If I were a kite
I’d lean against
My favorite oak tree
Enjoying the shade
and the company
Waiting for a breeze
to lift me high
So I could fly
above the trees
Arms flung open wide
Gliding and giggling
Taking in the beauty
below, offering patches
of shade for the tree
before floating over to you
You, standing straight
and tall in the middle
of a flowery meadow,
holding steady to the handle
If I were a kite
You’d be my lifeline
Tag: trees
Hurry! Go Outside!
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.
Saying Thank You
A gaggle of geese
flying overhead in
perfect formation
A formation of clouds
branching out across
the sky at sunrise
The branches of a tree
securely holding leaves
until their time to fall
Your hand holding mine
filling the empty spaces
between my fingers
Images comparable
in angle and purpose-
open and strong
Unexpected gifts
healing my heart
with their presence
Simply Sunday
I sit quietly, mesmerized
by the path of a morning breeze
travelling from the peak
of a tall oak, downward
until each branch, each leaf
engaged in childlike song.
The entire tree danced, as if
calling me to join in
until the breeze moved on
to the loblolly across the fence.
I watch as the breeze
continues conducting.
Whole sections of the loblolly
swaying and swirling in grand gestures
like a gentle giant preparing
to pick a tiny flower.
The same breeze spoke
through both trees.
Responses varied due to
their individual states of being.
Results proved equally persuasive.
Songs my soul needed to hear.
Lessons my heart aches to understand.
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!
Unobstructed
Sturdy, beautifully faded red barn
Surrounded by rolling hills of green grass
Graceful greens rolling into perfect blues
Placid blue sky dotted with fluffy white-
A beautiful scene laid out in front of me-
Postcard perfect, though,
Any photo I might take would surely
Contain unwanted obstructions –
So, I drove home, disappointed,
With only the picture in my head-
Perhaps I was searching for perfection-
What if I changed my attitude
And the direction of my gaze?
Instead of upward, maybe outward,
Downward or possibly inward?
No matter the direction
There will always be obstructions-
But new perspectives often bring
Surprisingly unexpected views
Contentment
Let’s take a walk
Just you and me
Hand in hand, no concern
For our destination –
Wandering easily toward
The blues, grays, and purples
Rolling in the distance
As barren silver-covered branches
Quietly whisper our names-
Perhaps if we walk long enough
We can sit underneath the tree
And rest awhile against its trunk
Listening to the surrounding sounds of life
Until sleeping the most peaceful sleep
Unsure if our walk was reality or dream-
Content with either answer
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Simply Sunday
The warmest of oranges
Disappears into the deepest,
Darkest of Blues –
Perfect backdrop
For a display of
Silhouetted trees-
Their true colors
Temporarily invisible
Yet, they stand tall
As details of their searching
Rewards from their reaching
Are etched into this brief
Window of time-
A reminder that each day
Will come to an end
But on the best of days,
A lingering gratitude
Like glowing coals
From a dying campfire
Holds enough affection
To warm my hands
Leave me with rosy cheeks
All the while, melting my heart
Goodbye, Hello
Leafless, yet not lifeless
Able to feel
The sun’s rays
Warming the core of
Bare, gray branches-
Smiling contently while
Sharing the sun’s warmth
With young evergreens
Standing close behind-
Wisdom gained with
The passing of time
Wisdom intertwined with
Roots buried deep
Wisdom acknowledging
The continuous
Changing of seasons-
One year, waving goodbye
As a new one says hello-
Grateful for the
Warmth of the sun
Reaching the core of
Bare, gray branches-
Understanding the space
Created by fallen leaves
Allowed for the sharing
Auld Lang Syne- Kelley Morris, piano
Lunch Outside
The midday sun
Warms my face
While a cool hint-of-fall breeze
Brushes my hair gently across my eyes-
I don’t mind the combination
Sweet whispers float among the trees
As leaves that have fallen too early
Crawl across the pavement
Before resting in the dirt-
There are sirens in the distance
One after another
I don’t count-
Curious about the mixture of sounds
I wonder what happened?
Is someone hurt?
Are all the sirens headed in the same direction?
Fear begins to grow
Then the sirens suddenly stop-
I sit still, remain silent
As the mid-day sun
Warms my face
While a cool hint-of-fall breeze
Brushes my hair gently across my eyes-
I don’t mind the combination
Piano Girl 