From the Circle

Sharing two poems from a recent poetry circle facilitated by Ali Grimshaw. https://flashlightbatteries.blog/. I continue to love this process and the people it allows me to meet. ❤️

Who Me?

I saw you waving
From the side
Of the road-
Who me? I smiled
Wanting to stop
And stay for a bit
But the cars were
Starting to move
And work was waiting-
Seemed silly
In the moment
Nevertheless, I quickly
Snapped your picture
Hoping to capture
Your golden yellow leaves
Grateful to receive
Your promising message
On such a gloomy morning
It’s ok-The rain must fall
We will all be brighter tomorrow

All in the Family

I am known
For crying
My mom is known
For crying
My grandmother
My aunts
Even my daughter
I suppose we
Come by it
Honestly
This tendency
To express both
The happiest and
Saddest moments
In a similar way
Causes some
To ponder
And sometimes
Dare to ask-
Why are you crying?
And if they truly
Want to know
I will gladly tell them
That is if I can stop crying

Oklahoma Fall

Playing hide-n-seek
Among the trees
Leaves of Paintbrush Red
And Sunflower Yellow
Wave at purple grasses
Standing strong
In the red clay dirt-
Steady evergreens
Hold tight to
Their needles, while
At the same time
Coaxing those
Approaching
A season of
Visible change
To boldly share
Their transformation-
Oh, they, too
Know change
Roots grown deeper
Branches broken
And re-grown
Changes that
Bring wisdom
Wisdom that
Inspires gratitude
For each new season

Simply Sunday

Changing Colors

Yesterday fades
Into the light
Of tomorrow
Hellos and
Goodbyes
Echoing
All along its
Colorful trek
Remembering
Without
Looking back
There is little
Room for
Looking back
Only for living
Within each
Change of color
Quietly guiding
Measure by measure-
Yesterday fades
Into the light
Of tomorrow
Greeted
By today-

Time spent with Miss Emi reminds me of the importance of being present. Taking it all in. Not simply for remembering but as part of living. This weekend was filled with baby noises, eating, playing, napping, and lots of family! Oh, and just a tiny bit of shopping. 😉

I am grateful. I am also beginning to understand why my mom always said the house was too quiet after one of our visits with our kiddos. ❤️

Passerby

The deer had been
Absent from
Their usual field
Concerning
Colder weather
Blustery winds
They couldn’t
Have gone far
Wait! What was that?
There they are
Walking a path
Through the brush
To nearby water
I suppose it was there all along

A hidden path
Grass pressed down
Between the rows
Where others walked
In seasons past
Imprints remain
Though kept
Out of view
Until a concerned
Passerby needed
Reassurance
She was headed
The right direction

Take My Advice

Don’t blink
You might miss
Something

I suppose
The helpfulness
Of that advice
Depends on the
Something
Today, for me
It was a tree
First spotted last week
Soaking in the rain
Its leaves shining
Ruby red in the
Autumn breeze
Awake and alive
Capturing the attention
Of all who passed by-
One week later
The color has faded
Leaves have fallen
And yet, the tree
Remains strong
Standing beautiful
Another unseen ring
Added to its heart
So glad I didn’t blink

October Rain

I hadn’t given
Much thought
To the difference
Between Spring
Showers and
Autumn rains
Until today’s
Much needed
Precipitation
I could smell
Its approach
Last evening
In the cool air
Preparing for
A steady fall
All-day, gently
Drawing attention
To the hues
Of the season
Giving a final burst
Of color to leaves
Before they fall
A sweet reminiscence
From the very beginning
When Spring showers
Soaked the ground
Giving life to
The seed waiting
Ready to grow
Having no idea
What a beautiful
Life it would live

Seasonal

I sensed
Its approach
One morning
Leaving for work
In the dark
Not like an
Impending
Sense of doom
Just a weightiness
Not present
The day before
Changing seasons
Can feel that way

Filled with both
Beauty and angst
Watching leaves fall
After Stunning
Transformations
Mourning their loss
While clinging
To the hope
Of new buds
In the Spring
Relishing falling
Temperatures
Cooling my skin
Mourning the
Consequent
Dwindling
Of sunshine
While clinging
To the hope
Of new light
Following the cold
Dark days of winter
Believing once again
This heaviness will lift

As We Should

Tightly held
Protected
Until time for
The unfurling of
Curved edges
Soft and smooth
Pattern of veins
Barely visible
Vibrant color
Most notable
New and fresh
Like the soft
Smooth skin
Of a newborn
Not yet marked
By time or
Weather
Though change
Begins immediately
Tossed by winds
Dampened by rain
Warmed by the sun
The steps
Incremental
Texture and color
Slowly transforming
The lovely oak leaf
Light to dark
Greens, then
Red or yellow
Finally brown
Each stage
Its own beauty
And purpose
Aging, as it should
As we should
Growing
Changing
Transformed

Afternoon Nap

A small herd of deer
Huddled low
In the grass
Pair of pigeons
Puffed out, perched
On the feeder
Yesterday’s sun
Secretly hiding
Behind clouds
Like a small child
Sneakily playing
Hide-n-Seek

Apparently
Spring
Needed a rest
After two
Exhausting
Days of work
One sunny
One rainy
Now gloomy-
The remedy?
An extended
Afternoon nap

That usually works for me!

Sleeping

In the quiet
Of the morning
Stoically
Standing
Seeking no attention
Trees line its ridge
Bare, unmoving
No colors
To catch my eye
And yet, I stop
And stare
As it sleeps-
I imagine its base
Collecting warmth
From the sun’s rays
Storing the energy
Soon required for waking
Pushing flowers up
Thru the forest floor
Opening patient buds
On the trees
Crying out-
Spring is here!
But not today
Today, the mountain sleeps
And I watch
Grateful
For its presence

Pinnacle Mountain State Park

On recent visits to my parents, one-stop has become routine on my way out of town. A perfect spot for a photograph of Pinnacle Mountain. Each time shows a different aspect of the current season. And while I love the colors of Spring and Fall, the above Winter view was beautiful in its own right. It reminded me of our need for rest, renewal, and the approaching Spring.