Communion

The table filled with salads--
   a crazy quilt of food.
Some tears, a little laughter
   the atmosphere,subdued.
Ham sandwiches and coffee
   a slice of cake or pie
A life and meal completed--
   a time to say good-bye.

Heirloom

Cookie jar memories
of tales told to me
by a mama who wanted
me always to see
beyond what appeared to be
all that there was
to a world of why nots
and devoid of because.

Valentine

Won't insist on the big tv...
    Hands over the remote.
Never just gives up a win
    And tries hard not to gloat.
Candy, flowers and a card
    Are typical to get
When love, though true,
    Is very new and
Knows no better yet.

Best Friend

Why is the best choice often
the worst?
The last thing we want to do
must be the first.
Reflections of their pain
within our own eyes--
But also of love as
we say our good-byes.

Abracadabra!

Cleaning out
    the closets.
Get rid of
    these and those.
Elder eyes see
    "garage sale,"
Young ones
    princess clothes.

Racquetball

An Alice-in-Wonderland
pint-sized door,
Barren walls,
ceiling and floor--
It's just a room
and nothing more.
They enter in,
these friends, these men
and suddenly
thirteen again.

Bruce

It seems like only yesterday you held a tiny hand,

Read storybooks, played hide-and-seek,
Built castles in the sand.
I watched our children grow and change
While you remained the same--
A dad of strength and character,
Deserving of the name.
To be a dad has been for you
A precious gift of love,
A journey of amazing joy,
A calling from above.
And my delight as always is to share this love, this life--
To be the mother of your sons,
To be your loving wife.