Laughable
Last night, I dreamed
a friend and I were at church
singing hymns.
A large family came in late,
and began filling up our pew.
They kept coming.
We kept singing.
Squashed together,
I was practically on my friend’s lap.
I was about to fall on the floor,
when I started laughing.
I woke up laughing.
A Warning
One year,
my niece, son and I
attended a writer’s conference
in Kansas.
The last night,
I had a dream.
It was dark.
My car stopped.
I got out for some reason,
and someone crashed into me.
I woke up my, heart pounding.
It seemed so real.
The next night,
on the way home,
It was dark.
I was stopped at a light.
The driver next to me
pointed to my car.
Looking back,
I saw I had left the gas latch open.
I thought
about getting out,
while waiting for the light,
and closing it.
But I remembered the dream.
The light turned green.
I drove to a safe spot,
got out, and closed the latch.
I think Someone
was watching over me.
As If
He nears thirty-one,
Has an awkward gait.
He speaks not a word,
Finds ways to express.
He shakes his head no,
And sharp claps mean yes.
With love, strokes my face.
Usually, no stress.
I speak with respect,
Like he understands.
He’ll show that he heard,
But there’s disconnect.
Communication
I will not neglect.
It can be a mess.
At times, I just guess.
Principles of Packing a Carry-On
Make sure your luggage fits in hatch.
Pack versatile and mix and match.
Fold small or roll so all will fit.
What will you do, where will you go?
These things, of course, are good to know.
A small umbrella, don’t omit.
Remember socks and underwear.
Leave space for items you buy there.
Bring things to do while you just sit.
Principle
Please remember we are all human.
Reality proves that love works
In all times and conditions.
Nurture true compassion.
Caring for others
Includes tough love.
Pick their best.
Let hate
End.
The Blue Grotto
Toward the end of our
Italian tour, Sis and I, along with our tour group, boarded a large, open
motorboat and headed off the Island of Capri in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Once
arriving at the entrance of the Blue Grotto Cave, among the cream-white limestone
cliffs, we bobbed around for about two hours waiting our turn. Sis, claustrophobic,
opted out of the cave adventure and stayed on the tour boat. I waited nervously
to board the little wooden rowboat, picturing myself falling into the drink.
But my turn finally came and lowering myself into the smaller boat wasn’t as
difficult as it seemed. Before we entered the opening of the cave, our boatman
rather sternly told us that the tour company did not pay tips and that was our
responsibility. I didn’t have my purse with me and I had to promise I’d pay him
when we got back to our boat. Otherwise, I think he would have tossed me
into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The young Asian couple with us and I had to lie down while
the boatman pulled us through the narrow rocky opening by a chain fastened to
the wall. Once entering the large cavern, we were able to sit up and ooh and aah
at the intense blue glow from underwater light reflecting off the limestone
walls. While he rowed us around the cave, with many other row boats, the oarsmen sang Italian songs, making the surreal
atmosphere even more otherworldly. When we returned to the tour boat, my pant
leg got stuck on the oar while the men in the rowboat and tour boat yelled in
Italian trying to get me up. Only the woman in the boat could see what I was
hung up on. Finally, I shook myself free and got into the larger boat. Our
boatman reminded me of my promise and stood resolutely in his boat waiting for
his euros.
Greed’s intensity
Matched beauty’s intensity
In the Blue Grotto
