September 23, 2026, Alaska Trip, Autumn, Poetic asides

 

Variegated Autumn

 

Autumn begins a bit jumbled this year,

In Arizona’s 100 degrees.

I may miss Colorado gold, I fear,

Here in the desert, not too many trees.

 

Down here with silver-haired snowbirds, they say,

When license plates change colors, it is fall.

But this traveling bird’s not here to stay.

I’ll fly to Seattle, but that’s not all.

 

Seattle might still be rainy and green,

Then Sis and I will board a massive ship.

Then great Alaska comes scene after scene.

I’ll bring a winter jacket for this trip.

 

I’ll see all types of autumns when I roam,

Then I’ll go to my Colorado home.

 

 

 

September 23, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

Three More Days Till Alaska Cruise 

 

The second day in Mesa, now.

YMCA again

We made rounds of exercises

A wonder we’re not thin

 

We played Canasta yet again

I wrote my Wednesday poem

Redid my backpack and my bag

Did dishes just like home

September 22, 2026, Alaska trip

 Four More Days Till Cruise

First day in Mesa with the kids

Swam at YMCA

It was Lori’s aerobics class

Got groceries that day

 

Was feeling tired from the long drive

And so I took a nap

Then went and got some groceries

Canasta fills the gap

September 21, 2026, Alaska trip

 

The Drive to Mesa

 

At 9:30, were on our way.

We drove for eight hours.

It is a drive we often take,

With no thunder showers.

 

At a rest stop, I parked too close.

Hubby scratched a car door.

The man was none too delighted,

But he didn’t ask for more.

 

At another stop, a woman

Spotted a stolen car.

We didn’t stick around to watch.

We had yet to go far.

 

We got into Mesa at five.

Had dinner with tofu.

Lori and I played Canasta.

That’s always fun to do.

September 20, 2026, Alaska trip

 

One More Day

 

Just one more day before we leave,

It was a busy day.

I went to church and wrote a poem

And packed for my vacay.

 

I watered plants and cleaned the pots

And muffins, I did bake.

I had a flight change for New York

On the next trip I’ll take.

 

I talked with my dear friend, Lorraine.

Her son did pass away.

I’d like to be around for her,

But, now, I cannot stay

 

I also called Kathie, my friend,

To say prayers and good byes.

I took a nap that afternoon.

I felt that it was wise.

 

Before midnight, I went to bed,

And for some sleep, I prayed.

We’ll get up bright and early,

And then, be on our way.

September 19, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

Thank God for Friends

 

After breakfast I bagged up weeds

Then Kathie and James came

They brought her saw and her big truck

I’m glad that she was game

 

We worked two hours on the elms

That grew along my fence

And now I’ll try to keep them down

This Saturday and hence

 

The rest of the day I was tired

And snacked and watched TV

I even took a little nap

Was lazy as could be

 

And now today marks just two days

And then we will be on our way

 

September 29, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

Treasure

 

T oday I

R each up to You,

E xpressing my love and

A ppreciation for the

S ecurity I have in You.

U ltimately, when my mind is troubled, I

R ely on Your grace, love and mercy

E ach and every day. Remind me to do that more.

September 18, 2026, Alaska Trip

 

As the Lord Wills

 

Walked in the park with Regina

With Linda I did pray

And I researched New York hotels

For January Day

 

Three loads of laundry, then came next

And Facebook scrolling, too

I played some games and read some things

Though had a lot to do

 

I packed my carryon so full

Won’t fit another thing

I also packed my Mesa bag

For soon I will take wing

 

Just three more days and then we’ll drive

And I can’t wait to go

As long as it is the Lord’s will

Yes, this, of course, I know

 

veil Poetic Bloomings

 

2 Corinthians 3:16

 

Covered, hidden, protected

In grace

Yet standing bold, clean, seen

In the throne room

September 17, 2026, Alaska Trip

 Working On It

 

In the morning, when rain had stopped,

I walked, but not too far

Put branches in a large trash bag

And air in tires of car

 

After lunch I wrote a trip poem

Walked and then cut some elms

And then booked a flight to New York

Sometimes I’m overwhelmed

 

Received a package in the mail

It should prevent my snore

It would be nice to ditch CPAP

I couldn’t ask for more

 

Watched Korean Romance movie

Called Crash Landing on You

So now I have four more days to go

There’s still a lot to do

September 16, 2026, Alaska Trip

One Task at a Time

 

Five more days and it rained a lot

Got sleepy from gray sky

Errand running kept me awake

I had a lot to buy

 

First, I went to the post office

I put a hold on mail

I got the meds at pharmacy

At this I did not fail

 

Then Wal-Mart to buy groceries

And some trip extras, too

I had to buy a hair dryer

My old one cracked straight through

 

And then in the late afternoon

A visit from a friend

I took a long break from the chores

On which there is no end

 

Took a shower and ate our meal

And then I went to church

Animals-of-Bible Study

A lot comes from that search

 

My to-dos work like a jig-saw

One piece at a time

So, I just need to not stress out

And trust it works out fine

September 15, 2026, Alaska Trip, out, Poetic Asides

Getting Out of Here

 

Six more days and time’s going fast

Though I do like my home

Adventure’s calling once again

To Alaska I’ll roam

 

First to Mesa to see the kids

Where my hubby will stay

Then to Seattle to meet Sis

And we’ll be on our way

 

We’ll cruise out in the open sea

Just for a little while

And then to the inside passage

I think of it and smile

 

For now, it’s life as usual

Housework, church, and writing

Plus all of the pre-trip todo’s

Till it gets exciting

 

Six more days and time’s going fast

Though I do like my home

Adventure’s calling once again

To Alaska I’ll roam 

September 14th, 2026 Alaska Trip

Finally Got Moving

 

I needed to clean the house

I decided I’d do what it would take

I promised that if I got it done

I’d have a piece of cake

 

I worked for hours on the house

With small jobs in between

Then Hubby and I had some cake

After the house was clean

 

And so I worked on my list

Renewed my license online

I took care of all of my plants

And paid for Egypt trip on time

 

So now we have a week to go

And then we’ll see our two

Lori has passes to her gym

So we’ll have something to do

September 13th, 2026 Alaska Trip

 Praying for Umph

 

Eight more day before we leave.

I’m trying to get in gear.

This will make the fifth trip

I have made this year.

 

I’m anxious to get on the move,

But before I can take off,

There’s so much I have to do.

But can I do enough?

 

The weird thing is, I have the time.

It’s umph that’s up and gone.

How can I accomplish things,

With no desire to move on?

 

If I had my druthers,

I’d just sit and watch the shows

And eat sweet or crunchy things

Or take a nap and doze.

 

So, while I’m stuck in this position,

I’ll take a moment to pray.

Maybe it will take the Lord Himself,

To get me moving today.

Walking Poetic Bloomings

 

A Friend Walking

 

I often walk in our neighborhood

when I don’t have time for longer hikes.

I noticed another woman often walking,

slightly older than me.

 

She reminded me of a friend of mine.

She always wore a visor.

I wear my “Kenya hat”

which is really a fishing hat.

 

It has a flap you can pull down

so your neck isn’t exposed.

I never use it

because of my shoulder-length hair.

 

One morning, on our daily walk,

we met at a corner

and as we walked, we chatted

for several blocks.

 

The weather. The need for rain.

The bright Colorado blue sky and puffy clouds.

The recent in-town deer sightings.

We reached the end of the street.

 

She turned left and I turned right.

I haven’t been seeing her lately

and I wonder if she’s okay.

I don’t even know her name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning Prayer

 Rejoicing

 

I’m glad that You love me

Excited that You care

My mind does good

To know that You are there

 

And to think that when You look at me

You wear a tender smile

That will keep me glad and singing

For more than a little while

September 12th Alaska Trip

 Pre-trip To-do List

 

Regrouping on my to-do list

Nine more days till we leave

I would like to complete my tasks

But that’s hard to conceive

 

I’d like to have the yardwork done

And the house deep cleaned too

And with manuscript publishing

I would like to be through

 

And of course there’s the little things

Set visits to the doc

Clean up some messes including

My haunted bedroom clock

 

The radio turns itself on

I can’t figure out how

So I gave up and pulled the plug

I’ll have to fix it now

 

And speaking of clocks that don’t work

I have one upside down

We couldn’t get it tight enough

And so it swung around

 

And with so all of these to-dos

I sit and write a poem

A lot of them will have to wait

Until we get back home

Blank the World, Poetic Asides

 

Declarations of the Natural World

 

Clouds

In all shapes and sizes

Whites and grays

Inspiring imagination

Attributes to God’s glory

 

Rocks

From pebbles to boulders

Stable, dependable, solid

Old stories to tell

Attributes to God’s glory

 

Flowers

A plethora of colors and designs

Perfect petals of beauty

A sweet variety of fragrances

Attributes of God’s glory

 

Trees

Arms stretched up

Turning in sun and wind

Demonstration of colorful artistry

Attributes of God’s glory

 

Water

Oceans, lakes, rivers, streams

Bubbling, soothing, calming

Giving life

Attributes of God's Glory

 

Animals

Small and cute to

Big and ferocious

A plethora of personalities

Attributes of God's glory

 

People

Art, music, dancing

Life, love, friendships, families,

Creating, building, learning

Attributes of God's glory

 

 

candle light Poetic Bloomings

 

“So carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world”

        (From Go Light Your World by Chris Rice).

 

Candlelight

 

“Go Light Your World,”

the theme song

of my daughter’s mission trip

when she traveled

with Teen Missions

at the age of fourteen,

ignites memories

every time I hear it

of her boarding a bus

with a duffle bag

about as big as she was

learning to light the world

in the country of Jordan,

now in Arizona

lighting a little corner

of the world

as an RN

keeping a little one

breathing.