The Last Time You Were Here
The last time you were
here,
when I tried to wipe your
face
you screamed and startled
me.
I screamed back.
You screamed again.
I walked out of the room.
A few minutes later,
you came into the kitchen
and looked me in the eyes
and stroked my face.
I knew you were sorry.
Communication with you
is a rarity.
But on a deeper level,
it’s amazing.
The last time I saw you
I told you not to die.
You didn’t listen.
The Last Trip
The last trip I took
was one of the best.
Now I’m home
and taking a rest.
The next on the list?
To Kenya, I’ll aim.
Or perhaps to Ashville.
Who am I to blame?
For this wander lust
that’s perpetually within
me.
World exploration
helps form my reality.
Giraffes and elephants
They’re calling.
Hope this pandemic doesn’t
keep travels stalling.
The last trip I took,
I hope’s not the last.
I look forward to others
and having a blast.
Worship
The little wooden church
huddled amongst the elms
and pines.
A path led through the
grasses to where
the morning sun turned the
door golden.
The spire pointed up, inviting
a higher focus.
Meeting
The giant gnarled trees
allowed a road to pass
through
to where a couple stood silhouetted
in the glowing sunlight.
Headed Home
Cat of nine tails poked up
by a rustic dock,
looking out to a silver lake.
A flock of gulls headed toward
the sun glowing orange
in the creamy sky
above a flat shoreline.
Life’s an act of faith
Moving a step at a time
A prayer at a time
Knocking on Your door
Entrusting my heart’s
desires
Thanks for opening
Remix Sounds April 25th
Sounds at Home in
Colorado
We
had a lovely trip until the end.
The
wind and dust made it so hard to see.
I
thank the God on whom I can depend.
I
thank Him for the times with family
And
Mesa, Lincoln and Saint Augustine.
I’m
home in comfy chair, and listen here
to
cars that whoosh by on the street so near.
The
heater whirs. It’s colder than the south.
My
hubby’s up with tell-tale sounds I hear.
I
let the songs of praise come from my mouth.
Love
Love waits for a child to tie his shoes
Love helps Grandpa read the morning news
Love is glad when Sister wins the prize
Love sees its own strengths through the Lord’s
eyes
Love knows it’s a member of the team
Love builds up another’s self-esteem
Love shares possessions with all around
Love’s cool is kept when errors abound
Love doesn’t keep score when it’s betrayed.
Love’s not happy when evil’s displayed.
Love is glad when the truth is made known
Love doesn’t quit when its groove is thrown
Love gives the benefit of the doubt
Love always believes good will win out
Love intercedes for the innocent
Love accomplishes good in the end
Love
Warm, healthful
Hugging, helping, enjoying
Hugs, kisses, vacancy,
absence
Ignoring, resigning, quitting
Distracted, unaware
Apathy
She stays
She will help him
Her broken arm will heal
Her mother grieves,
feeling helpless
She stays
Bobbing in the Ocean
It surprised me
when my sister agreed
to come out into the ocean
with me to bob in the
waves.
We inched out carefully.
I went out further
and allowed the waves
to lift me as they came
in.
Sis stood and let them hit
her.
She headed back to shore.
I went with her to help,
but we were both knocked
down.
She went out and I went
back
bobbing in the gentle
waves,
not knowing her leg was
scraped
and bleeding from her
fall.
But it wasn’t too bad.
I felt glad I had faced my
fears.
And she just hoped
we wouldn’t appear on Facebook.
(A Gogyohka)
One month, nine days
Traveling.
I’m glad I’m here
But I’m going home
And will glad to be there.
On My Way
(A Gogyohka)
Seventy mph wind, dust
clouds
Gallup, New Mexico, cops
everywhere
Hazard lights, creep along
Total brown out, cry out
to the Lord
White lines become visible
New Morning Sounds
Now in Colorado,
after driving through a
dust storm.
I sit in my comfy
recliner
and listen
while I thank God for a
safe trip,
the family times in
Nebraska,
South Dakota, Florida
and Arizona.
I listen
the ringing in my ears
is still there.
The whir of the heater.
Colorado is a lot colder
than Phoenix.
An occasional growl or
whoosh
of a car or truck going
by.
The hum of traffic on
the distant highway.
The tap, tap, tap of my
laptop keys.
The click of the door.
Hubby is up.
Thankful to be back
home.
Saint Augustine tall, black
and white light house
Topped with a red cupola
Blue sky, fluffy white
clouds
Two white, curly-headed
lion statues
On each side of a long bridge
Hello, St. Augustine
My Superhero
Jesus is my superhero
Not only because he
walked on water
Raised the dead, healed
the sick,
Cursed a fig tree and it
died
Turned water into wine
Made the lame walk, the
blind see
Fed five thousand
with a few loaves and
fish
Calmed the storm
Beat the devil at his
games
Resurrected from the dead
But because He’s big
enough
to love me as I am.
Teachers
They say learning something
new
helps prevent memory
loss,
so as I age, teachers
are my new super heroes.
So hats off to my uke
teacher,
my Spanish teacher,
my French history
teacher
my body language
teacher,
my cell phone photography
teacher,
my art teacher,
my nonfiction writing
teacher,
my hip hop dancing
teacher,
my body composition
teacher,
and my business teacher.
All on video, all my
super heroes.
Hopefully they’ll help
rescue me
from cerebral plaques
and tangles.
Pizza Man
When he was
little
he wore a cape
every day
part of an old
patchwork quilt
top.
He was a hero.
Now he wears a
shirt and cap
with pizza logo
and delivers
pizza.
Perhaps he’s a
hero
to hungry
customers.
Clarity
Sometimes it’s hard to
know
What to believe is true
People who I know and
love
Seem to have come
unglued.
It seems that common
sense
Has become a thing of
the past
I’m wondering how long
confusion
Of this word will last.
Conspiracies abound
From one side to another
Each containing a bit of
truth
And pits brother against
brother
So I cling to the
shining light
Of Jesus being the way
And pray for love to
overcome
The evil of the day
Sandman
Sandman conspires against
me
When I’m trying to stay
awake.
Cleaning the house,
making the meals,
It’s time for a much-needed
break.
I take a few minutes to write.
Sandman conspires
against me.
And a few minutes while
I rest,
I plan what the evening
will be.
I will cook chicken for
dinner,
Broccoli, sweet potatoes,
bread.
Sandman conspires
against me.
And I fall asleep as if
dead.
So I get up in a hurry,
Microwave frozen meals
quickly.
So we’ll have chicken
tomorrow.
Sandman conspires
against me.
Up and Down Ramps
I wonder
if it’s a
cosmic conspiracy
that I’ve pushed
people
in wheelchairs
so many times
up and down
ramps.
Perhaps to
build my muscles
Make me more
compassionate
Appreciate my
own skill to walk
Maybe I look
cute
pushing people
up and down
ramps.
I don’t know,
but I’ll keep
exercising
to avoid
anyone having to
push me
up and down ramps.
Ism
If “ism” represents
a specific practice,
system or philosophy.
Does an organ player
have organisms?
What Happens?
Awesome
How we begin
Fertilized sperm and egg
Innocent babes, wide-eyed
children
And then…
My Tree
My tree
It’s late again
The only leafless one
All other trees are
greening up
Waiting
Noise
Shrill,
loud
Clanging,
banging, assaulting
Sirens,
drums, lullaby, tip-toes
Whispering,
hushing, comforting
Still,
quiet
Silence
I think my hearing’s going.
Everyone sounds like
the Muppets Swedish chef.
Bork, bork, bork!
Morning Sounds
Soft thwack
of rough tongues on soft
fur,
Kitties grooming.
Steady whoosh
and gentle tap, tap, tap
of the AC.
Quicker tap, tap, tap
of the ceiling fan.
Softer tap, tap, tap
of my laptop keys.
Slight ringing in my ears
Whoosh of traffic on the
street
Growl of a nearby truck
Chirping of birds arising
with the sun.
Otherwise, a quiet
morning,
my penultimate morning in
Arizona,
visiting my daughter and
son.
Church
(a termelay)
Suit and dresses
Pumping handshakes
We meet, He guides
Double the enthusiasm
Find contentment in prayer
and praise
We meet, He guides
Writing
(a Laurette)
Revise content
Edit double
Let intuition guide
Meet and critique
Pump up, inspire
Market what suits. Don’t
hide.
