PAD Challenge 28-3 looking back

Early Memory

One of my earliest memories

is when my aunt made me a birthday cake

with red roses and green lettering.

She held it down low so I could see it.

I said, “It looks delicious.”

She and Mom laughed,

expressing their surprise

at me saying such a big word.

I wondered, “How stupid do they think I am?”

Ever after, I wonder if there are times

when I make a child feel that way.

PAD Challenge 28-2 looking back

Memory Gifts

I love to look back

and write poems about my childhood

and pass them off to unsuspecting relatives

at family reunions.

It’s interesting to get different perspectives

of the same people and events.

And when someone does actually remember

the same thing it makes my memories

less like a dream.

PAD Challenge 28-1 looking back

Milestones

During the times I feel like

I’ve accomplished precious little,

I like to look back and try to remember

everything I did manage to pull off.

And for one freeing moment

I forget the regrets,

botch ups, boo boos

and all the stupid things

I’ve surprised myself with

over the years.

Patting yourself on the back

once in a while is healthy.

PAD Challenge 27-3

Grizzly Bear

If a grizzly bear stood at lake’s edge,

growling at its own reflection,

would it scare itself?

PAD Challenge 27-2 massive

Blue Whale

The sun shone through blue waters

showing the silhouette of a blue whale

in a graceful pose, its long head pointing forward,

less than half way back its flippers curved as if in a dance.

The tail tapered back ending in a full mustache-shaped fluke.

The whale’s length is about three school buses

and its heart, the size of a car.

PAD Challenge 27-1 massive

Sequoias

She felt like an ant standing beside

the giant reddish-brown sequoias.

A skyscraper’s length above her head,

they appeared to be conversing with one another,

their leaves whispering ancient secrets

that she would love to hear.

Change 26-3 change

Spring Changes

Rain falling

Sun shining

Bushes greening up

The possibility of lilacs in bloom

Praying they won’t freeze in May

Like last year.

PAD Challenge 26-2 change

God’s Voice

Let my voice

Agree with Yours

And change the world

As You spoke into existence all creation

May my writing, art and music

Carry Your voice

And change the world

PAD Challenge 26-1 change

Real Change

We put on our Sunday best

And our smiles

We greet each other

Sing, listen, and give

And we sometimes forget

Real change happens on the inside.

PAD Challenge 25-3 remix

From free verse poem on day 6 “trap”

The Little Things

(triolet)

Little things can steer your day south

Or they can make your day worthwhile

Niggling thoughts like cheese to a mouse

Little things can steer your day south

Feeling trapped and down in the mouth

Or encouragement, kindness, faith, a smile

Little things can steer your day south

Or they can make your day worthwhile

PAD Challenge 25-2 remix

From a free verse poem on day 23 “social blank”

Social Distancing

(Shadorma)

Repelling

Magnetic marbles

In a maze

Bumped about

When shopping for groceries

Social distancing

PAD Challenge 25-1 remix

From a villanelle from day 8 “future”

Steps into the Future

With things like holograms and flying cars,

the future may inspire and astound.
By moving step by step, we can go far.

New mysteries are waiting to be found.

Ideas flow, from wise to the bazaar.

The visionaries skillfully expound

on rocket-ships that soar beyond the stars.
What wonders lie ahead and all around.

But future’s subject to the here and now.

The big and small mistakes we make abound.
Let’s contemplate our actions and take pause.

Toward fruits of daily choices, we are bound.

PAD Challenge 24-3 nature

Grace

A large elephant

walked down a dusty road

as graceful

as a sleek model

on a fashion show runway.

PAD Challenge 24-2 nature

Commonalities

In a large field of pink and red tulips,

two orange tulips popped up side by side

as if excited and delighted to find each other

in a world that was different from them.

PAD Challenge 24-1 nature

Spring at the Nature Center

(alouette)

Pines softly swaying

Outdoors we’re staying

The sky’s Colorado blue

White, fluffy clouds drift

Sweet blue bird songs lift

Tucked in their houses on cue

The farm pond’s brimming

Fish gently swimming

The children are flying kites

Their laughter’s ringing

It’s joy spring’s bringing

With wonderful sounds and sights

PAD Challenge 23-3 social

Social Distancing

When I go to the grocery store

practicing social distancing,

I feel like a little marble

getting bumped about in a maze.

I wish they’d put up arrows

in Wal-Mart like they do at Safeway

so you don’t have to pass anyone.

PAD Challenge 23-2 social

Social Intelligence

I didn’t learn the phrase till recently,

“the ability to know oneself and others.”

I feel smarter saying it,

though mine’s still a bit low.

PAD Challenge 23-1 social

Social Misfit

S ociety has a way of behaving together

O nly I don’t quite get it.

C ollectively, some people seem to know their ps and qs.

I didn’t seem to get the memo.

A ntisocial seems to work for me.

L et the crowds take care of their own.

M y friends don’t come in batches.

I like to hang out with one to a few at a time.

S ocial distancing isn’t hard for me.

F riends and socializing are important for an

I ntrovert, but just like Brylcreem, a little dab’ll do ya.

T wo or three social contacts a day is my quota.

PAD Challenge 22-4 quirk

My Quirks

I guess one of my quirks is that I sing all the time.

Everything reminds me of a song.

I sing songs from childhood:

“Camp Granada” “I Laugh When I Think of the Small Armadillo.”

“Why Doesn’t My Goose Sing as Well as Thy Goose?”

The songs my kids sang when they were little:

“Bill Grogan’s Goat” “I’m My Own Grandpa.” “Mares Eat Oats.”

Songs from my mother’s era: “Hey Big Spender” “My Way”

“I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover” “Rag Mop.”

Dad’s favorites: “Wabash Canon Ball” “Big Rock Candy Mountain.”

I sing Sunday School songs: “Jesus Loves Me”

“Jesus Loves the Little Children” “The Lord Said to Noah.”

Church choruses: “Come Now is the Time to Worship.”

“Shine Jesus Shine” “Open the Eyes of My Heart.”

Hymns, “Love Lifted Me” “It is Well With My Soul.”

Songs from the seventies. “Close to You”

“Seasons in the Sun” “You Light Up My Life.”

Sometime I don’t know why songs pop into my head

or why they stick and I can’t get them out. They just do.

PAD Challenge 22-3 quirk

Taxi Ride

She thought she was jinxed when her taxi was number 13.

And it was red, not yellow or checkered.

The driver seemed peculiar, too, dressed up too nicely.  

He tended to drift off the road when he talked.

She wished that his driving would hold his attention.

Their eyes met in the rearview mirror and she knew.

She demanded to be let out, paid the fare,

ignored the puzzled expression on his face, and ran.

PAD Challenge 22-2 quirk

Quirks

She found herself in a sticky situation.

She was tiny and asked out by a giant.

He had his quirks, too, a real odd ball.

It defied logic for her to agree to date him.

She took out her orange pen from her purple hat

and replied that she’d go out with him

as long as she could take her poodle Fifi,

eat only fruit and wave at everyone they passed.

PAD Challenge 22-1 quirk

A Cloud

A cloud caught my attention on my walk today.

It was gray when others around it were puffy and white.

I marveled at the oddity.

Did a cloud decide to trade its puffy white dress

for some shadow it found lying on the ground.

Do we do that as people sometimes—

trade hope for doom and gloom?

PAD Challenge 21-3 love anti love

Engaging Conversation

In a posh restaurant

A quiet corner

A flickering candle

The small gold gift-wrapped box

Sat conspicuously on the table

She sat, imploring him with her eyes

To quit talking about

The goings on at the office

The traffic

The…on and on

And propose already!

Then she caught the glint in his eye

He knew what he was doing

Driving her to distraction

Okay then

She suddenly became interested

In the workday, the traffic, the on and on

Until that ring was on her finger.

PAD Challenge 21-2 love/anti love

He Loves Me

I’d get out of this slump of clouds and gloom

Embrace yellow daffodils and red-orange tulips

Juggle, skip, jump, dance, whirl about for fun

Play, laugh and sing in joy and enthusiasm

Snuggle in comfort, bliss and warm fuzzies

If I really understood how much You love me

PAD Challenge 21-1 love/ anti love

Love Lost

Her face haunts him.

She left a chasm in his soul.

Thankfully, the scent of roses has faded.

He blinks, not allowing intruding tears.

If he could, he’d put all his feelings into print,

then burn it.

PAD Challenge 20-3 isolation

Freedom

No more isolated islands

A gentle wind blows free

There’s a sweet stirring

On the wings of liberty

All the fences tumble

All the hugs abound

When the walls of COVID-19

Come tumbling down  

PAD Challenge 20-2 isolation

His Grace

Plunging in His mercy

Swimming in His grace

Along the path He lights

Winning the race

Wearing a robe of righteousness

Approaching His throne

Not knowing isolation

Even when alone

PAD Challenge 20-1 isolation

Mourning in Isolation

It’s hard to mourn in isolation  

Letting words echo off walls

With no one to hurl anger at

To weep with no one to comfort

To feel ignored even when others care

To lose the zeal it takes to grieve

It’s hard to mourn in isolation

PAD Challenge 19-3 wordle

The Piano

He stubbed his toe on that blasted fixture,

the piano that he bumped one too many times.

He howled in anger and resolved it had to end.

He remembered her embrace when he bought it for her.

She said, “If you get rid of the piano, you get rid of me.”

It would be lonely without her.

PAD Challenge 19-2 wordle

Obsessed

She felt like howling in misery

when she thought of his embrace.

She resolved to think of him no more,

but he remained a fixture in her mind.

In her loneliness, she obsessed over him.

Emotionally, she had to bump him aside,

like a billiard ball in a pool table pocket.  

PAD Challenge 19-1 wordle

Lonely No More

(Cywydd Llosgyrnog)

She felt just like a fixture there.

So lonely with no one to care.

Her hair tingled at a “Bump!”

And a howl outside her front door.

She resolved, “I’m lonely no more.”

Embraced poor pup that went thump.