If she could-
But right away
I noticed her ability
To shine light through
The darkest of clouds
Providing pockets of joy
For anyone taking time
To look her way-
The last time I saw her
She coaxed me into
A giggly game of hide-n-seek
And I was happy for
The chance to play
I felt like a kid again
But then I had to
Get on with my day-
Hope we can visit again soon
Let me know if you see her around 😉

About the Sky


It’s a curious thing
Raindrops so huge
They land with a splat!
On my windshield
While across the sky
The sun fights its way
Through dark clouds
There must be a rainbow close by
Natural progressions
Able to awaken
A belly full of emotions
Welling up through
My lungs, exiting
With each breath
Pulling me
Into the day
While a song
About the sky
Plays quietly
In the background
Another sky photo from my Mom. 🤍💙

Exquisitely Unique

Creatures crawling
Across desert sands
Ocean floors
Swimming in
Deep seas
Mountain streams
Flying leaf to leaf
Tree to tree
In the jungle
In the forest
An unending variety
Of shapes and sizes
Colors and textures
Providing
Infinite possibilities
Of patterns
Infinite possibilities
For imagination
Nature, science, math
Impossible to separate
Creatures living
And dying
As the artist searches

https://crystalbridges.org/calendar/exquisite-creatures/ A surprising and beautiful exhibit!
Snapshots from our hike at Tanyard Creek in Bella Vista, AR

Describing Faith

The way sunbeams
Pierce the gray
Morning clouds

The way a melody
Sweetly greets
My morning yawn

A quiet breeze
Causing the trees
To gently sway

A blade of grass
Singly illuminated
By the afternoon sun

The way pinks and reds
Grace the horizon
Right before nightfall

The way Grace
Eases the fears that
Arrive with the dark

Each experience
Accepted with
No sense of doubt

Knowing the Source
Is always present
Even though unseen

Paint-by-Number

We all begin
As a clean slate
Or do we?
How much of my mom
Was present from
The beginning?
What about my dad?
The physical likenesses
Are obvious, even expected
But what about nature-
Was I already more
Like one than the other?
Or did watching
Their example
Produce gradual growth
Transforming me not
From a blank slate
But from the outline
Of a complex
Paint-by-number portrait
Coming into view
As each new color
Is added and blended
Brushstrokes
Of emotions
And experiences
And connections
Rendering
My journey
Of Becoming


The Life of Leaves

This year carried
An increased awareness
Concerning the
Life of leaves
Usually, there’s
An excitement
With the appearance
Of new buds
A sweet sigh of relief
A sure sign of
Surviving the cold-
And, of course,
There is always
Oohing and Awing
Over their magical
Color changes in Fall-
But this year…
This year, it was
The bright green
Of newly opened leaves
That filled me with
Joy and hope-
Just like the smile
In my granddaughter’s eyes

Another poem from the writing circle. Thank you, Ali ❤️ https://flashlightbatteries.blog/