Rolling flutters
of soft purples and
sweet floral aromas
call tiny tarsus
in for a landing—
Fortitude in frailty
for both Iris and Bee.
Wings excitedly buzz.
Precious nectar and
baskets of pollen are
carefully collected—
Valuable resources for
sharing and sustaining
a beautiful partnership.
Security in the hope
of their survival
across the flourishing
of each new rolling
purple flutter and
tiny buzzing bee.
I often get frustrated
with my own. The way
they become jumbled,
like a bowl of alphabet soup.
Isolated letters are visible
But I feel lost as to
how they fit together.
Other times, my thoughts
become frantic, building
one upon another.
A growing snowball of worries
rapidly rolling down a hill-
Ignoring my calls to stop.
But, is there such a thing as better thoughts?
I suppose not. After all, my thoughts
belong only to me.
And now and then,
in the middle of the chaos,
I take a deep breath and
clearly hear one thought
above the rest-You are enough
We were so young then.
And now? Young at heart?
Photographs and nametags
temporarily transport us
back in time to the
start of our journeys.
We had no idea
where circumstances
and choices would take us.
Reuniting, we share memories.
But more importantly,
losses, loves, mistakes, and grace.
Seeing each other as individuals.
Connecting with more than just a memory.
So go ahead, reminisce,
just for a moment.
Let the images, old and
new, meld into a sweet
recollection before saying,
Goodbye, it was so good to see you.
Like magic, pops of color
appear in the trees.
A seemingly sudden
transformation.
Leaves, once dark green,
now shiny apple red,
sunshine yellow,
and burnt orange.
Evergreens stand resilient,
in perfect contrast with
Aspens, Oaks, and Maples.
Appearing unchanged, but
transformed nonetheless.
The evolution seems
sudden, but it is not.
An invisible process
requiring sunshine, rain,
cool breezes, and patience.
One whose resulting beauty
will disappear as quickly
as it arrived. Or at least,
that is how it will seem.
I don’t want to leave.
But leaving is
part of living.
A visit to my
childhood home,
means leaving my
current home.
Not a permanent
leaving, only a
temporary absence.
But that visit,
sweet as it may be,
adds to my collection
of memories.
An album already full
to overflowing.
That’s the beauty
and the heartache.
A lingering hug
that says Stay awhile–
No way of knowing when
we will have another.
The sun’s warmth on my face
Fall’s breeze across my back
before circling my arms
A brief pause on its journey
to nearby trees, where leaves wait,
ready and willing participants
in a breezy afternoon lullaby
A beautiful first day of a new month-
Welcome, November
I sat outside yesterday for some much needed Vitamin D and a little inspiration. 🧡
A battle between
light and dark
waged across the
morning sky.
Clouds shifted in
the swirling wind,
tilting the earth,
causing me to wobble.
I felt confused.
For a moment, darkness
appeared victorious,
blocking the light,
lessening its powerful pull.
But light remained,
rays now dispersed.
An influence
so far-reaching, the
horizon glowed a
reassuring golden hue.
Just then, I remembered
yesterday’s rainbow, and
how the sky glowed
following its fading.
You walked the perimeter
in slow, cautious steps-
Overhanging branches
providing protection, along
with the morning mist-
I felt fortunate to see you,
to once again witness
your grace and beauty –
I wonder if your babies
are sleeping nearby, or
If you are on a survey mission,
assessing whether or not
It is safe for them
to hop, jump, and play
in the damp green grass-
Safety is always a
concern, I suppose-
Even when children are
grown, it isn’t easy
not to continue feeling
the need to keep walking
along the perimeter
My hands are beginning
to remind me of Mom’s-
Her hands remind me
of Grandma’s
Skin grows thinner
Simple bruises turn
unreasonably large and
take longer to heal
But wear and tear is
proof of living life
to its fullest, right?
And our hands serve as
an extension of our hearts
When my fists unclench
Anger is easily released
When my hand lingers,
gently holding yours,
hurts quickly disappear
An excess of love
and kindness
graciously offered
as precious proof
A beautiful paradox-
Strength in weakness
Gathering
Some carried flags
Others held carefully crafted
signs clearly expressing their purpose
People from all walks of life
Chants steady and strong
No troops, no ICE
No troops, no ICE
The message filling
every ounce of space
between the buildings
that lined the city streets
A continuing steady march
toward freedom for all
No troops, no ICE
No troops, no ICE
Weaving our way through
the crowd, there was no
fear- only strength and unity,
magnetic and memorable
Gathering
The words continue ringing
Faces captured in my mind’s eye
A grateful observer documenting truth
We were guests, visitors to the city. And though not participants in Chicago’s No Kings rally and march, we stood in agreement, willing observers.
Understanding the importance and power held within peaceful protests. And it was peaceful. And it was powerful.
Thank you, Chicago, for allowing us to take in your beauty, character, food, and history. ❤️
Piano Girl 