A heart-shaped cloud
Usually prompts a smile
But not that day-
That day, the cloud was gray-
A symbol of grief
A reflection of the hurt
Many suffer, often in silence-
The sky was silent, too
Unlike recent days of rain,
Thunder, and lightning-
As if now holding
Its breath while
The grieving heart
Cautiously passed by
Light remained-
Not bright, but soft and warm-
Like a lamp lit
In the corner of a room
Quietly lingering
Offering comfort
Holding space for healing
Tag: nature
Simply Sunday
I didn’t write the following poem for Father’s Day. However, as I continued to read and edit, the themes of kindness and sharing kept reminding me of Dad. I am grateful for the example he set. Oh, how I miss him.
Second-Hand Rain
When long-standing trees
On two sides of a road
Meet in the middle
A canopy of peaceful shade
Calls travelers to pass underneath
On rainy days, water filters
Through the layers
Of branches and leaves-
They drink only what is needed
Before sharing what remains
Leftover droplets, somehow
Bigger than the originals,
Land on all who
Travel underneath
The welcoming canopy
Leaves wave and smile
Happy to share
What they received-
Understanding the rain
Was never theirs alone
Knowing the rainfall
Would only be able
To quench the most
Parched hearts
Once freely shared
Happy Father’s Day!
Polka Dots
A familiar sound
Caught my attention
Repetitive, but in no
Predictable pattern-
What is that?
Familiar, yet, a mystery-
I looked ahead
I looked behind
Still, the sound repeated in
Unmeasured Intervals-
Walking along the sidewalk
Looking down, I noticed
Large, gray polka dots randomly
Decorating the concrete –
Appearing and disappearing
Along with the sounds-
Suddenly, a cool splat
Touched my arm-
Raindrops! Big, fat Raindrops!
How is it possible?
Such a lengthy, lovely journey
Occurring in a matter of minutes
While taking a few steps
Along an ordinary sidewalk
Steady
The entire sky was white
A covering of wisdom
Over travelers below-
I can’t speak for others,
But I was hoping for sunshine-
Not a lesson
In patience
While driving to work
In the rain-
It wasn’t a heavy rain
Just steady, and I must admit,
Peaceful-
For a moment, I pictured
Myself happily walking
In the gentle rain-
The thought made me chuckle
Suddenly, I felt calm
Thankful for rainy lessons
Sent from the wisest of clouds
On a cool Spring morning-
Perhaps the Sun will shine tomorrow
Past the Haze
The air is thick
Like molasses
So heavy, I
Can barely breathe
Wishing the gray sky
Would release its weight
And ease the tension
If only for a moment
But relief remains
Quietly hidden
Providing no clue
As to its arrival-
Perhaps it waits
For me, for you
To push through
And greet the day
Take my hand
Together, we’ll walk
In and out of the haze
Into light on the other side
Simply Sunday
In the Clouds
Posed on a calm
Quiet breeze or
Shouted in frantic storms-
The question remains the same-
Do you see me?
My soul longs
To slow down
To stop
To be still
Locking my eyes on
The whole of you-
Recognizing the lessons
Provided in your design
And in your purpose,
Whether serene or inclement-
Answering your question
As you answer mine
Simply Sunday
Faith
The proof is often hazy
Evidence sometimes vague
Requiring intense searching –
You know the sun is there
Its warmth permeates your skin-
Your eyes see the light- But lines
Painted across the clouds
Are so faint
That they are visible
Only through squinted eyes –
And even then a sliver of doubt
As to your squinty-eyed realization
Creeps its way into your thoughts –
Close your eyes
Feel the warmth on your face-
Open your eyes
Believing the source remains
Even when temporarily out of view
Me, You, or the Clouds
Darting back and forth
In a game of hide-n-seek
Behind veils not thick enough
To completely conceal –
Like a child playing
Peek-A-Boo
Behind their blanket
While sitting across from you
At the table-knowing
They are not hidden
Simply having fun pretending-
Such was the sun
On that early morning
Darting back and forth
As its color shifted from bright tangerine
To muted peach …bright to muted
…bright to muted
Behind layers of thin wispy clouds-
As if calling me to come play
While asking the question-
Which of us is moving?
Is it me, or you, or the clouds?
Before Sunset
We took a walk
That time of the afternoon
When it feels like
The minutes pass by
A bit slower
A time when weeds
Serve as flowers
For little hands
To pick and share-
Your tiny feet
Moved ahead of mine
Far enough to bring
A tinge of nervousness-Until
I recognized the feathery
Wings of an angel
In the wispy clouds
Gracefully floating across the Blue-
A protector of our path
A guardian for my heart
As we turned around
And walked side by side
The path leading back home
Approaching Storm
Dark clouds rolled in
The face of a grizzly bear
Leading the charge
Angrily spreading darkness
Over half of the whole sky-
The other half was
Partly covered with clouds
Leaving space enough for
A few patches of clear blue
Space enough for
A peak or two of sunlight-
Perhaps it was the sunlit blue
That calmed the angry grizzly
Reminding him of days
Spent fishing in clear waters-
I can’t be sure
But where the two halves of the sky met
Darkness and fear dissipated
And the rain began to fall
As thunder gently rolled away
Far off into the distance
Piano Girl 