PAD 14-3 state

Pennsylvania

I grew up in Pennsylvania,

then lived in Nebraska,

Wyoming and Colorado

where I live now.

I miss the hills and trees of PA,

autumn colors, curvy roads,

creeks, rivers and lakes,

fruit trees everywhere.

When we moved back

for three years to help

take care of my parents,

I remembered why I had left.

Spring’s too rainy and foggy.

Summer’s too hot and humid or rainy.

Autumn’s too rainy and short.

Winter’s too cold and snowy.

And the sky’s usually gray.

And though I really get tired

of piles of snow in spring,

I’ll stick with Colorado.

PAD 14-2 state

Wyoming

Driving through miles of nothing

I get the feeling

God hasn’t finished with Wyoming.

PAD 14-1 state

Colorado

Mountains

Blue skies, rivers

Hiking trails, lots of rocks

Quaking golden autumn aspens

Elk, snow

PAD 13-3 view

View from the Invisible

I know what it likes to feel invisible,

but I wonder what it feels like to be God,

invisible, holy and loving a people

who tend to believe only what they see.

PAD 13-2 view

View from My Living Room Window

The neighbor’s back yard

where they grow marijuana

in a makeshift greenhouse

made of plastic and boards

which didn’t survive the winter

and looks like a disaster area.

I don’t like to look out that window.

PAD 13-1 View

View from My Recliner

Lots of clutter in my living room:

two wheel chairs, couch, end tables,

exercise equipment, entertainment center

book shelves crowded with books,

pictures and knick-knacks.

On a little chair that was my daughter’s

a doll named Gooney Bird (my dad named)

sitting by a dummy named Jimmy Rabbit

I named after my dad,

though Dad was no dummy.

His name was James Richard Shannon.

When he was a kid in school

people would ask him what the R. stood for

and he, an avid hunter, would say, “Rabbit.”

Each item of clutter could all tell such stories.  

PAD 12-3 the art of...

The Art of Begging

My friend on a limited income

has begging down to an art.

One time, we went salmon fishing.

People were catching them all around,

but neither of us were doing very well.

In her loud voice, she told me how

her fridge was getting empty

and she had hoped she could

stock it with salmon. She went

home with a nice catch of fish.

(Caught from donors’ coolers.)

PAD 12-1 the art of...

The Art of Writing

Not when the mood hits

Not out of compulsion

Not at an opportune time

But you simply write whenever,

because that’s what you do.

PAD 12-1 The Art of...

The Art of Procrastination

The art of procrastination

happens when you allow

just enough pressure

by worthwhile distractions

to motivate you

to get that necessary thing

done before deadline.

PAD 11-3 Dedication

To Dad

Hunting, fishing

Working, boating, teasing

Reading books in a monotone

Thank you

PAD 11-2 Dedication

To Hubby

If we graphed our relationship over the years,

it would look like the temperatures

of a Colorado spring.

But like it’s worth enduring erratic weather

for the beauty of the mountains, lakes and sky,

the substance and depth of our oneness

is worth the ups and downs.

PAD 11-1 Dedication

I do so miss you

Hot tea with sugar and cream

But I must let go

PAD 10-3 lone

Hope

The hope he held out

in the tragic situation

was like a lone, bright star

in the night sky.

PAD 10-2 lone

Someone with Skin

I’m never alone since God is near

But it’s nice to have someone with skin

I depend on Him year after year

I’m never alone since God is near

But His presence is not always clear

I need someone with whom I can grin

I’m never alone since God is near

But it’s nice to have someone with skin

PAD 10-1 lone

I’d feel like a lone poet

If it weren’t for poeming pals

Thank God for the internet

PAD 9-3 love

Easter Love

Springtime

Bunnies

Chicks

Chocolate

Love

Jesus

Easter

Church

I don’t know what the former

has to do with the latter, except

it’s a celebration of love and delight,

a time we know we can enjoy life,

and look forward to a new one.

because of the resurrection.

PAD 9-2 love

Birthday Visit

On his birthday,

he came to visit

and sat down by me

and held my hand

like he used to.

Now, that he’s with another caregiver,

I’m always relieved and grateful

when he remembers me.

PAD 9-1 love

You’ve Got People

“You’ve got people,”

my daughter told her dad

when he worried about

money, health and home

after two strokes.

For Christmas,

she bought him

a warm blanket

complete with pictures

of our family reunion,

with “You’ve got people”

in bold letters.

A blanket of warm fuzzies.

Poetic Blooming endurance

To the Extreme

I have stick-to-it-ness

see-it-through-ness

keep-on-keeping-on-ness

until I find myself beating

the proverbial dead horse.

Perhaps I have endurance

to a fault.

PAD 8-3 Lucky Number

Lucky Day

I don’t really have a lucky number,

but I have a  lucky day, May 17^th.

It seems like every year, something good

happens on that particular day.

It’s the day I flew to Cheyenne, Wyoming,

the summer I met my husband.

It’s the day I found out

I was expecting my daughter.

Visited a PA friend I hadn’t seen since I was a teen.

Watched a sheep herding demonstration and

enjoyed an evening of entertainment in Scotland.

Had a fun day in Mesa, AZ with my kids.

Taught at a local writers conference.

Won a poetry contest at a national writers conference.

Traveled to Greeley in miraculous weather.

Got devotions published in Quiet Hour.

I can’t remember every May 17^th

but I know I haven’t been disappointed.

I look forward to May 17^th

hoping for something delightful.

PAD 8-2 Lucky Number

Four

Four’s a lucky number for me,

because I’m lucky enough

to have four sisters, though

I always felt a little unlucky

not having any brothers.

Like most sisters

we had fun together,

fought with, relied on,

helped and treasured

each other and still do.

 Now scattered across the country,

we have reunions every other year.

And when one’s in need,

we’re all on the ready

to catch the next flight.

My best friend has four sisters, too.

We call each other our fifth sister.

So, I guess five’s also a lucky number.

PAD 8-1 lucky number

Two

Two eyes

Two ears

Two nostrils

Two cheeks

Two lips

Two shoulders

Two elbows

Two hands

Two hips

Two knees

Two feet

Two people in love

There’s something special

about the number two.

PAD 7-3 Jealousy

Jealous

J esus, you ran the money changers out of the temple,

E ven though You were a man of peace and love.

A ngry at sin and injustice against the Father.

L ove is always Your motive, even though Your words and actions may have seemed

O mionous. Calling the scribes and Pharisees white-washed tombs.

U sually we think of You as a nice guy, but You weren’t always.

S ometimes love can have a sharp edge to cut away infections in order to heal.

PAD 7-2 jealousy

Bogged down in

the sludge of jealousy.

Why them, not me?

PAD 7-1 jealousy

Jealousy

Jealousy is wishing

you were in a place

where someone else is.

Perhaps their talent,

riches or even relationships.

Jealousy leads you

down a road of discontent

and prevents discovery

of who you really are.

PAD 6-3 after...

After Vacation

After vacation,

I need a vacation.

Vacation and rest:

There is no relation.

So after vacation

I need to rest.

A blank to-do list

is the best.

But that only lasts

a minute or so.

Destined to be

on the go.

PAD 6-2 After...

After the Dust Settles

After the dust settles

We'll start with what is left

And we'll build again

Slowly, step by step

Like pieces in a puzzle

One bit at a time

Until the picture forms

Of painterly design

Or like writing a poem

Searching for the rhyme

Then the thoughts come

At last, line by line

After the dust settles

We'll start with what is left

And we'll build again

Slowly, step by step

PAD 6-1 after...

After Finishing the Big Project

After finishing the big project
Walking against the wind, and the wind stops
Feeling disoriented and wrecked
After finishing the big project
It’s time to disconnect
Take a breather, stroll the shops
After finishing the big project
Walking against the wind, and the wind stops

PAD 5-3 stolen

Sentimental Value

I crocheted an afghan

for my hubby,

brick red, aqua and white.

I crocheted an afghan

for my daughter

pink, pale blue, and white.

My kids put them in a tent

to sleep out in the night.

Someone stole them from our yard.

It surely isn’t right.

PAD 5-2 stolen

Stolen Heart

He stole my heart and then he left.

It was his time to go.

We couldn’t keep him anymore.

It’s good for all, I know.

I miss his smiles and his sweet hugs,

the sounds he make each day.

The house is very quiet now,

since he has gone away.

I try to visit every month,

come rain or shine, it’s true.

Although he does not verbalize,

I know he misses me, too.

PAD 5-1 stolen

Stolen

S omeone stole my muse, I’m sure

T aken from me in plain sight

O ddly enough it’s disappeared

L ost and alone in the night.

E vaporated. Poof it’s gone.

N ow, no inspiration to write.