Winter Poetic Asides

 Dressing for Winter

 

The nature center where I work

Is colder than in town.

We have to stress to all the kids

Dress warm from toe to crown.

 

To make our point we made two piles

Of bulky winter clothes.

A relay race, they formed two lines

And had to put on those.

 

The first child had to put on socks

Give them to next in line.

And that child wearing those same socks

Got snow pants in quick time.

 

Then mittens, coat, boots, scarf and hat

Till it was hard to see

The last child wrapped like a cocoon

In clothes that were too big.

 

Hilarity ensued as they

Would help each other dress.

They roared their cheers to urge each on.

The room was a big mess.

 

A little girl, she could not move,

In clothes she was entwined.

The older ones then carried her

Across the finish line.

 

I must admit, I laughed a lot

At what went on that day.

Some humor and some crazy fun

Chase winter gloom away.

Anticipation Poetic Bloomings

 

Merry Isolation

 

We had family Christmas plans

To stay at a resort

It didn’t quite work out as planned

I’m sorry to report

 

Oh, hubby and kids, they are there

Having fun in the sun

But I’m at home isolating

Yes, COVID is no fun

 

I isolate, anticipate

When test shows negative

I’ll drive down to their Phoenix home

For I have gifts to give

 

But I’ve found my alone time good

A time of restful peace

But twill be great to go see them

The time of my release

Anxiety Poetic asides

 Worry and Anxiety

 

Worry is two puppy dogs

fighting over your brain

in a game of tug of war.

One wants to pull you to a solution,

the other want to lead you to anxiety.

Anxiety is a big bull dog

that wants to eat your brain for supper.

Tradition Poetic Bloomings

 Christmas Eve

 

Growing up in Pennsylvania, it was tradition

for my extended family on my mother’s side

to meet at my grandfather’s

and exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.

 

Of course, Pappap received the most presents

because it was also his birthday.

He would tell us that when his brothers and sisters

got up that Christmas morning long ago in Alabama,

Mom showed them their new baby brother saying,

“Look what Santa brought.”

One of the brothers looked with disgust and said,

“Is that all?” Pappap would always laugh at that.

 

Aunt Marg would bake a big beautiful cake.

The kids would play with their toys in the kitchen

and the adults would gab in the living room.

 

Since cousin Scotty’s parents,

Uncle Bob and Aunt Wilma,

were killed in a car crash,

he would call from Ohio

and be passed around to say hi to everyone.

 

Then when we grew up and moved away,

we’d call and be passed around like cousin Scotty

until more moved away or passed away

and the tradition faded away.

I still miss it.

Falling Poetic Asides

 Winter at the Nature Center

Eleven children Two volunteers Three teachers Mountain Snow Ice Slipping And falling And getting up That’s a lot like life.

Morning Meditation

 CS Lewis was Right

 

If what Jesus said was not true,

He was a little loopy, a lot loopy.

But if His words are true,  

He is the way, the truth, the life, the light,

the good shepherd, the alpha, omega,

the beginning and the end

and is worthy of our worship

and complete devotion.

And those who follow Him

do not walk in darkness,

but in light. 

past, present, future Poetic Bloomings

 Best Christmas Tree

 

My mom used to say,

“This is the best Christmas tree ever!”

So I say it every year to not break tradition,

even though I’ve been putting the same one up

for nearly thirty years.

But every year I add a new ornament.

This year I have ones from

France, England, Wales, Ireland,

Peru, Wisconsin, and Georgia.

“This is the best Christmas tree ever!”

Morning Prayer

 Always There

 

Lord, in this quiet morning here at home,

I pause to check in now with You and smile.

I know that You are with me when I roam.

I have felt Your sweet presence in each mile.

Your steadfast love sustains me all the while.

So here as I sit in my comfy chair,

Acknowledging that You are always there,

And always so attentive when I pray.

I praise You that You’re wonderful and fair,

And with me whether home or far away.

Last Night PAD 30-3

 Just a Thought

 

Last night the moon was out.

I could imagine walking through the forest

hand in hand with my hubby,

the moon and the snow lighting our way.

The nocturnal animals would peek out cautiously.

The owls would ask, “Who, who, who,

 are out this time of night?”

And we’d laugh and say it’s only us

enjoying a moonlit walk on this magical evening.

But instead, I went to bed.

Last Night PAD 30-2

 Memories

 

Last night I had a series of dreams

as I drifted in and out of sleep.

But I can only remember

working by a set of wooden shelves

with a single bare bulb lighting the place.

I was with someone, can’t remember who

or what we were doing or where we were.

 

When I look back on my life

the memories of who, what and where

aren’t a whole lot more than that.

 

I have to be satisfied that like food

goes into our bodies and is no more

but nourishes us and makes

our bodies what they are,

experiences are no longer tangible

but they have made us who we are.

last night PAD 30-1

 A Boon for Great Aunties

 

Last night was Remington’s first night

to experience the world on the outside.

We great aunties only saw one picture

with his little face partially peeking

out of his white receiving blanket.

But that’s more than we got

when our kids were born.

Thank God for the internet.

We look forward to more photos today.

Blank Free PAD 29-1

 

Stay Free

 

I try not to look

in the free puppy box.

If I take a free puppy,

then I won’t be free.

Seize the Day or Survive the Day PAD 28-1

 Seize the Day

 

I love working at the nature center.

I love the kids.

I love my coworkers.

I love the crafts, the hikes, the stories, the singing.

I love the beautiful setting of a Ponderosa pine forest,

Colorado blue skies, sparkling snow.

I love earning money for my travel fund.

But at the end of the day,

I feel like I survive the day, not seized it,

More like the day seized me.

Remix PAD 27-3

 Transitions

 

Every year, when I put up my Christmas tree

I think, Didn’t I just do this?

Had a whole year gone by so quickly?

And though I leave it up from late November

to well into January, when I take it down

it seems like I had just put it up.

 

I love looking at the ornaments,

reminding me of when our kids were little,

people we have known, some that passed on,

different places we’ve lived,

all the trips we have taken.

Life transitions with time.

 

Remix of Day 26

Remix PAD 27-2

 Dad, You Didn’t Have to Say, “I love you.”

 

I knew, by the way you worked hard in the steel mill

and in the garden to put food on the table.

By the way you let me sit on your lap

and showed ou how I could count to 100.

By the way you read me stories in your monotone.

By the way you taught me how to fish.

But the way you teased me by doing things

like putting orange peelings between my toes.

Or by hiding behind a tree and snarling like a bobcat.

By the way you put up with my teasing you

about being bald and grumpy.

By the way you hollered

when I did something wrong.

By teaching me honesty through example.

By the way you felt my grief

when I broke up with my first serious boyfriend.

By the way you walked me down the aisle

even after a recent surgery.

By the way you cried

when we had to return home from a visit.

You never said the words,

but you didn’t have to.

 

Remix of November 14^th poem

Remix PAD 27-1

 Why It’s Hard to Get Things Done

 

There are three brothers

named time, motivation and energy.

Motivation says, “Let’s do this!”

But Time says, “Not now, I’m busy.”

 

Energy sometimes agrees

with Motivation, but other times,

he takes sides with Time

and rather go back to bed.

 

When Time gets around to saying,

“I’m available now!”

Then Energy says,

“Go away!”

 

Motivation tries to kick

Energy’s butt, since Time

is ready to go. But Energy

says, “I’m feeling low.”

 

Then Energy agrees with Time,

but Motivation says, “Why bother?”

These three don’t always cooperate.

And that’s why it’s hard to get things done.

 

 

Remix of November 3^rd poem

time PAD 26-3

 Grandfather Clock

 

The grandfather clock

From days of old

Looks stately and wise  

All trimmed in gold

With a mahogany case

It ticks a way

From day to day

The king of the place

Time PAD 26-2

 Time Out

 

He looked a little saddened that day

As he watched the other children play

His lips turned down into a full pout

He had gotten another time out

 

He knew all of the rules by heart

His intentions were good from the start

But they didn’t line up with what he’d do

That’s why he was feeling so blue

 

But soon he was full of fun and good cheer

His delightful laughter we would hear

He’d run and play and give a shout

Until he wound up again in time out

time PA 26-1, PB transition

 Transitions

 

I decorated my Christmas tree yesterday.

Every year I put it up and think,

Didn’t I just do this?

Had a whole year gone by so quickly?

And it’s even worse when I take it down.

Though I leave it up from late November

to well into January, it always seems

that I just put it up.

I love looking at the ornaments,

reminding me of when the kids were little,

the people who have lived with us,

other people we’ve known,

loved one who have passed on,

different places we’ve lived,

all the places we’ve visited.

Life transitions with time.

response PAD 25-3

 Let it Snow, Sometimes

 

First snow of the season

Branches dressed in white lace

Grass, bushes, driveway covered

I have mixed feelings.

If we could only turn it on and off at whim.

Cue snow on my stay-at-home days

And turn it off when I need to go out.

Response PAD 25-2

 Whatever

 

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossian 3:17

 

Writing

Housework, cooking

Caregiving, homeschooling

Walking, traveling, worshipping

Learning

 

May all that I do glorify You. 

And even the scrolling, watching TV, and jigsaw puzzling

 

Thank You, Father

For all of the above

In the name of Jesus

Thank You for Your love.

response PAD 25-1

 To-do List

 

O, things on my To-do list,

I plan you so meticulously

the night before.

But when I wake up

in the morning

and I see you standing there in a long line

like people waiting for a Disneyland ride,

reality hits,

and I know most of you

will have to wait till tomorrow.

Home Blank PAD 24-3

 Home Alone

 

I’ve always lived with someone—

family, roommates, sisters

and then my husband.

 

Years ago, when our house flooded,

Hubby moved in with the kids

while I made things livable.

 

For a few months,

I had a taste of living alone.

I found it a little creepy at nights.

 

But I didn’t feel lonely.

I kept busy fixing our house

and maintaining the dailies.

 

And I became more grateful

for my Constant Companion

and that I’m never truly alone.

Home Blank PAD 24-2

 Home is Where His Heart Is

 

After suffering his second pontine stroke,

when my hubby was recovering in rehab,

he mentioned to a nurse how nice it will be

in Heaven and that he looked forward to it.

They put him on antidepressants.

He wasn’t depressed, though.

 

He doesn’t complain about all he lost

and how little he can do now.

He keeps himself busy on the computer.

We eat three meals together every day.

He likes to worship at our local church

and visit our daughter and son in Arizona.

 

But I know Home is where his heart is.

Home Blank PAD 24-1

 Home

 

My bestie and I have different views of home.

She lived in the same house for seventy plus years,

the same house her parents and grandparents lived in.

When a woman she worked for died and willed her a house,

I suggested she move in there since the house if very nice.

She looked at me as if I suggested killing her alpacas.

“This my home,” she said, with great conviction.

 

I grew up in the same house for eighteen years

and couldn’t wait to get out and see the world.

I have lived in three states, and traveled to all fifty,

three other continents and several foreign countries.

“Oh,” I said, “To me, home is where the toothbrush is.”

Appreciation PAD 23-3

 The Nature Center at Butler Corner

 

A forest of ponderosa pines

swaying in the breeze.

Hiking trails peppered with pinecones

The fragrance of earthiness

The crackling of twigs

Blue skies and bluebird songs

Cool air and prickly oak brush

The shouting and laughter of children

The story trail, picnic tables

Weaving studio, alpacas and goats

Big barking dogs, honking geese

The gazebo, nature center building

The old-fashioned schoolhouse

And my tall, thin friend

who has lived there since childhood

in the two-story house

her family occupied for a century.  

I appreciate her willingness and effort

to share her riches with the community.

appreciation PAD 23-2

 Thank You to Poetic Asides

 

For Robert, not Bob

Who does a fine job

To make a safe place

To poem in this space

 

For poets, all kinds

With brilliant, fine minds

Who play nice and fair,

Encourage and share

 

For poems they create

Of love and of hate

Todays, tomorrows

Of joys and sorrows

 

Creativity

Humor, esprit

Curiosity

Of great worth to me

Appreciation PAD 23-1

 A Thanksgiving Poem

 

Thank You

For family,

Friends, food, clothing, shelter

A quiet small town to live in

And a restful heart in You.

 

The appreciate form by Earl Parsons. 24687

setting PAD 22-3

 Tea and Biscuits

 

Sis, our niece and I had a boat ride

on Loch Neagh, UK’s largest lake.  

The boat pilot was very friendly

and taught us about eel fishing.

 

He surprised us when he  

pulled up to a remote inlet

and led us to an old fishing hut

amongst the birch, ash and oak.

 

All three of us had a good laugh later

when we compared notes.

We all had imagined being murdered

and our bodies never found.

 

But he served us tea and “biscuits”.

That’s something very UK.

That was the fourth out of five times

we had tea and sweets that day.