Rolling down St. John's Heritage Highway
after Sean, my grandson's birthday party
I belt out my pioneer song with vigor
echoing across the vast beauty,
wide open, sacred spaces
pristine vistas

Norman Rockwell cows grazing
in bygone pastures happily
moo along

Driving past the yellow deer crossing sign
Florida woodlands giddyap near the edge of the road
long brown antlers prancing to
a timeless rhythm

I hope and pray that I can somehow
kindle a spark of appreciation
in my niece and grandsons
so that they may behold
the baffling greatness
and mystery that is our universe

These young'uns are mighty attached to the
virtual reality, world and landscape
of computer technology

A sprinkling of cowboy stars flash
an omnipresent wink
Sunset bonfire explodes across
the frontier horizon

Turning the corner onto Emerson Drive
smoldering scarlet orange embers
reflecting lights
shoot fireworks, launch rockets
through an ever expanding field of vision

We infinitely adore our darling
flame point feline, Rama
He blends so perfectly, peacefully
with furry early morning shadows
and prayerful dawn solitude

He's a Spirit Animal
luminous lanterns of his orbs
tiger eye portals to panoramas
that transcend space and time

Ramaji our baby sphinx
meditates with us in the opaque stillness
as Mother Goddess Bastet
rises just east of our little
garden in Palm Bay

Our dear, beloved Ravi returned home to his precious parents and
India. Jai Ma! Jai Ma! Jai Ma! It certainly was a victorious homecoming.

The festive faces of his parents lit up as they beheld the celestial vision of their only son alighting from the aircraft in Bengalaru, India.

For six months Ravi's Mom coddled, cherished and doted on her only son, taking him to temples and making rounds to relatives who hadn't heard from him since he disappeared without a trace over three years ago.

After his joyous reunion with family, Ravi returned to the states. We welcomed him into our home for one month, after which he had the option of seeking refuge in the comforting arms of the Buddha
with a room reserved for him at the temple.

However, the warmth and coziness of family, friends and a loving home, stirred a longing in him for normalcy, progress and hope for a brighter future.

Ravi knew well the horrible pangs of being homeless. For five months he endured the terrifying experience of living out on the streets. The halfway houses in this area were full to capacity, so, he slept across from a hotel, where a kind manager offered him breakfast every morning. He was alone, vulnerable and frightened,
meanwhile in India, his parents lit candles and prayed for his safe return.

I thought about all the homeless people living in tent cities throughout USA, one of the most wealthiest countries in the world,
their plight and suffering certainly a humanitarian crisis. Over 500,000 people currently homeless.
Home Sweet Home my heart breaks for them.

Ravi, myself and David sat for prayer early Monday morning. The quiet, suppressed euphoria of a new beginning, streaked intermittent blue lightning through the atmosphere.

Ravi's beautiful prayer rang out like cathedral bells as we gazed at the shimmering brass idol of Lord Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles:

"O Lord
Please resurrect me
Make me whole
so that I can serve You
and others"

There was a kind breeze
in the sweltering inferno
of an August Summer day
in Palm Bay, Florida

Penelope the climbing orphan
rose gazed up at me gratefully
as I trimmed away the last of
the blue sky vine
Now she could ascend in
all her purple glory

The breeze followed me to the jhoola.
As i sat swinging on the soft comfortable
cushions, I was thrilled to observe that
our white French trellis was finally adorning
herself with romantic red roses

Like a little love chateau in gay Paris
climbing Don Juans serenaded her vinyl bodice
in bold, flamboyant, valentine red

Out the corner of my eye I spotted the
handsome but shy red cardinal swaying between the
branches of our hibiscus bush located close to the
lantern shaped red bird feeder

Dewy sweetness of the moment filled my heart
leaning back in the swing, I thought to myself:

"This is certainly turning out to be a bright Red-Letter Day!"

While secret angels watch my steps
I walk inside a maze at night
I've heard about an ancient myth
excitement grows, so I turn right

I find small cracks in glossy walls
the maze it lights all by itself
how could this be? Inside this cleft?
I walk and wonder, then turn left.

No, right it was, or how was this?
I get confused by all this “same”,
all cracked up walls, although in light
I start to feel the loss of bliss.

How could I think that this was smart!
Or wait a minute - never did,
just heard this myth and wanted more,
it speaked all clear and bright to heart.

And now, the longest passageway,
in endless steps I walk again
and maybe now I wished I stayed
in velvet bed, escaped from rain.

But here I am, oh well I might
as well begin to find the trail
I dreamt of clouds and ancient arts
and in this room: I found The Grail.

But now I heard this strangest noise
a growl or something from within
it was like screams from forest depths
and I'm quite sure it's not my kin.

I want to turn, to go back home,
but all behind me stops to glow
It's like I need to see and choose
what's done is done, and now I know.

So choice is made, I have to walk
towards this creature in the night
although the screams get to my bones,
I walk with safe and loving light.

Oh my, these walls! But finally!
I get to see an end in sight,
and now, this ends quite frightfully
my meeting with the darkest night.

And there it is, this beast of old
it searches in the open air
a beast like this with feet of mold
with *****, smelly, ugly hair.

It senses me, yes this I see,
but now it's quiet as myself
it's like it asks me of my plea
it hurts and cries - like inner self.

At end I dare to get it close,
it's blind, it doesn't see me there,
but oh, it senses and it knows
and in its eye I see a tear.

I touch its head, and then I feel,
this growling deep inside of me
a sorrow lost, I need to kneel
I need to set this feeling free.

And now the beast, it starts to glow,
its eyes can see the sights again,
and I feel inner peace and flow
and heavy, healing, pouring rain.

The secret angels reappear
and give me smiles of warmth and love
they free the beast from chain and snare
and then return back to above.

At last I stand, alone in maze
I thought was meant for Holy Grail
but all was test of inner praise
of mind and body, although frail.

I blew a kiss this morning
I blew a kiss to the
sun drenched lawn
smiling cobalt skies
tall, dark and handsome pine

Fluffy cotton candy kisses
swirling, sufi dandelion wishes
scattered to the four winds
across the face of sadness and joy

I blew a kiss to you

It’s a delight to know the fear,
providing a loss of life. With
only the moon that wears
feathers from phoenix. Gold
drippings and arch of eternity.
Rebirth not from water, but of
soul selling to herself, in
innovation and originality. As
the others emulate. Starlight
allure, speaking languages
with humanities musings.
Waking the dead world, dropping
men to their knees as their
boyish behavior is pulled to the
front. Relinquishment of dogma,
as we all enter a new age.
As chanting songs in homage
to her. As no more tears to cry,
to what she avoided in the first
place, is attention from others,
pushing away romantic gestures,
conversing conversations, a
standard practice of life’s narrative.