Words are just words
It’s what comes with them
That’s important
Just because one speaks another language
Does not mean they understand the culture
Words are only one part
The rest is nuanced
Smiles, laughter, kindness
Relationship building
Without those
Words are just hollow and empty

Bring comfort
Offer calm
Give one a sense of belonging
Help one feel centered
They are important
We all have them
Without them
We feel lost
We can’t find our way
They are like a lighthouse
Steering a ship to port
They clear out the fog
Bringing in the light

He had been a professional player
A linebacker
They were built tough
And big
When he left, he created something new
Something different
A business
And a non profit to help kids
One day unexpectedly
A woman came to work for him
Her background was different
She had stepped out of her field
To try something new
She had never been this close to a celebrity
It’s a different world
He had never known someone with her background
They decided to try and make it work
Using the strengths of each
She became his chief of staff
Surprisingly it worked
They both grew from the experience
The linebacker

She had been in hell
Things had been impossible
Nothing worked
Things were hard
She didn’t fit
Everything hurt
Physical and emotional
There was no peace
Nor harmony
Finally one day
She had a chance to leave
To change things for the better
So she headed East
Driving through rain
Big storms and darkness
When she arrived
The rain had stopped
The air was fresh
With the scent of sweet flowers
All she felt was comfort
Peace and harmony
She belonged
She had come home
To her east coast heaven

When I first met you
I couldn’t resist touching your face
Or you touching mine
Or running my fingers through your hair
During our time together
It was heaven
A form of bliss

When you left
I missed that
Like being withdrawn
From a drug
Things felt hollow
I missed your touch
Or to be able to touch you

Now decades later
We are together
I can reach out
To touch you
Or you can touch me
It’s like being delivered
Back to heaven

After several hot days
With searing heat
Humid nights
Fitful sleep
The body on fire
Mother Nature granted
A cool reprieve
Of temperatures
And soothing breezes
To lift up the spirit and body
To heal and invigorate
To inspire

After several hot days
Mother Nature
Granted a cool reprieve
To heal the land
Feed the birds and plants
To lift up the soul
And light up the world

She had a hard time sleeping
Tossing and turning
Morning came too soon
Sleep had left her
Though tired, she gave up
It was still early
Birds were chirping outside
The streets were quiet from the night
A cool breeze was blowing
Moving the branches of the plants
Colored bags hung outside moved
It was refreshing after the heat of the day
The cat was sleeping on a chair outside
It was peaceful and serene
A stillness was in the air
The sun had not fully risen
City noises had not fully started
Early morning rise