Yesterday on an otherwise blue-sky day
a massive bank of cumulus clouds
spanned the southern horizon
great puffs of cotton piling up, surging, rising higher and higher
their moist life irrepressibly breeding before us
they were the most beautiful thing I saw that day
except the brown eyes of my lover
who gently held my right hand
on our trek into the country.

I am neither all sinner or all saint
I am a break in the fence
easing the flow through boundaries.

Why do I not take time like now
when my muse has awakened
tingling, pinging, bubbling in my chest
like helium in a translucent balloon
loosed from its mooring
flying in the wind?

My heart keeps floating east
to the place of my birth
along the brown rushing waters
of the awesome Mississippi
the vast Atchafalaya basin
where the boys  
of fishermen and hunters
become men.
Oaks drip with moss
cypress trees grow out of swamps
and exude a mystic charm
that pierces your mood
and captures your fancy.
La Nouvelle-Orleans
born in centuries past
gateway to a new life
for my forefathers
who crossed oceans from France
made families for the generations
and planted their culture
amidst the rich foliage
and damp environs
of this magnificent mysterious place.
Yes, I yearn to cross the Sabine
make my way to Breaux Bridge
and other Evangeline towns
eat crawfish etoufee
by the Bayou Teche
speak my Texanized accent
to my Cajun cousins
who tell their stories
with a hint of French
and laugh in a universal language.
Soon I hope to make the trek
to quinch the yearning of my heart
hug my cousins
breathe the poem of my life
and the moist fragrant Louisiana air.

Cut your stress and tension in half
do something to get a good laugh
it’s too easy to let duties and tasks
rob us of joy
reach inside and find that little boy
or little girl and let her wiggle
till she erupts with a giggle
leave the adult back home
get out and roam
and roll in the grass
run with abandon
if only in your mind
there’ll be lots of time
to get back to the grind
take off a few hours or a day
and let yourself lurch into play.

I feel a little joy
to see the new growth on the sage bush
it survived the deep freeze of winter.
I join this subtle green creature
in this moment, in this piece of now
maybe I too will get through this season
with a small burst
of creative energy
enter the gates
and rejoin Life.

I fall into your grace, head first
my head the ship of my flaws
should be first to dive into your depths.
My thoughts I throw to you
my feelings I immerse in the peace
of your dark mystery.

May your beauty tip the scales
between action and trust,
between what I must do
and the great bolt of energy
I must receive from your cosmic love
to do it.

I know I must do my part in this great partnership
but I am smart enough to get
that my victory
hinges on your radiant compassion.