Ocean waves crashing in as
they hit the shore
Crisp, clear air
Bright blue sky
Sandy colored beaches decorated
with remnants of shells
Faint sounds of birds flying overhead
Calming feelings arrive to soothe
Stillness fills the moment
It’s pure meditation
Peace arrives
The body relaxes
Disappearing into the moment
Mother Nature’s art

She’s a little bird
Tiny really
She moves like a butterfly
She loves sugar water
When she comes
She is silent
Except for her wings beating
She moves with little effort
Able to disappear in an instant
But if I stand silent
She won’t leave
Her feathers are emerald colored
With a dab of pink
Dazzling
She is so beautiful
She almost doesn’t look real
I am entranced by her
She hypnotizes me
With her gentility and beauty
She’s my little bird from heaven

I am in a reminiscent mood
Thinking back to a time in my childhood
When I lived overseas
In Brazil
Seems like eons ago
Such a different time
A warm, welcoming place
Especially for children
Full of joy and laughter
The music was intoxicating
The beauty stunning
Remembering the visiting of friends
Whose houses were adorned
With birds of paradise flowers
Visiting the bird sanctuary
With my mother
Seeing every kind of parrot
In a rainbow of colors
Walking the beach in Rio
The Ipanema Beach
Famous for its black and white
mosaic tile
Sitting on the beach
Listening to the waves
While people flew their bird kites
Traveling around with my parents
Seeing the country
North and South
Struck with the humanity and beauty
Those memories never left me
They still haunt the inner recesses
Of my heart

A Day at the Beach

It was a perfect day on the island
It was miles away from the main city
To get there one had to ride the ferry for an hour across the blue waters
The sand on the beach was white and fine to the touch like fine silk
The water at times was turquoise

The beach was little lined with large umbrellas stuck in the sand
They were numerous colors and multi colored
People were sitting under them watching the waves
The waves pounded the shore breaking with bright white foam

The air was warm but not hot with a slight breeze soothing to the touch

Palm trees swayed to the breeze their leaves glistening in the sun
As the sun hit the ocean the surface looked like a million diamonds

Children were running up and down the beach laughing and playing games while parents kept a watchful eye

A man pushed an ice cream cart down the beach selling ice cream treats

A mother and her daughter played in the waves
The daughter eventually sitting in the water letting the waves run over her

It was a perfect day in every way

Every one was grateful for the perfect day and a little slice of heaven

Wind chimes rattling in the wind, playing their own kind of tune
Clattering of the bells ringing against the metal grate as the wind
whips through them
Trees bending in the wind, void of their foliage and green moving
to their own kind of rhythm
Snow lightly falling and blowing around like cotton candy strands
before gently nesting on the ground or other surfaces
It is the coming of winter and the start of the a new cycle in the
weather for the year
Cold easing its way into homes, bodies and open spaces replacing
the warm heat of the summer with a new found friend
Temperatures dropping outside like flies bringing a frigid feel to
the day and evening
Nighttime chills and darkness befall the city as it gets ready to put
its nightcap on for the sleep that is slowly coming

Longing for the cool
It is the beginning of summer
Yet the heat keeps coming
Like an unwelcome visitor
That has overstayed

I am yearning for the feel
Of cool crisp air
Cleansing breezes against my face
Clear skies

I am missing the scents of fall
My body and spirit tire from the heat

I am longing for the cool
Crisp, fresh air
The need for a blanket or sweater
I am longing for the cool

At a time of strife
It’s important to reach
Lift one’s self up
Higher and higher
Strive forward
Not backwards
Following your dreams
Don’t give up
Try for the moon
Or better yet
The stars
With true belief
Anything is possible
Light always wins
Against darkness
Miracles happen
Every day
Look around
Just believe