To Mom from Dad

           Perfect  

Closer to perfection--
    each breath a whispered plea
    or just a conversation with
    the angels or with me?

I don't pretend to understand
    how you could ever be
    closer to perfection than
    what you are to me.

Your ears no longer hear each sound
    with clarity it's true.
On sunny days your dimming eyes
    now have a cloudy view.

As you move toward that perfect place
    and I stay here for now,
I place my hand upon my heart
    and make to you this vow.

As perfect as you are to me,
    I know you long for more--
Move closer to perfection, love
    and let your spirit soar.

The Door

The sound and
    the silence--
both equally fraught
    with a moment of terror,
a breath being caught
    somewhere between
the heart and the mind
    not knowing if joy
or despair I would find.

Announcement

Given a gift and
    promised to hold
close to the heart
    not shared...
       shouted...
            told.
A hiccup of laughter,
    a soft smile showing,
Thoughts interrupted by
    the sweet joy--
        the knowing.

Once Upon a Time

Sadness filled the kingdom.
   Toys sat--
Books went unread.
   The princess, who felt quite unwell,
had taken to her bed.
   The jesters and the royal court
did all that they could do.
   They offered treats and games and such--
She whispered, "No thank you."

The doctors of the kingdom
   were summoned to her side.
They said,
  "We're sorry, Princess,
but you'll have to open wide,
   and take this yucky medicine--
It seems the only way.
  For you to feel much better,
you must do what we say."

The princess held her nose
   and with a very royal frown,
she took the nasty-tasting stuff.
   She swallowed it all down.
It took some princess courage
   and a royal doc or two--
But soon she felt much better,
   and this is how they knew.

The other royal siblings
   came to her room one day,
and asked her quite politely
   if she'd like to come and play.

The princess answered cheerfully--
  her voice was clear and pure.
        The smile,
that had been gone awhile,
         returned
      and she said,

        "Shoor."




 

Unconditional

Stretching,
    Changing,
        Rearranging,
Move over,
    Hold on tight.
Sharing,
    Caring,
        Overbearing,
Wrongly claiming right.
 
Putting up
    and pulling up--
through both
    the joy and pain.
Sunshine in a smile shared--
    Wintry days and rain.

Always open
    heart and arms--
Closing not one door--
    Accepting each and every part,
And giving so much more.
 

The Healer

With fanfare great--
    royal decree,
they let me know
    they'd chosen me.
They swept me off
    my feet and then--
As swiftly knocked me
    down again.

No longer did I want
    to write.
I crumbled, fell,
    turned out the light
on all the creativity--
    let darkness take
that part of me.

The outskirt man
    stepped in one day.
Said he felt he had
    to say that words
I'd written long ago
    had touched him and
I had to know.

    No public
proclamation made--
    no photos,
prize or accolade.  

    Unexpected--
        quiet--
            calm--

A spark of light,
    a healing balm.



 

Imperfect

Love is often felt
in spite
of flubs,
mistakes--
and flaws.
Love is what's expected
but
Like
is just
because.

Facelift

The secret to a selfie
  if age is what you fear--
Lie on the floor,
  Don't smile too big..
The years will disappear!

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.

Recess

"So what?" will be my motto--
"Who cares?"  my battle cry.
If I want, I'll tell a joke
that no one gets but I.
I won't use proper grammar.
They'll shake their heads and sigh,
"She's much too old to act this way!"
They'll try to reason why.
I'll make the neighbors wonder
when I climb into a swing,
that's meant for someone younger
and I'll sing and sing and sing!

An apology should
never
be followed by "but".
All meaning is lost.
There is no truth when
"I'm sorry" is clarified,
explained,
given a reason.
Someone is
hurting.
Simply
Be
Sorry.

Notice

Sent it and meant it.
Time to let go
of a place that seemed safe
but the danger was so                                 
hidden behind lies and misdeeds
that it was a treacherous
planting of seeds
of anger and meaness
that I lost sight of me--
not who I'd turned into
but who I could be.

Standing Reservation

Third from the front
a reserved space--
tradition made it so.
Year by year they fill the pew
with faith and hope they grow
into a family that too soon
begins to say good-bye.
They leave for jobs or school or love
or with the angels fly.
Yet good-byes aren't forever.
The bonds once formed stay true.
Children gone return again
and bring their children too.
It isn't money or prestige
that holds their place for years--
a standing reservation held by
grace and joy and tears.

Dream Catcher

You held on to amazing dreams that only you could see,
   and to a little sister you remained a mystery.
We grew up side by side it's true,
   but saw through different eyes.
You always seemed to know your path;
   life caught me by surprise.
And as the years passed quickly by,
   I learned a lot from you.
I watched your dreams unfold and bloom
   and knew that mine could too.
I hold within my memory the picture of a boy,
  who reached past ordinary
to a life of love and joy.
   I know it isn't often that I take the time to say,
you are a blessing to my life
   today and every day.

Bunk Bed Perspective

Climbing the ladder and having a sense
of deja vu and confidence
that you're alone and none will know

the place where you're about to go.
A moment of youth in a grown up day
three steps up and far away.

Family Table

Black and white world
  sepia tones
table chats
  princess phones.
LOL was a sound we heard
  not a shorthand texted word.
Skirted women
  tee shirt guys
cups of coffee
  homemade pies.
Faded polaroid memories
  clearer now than jpgs.
One moment in time
  no second chances
mixed emotions,
  stolen glances
into a world that
  belongs to those who
lived that life and
  struck that pose.

Unsung Hero

Pop bottle money
    A made up game
Rock and roll music
    Dreams of fame--
The boy you were
    Gave gifts to me
That others cannot touch or see.
    You weren't afraid
To test your wings
    To take a risk
Try crazy things.
    Your humor,creativity,
Your way of seeing what might be--
    These gifts are what
God gave to you.
    These gifts are what
You gave me too.

The Conductor

His hands move through the air
touching nothing but the heart.
The voices blend to answer as if one
and yet each part
with powerful gentility
allowed by him to shine.
His hands now plead, demand, cajole
reshape, transform,refine
this present for the muted ones
who cannot join the song but
with a sweeping motion
he invites them come along.
Their voices are not lifted up
but souls and spirits soar
The weary, hurting, lonely, lost
are given hope once more.

Garden Grace

She moves among the flowers
with a soft and gentle grace.
The fragrance of the blossoms
wrap around her in embrace.
She knows each plant
and what it needs
to live and grow and thrive.
With tender care, brings out their best
and urges them to strive
to be a source of happiness to all
who come their way
and add a touch of color to a world
that's sometimes gray.
She shares the wisdom of the flowers with
everyone she knows.
She says a prayer.
She plants the seed
and waits to see what grows.

Winter Run

Dark days of winter
leave her cold.
Her face looks tired

and sad
and old.
A warmer day
a sudden thaw--
and now the woman that you saw
replaced with one
light on her feet
who laughs with joy
runs in the street.
A few degrees
the healing sun
a magic potion
a winter run.

Sold

Got up
Felt good
Began the day
Breakfast bar, cafe au lait.
Showered
Dressed and
Out the door...

Hopeful that I'm headed for
A world that's gentle, loving, fun...
But smiles are few and kind words...none.
The time sold to the world now ends
I head back home
Where your love mends
The hurt dealt out by thoughtless drones
Who roll their eyes, talk on their phones.
You hold me close.
You make me smile
Not right away but in a while
Your warmth has driven out the cold
of yet another day I've
Sold.

New Year's Revolution

Why make a resolution

      and then break it right away?

I want to love myself 

      and you just as we are today.