A Walk in the Park

Gary, rainbows and unicorns

At Lake Nakomis

Finally

The sun

Tickles my toes

As it inches up

Through the veins

In my calves

Circulating over

Knee and thigh

To delve into digestion

And swirl like a whirlpool

Pumping past the heart

And out to the head

Shining through my smile

At being able

To absorb the beautiful

Sunny day.

At the Zoo

Mommas feeding

Fat howling babies

Swinging from bosoms.

Squeals of protest

Over unmet needs.

Frenzy of movement

And flailing limbs

A stamp of feet

In displays of anger.

The animals are restless -

And not just the ones

In the cages.

It's A Control Issue

I think I should be able

To control

The tiny microbes

In my own body.

To use my brain as general

To Marshall the troops

To fight disease.

I should be able

To will my mind

To exorcise pain

And vanquish germs.

I should be able

To get over this cold.

But I admit defeat

It's time to call in reinforcements

And make a Doctor's appointment.

4:30 Alarm

The cacophony

Of the Bird Symphony

Starts slowly

With the first whistle

Announcing the start.

An answering shrill

Starts the chirpers

With the caw caw birds

Joining the chorus

Bring it all to a crescendo

Until just as suddenly

The fat bird sings

And it's over.

Twin Cities Jazz Festival

Midnight in Paris

Rainy afternoon

In Monet's Garden

Or just a walk

In Mears Park

Waiting For the Fair

Cold and lonely streets,

Waiting for the captivating sound

Of children laughing

The frenzy of teenagers

The intake of breath

And sighs of delight

For all ages at the Fair.

The Secret Language of Computers

Computers have their own code.

Secret messages

They're trying to send.

Love letters to their creators.

Encrypted directions

To fight the war on humanity.

Only the oracles

Can decipher them.

Time to call tech support.

Summer Cold/Allergies?

Feeling underwater

Drowning in mucus

Clawing to the surface

To breathe.

Scratching at

Heavy lidded eyes

Trying to stay alert

Till going down

For the last time

I realize

I don't have to fight it

And can just let go

And go back

Under the covers.

Sun for the Summer Solstice

April showers bring May flowers

June showers bring

A slow start to summer.

The green is washed

Nicely, Like watercolor rain

Spreading a thin sheen across

The landscape.

Freshening up the hues.

White houses reflect

The sun drops

In the aftermath of

Cloud pointillism.

Drops of rain creating

A rainbow slide

Across the sky

Wisps of red and gold

To paint a banner

Welcoming summer.

Going to the Dentist

Upside down

In a chair.

Feet under fluorescent lights,

Head at an odd angle.

Looking up at the

godly figure

Staring into your open mouth.

Waiting for your penance

And the benediction

"Go and Floss".

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day

Without a Father

Is like Mock Apple Pie.

Mere memories

And a taste of history

Can't replace

The presence

And substance

Of a firm handshake

Or hug.

The missed sensation

When the only thing left

Is the stories.

Vacation Weekend

Everyday feels like Saturday

That wide open space of a day.

The hours spreading out leisurely

Between sleeping late

And reading late.

Time measured

In breathtaking moments

Between still heartbeats.

Time measured in breathing out

And breathing in.

A second to catch your breath

And think- "What day is it?"

Post Number 365

A year of writing

Seeing the little things

Choosing one grain of sand

From the 24 hour glass

Marveling at it

Wondering about it

Wallowing in it

Raging at it

Or just gazing at it.

Each day a prayer

A poem of gratitude

And awareness.

365 Days of being alive

A Week of Jury Duty

The glamorous Lawyers shows

May show you the dark side

But they never show you the dull side

Like the potential jurors

They keep locked in the basement

Just in case of a case.

Perry Mason never looked like this.

Fitzgerald Theater

Hearing people like Bill Moyer

And Garrison Keillor speak

I remember we're not alone.

A Walk in the Woods

Snowfall

Of cottonwoods

Blanket the path.

Dog prints

Bury the seeds

Like bones.

Fallen trees adjusting

To their sideways tilt

Continue to sprout new leaves.

Green cathedral

A quiet sanctuary

In the city.

A Week of Waiting

Waiting for vacation

Waiting for the bus

Waiting for nice weather

Waiting for the next week.

Headaches

The relief is like

The calm after a sneeze,

Open your eyes

and see the world again.

A moment to catch your breath-

Breathe out all the pain

Breathe in the freshness of life

Without a Migraine.

Summer in the City

Watching the birds

In the birdbath

Take a leisurely swim.

Chipmunks scurrying

Under the steps.

Squirrels chasing

Each others tails.

Bunnies at the Hosta Buffet.

Better than a movie

On a wide screen TV.

Fall In June

From 103 degree high

To a cool 55

Spring peonies caught

Against Grey sky.

Sweaters over t shirts

Warming pale skin

In the absence of the sun.

If you averaged all our temperatures

It would probably be just right.

A Novel Idea

You're reading an exciting adventure

While I'm finishing a ponderous text.

My romantic novel

Has more dialogue

(And less pictures)

I love poetry

You'd rather nap.

But in our summer saga

We both plan to enjoy the story

And be on the same page.

Lessons Learned

Will they remember

Pledges made

To do their best,

To live their lives

As the good people they are?

Will the little girl inside

Remember to respect herself

Enough to make the boys

Respect her?

Will the boys remember

The friendships and feelings

They don't have to hide?

Will Tommy stay sweet?

Will Riley stay strong?

Will Liam stop leaning on Will?

So much possibility

So much to remember

So many lessons to learn.

Last Day of School!

Eighth Grade Graduation

A teen aged eye view

Like a spider's eye

Many faceted

A kaleidoscope of

Friends and faces

Every event looming

Larger than life.

Each step seeming to be

A giant leap for mankind.

Every ending

A little death.

Shy and excited in the same moment.

Graduation-

Bounding into the unknown

Ready for the adventure

Of the wider world

Of high school.

Greetings from Grand Old Day

Happy Birthday Gary

I knew you had

An old soul.

Hiding behind sunglasses

And a turned down brim,

Words in your deep brown eyes

Invited me to join you

On your journey

And promised

The joy of life we'd share.

Genesis

Amy's Art Show

From which all creation springs

The art of reaching in

And reaching out to share gifts

Of God's splendor.

Decorah Eagle Cam
(And my third and fourth graders)

From tiny egg to furry creatures
We watched them grow
And fill their nest.
All mouths and feet
They learned to spread their wings.
Fledglings reaching for the sky
Waiting for them to soar.

Lilacs- Part Two

...Then fade from view
Only the lingering perfume
Remaining to remind us
Of our brief romance
With spring.