New Year's Eve

Shedding old habits

Like a snake's skin.

Leaving discarded dreams

Like crumpled cigarette packs.

Finding new life

In waking dreams.

Lost in the moment

Between December 31st

And January 1st.

Shot out of a chrysalis cannon

Straight into the New Year.

Despondent dreams

Taking their toll

Treading water.

Race around the clock

Catching your tail

Completing the circle.

Ring around the calendar

We all fall down.

Dark Day

Rain on top of

Snow covered roofs.

Dirty brown tracks

Through the formerly

Pristine snowscape.

Salt encrusted drifts

Blinding the view.

Grey clouds

Like dust bunnies

Squeeze the rain

Smothering anything

But a sigh.

Cosmic Memories

Moments of intimacy

Feeling of communion

The connectedness

Of all life

Strung like diamonds

On the defining thread

Spiraling across

The bosom of the universe

Reflecting the warmth

Of stars.

Icicles

Winter's daggers

Piercing the soft flesh

Surrounding the season's cold heart.

Drops of winter's white blood

Dripping from its tip

Feeding the spirit below.

On guard.

Christmas Hangover

Too much food

And making merry.

Experiencing withdrawal

From the festivities.

Overdosed on games and gossip.

Craving the New Years fix.

Magic Moments

I remember

Opening presents as a child,

That magical moment

When the gift

Is revealed.

The hiccup of pleasure

Bubbling up

And escaping in a squeal

Of excitement.

If we could only capture

That moment

And keep it in our hearts

To feed

The dull and disappointed days

We grind through as adults.

Wrap it up

In tissue and tinsel

And keep it close.

The feeling is the gift.

Merry Christmas

As Tiny Tim would say;

God Bless us everyone!

Christmas Eve

Family and friends

Around the fireplace

Provide their own warmth.

Generations sharing stories

Generates its own heat.

Faces bubbling with

Laughter and excitement

Reflect the crackling fire.

Even in the frigid north

Memories thaw the heart.

Last Day on the Beach

A gentle breeze

Tickles the back of my mind

A vague memory

Hidden under white sugar sand

Of another winter white.

Bury the thought

Deep in the sand

With my toes.

I'll remember snow soon enough.

Cancun Moon

A romantic dinner

Accompanied by soft music.

A full moon

Over the water

Moon lite path

To the Stars.

Another day in paradise

Solstice

Storing up the memories
Like energy.
Fuel for the future.

Breathe in the warm
Tropic air
Exhale the cold
Frigid north.

Soak in the hot Cancun sun
Expunge the Arctic snow.

Feel the vibrant
Celebration of color
Let go of the
Dull Winter white.

Cancun Prayer

Sun gods

Rain down your blessings

Fill me with your warmth

Bring me your light

Banish from me

The thought of winter

Spare me from the snow gods.

Aquamarine

A magical place

Between green and blue

Filled with ocean waves

And refreshing breezes

Topped off with

A clear blue sky.

Plane through the clouds like footprints in the snow. Leaving Minnesota. Sent from my Kindle

The Joy of Presents

Mystery inside.
Imagining
Your best wishes,
All wrapped up
In glittery paper
And excitement.
Wondering
If it could really be...
Hoping it is...
Dreaming maybe...
The anticipation
Is half the gift.

Lights

Christmas lights;
Twinkle on tinsel
Sparkle on snow
Blue and white of winter
Red and green stop and go
The magic of Christmas
A colorful rainbow.

Little Things

Little Things
Nag at the back of your mind
Rippling the perfect picture
Nibbling away at the corners.

Little thing
Pile up like snow drifts
Seemingly insurmountable
But melt when the sun shines.

Little things
Let them go
Drift away
Like chimney smoke
Insubstantial puffs
On the breeze.

Little things
Are only as big
As we let them be.

Fear of Snow

Who would've thought

Snow could be so scary?

Not kids

Jumping in snow piles

No worries about getting back out

Or hitting something on the way in.

Throwing snowballs

No experience with ER

Or stitches.

Sliding on the snow

No casts or broken bones to heal.

Snow on the roof tops

A beautiful sight

Till Gary gets on his ladder,

Then I fear snow.

A gift from the Snow gods

Snow day schedule;

Wake up early and listen to school closings.

Pet the cats.

Go back to bed and sleep late.

Eat a leisurely second breakfast

Pet the cats

Read the whole newspaper

Not just the headlines.

Sit by the window and watch the traffic.

Feel the warm sun through the window

Pretend it's not 8 degrees.

Pet the cats.

Check my emails to feel connected.

Read my book till it's finished.

Sit until I feel like getting up

Eat when I'm hungry

Sleep if I want

Make my own schedule

Pet the cats.

Memories of Winters past

I remember

Snow piles way taller

Than my head,

Although it may have been

Because of my third grade height.

I remember cold so bitter

Your breath froze up

On the wool scarf

Hiding your face.

I remember

Wind so strong

It pushed you along

On your way to school.

I remember walking miles

Uphill both ways

To school and back.

Well, maybe our memories

Are colored by the years.

Winter Dreams

Sugar sand.

Snow like powdered sugar

White sandy beaches

White snowy lawns

Burying my toes in warm sand

Burying my feet in warm boots

Layering on the suntan lotion

Layering on the sweaters

Dancing with the waves

Dancing with a shovel

Hot sauce and cold Margaritas

Hot chocolate and cold hands

Sunburn

Windburn

Outside

Inside

A quiet expanse

A beautiful work of nature

On a beach in Cancun

Or a snowstorm in Minnesota.

Weather or Not

Blizzard forecast for tomorrow.

Cancun predicted for the week after.

Sub zero temperatures expected.

Above average hopes longed for.

I need 80 and sunny!

John Lennon

We didn't just want the Beatles

For our boyfriends

We wanted to be the Beatles.

To us teenagers

Their lives seemed to be

everything we wanted;

The fun and camaraderie

The social relevance

The amazing music.

We loved them then

We appreciate them now.

John said he thought

There would be "Plenty of time."

Unfortunately not enough.

The Immaculate Conception

(Not to Be Confused With the Virgin Birth)

Clean as the December snow

A beautiful image

Of purity.

A lovely prequel

To the Christmas Story.

A celebration

Of the oft neglected women

In the bible.

Life Has Issues

Like People Magazine
January is the New Year's issue
Criticizing all our bad habits.
February covers our love issues.
Fear of intimacy
Fear of no intimacy
March can handle the rest of our fears.
April is a heavy issue
With springtime, Resurrection
And life and death issues.
May and June are all
About our Mothers and Fathers.
July's body issues fit in nicely.
The Dog Day of August
Are depressing issues.
September Back to School
With separation anxiety.
October, arachnophobia
For Halloween anyone?
November's family issue
Is all dysfunctional.
Then December wraps it all
With a nice bow
As we pause to reflect
And renew our subscription.

St Nicholas Day

Christmas trees
Are my favorite Holiday tradition.
I love the magical colored lights
Like a rainbow on every branch,
Shining off glass beads
And silvery strands of tinsel.
Sparkling ornaments
Catching the reflected glow
Of smiling faces
Gathered round
Reflecting on the story
Of each decoration
And topped with a star.

Recipe for Winter

Oreo cookie rooftops

Covered in snow.

Frosting licked branches

Bending under the weight.

Shredded coconut shrubberies

Peeking out from under snowdrifts.

It's a powdered sugar world

After a fresh snowfall.

Angela's Birthday

Big blue eyes

Wide open

Like your heart.

The center of every picture,

The heart of every moment

You were there

With arms wide open.

Compassion for lost souls

Filled your heart.

Empathy for other

Covered your own needs.

Now a mother

Passing on all the things

In your own heart.

Follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Gym

Racing up the stairs
Shedding sweatshirts on the way
Two steps at a time
As they near
The hallowed halls of
The gymnasium.
Children's kingdom
Of fun and excitement.
Teacher's relief
A break at last!

Countdown

25 days till Christmas
25 days to cook and clean
Shop and decorate
Do errands and commitments
So much to do
So little time.

25 days till Christmas
25 days for the kids
To contain their excitement
Ponder their wish list
Dream of sugar plums
And wait for Santa.
So much time
So hard to wait.

Christmas Cards

Those once a year missives
That keep us in touch.
All the love
And events of our lives
Wrapped up like presents
And sealed with a kiss!

Slip Sliding Away

Sliding on the ice
Was fun as a child.
That moment of free fall,
Like the weightlessness
Of a roller coaster ride.
The glide toward the unknown
Ending in a tumble in the snow.

Not so fun as an adult.
All the thoughts
Running through your head
Worrying about the landing.
Too much experience
With hard pavement
To enjoy the ride.

On to the Next Holiday

Turkey's done
Shopping's started.
Lights are sprouting up
Like vines on the houses.
Christmas trees
Grow glass flowers
And ornamentation.
Snowflakes adorn windows
As well as sidewalks.
Reindeer are running rampant
As lawn decorations.
Santa's sleigh can't be far behind!

Writing

Let the words flow out

With the ink

No interruptions

From the brain.

Words floating

Like letters in Alphabet soup.

Scooping out spoonfuls

To be gulped down.

Short phrases

Standing in for

Whole trains of thought

And the stories behind them.

The printed word

The soul's voice.

Technology

Kids run headlong

Unafraid into the future.

Enticed by bright shinny things

And captivated by the possibilities.

Adults run screaming

From the abyss.

Afraid to push the wrong button

Or change their life.

There should be an app for that.

Food Hangover

Too many wonderful flavors

Overload the system

And befuddle the brain.

Turkey tryptophans

Bring relaxation,

Savory dressing

Wakes the palate,

Fruity wines

Mellow the meal,

Pumpkin pie

Brings peace to the conclusion,

And mashed potatoes

Are just plain comfort food.

What a great food high.

Thanksgiving

Thank you for our little Ash tree

A baby when we moved in

Now blocking my view.

Thank you for our kitties

Newly adopted in grief

A constant source of joy.

Thank you for our marriage

Embarked on in impetuous youth

Ripening to a delicious age.

Thank you for our house

A humble home of dreams

Our sanctuary.

Thank you for our family

A constant of our growing up

Companions growing older.

Thank you fr our friends

Forged in delight

Strengthened with experience.

Thank you for our nation

Expected freedoms

Respected rights.

Thank you for our world

Places known and imagined

All wishes cherished.

Thank you for us

Growing in wisdom

Content in peace.

Impending Storm

Storm clouds gathering.

Silver bank of snow

On the horizon

Encroaching on November

Pushing into December.

Only bare branches

Now stand guard.

Reaction

I'm a transistor
I feel the tension
In the air waves
And transform them into sound.
I can pick up
the vibrations in a room
And feel the mood
Like colors on a mood ring
They appear
As substantial substances.
Walking through tension
Is like the prickle and clang
Of barbed wire.
A light mood
Is a giggle.
A dark mood
The drum roll of a funeral dirge.
Sorrow is a sigh with the weight
Of a heavy wool blanket.
Anger is a roaring fire.
Peace is an empty room
Alone with my emotions
And not a sound.

Conferences

Students need us
Parents want us
To be all things to all people;
Teacher, parent
Counselor, psychologist.
To teach the whole child
You have to know everything.
You have to get inside their head
Open their brains
Work your way into their heart
And get them moving
In the right direction.

Puzzling

We find our place in childhood.

Where we fit in

The giant jigsaw puzzle of our world.

Are we the responsible eldest

Holding the frame together

And keeping all the pieces in place?

Or the background middle pieces?

Colorful and harmonious

Smoothing the way

For the front and center babies

So cute and endearing

That bring the picture in focus

And complete the scene.

Sandy's Jazzercise Birthday

Bright sprite

Dancing on air

Ageless and boundless

Grace in form and spirit.

Sprinkling pixie dust

Like blessings on us.

Sharing energy and attitude

With your smile.

Making us believe

That like you

We can fly across the dance floor

And never grow old.

Happy birthday!

Lost in Space

I lost an earring.

It was the second one

I've lost lately.

Is there an earring thief?

A pirate who only needs one.

Is there an earring heaven?

Where they dangle like stars.

Maybe the pair divorced

And hooked up with the other partner.

Or maybe there's a black hole

That sucks it to the other side

Where aliens only have one ear.

It couldn't be

A lapse in memory

Or confusion

In my life.

I'm going with

A rabbit hole

And Alice is wearing

My mismatched pair.

The Last Vestiges of Dad's Inheritance $139.70

$20 bills from dad
Were a sign of
A job well done
The way he could say
I love you.
Money was always dad's currency
For expressing emotion.
His job was giving us money
Like a cash machine.

So cashing out the last account
Is hard.

The ATM is closed.

Children's Choir

Hearts on their sleeves
Mouths wide open
Singing their hearts out.
Fingers tapping thighs
Wiggling down to their toes.
Shuffling sneakers
To the beat
Only they can hear.
Pitch perfect
For their high octave voices.
Smiles turn from timid
To Ecstasy.
Eyes staring straight into heaven.
Thank God.

Check Mate

Chess club allows the students
to grapple with
the problems of life.
Thinking ahead-
What is your next move?
Make a plan-
How can you capture the King?
Keep your eye on the prize-
Can you win in spite of loss?
Good sportsmanship-
Can we still be friends?

Family Bowling

Memories of childhood
Sharing stories
And once upon a time.
We each have our own chapter
And things that were important
In our version.
Ran Ham,
Orange Crush,
Grade school bowling,
Mom and Dad.
The colors of our memories
Are as varied as the swirling patterns
Of the bowling balls.
Gutter balls or strikes
We remember.

Visions of Snowflakes

I heard the cheers

Across the miles

Children waking up

To the first snowfall.

The flurry of hats and mittens

As they slide out the door

Anticipation of a dive

Into virgin snow.

Snow Angels

Covering where

Piles of leaves

Were recently raked.

Snowmen sprouting up

Like winter's harvest.

Jackets pelted with

Snowflakes and snowballs

Creating a new breed of polar bears

Out of the lumbering bodies beneath.

Winter Haiku

Fresh snow is fodder

Planted like seeds of wonder

For a thousand poems.

Reruns

I feel like I'm repeating myself.

I look outside my window

And can't find the words.

June, moon, spoon

All the good poems have been written.

This is when a picture's worth

A thousand words.

Date Night

Unlike the movie
It's relatively calm.
Quiet conversation
Instead of
In front of the TV dinners.
Food is savored
Sipping wine over an entree
Instead of milk and left overs.
The atmosphere is romantic
Instead of a bright kitchen
And cats on the counter.
A change of scenery
Reminds us of who we are
And to appreciate our partner
In any setting.

Barometers

Warm Autumn Day.
Students itching to get out of their skin.
Winds changing to the East.
Either Mary Poppins
Or a storm's coming in.

Chess Club

Strategies
Problems in black in white.
Focused on the game,
Ignoring the distractions;
What's for supper
How much homework
Who friends like.
Eyes on the prize
Decisions and desire
Plan ahead
Make a move.
Checkmate.

Undaylight Savings Time

A Cheshire cat grin moon,
A sliver of the lunar surface,
Smiles down on us
As we wave the sun goodnight.

To Sleep Perchance...

My dreams aren't subtle.

Even my subconscious

is open and honest.

I dream about losing my teeth

When I feel loss.

I dream about babies

When I need care.

I dream about water

When I need to look under the surface.

My dreams remind me

What I should be paying attention to

In my waking life.

Soup

A pinch of this

A sprig of that

I like to have a recipe.

I appreciate

that someone already tested

And found the easiest way

To combine ingredients

The zestiest blend of flavors

The best way to do it.

I like to be creative

But I'll stick to the recipe.

Feeling a Cold Coming On

The fuzzy headed

Scratchy throat

Resulting from too many

Germs sneezed out by third graders

Or a spouse's contagious kisses.

Dreading the coming battle;

The struggle to sleep at night

The crisis of surviving the day

The fatigue and toll

Of flu season.

Waiting for the Birds To Come Home

Whiskered nose
Pressed against the pane.
Eyes wide
In curious delight.
Hunkered down
To wait for dusk
And the last bird
To land softly
In the picture
Framed by his window.

Hump Day

Sometimes it's nice
To break up the week.
Pretend Wednesday
Is the weekend.
Shed the skin
Of your occupation.
No papers to correct
No work to get up for
Just leave your day job behind
And revel in the joy of Wednesday.

Tommy's Election Speech

"I really don't need anything else

I have all of you for my friends

And that's all I need."

Monday

We all need a little help sometimes.
Bits of wisdom or advice
Constructive criticism
Keeps us on the right path.
Just like the students
We need gentle direction
And praise
For a job well done.

Trick or Treat

Sugar high

Temperatures low

A great night for

Tricks or treats.

Princesses and pirates

Pretending adventures

Monsters to scare away

The dread

Magical creatures

Reveling in unimaginable power

Or being rich and famous

For a night.

Anything is possible

On Halloween.

Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear

Peace Train

Meets Crazy Train

And agrees on the Love Train.

Posters and posturing aside

Politics is good for a laugh.

What Not to Wear Marathon

Judging by appearances

We appear vulnerable.

Open to criticism

Sucked in to fill the void

Where our self esteem should be.

Patterns deflect attention

And protect our privacy.

Bland colors

Make us fade into the background.

Too bold colors are like

A warning sign to stop.

Baggie clothes and fabrics

Keep us safe

Never exposing

Our style or personality.

Hoping no one notices

The real person

Behind the clothes.

A Child's Halloween Dreams

A haunted house
Of ghosts and goblins
With them as the super hero
Saving the day.
Trick or treating till
Late at night
With Halloween candy
All the way to the ceiling.
Waking late the next morning
With a Butterfinger's hangover
And no school!

A Hard Day's Night

A hot bath
A warm bowl of soup
A chocolate dessert
A tender kiss
A good night

Halloween Madness

Wind whipping
Like a witch's broomstick
Against the sky.
Levitating leaves
And casting a spell
Keeping us all indoors.

Migration

Brown ducks
And seagulls
Trading places
Across the water
Like a game of checkers.
King me!

The Hereafter Movie

I imagine something

Like a Star Trek episode

Sparkling energy atoms

Dancing across the universe.

The interconnectedness

Of all life

Forming a jigsaw puzzle

Where missing pieces

Get plugged in

Till the whole picture

Is revealed.

20/20 Vision

My Blog

Has made me focus

On the little things.

The things that matter

The things in my control

Or in my realm.

I look at things

In different ways;

Like turning a stone

To search for crystals,

Seeing the light

And beauty refracted

In daily life.

Like a new pair of eyeglasses.

Another View

Enjoy

Being in joy.

Noticing the criss cross

Pattern of waves

Totally missing the criss cross hole

In the screen door.

Watching the yellow leaves flutter

Instead of focusing on the bare branches.

Observing the wind herding the clouds

Out of view

To better see the clear blue sky.

Feeling the softness envelop me

While ignoring the lumps in the cushion.

Looking between window smudges

To join the view.

Being aware of every good thing

And able to bare the rest.

That's joy.

Lake Pepin

Trading one window on the world in

For a different view.

Nightmare on Elm Street

Wind whipping the leaves

Into a frenzy.

Branches wailing

In terror.

Gusts trying to shear

The last leaves

From its limbs

Like a chainsaw massacre.

Dad's Birthday

I remember you were always

Hard to buy for.

When we were little

You and mom said,

All you wanted was "Good kids."

Well, I knew there was a whole lot more to wish for

So I tried socks,

100% cotton shirts,

Books on subjects of interest,

Candy for your sweet tooth

Donations to charity for your heart

And masses said for your soul.

But the best gift

I think was the

Brown corduroy bathrobe I made for you.

Mom said she had to mend it so many times

She just about remade it.

But you wouldn't give it up.

It was nicely worn in

And comfortable.

I was always secretly proud

When I'd see you in that bathrobe.

Even if it was falling apart.

It made me feel connected to you

Like the sash tying it all together

Or a warm hug

To shy to embrace.

I like to think you kept wearing it too

For the love that was in it

And not just because

It was a comfortable brown corduroy bathrobe.

Pedometer

I was surprised to learn
We walk 10,000 steps a day.
I don't know where-
Between the board and the desks
Hardly seems a mile.
Marching them back and forth
In the hallways plus lav breaks
Could add up, I suppose.
Lunch duty and playground patrol
Bus and after school duty
Counts for something.
Up and down to Johnny's desk
Probably adds a lot.
Just juggling third and fourth grade
Involves many steps.
Then the walk from the car to home.
The path from couch to frig
Is well worn.
Plus Jazzercise on a good day
And chasing the cats
Up and down the stairs.
No wonder climbing the steps to bed
I feel like I've already
Walked 9,999 steps.

Far Away Friends

You're there

I'm here.

So many miles by airplane

Yet no farther than a heartbeat.

Your voice on the phone

Reminds me of all we've shared.

So quickly uprooted and transplanted

No wonder your roots are wobbly.

Your family has been flung far

But your heart is here.

Like your mother

You'll always be here

In spirit.

Time Machine

According to the calendar

We lived through the 80's and 90's

But it seems a blur.

Working toward imagined goals

Striving for the future

One adventure bled into the next event

Until we're here.

I learned I liked travel

And more flavorful food.

I tried new things

And gained more experience.

I practiced my craft

And perfected skills.

The middle years

Of growing and shearching.

Everything seemed urgent

And important to be there.

Until we're here.

Not looking back

Or planning our next move

Just here

To where the past has brought us

And the future picks us up.

Nothing to change

Because it starts here.

Leaf Storm

Tornadoes of leaves

Sweep through the streets

Leaving a path of destruction

In its wake.

Shriveled brown bodies

Carcases crunching under your feet

The death of Autumn.

Anniversary

I said I wouldn't marry you
Until I got my driver's license.
My independence meant a lot to me.
32 years later
I still like to be my own person
But now I take into account
How it affects you too.
I think about you
When I decide what's for supper.
I think about you
When I plan my day.
Sometimes I'll just stop
In the middle of my day
And think about you.
I think about you all the time.
You're always in my thoughts
And forever in my heart.

Chilean Miners

It was summer when they went to work.
Trapped underground for 69 day.
Trapped in a cave as dark as their own mind.
How did they survive...
The memories of a bright blue sky
Over a family picnic
Pierced the darkness.
The sound of a lover's voice
Stuck in the head
To grapple with the insanity.
The smell of their perfume
To block the stench of stale air and fear.
The remembered taste of cool clean water
To cleanse the tongue.
The caress of a loved ones hands
To keep back the darkness
And keep hope alive.

A Change of Scenery

Seeing things
From a different perspective
Just by stepping back
And adjusting the lens
Or focusing on a different element.
By putting down the camera
And seeing the whole picture.
A rose by any name
May smell as sweet
But it sure looks different
In October.

Monday Morning Quarterback

I feel ready to tackle the week.
Like an armchair quarterback
I have my plays ready
And my players rested.
We know the drills
And are ready to play.
Pushing forward
Toward the goal line
Touchdown-
Johnny got his work done!

Fall

My brain is empty

Like leaves falling off the trees

Thought slip softly

From my mind.

Nothing to note their passing

But a faint sense of loss

And wonder

At where they've gone.

Gary's Blog

Sultry Saturday

Record high temps,

Peak of Fall colors,

Twins final hurrah,

Trying to connect our lives.

Nice ingredients for October...

Happy to make life's journey

A vacation.

St Paul Art Crawl

Creeping along the hallways

Lit with paintbrush strokes

Of luminous colors.

Climbing up the stairs

Wrought iron twists and turns.

Stalking into lofts

Lined with frames

Outlining people's lives.

Peeking into living rooms

Imagining the life of an artist.

A Good Day

Everyone needs a compliment
Once in a while.
When the kids do a good job,
When they get it right,
Some days when they just show up
They need praise.
But who pats the teacher on the back?
When do I get to hear
That I did something good?
All I get is complaints from parents,
Groans from kids,
And more work.
I guess I'll have to
Pretend their mumbled good mornings
Mean they're glad I'm their teacher,
And parent complaints are their way of saying thanks,
And I get to do more because I'm good at it.
I guess it all in how you look at it.

Waiting For the Birds

Blue sits at the window
Waiting, like Godot,
For the elusive black birds
To circle and nest in the Maple.
Never having experienced the outdoors
What does he imagine,
And does he think
If not for the glass
He could join in their flight?

Thinking About What to Write

I told the kids today
When you don't know
What to write about
Just keep going
And the words
Will finally come out
So, I'm hoping they will.

Golden Medallions

Branches offering alms
To us poor humans.
Why don't we display
Such brilliant colors
As we near our Autumn years?
Instead we seem to fade
And dull to grey.
Maybe that's why
We wear such bright
Wool scarves.

Medtronic 10 Mile Race

Watching runners

Sprint down the tree lined Avenue

In the shadow of the Cathedral

Under the huge American flag.

Muscles taut

Jaws clenched

Faces set in fierce determination.

Pride swells up in me

As I recognize a familiar face-

My brother finishing the race.

Congratulations!

We're Gonna Win Twins

We appreciated Fan appreciation Day.

What a great season

And what a great new stadium.

Blue sky

Instead of smelly blue seats.

Big Dogs

Instead of Dome Dogs.

Watching Minni and Paul

Shake hands over the crowd

Instead of staring at the curtain.

Losing balls in the sun

Instead of the Teflon.

Joe Mauer

Instead of...

Well some things stay the same.

Go Twins!

The Other End of the Avenue

Eyes wide as the sky

Taking in the parting clouds

And emerging sun.

Mind expanding

With the bright blue possibilities

Of the morning sunrise.

Jefferson Avenue

Tree lined street
Like a stained glass
Cathedral dome.

Branches interlacing fingers
Above the Avenue
Like hands raised in praise.

The hush of fallen leaves
Whisper a prayer
To the Deity of Fall.

Autumn Haiku

Stuck in school meetings
On a beautiful fall day
I know how kids feel.

Milestone 100
By Gary

A blog a day
Keeps the blues away
Your optimism on life
Shows us all the strife
We all encounter
Each day
And turns it into poetry
In emotion.
Happy 100th blog
We all know you better now.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Science Class

I told the class
The tree ate the sun.
Golden leafy orb
Outside our window.
Observations
As we start our day.

WorldWideWeb

Arms wide open

To embrace the world.

A softened stance

To absorb its hug.

Seeing others as

Merely strangers

Before a handshake.

Touching fingertips

Releasing energy

Accepting humanity

With a welcoming kiss.

Reality TV

I can't stand TV sitcoms

With laugh tracks.

It's like having to explain the joke.

Life doesn't come

With a laugh track.

You have to be ready

To catch the punch line.

A Cold Autumn Day

Animals store up food for the winter.

Comfort food makes a satisfying

Cold weather reward.

Bears hibernate.

Climbing under the warm blankets

Makes sense.

Birds fly south for the winter.

I think that seems like a good idea

Right about now.

Who says we're smarter

Than animals?

The Library

So many books
So little time...
To see the kids get excited about a book
Silently pouring over it
Or talking and laughing about it.
Their delight is contagious.
Perks of a teacher
And library volunteer.

Champs

The excitement of September-
The whole city comes together
To watch our team compete.
The pride
The thrill
The fun!

Here's the wind up
And the pitch.
It's gone
Touch 'em all Minnesota Twins!

Pizza Memories

Was it the thin crispy crust
Or the local fresh vegetables?
Was it the warm spring day
Or the sunny patio?
Was it the pleasant conversation
Or the intimate silences?
Or was it just eating pizza in Italy
That made it the best pizza ever?

Long Day Monday

Driving home,

Sunset down the road

Setting the trees on fire.

Burnished branches

Reflecting the sun's goodnight.

Essence

Somewhere between the joy of childhood

And the responsibility of adulthood

We lose ourselves.

The freedom of innocence

Gives way to the trap of cynicism.

It's usually not one traumatic event

But a slow chipping away

That sculpts us.

Leaving our essence at the core

But buried by years of grime.

Till mid-life awakening

We see ourselves in photographs.

And maybe catch a glimpse

Of that former self.

Standing in front of the mirror

Washing away the wear of years

And trying to recapture

The joy of life.

Birthday Boy

I remember changing your diapers.

You called me Quatzleenie

Because you couldn't pronounce a hard K yet.

I read you the Night Before Christmas

For the whole month of December.

I pushed you in your stroller

And fed you strained peas.

I repeatedly picked up

The bottle you threw from your crib.

It's hard to reconcile you

With that little boy.

But still, sometimes I see him peep out.

You were so cute and innocent.

You loved everyone

And everyone loved you.

You made them smile.

You were so open and honest

And always asking why?

Rough and tumble on the outside

Kind and thoughtful on the inside.

Your smile could break a heart.

Happy Birthday, brother!

Catnap

Every time a cat takes a nap

It's like a new day.

Morning time

Time to stretch

Time for breakfast

Time to get petted again

Time to take another nap.

No wonder they have seven years

To our one-

They have a lot more mornings!

Nothing To Sneeze At

Head cloudy
With a chance of breathing.
Possible shower
Pouring from eyes and nose.
Temperatures rising.
Scattered sneezing
With prolonged periods of coughing.
Early morning fog.
Forecast for allergy season.

One word-DMB
Or is that three
Dave Matthews Band tonight!

Brainstorming

A whirlwind of ideas

Tossed out to float in the air

And see if they'll take flight.

Second Week of School

Monday morning

Start of a new week.

Lesson plans in order.

Ideas percolating over the week

Coming to fruition.

A fresh start

A new beginning

A blank square on the page.

Till Monday evening

When all the plans have changed.

Cherish

You said cherish

Is something you do inside.

I disagree

I think it's also visible on the outside.

I cherish our time together

By holding your hand.

I cherish your sense of humor

By laughing at your jokes.

I cherish our past

With a stack of photo albums.

I cherish our families

As we gather together.

I cherish the home we've made

As I weed the garden.

I cherish our future

As we look forward together.

I cherish you-

Inside and out.

Saturday

Languidly lying in bed

Sun kissing the curtains

Thinking about getting up.

Thinking about

Pulling back the warm covers,

Planting two feet on the floor

and slipping into fuzzy slippers.

Lingering over the newspaper

At a breakfast of blueberry pancakes.

Lounging by the window

Drinking in the sunshine.

Lazily climbing back

Under the covers

And thinking about getting up...

There's nothing tireder than a teacher

On Friday night...

Unless it's a teacher

After Happy Hour

On Friday night!

A Stretch

No pain, no gain.
Stretching muscles
That haven't been used
Whether brains, brawn, or imagination
Use it or lose it.
Exercise
Push/pull
Release of endorphins
Relax back into entropy
Feel the burn.

Testing

Tests to test how smart you are

Don't test the heart.

Tests to score how well you do

Say nothing to your soul.

Test to see if you can compete

Don't allow for cooperation.

Tests will never really show

How good you are or how far you'll go.

Rules

You can do anything

That helps you learn

And doesn't interfere

With others learning.

You don't have to sit still

But dancing on the desk

Could be distracting.

You don't have to be silent

But your singing

Could be annoying.

You don't have to know

All the answers

But it's more fun to share.

You don't have to stay between the lines

But it helps

If we can decipher it.

You don't have to smile all the time

But at least feel good about yourself

And know that

You can do anything

That helps you learn

And doesn't interfere

With others learning.

Labor Day

Sit still.

Brain focused

On nothing more

Than what's outside the window.

Birds flitting frantically

Catching a feast of bugs.

Squirrels squirrelling away nuts

For a winter retreat.

Leaves working overtime

Producing beautiful colors.

Plants busy

At the process of dying.

Sit still.

Take a deep breath

Hold it in,

Along with all the joy and hope

Of Autumn.

Then exhale slowly enough

To make it last

All through the winter.

Renaissance Festival

Kings and knights

Princesses and fairies

A magical world

near Shakopee.

Arts and crafts

Juggling and jokes,

Raucous and ribald

Silliness meets Shakespeare!

Maggie

Magnificently

Awesome

Graciously

Giving

Incredibly

Elegant

Happy Birthday!

A Change in the Weather

A September chill

Turns August into autumn.

Crisp air

Carries the sweet smell

Of early apples.

Donning jeans

And snuggling into sweaters,

Comfort food

Instead of bar-b-cue,

Football enthusiasm

Tackling baseball fever,

Brilliant leaves

Showering on faded flowers.

Summer blanketed

With a nice cool day.

Claudia

Recycled atoms-

We get to borrow them for a while.

Slip into your skin

And walk around.

Wear it out a bit

Until it feels like you.

Then just when it starts to fit

It's time to shed your wrap

And slide back into the

Cosmic consciousness.

Leaving your energy

To mark your path

To feed the earth.

September

See you in September,

A refrain to remind us

Of the constancy of the season.

After summer freedom

Comes the responsibility

Of September.

Back to school

Back from vacations

Back to the routine

Of 30 days has September...

End of the Month

As the last day slips away

Like a monkey

Swinging to the top

Of the next calendar page,

A leap of faith

That the next month

With its variable dates

Will offer more...

More beautiful sunrises

More unseasonable weather

More chances to finish work

And time to play

More opportunities

To savor the weekend

More options in wardrobe

More nights

Of clear skies

And moon rises

More dates.

So much to do...

Buzzing here

Buzzing there

Hopping from one project

To another.

At least a fly

Has an excuse

With its mutant eyes

It's hard to focus.

My only excuse is

That it's August.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I love birthday

Especially mine!

It's a day to celebrate

All the wonder

That brought you

To where you are today.

Whether 10 or 110

Each candle represents

The details of your years.

The sunny days of smiles.

The hard cold winter of a frown.

The tears, like candle wax

Dotting the frosting.

The warm blaze,

Like friendship's embrace.

Make a wish

And blow out the candles

Still bright inside

With warm memories

Of this year's growth.

End of August

No regrets

Just wishes.

I wish I had more time

To spend with you.

I wish every night

Had such beautiful sunsets.

I wish we could see

The Northern Lights again.

I wish the weather was

Hot enough for me

And cool enough for you.

I wish the sky

Was always Parrish Blue.

I wish each day

Had its own festival.

I wish I could sit here forever

With a cat in my lap

And you next to me.

I wish the summer would never end.

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Worry

Sits in your stomach

Like a piranha

And nibbles away at your insides.

Did I remember to lock the door?

A bite of liver.

Will someone break in?

A taste of spleen.

Is everything OK?

A bit of kidney.

What if they let the cats out?

A helping of heart.

Why do I worry so much?

Maybe a big chomp of brain

Would slow the worrying

And keep it from devouring me.

Something else to worry about!

Opening Day at the Fair

Once a year for 12 days,

Like Brigadoon,

Como and Snelling becomes a fantasy land.

All the grease you can inhale

And anything you can think of

On a stick.

A sea of people

Wade down the Avenue;

A baby stroller parade,

Toddlers running on sugar,

Parents following with weary smiles,

Teenagers being cool,

And old folks trying to keep up.

10 days to do it all-

From cattle barns to horse shows

From side shows to art shows.

And then just as suddenly

It disappears.

Summer's over.

It's back to school.

Still the memories linger

Like the sweet smell

Of Tom Thumb Donuts.

The Journey

Through childhood's path

Each pebble a story

Mosaics pieced together

Forming stepping stones to adulthood.

End of Summer

A fresh breeze blows through August

Dispersing the heat.

Cool waves of wind dance like whitecaps

On a summer day.

A timid sun peeks out

To gently nudge the clouds.

An Autumn preview in August.

Encore!

The Community Reporter Minutes

Was my writing for today.

Check out the Communty Reporter.

Flocks of Phlox

My Garden abounds with purple

Like Lilacs in August.

The tall stems

Offer up their flowers

Like goblets of wine.

Butterflies and bees

Hearing August's "Last call"

Seek solace in the sweet nectar.

Lighting tripping home

With an end of summer hangover.

Dog days of Summer

Dogs lie in the sun

Waiting for you to throw the ball

For a game of fetch.

Cats lie in the sun

Waiting for you

To fetch a bowl of water.

Dogs seek the shade

At your feet

To protect you.

Cat seek the shade

In your lap

To get petted.

Dogs treat you as the Alpha

Cats know who's boss.

Our pets love us

And fill an important place

In our lives.

Seeing summer

Through our pets' eyes.

Vacation

Doesn't matter what you do

The point is

It's up to you.

You get to choose.

Eat when you're hungry.

Sleep when you're tired.

Do what you want,

Even if you choose to do nothing.

Migraine

Eyes tight shut

To keep out the light.

Inside my head

A metal pin ball

Is bouncing off the nerves

Sending neurons careening

Into bumpers

Pulsating and pounding.

Flick the flippers

To keep the pain at bay.

Tilt the machine

In an attempt

To avoid it.

Noise, lights

Hammering through consciousness

Temporary distractions

From the silver ball

Rampaging in my head.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our friend Joe Vinar

Workshop Hauku

Can't sit anymore

How can anyone stand it

8 hours in a chair

Teacher Workout

Providing students with the opportunities

To stretch their brains

Like pushup for the mind.

Giving students the tools

To create and explore

Like weights for bench pressing.

Asking students to ask questions

Like isometric resistance

Building strong muscles.

Getting students excited

Like an aerobic workout

Pushing to its peak.

Opportunities

Equipment

Challenges

And Encouragement

Exercises for a good workout.

DIY

Brains and brawn

Beauty and the beast.

Sometime a little forethought

Can prevent a lot of work.

Sometimes a BFH is all you need

Sometimes a better plan is necessary.

As dad use to say

"It ain't goin to the fair."

Then have a beer and think about it.

Mesmerising Moments at Irish Fest

Clapping with the bodran

Pogoing to the beat

The crowd sings along,

Many accents in harmony.

Arcadian roots

Snaking through the crowd

Joining the patchwork plaid

Of the Irish Kilt.

Friday the 13th

Celebrating 56 years of life

For another Joe

Freedom on the Highway

Sturgis in August

Feeling invincible

At one with the wind.

We pray Angels broke your fall

Tucked you safely in their wings

And carry you back to us soon.

Celebrating The Wonder of 10 Years of Life.

A smile brighter than the candles

Warming our hearts.

Kindness and thoughtfulness

Well beyond your years.

Empathy and humor

You were born with.

Talents and ideas

You grew into.

A beautiful night to celebrate

With family and friends.

Happy Birthday Joe!

My "Eat, Pray, Love" Word

I am a seeker.

Seek the truth

The elusive goal of detective novels.

Seek to learn new things

The sign of a good teacher.

Seek to be helpful

As a citizen of the world.

Seek knowledge

As a hunter in life's library.

Seek comfort

Not fearing the unknown but expanding into it.

Seek passion

Aggressively embracing opportunities of joy.

Seek fun

Taking time to laugh.

Seek balance

Putting all the pieces together.

Seek Peace

Reconciling the restlessness of the search.

Greatest Generation @ the History Center

The lense of childhood

Recreates its own history.

The days were longer

The snow deeper

The sun hotter

And the stars

Actually may have appeared brighter

Due to less city glare.

The walk to school

Seemed to go on for miles.

Between the blocks

Was such an adventure.

Imagining what was behind

Lace curtains.

Chasing through hedge shortcuts.

Hopscotching down the sidewalk.

It seemed forever between houses.

Nine blocks included

All the laughs, secrets and dreams

We shared

In the short space and time

Of our nine year old history.

Summer in the City

Seeking shade

Under August's jungle canopy

Garden overgrown,

Like a Gauguin painting.

Feel the heat bake the bark

And wring the sweat from the leaves.

Squirrels, with bellies pressed flat to the limbs,

Too hot to scurry

Just trying to catch a summer breeze.

Gary's Poem

Sharing your thoughts through your writing

Making each day's poetry exciting.

Your optimistic outlook on life

Finding beauty in every day strife.

I enjoy your honesty and compassion

You do understand your feelings.

Thanks for letting me into your world.

You are passionate, playful, loving and caring.

All who you touch,

Enjoy your friendship and love,

Your wisdom as a teacher.

We are all students.

Mom's Anniversary

I replaced the curtains today.

The ones you gave me

after you got new hand me downs

From Uncle Joe.

They were a golden pleated texture

So basic they never went out of style.

You got them from Auntie Bea

Who knew good quality,

And you nearly had to remake them

To fit your living room,

Using your trusty sewing machine.

But the seams were fraying

And they couldn't take another washing.

Though you cared for them carefully

Always making things last,

Like the ugly blue carpeting.

It was time for them to come down.

I put up cheap curtains from Tuesday Morning.

They're the same color

And no one will notice

But it's not quite the same.

Your drapes had history

A bit of you woven through the golden strands.

It's been 5 years since you died

But it was still hard to take down those curtains.

My Experience as a Judge

@ Poetry Slam 2010

Words slam onto the page

And out of the mouth.

Reverberating off the walls

And into your heart.

Rhythm of its beat pulsating

Through the room.

Connecting the world with poetry.

An Armchair Observer

Watching the world go by my window

Parade of people wind past my door.

The grey haired gentleman with

His nose in a book.

The harried mom with stroller

And toddler in tow.

The labrador retriever

Leading the young couple.

My family stopping by

To visit.

Observing the details of daily life

Charm Bracelet

A pattern set

In the naive days

Of childhood.

Events like silver charms

Marking the family circle.

But chains

Bound to be broken

As we outgrow the mold.

More links, more charms

Need to be added

Before it's clasped.

St Paul Poetry Slam

Take the things you

See, hear and feel

And put them into motion.

Like a blender

Full of words

Whirling inside your head.

Top off,

Ready to pour

A brand new flavor of poetry.

Back to School Dreams

Pencils

Just waiting to be broken in.

That first line on the page,

The crooked letters

Branding the paper

Followed by

Endless possibilities.

Crayons

Sharp and bright

Lined up in increments of color.

The facinating decision

Of first out of the box.

Contrast on the pure white paper

Of a line

Leading to

Endless possibilities.

Books

Pristine covers

Covering adventures,

Spine unbroken.

Words promising

Endless possibilities.

Students

Fresh new faces

Neatly scrubbed

Smiling at each other

In anticipation and trepidation of

Endless possibilities.

Beginning of August

Or as Gary calls it

A Corny Poem

Each day is a kernel

On a cob of corn,

Chomp into it with gusto

And relish each buttery bite.

Savor the sweet lazy days;

Picnics in the park

Walks by the water

Stars at night.

Chew over the memories;

Family gatherings

And the intimate conversations

Only lounging at the beach can bring.

Taste the excitement

Of the state Fair,

Back to school shopping

Birthdays!

August has no time for regrets

Swallow resentments

And digest each moment.

Savor the Day!

End of July

If I could hoard a day

I'd spend it

One second at a time.

Add a second on

To linger in bed.

One more second of laughter

At the end of a joke.

One more second

To have seconds

Of chocolate cake.

Add a second to each birthday.

Save a few for the end.

One last second

To say goodbye.

A fleeting moment

As the eyes flutter closed

To wish there was

More time.

Nine Lives

Filling the space at my side

A furry ball of love

Curled up

Sharing sunshine.

Stroking soft velvet fur

A purr of contentment escapes

Constant companion

Home from the vet.

A Picture's worth a thousand words...

Moon Over Lake Pepin

Sunset soaring over the lake
Like an eagle
Cloud talon dipping down
To touch the waves
Then racing back
To catch a star.

A Child's Eye View

At The History Center

Spinning with the bodhran

Dancing to the fiddle

Arms thrown wide open

To embrace the whole world.

Wobbling like a top

Ready to fall,

Slowly sinking to the ground

Gazing up at the clouds

Wondering at their tie dye effect.

A Gaelic Storm.

Control Issues

I'm responsible

For everything.

If I stop moving

The earth may stop spinning.

If I take my eye off it

The sun may go out.

If I go on vacation

All hell may break loose.

Being in control is exhausting.

No wonder God rested on the 7th day.

We're All Stars

Thanks to Ringo at Mystic Lake

You can't yell

If you're singing.

You can't fight

If you're dancing.

You can't disagree

If you're in harmony.

You can only find love.

Love is all you need.

Compassion

Understanding.

Standing under

The same sky-

Shields you/oppresses you

The same sun-

Warms you/burns you

The same rain-

Restores you/drenches you

The same day-

Fills you/kills you

Compassion

Is standing in the middle

And seeing both sides.

Numb Skull

Pain in the neck

Shooting up through

My teeth to my sinuses.

Throbbing down my

Right side to my jaw,

Stiff from being open and tensed.

Headache from

A toothache.

Day at the dentist.

Thursday Afternoon

The cool air makes me sleepy

Or maybe

It's the busy week

Cleaning and painting.

Or maybe

It's the early mornings

Up and at it by 7.

Or maybe

It's the busy evenings

Out for music or dinner.

Or maybe

It's the late nights

Reading or watching

Chelsea Handler.

Or maybe

It's just nap time!

Painting

Muscles stretched and released

Like a rubber band

Stinging as snapped back in place.

A push and a pull

In places that shouldn't be

Pushed and pulled.

An ache and an ouch

Followed by

An oops and an Oh no!

And more paper towels.

But all worth while

Eating dinner by candlelight

In the freshly painted dining room.

Magical History Tour

A Woodstock of an evening;

Blankets and bodies

On the ground,

Dancing in the grass,

Swaying to "I Me Mine"

Singing "She Loves You"

Cathedral and clouds

As a backdrop,

Beatles night at

The History Center.

At the Zoo

Naughty little monkey

Chasing another.

Very brave

With mom behind him.

Till his bullying went too far

And papa had to come

To show him who's boss.

Two day old dolphin

Swimming with her mother.

Breaking the water's surface

Together in a perfect arch

Of sleek silver.

Underwater jungle of amazing life.

Sea horses-

An impossible animal.

Unicorn fish-

Beyond imagining.

All kinds of coral magic

Under the sea.

Lions and tigers and bears

Oh my!

What a day at the zoo!

The Art of Compromise

I do it this way

You do it like that

Together we can

Find a better way.

By putting our heads

Together

And melding ideas

We create something new.

A masterpiece

Ice Cream

Smooth and silky

On the tongue.

Rich, sweet flavors

Fill the mouth.

A trickle of cold

Down the back of the throat.

A satisfied feeling.

Ice cream

On a hot summer day.

The Twins

Beautiful new stadium-

Great views;

A magnificent city skyline on one side

A crescent moon and stars peeking over the other.

Great atmosphere;

Everyone so friendly

Even visiting with fans of the other team.

Great fun;

Minni and Paul celebrating a homer

Kiss Cam and the seventh inning stretch.

Great time;

6 runs in the second inning

Bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.

Same old Twins

Losing 8-7.

Los Lobos at the Zoo thanks to Dave & Maggie

A beautiful place for a concert.

Even the caribou were listening.

Overlooking a quiet pond

Where swans were dancing

As the sun set.

Spanish or Samba

Blues or Boogie

The music made everything move.

Lifting you up

And carrying you

From guitar to horn

From organ to accordion

What a wonderful ride!

Steve's dog, Angus was more than a dog

He was a distinguished gentleman

An old soul, a loving friend

In a cute furry body.

Here's Gary's poem for Angus-

Dog Heaven

If there is a heaven for dogs

It may be right here.

A dimension of man's best friend.

The connection made

Between animal and human.

A bond like fate and trust eternally

Becoming at peace with life and death.

Heaven!

Old Friends

Seeing an old friend

Is like looking into

A mirror of your past.

Seeing the person you are

Through the person you were.

Sharing a history of stories;

Characters in each other dramas

Jesters in each others courts

Supporting cast in romance

Chorus in the choir.

The names are in the credits.

The Day After

The sun rose

This morning

Though maybe not as bright.

The newspaper headlines

Were of interest

Though maybe not so much.

The TV

Was strangely muted in the corner

Vapid images floated by.

The time passed slowly

Without a penalty

Without a cheer

Without the World Cup

Till Brazil in four more years!

Easy Like Sunday Morning

Time to linger over breakfast

To make pancakes

Or fry bacon and eggs.

Time to read the whole paper

From front page

To funnies.

Time to crawl back in bed

Curl up under the covers

And savor the time.

Hot Enough for You

Heat

Like a bully

Steps on you

And holds you flat

Rubbing your face in the sand.

Like a 98 pound weakling

You lay there gasping

Wishing for the cool waves

To wash over you

And wipe out the humiliation

Of being bested

By the weather.

Let's Do Lunch

Lazing on a patio

On a sunny summer day.

Pretending Grand Avenue

Is a French Cafe.

Taste and talk

A sip and a story

Sharing food with friends.

Salute!

God is in the Details

How floppy headed daisies

Stay standing.

How the summer sky

Is a maze of clouds.

How one snowflake from a blizzard

Can be so delicate.

How refracted sunlight

Reflects so many colors.

How a rational mind

Can comprehend

The concept of God.

Poems

I need a little structure

To hold my words.

I need these lines

And punctuation

To keep them in check.

A little rhyme or simile

Provides a glimpse

Beneath the surface.

But with out poetry

My words

Would run wild.

From The Help by Kathryn Stockett;

"We are just two people. Not that much separates us. Not nearly as much as I'd thought."

From my experience;

We are all connected.

The blood in our veins

Like an underground river

Courses through us all.

Tributaries branching off

Winding through

Other experiences

Other cultures

Other moments in history.

But the same recycled atoms

Flow between us.

Connect the dots.

Lake Hiawatha

We're drawn to water

Our baptism into nature

Seeing our best selves reflected

In the clean calm surface.

Constantly changing scene

Gliding across our vision-

A TV screen of life.

Happy Independence Day!

4th of July Eve

Patriotic-Loyally supporting one's country

see loyally

see allegiance

see how words can be twisted

I love my country

Its hopes, its dreams, its people.

We are so much more

Than boundaries on a map

Or words in a pledge.

We are the offspring

Of our ancestral homes

Taking what's best

From our parent countries.

We are young,

Growing and changing

And learning from our mistakes.

Like a child

Full of wonder and potential

We emerge.

I love America

For its possibilities.

Phone Home

I know I can't stop by the house

Like I use to.

I don't think the new owner

Would let me sit in his living room

And watch Jeopardy.

But I think of all the times

I'd head home tired after school

And pause at the corner

Heart winning out over head

And taking the turn to mom and dad's

Dad would solve the world's problems

From his chair in the corner

And ask about my students.

Mom would sit cross legged

With a book in her lap

And we'd watch TV.

As dad said after mom died,

It was nothing

But it was everything.

Jazzercise

Music comes in through the ear

Agitates the brain

Flows down to the belly

Till it undulates

Like a washing machine.

Pouring out to the knees

Kicking the ankles

To send the toes tapping

In the rhythm of the dance.

Lake Johanna

Yellow sunburst of Wildflowers

Against the water

Sun drenched skin

Soaking up the energy

Diamond fingered waves

Kiss the sky

A marriage made in heaven

A day at the Beach.

I've looked at Clouds from Both Sides Now

From mopping up the basement

After the clouds opened up

And dropped a water balloon on us this weekend.

To painting soft white fluffiness

On my closet ceiling today

Just because they looked so pretty

Against the sky blue walls.

And now sitting on the deck

Searching the sky for an escaped

Wisp of whiteness

In a beautiful summer sky.

Every Good Boy Deserves Favor

If notes have letters

Is it like an alphabet for music?

Are there rules

Like i before e except after C?

Is middle C singing

When he says his name?

Feeling the vibrations from the mandolin

The air seems filled with the language of music.

World Cup Continued

Breathe in the excitement,

Exhale the roar of the crowd,

Chanting for a victory.

Doing our part

To will the ball into the goal.

Together,

Their legs

And our hearts

Should have brought it home!

Soccer

Brain pumping plans

Pulse of power

Heart full of dreams

The energy

Rolls off the foot

Scatters the grass

Lunging toward the goal

Friends

Connected through the years

By events

Like births and deaths

Or smaller moments

Like a funny story or a bad day.

Connected across the miles

By phone calls and emails

letters and packages

Or once in a while

A trip closing the distance.

Connected by our joint history

The stories we share

The memories we've made

The friendship we treasure.

Connected at the heart.

From Louise Erdrich's Master Butcher's Singing Club;

"She hadn't exactly feared the word contentment, but had always associated it with a vague sense of failure."

From my experience;

Two teenager sitting on a bridge at Minnehaha Falls

Discussing dreams and desires.

Both settled on the word "Contentment".

A strange word for hormone raging 16 year olds.

But maybe that was why we wanted peace

And to be happy were we were.

Through several decades fighting it,

Always striving for more

And seeking that elusive goal

Till once again midlife find me back at that bridge

Longing for contentment.

This time I'm not afraid.

But understanding the word in all it's brilliance

As the pure joy and delight of who and where you are.

I am content.

Everything I need to Know I learned from my garden

Sometimes you reap what you don't sow...
My hollyhocks
Make a beautiful color guard
Standing at attention
Overlooking the alley parade of cars.
They wave at me
As I go past
As they've now moved on
To the neighbors yard!

My Blog

Words-
Ponderous and bold.
Lyrics-
Beautiful to behold.
My journal
Laid bare
To prying eyes,
Quickly whittles me
Down to size.