He awakens to a day of hope
after happy day of birth
attended by smiling parents proud
who know his priceless worth

He awakens to a day of hope
lying restless on his ***
after one move that surprises him
he ends up on his tum

He awakens to a day of hope
on his tum going nowhere fast
flailing arms and legs eventually push
now he's on all fours at last

He awakens to a day of hope
wobbling steadily as best he can
one hand forward followed by knee
then other knee and hand

He awakens to a day of hope
rising quickly on all fours
wide-eyed and giggling all the way
crawling fast across the floors

He awakens to a day of hope
finally standing on his own
weeks to months and months to years
now a family of his own




Mark Toney © 2021

Drawn to the edge of the water
in concert with the moon
tides ebbing, flowing,
tasting, smelling,
feeling, hearing,
waves of the sea
crashing, salty, wet,
transporting me—
Inner peace

Inner peace
transporting me—
crashing, salty, wet,
waves of the sea
feeling, hearing,
tasting, smelling,
tides ebbing, flowing
in concert with the moon
Drawn to the edge of the water






Mark Toney © 2021

love precipitates
selfishness evaporates
~ true love’s gentle rain






Mark Toney © 2021

my true inner self
secret person of the heart
~ heartland of my soul






Mark Toney © 2021

sly masked marauder
recklessly raucous raccoon
~ the final frontier






Mark Toney © 2021

hardwood memories
well-rooted, time-tested, safe
~ hiking in mind's woods






Mark Toney © 2021