My Nonverbal
Caregivee
Speak to him as if understands.
Chat about your day
or what will happen next.
Don’t talk about him in his presence,
unless you praise and encourage.
Don’t ignore or treat him as if
he’s deaf, stupid or a child.
No sudden noise or movements,
especially if he can’t see you.
Praise, smile, touch (if he approves).
Advice
They used to say when teaching to swim,
just pick them up and throw them in.
And if they sink, fish them out.
And no matter if they shout,
do it all over again.
That’s not my advice for swimming,
though it may be exciting.
It’s for writing.
Where’s My Ukulele?
Where’s my ukulele?
Back collecting dust.
If I want to learn to play it,
Get it out, I must.
Beautiful mahogany
Pineapple in shape
Gentle tones of concert size,
I can’t let it escape.
I’d like to accompany singing
In my church’s little group,
Or the kids at the nature center.
We’d make quite a troupe.
I can play Happy Birthday
And Amazing Grace
And the Hokey Pokey,
But it’s only taking space.
What happened to my fingers
Is a bit revealing.
The callouses have worn off.
My fingertips are peeling.
With all my to-dos,
It gets pushed off my list.
I’m sure as a musician,
I can do better than this.
Where’s my ukulele?
Back collecting dust.
If I want to learn to play it,
Get it out, I must!
Where Next?
To those of you who read my poems,
You travel everywhere with me,
All from the comfort of your homes
Across the mountains, fields and sea.
You travel everywhere with me.
We’ve been to each of fifty states
Across the mountains, fields and sea,
At many different times and dates.
We’ve been to each of fifty states,
Yes, several foreign countries, too.
At many different times and dates.
There is so much to see and do.
Yes, several foreign countries too,
With three more continents to go.
There is so much to see and do.
Where next? I’d bet you’d like to know.
With three more continents to go,
Australia, Asia, Antarctica.
Where next? I’d bet you’d like to know.
How about Central America?
Australia, Asia, Antarctica?
Get out your shorts and bathing suit.
How about Central América?
We’ll cruise along the east side route.
Get out your shorts and bathing suit.
From Panama to Cozumel,
We’ll cruise along the east side route.
We’ll have a lot of tales to tell.
From Panama to Cozumel.
To those of you who read my poems,
We’ll have a lot of tales to tell,
All from the comfort of your homes.
Where do the Animals Hide?
Where do the animals hide?
In oak brush and caves?
Behind the trees?
Running away on hooved or padded feet
Disappearing so quickly
Deer, elk, bears, bobcats, lynxes
Foxes, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions
Where do the animals hide?
Foxes, wolves, coyotes, mountain lions,
Deer, elk, bears, bobcats, lynxes
Disappearing so quickly
Running away on hooved or padded feet
Behind trees?
In oak brush and caves?
Where do the animals hide?
Traveler
For this traveler, what’s in
store?
More
adventures, scenery, new faces?
Places.
Winter, spring, summer, fall.
Call
it weird, but that’s not all.
Desire for travel flows through
my veins.
So for me, it’s cars, trains
and planes.
More places call.
