Gray clouds soared
Across the sky
Like a flock of birds
Their feathery wings
Perfectly spaced
Providing each
An opportunity
For brief rest
While taking in
Blue ocean waves
Rising and falling below-
If not for the airy
Space in between
Those same clouds
May have appeared
The menacing type-
But, oh my!
How working
In Harmony
With the wind
Gave reason for
Imaginations to soar
Right alongside
Like a flock of birds
Their feathery wings
Perfectly spaced
Tag: poetry
For Old Time’s Sake
A childhood photo
Favorite song
Cherished tradition
Competitive game
Of cousin kickball
Why would we attempt to recreate such things?
Because memories fade
Some we hope
To never forget
Others we wish
We could forget
But time is a teacher
Showing us where
Each puzzle piece belongs
And that our personal picture
Unlike the puzzle in a box
Has no straight edges
Always leaving room
For new connections
Happy New Year, Friends! ❤️
Momentary Stops
Happily sitting
Soaking
In the smiles
An observer
Of the ones
Who make me
What I am
And fill me
To my core
Precious days
Marked by traditions
And Celebration
Momentary stops
On this continuing
Path called
Carrying Grief
Where the hellos
Grow sweeter
And the goodbyes
Last longer-
A temptation
To hold on too tight
Tries to sneak in
But letting go
Through the tears
Is the only way
To feel fresh air
Enter my lungs
Clear my head
And heal my heart
This Christmas holiday season has been sweet. So much laughter and thoughtful gifts, surrounded by my family. Not to mention the yummy food!
But I was not prepared for the goodbyes.
Goodbyes are reminders of missing. And we are all missing Dad. The goodbyes brought tears and swells of grief. But they also left behind gratitude. A reminder that the depth of missing matches the depth of love.
Morning’s Shadows
I took a step
Into the cold
Where heavy
Shadows held
The quiet morning
In stillness-
One more step
And the motion
Of sunbeams
Began to light
The tiptop
Of the day-
A few more steps
Morning’s shadows
Were left behind
As affectionate
Sunlight reached
The ground below
And I walked
Into the day
Thankful for
The Love that
Creates the shade
While pushing
The darkness away
Lessons in Unity
Colors fly past
My periphery
Golden browns
And burnt oranges
Sewn together
With threads of
Yellow and green
A heavy quilt
Covering the cold
Winter ground-
Tiny feathered creatures
Rest within the soft
Patchwork
Until ready
To announce
Their presence
Rising and falling
A mesmerizing
Magic carpet
Murmuration
All moving
Together as one
Simply Sunday
Have a Seat
One last sit
On the couch
Walk around the
Neighborhood
Swing on the swing
Slide down the slide-
Cleaning out
Packing up
Off on a new
Adventure-
Life’s changes
Don’t always
Provide opportunity
To savor the lasts
But when it does
May I suggest
Sitting on that
Old couch
Just a little bit longer-
Our daughter moved this weekend. Not far away, thankfully. 😉 As we talked about the specifics of loading and unloading, she reminded me of an earlier move.
The kids were young. We were preparing for a big move, and had a moving sale. Our things displayed in the front yard. I will never forget one request from the kids. Can we please have one last sit on the couch?
After all these years, I think I’m beginning to understand the wisdom in their request. ❤️
Today
Their pull was strong
Each equally vying
For my attention
Each equally charming
In their schemes
I smiled
A giddy smile
Looked to the right
Looked to the left
Again and again
Unable to choose
The rising of the sun
Or the setting of the moon-
Both displayed
Varying shades
Of similar colors
Both held their purpose
Though one not
So different from the other-
Looking straight ahead
The message quietly
Fell across my heart-
Remember sweetly, without remaining in the past
Look forward without missing the hope in today
Simply Sunday
Holding
My breath
Muscles tense
Heart racing
Afraid to move-
You take my hand
It’s ok-breathe
I feel my lungs
Expand
Deep breath
Fresh air
Relaxing
In your care
Unable to
Completely
Close off
My heart
As we
Breathe
In time
Together
Not a Thief
Colors fading
Frail frame
Shivers
Awaiting
Winter’s coat
Yet, in the light
Of the morning sun
Beauty shines
Unmistakable
In a life well-lived
Grace on display-
Perhaps time
Is not a thief
Afterall
And instead
Brings us
To a place
Of inspiration
Able to set
A wise example
For those afraid
Of what’s to come-
Reassurance
Revealed
In the wisdom
Of so many seasons
Come and gone
Tiny Apartment
I’ve been known to say
-Referencing a
A certain time
In my life-
I was quite a mess!
Thought I hid it well
At the time
But truthfully
Some things
Cannot be hidden-
Insecurity paired
With indecisiveness
Those two should not
Be left unattended!
Neither should
Guilt and regret
Those four took up
Way too much space
In my tiny apartment
Thankfully, circumstances
Required interactions outside
The voice in my head
And eventually, I was
Able to say
I’m no longer a mess!
Hmmm…what would be the opposite?
Sharing a poem from a recent writing circle facilitated by Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/ Perhaps you can relate. 😉
