Speed is not a reliable indicator
of a journey’s success
My wanderings take time
Or rather, allow time
Time to stop and
stretch my neck
Feel the sun on my face
Be still, and recharge
Rest my home, that
I may traverse this field
of green, at exactly
the speed required
To meet a new friend-
One who looks like me
Unique, colorful patterns
on their legs and shell
Or one quite different-
Tall and admiring, who
offers me sweet strawberries
As I continue on my journey
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
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
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
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
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! 🌎🌸
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. ❤️🕊️❤️
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
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. 🩷🕊️
Piano Girl 