It was a cool day
Felt like winter
The sky was crystal clear
The color was pure blue
It had rained the night before
The cool air seeped into ones bones leaving a dull ache
The cafe had mobile heaters lit
People were sitting in the café
Many seats were empty
Due to the cold
The atmosphere was muted
It made one long for the freshness of spring
Muted day

Every night
Fairies arrive
They are tiny creatures
Almost invisible
They have very delicate wings
Like a hummingbird
They have existed for all time
They come to the believers
All over the world
To grant their wishes and dreams
While they sleep
They sprinkle magic dust on them
Made of silver and gold
To bring sweet dreams and protection
As night ends they return to their land
Awaiting the next night

We all want to be free
To feel we can do and be
As we choose
Without being controlled
We need to be able to find our way
Unencumbered
Whether it’s taking a walk
Or shopping
Or sipping coffee
Or reading a book
Or just living
When freedom is taken away
Or stifled we feel smothered
Creativity ceases
The spirit grows quiet
Our light dims

Life is like a tree
It has many branches
Over time it grows
There are new avenues and nuances
The roots reach deeper into the soil
Seeking out precious nutrients and water
New leaves appear in the spring
Turning bright colors in the fall
Eventually leaving home
Falling to the ground
As winter approaches trees sit bare
As if almost asleep
Waiting again for a new season
To start anew
Reborn

Folks drinking coffee in a cafe on a fresh morning
Surrounded by red cushions that adorn bright white walls
Looking stylish

Café time

Music playing with a loud hypnotic beat in the background
Large TVs on setting the tone
Tables set with clear dark red glasses

Café time

Professional waiters moving to and fro
People sitting outside under big  red umbrellas offering welcomed shade as needed
The start to another day in the city

Café time

When covered in darkness
Seek the light
Let it cover you like a coat
When full of despair
Seek the light
When the mind is empty
Seek inspiration

When feeling lost
Seek the light
When overwhelmed
Trust yourself to see it through

When nothing seems right
Look to what you have
We all have treasures

When tired and fatigued
Try something new
When bored
Learn something

When the heart is empty
Seek art and music
Let it lift you up

When you feel alone
Help another

Lightness

Warm hypnotic breezes blow
The air is fresh and clear
Comfortable to breathe
A weeping willow bends to and fro
Its branches reaching towards the sky
The sky is light blue with a scattering of white clouds
Lulling one into a state of peace
Wind chimes play their melody to the rhythm of the wind
The willow tree leaves glisten from the sunlight
What a perfect summer day if only it could go on forever...

It’s is an early fall day
The sun is out
The sky is a bright blue
There are a few clouds scattered across the sky
There is a slight breeze -- not too warm, not too cold — just right
The trees are dressed with their fall colors
You are sitting in a field of tall grasses
The grass is a light beige color
The grass sways gently to the breeze and makes a soft rustling sound as it moves
As you sit down in the field
A cloud of butterflies surround you
They are all colors -- purple, blue, yellow, red, gold and green
As you put out your hands, several light onto your hand before flying away

You close your eyes and take in the moment
You are at peace

It's been too long since
I touched your face
Looked upon your smile
Heard your laugh
Felt your touch
Held your hand

It's been too long
Since we walked the beach
Smelled the sea air
Watched the waves
Wrote our names in the sand

It's been too long
Since we danced
Watched a movie
Ate popcorn
Sat in a cafe
Sipped coffee

It's been too long
Since I felt your presence
Near me

It's been too long...

It’s winter time
It’s lightly snowing
The pine trees are getting covered with a white blanket
It’s fresh looking outside

Cocoon

The snow glitters like diamonds
A fire is burning in the fireplace
The smell of the wood permeates the air like perfume

Cocoon

You are snuggled in bed wrapped
up in warm blankets like a cocoon

Cocoon

You are comfortable and safe
As sleep approaches you surrender to it without a struggle

You are cocooned

When we are away or leave
We hunger for the scent of home
We wish for something familiar
Something we can cling to
Something we know
We will do anything for it

When we are away or leave
We hunger for the scent of home
The flowers
The trees
The landscape
The people and the food

It becomes an intoxicating perfume
For the soul and heart
To comfort and calm it
When we are away or leave
We hunger for the scent of home

If you see someone with a frown, smile
Choose laughter over tears
If someone needs help, reach out
Offer kindness instead of harshness and cruelty
Heal don’t hurt
Love instead of hate
Don’t judge, accept
Walk towards light instead of darkness
Give instead of taking
Lift up instead of tearing down

There’s too much darkness and hate in the world right now
If we can just light the world a little through kindness and love, it’s a start
Remember we are all human

Light up the world
Lift someone up today
Bring a smile to a stranger
Be grateful for each day and moment

It’s a beautiful day.
Bright white fluffy clouds in the sky.
A slight cool breeze is blowing.
The air is clear and fresh.
Off in a distance, a horse has jumped the gate of a corral.
He’s a beautiful horse.
Chestnut colored.
He’d been planning for months.

Now, he’s running free towards the mountains.
Moving faster and faster.
Till he finally disappears into the distance.
Like a mirage.
After all this time.
Freedom

Every day she goes out
Putting on her red coat
She gets her things together
Heads out to start her day

She visits her favorite café
Slowly sipping her coffee
Thinking about her day

As she finishes her coffee
She gets ready to leave
Putting her coat back on
Packing up her things

She has had the coat for years
It came with her to a new land
When she wears it it feels like an old friend
Red is a favorite color of hers
In a way the coat helps define her
It’s like being with a part of home

Woman in the red coat

Whispering winds blow across my face
Soothing my troubled soul

Whispering winds blow across my face
Bringing sweet scents of flowers

Whispering winds blow across my face
Lifting me up

Whispering winds blow across my face
Healing my pain

Whispering winds blow across my face
Reminding me of you

Home can be anywhere
Home can be at anytime

Home is where the heart is
Home is where one belongs

Feels comfortable
Feels safe

Is loved and cared about
Home is everything

She sat in utter silence
In an unfamiliar place
Everything was new
Never experienced before

She was barely noticed
Almost invisible to the eye
Out of her own element
She tried to melt into the wall
She was an outsider

She sat in silence
Barely noticed
Quiet
Almost invisible
Barely seen and heard

She was from another place
Another time
She had traveled a long distance
To be here

She was not seen nor heard
She was insignificant
She was the unfamiliar one
She did not truly exist in some ways

In our lives we leave traces
Of ourselves
Our being
Our lives

It might be our clothes
Our smile
Our touch or laugh
Our face
We leave traces

It might be our perfume
Or cologne
The way we walk
Or leave a room
We leave traces of ourselves
Through the people we touch
The people we meet and know
Our family and friends

The stranger we smiled at
The child we helped
We leave traces
There are vapors of us
Always

The rain is finished now
The city is drying out
With some wet places
It’s quiet
Not the normal hustle
The sky is a muted gray
With a hint of white clouds
It’s a cool morning
Great for walking
There is freshness in the air
Breathing is a pleasure
It’s a beautiful day

When you are sad
Get up and look at the sun
When you are crying
Get up and look at the stars
When you are hurting
Get up and look at mother nature
When you can't go on
Get up and remember those that went before you
When you want to give up
Get up
Remember you have your own destiny
You are not done

Believe

For the first time in a long time, I feel peace

The constant churn of pain has eased in the pit of my stomach

The grinding of sand like painful crystals on my soul has stopped

For the first time in a long time, I can breathe, and not feel my lungs struggle

I can now listen to the calm sound of nothing, pure stillness

I am at peace for the first time in a very long time

Breathe

I will love you till I die
Till I take my final breathe
I will cherish you till then
You are my universe
You are my prince
You are my sun and moon

I will love you till I die

I will be in wonder of you
I will be enchanted by your charm
I will be touched by your presence

I will love you till I die

You captured my heart eons ago
You touched into my soul
You knew me like no other
No matter what
No matter where

I will love you till I die
I will cherish you until then

Wind chimes rattling in the wind
Playing their own kind of sound
Clattering and ringing against the metal grate
As the wind whips through them
Trees bending in the wind, void of their foliage
Looking naked and stark
Moving to the rhythm of the moment
Snow lightly falling and blowing around
Looking like cotton candy
Before gently resting on the ground
It is the coming of winter and the season
Cold easing its way into homes, bodies and open spaces
Replacing the warm seduction of summer
Temperatures dropping outside
Bringing a frigid feel all around
Nighttime chills and darkness befall the city
Winter is arriving
Time to get warm

In a way we are such delicate creatures
Our emotions are like threads that can stretch but eventually break if pulled too far
Our hearts while strong can also break
They can love deep and hard
But also feel pain and sadness

A life is a precious thing
Everything about it is special
It should be treasured like a valuable jewel
It glimmers and glistens with possibly and chance
When someone is sleeping they become an innocent soul
Surrendering to their dreams

In a way we are such delicate creatures

Sometimes life gives us a miracle, something beyond belief that is quite wonderful.

It is up to us how we choose to enjoy and appreciate it.

When that happens, take advantage of every minute and realize how truly wonderful it is

Delicious goodies
Bright colored ornaments
Gorgeous colors
Red, green, blue, gold and silver
Beautifully decorated trees
Scents of pine
Candy canes and tinsel

Tables adorned with chocolates
Holiday cookies all around
Smells of turkey and roasts
Pies baking
And all things good
Candy canes and tinsel

Snow covered lawns
Glistening white like diamonds
Outside trees adorned with lights
Carolers and choirs singing
Candy canes and tinsel

Sounds of music in the air
Feelings of good cheer everywhere
Smiles and laughter

Candy canes and tinsel

Once an elderly gentleman
Very wise
Similar to Indiana Jones
Gave me a bit of advice
He said live life
Savor each moment
They pass quickly
Don’t worry
Minimize stress
Go for comfort
Life’s hard and unfair at times
We can’t control everything
But, it’s an adventure
Never be afraid
Things work out for the best
True joy comes from the adventure
All the experiences one has
What is learned along the way
What’s your adventure?

That’s life and living

Come dance with me
Let’s touch the stars
Baila conmigo
Let’s listen to romantic music
Come walk with me
Anda conmigo
Come explore the world with me
Let’s see all there is to see
Let’s watch the stars dance
Watch the moon watching us
Let’s smell the roses
Vamos oler las rosas
Come laugh with me
Give me one hundred smiles
Come be with me
Ven conmigo
Forever

A summer wind whips through the air and the trees
Lightning dabbles the sky like a quick paint brush
It’s stunning
Tree limbs bend as the wind moves through them
Like a dance
The sky lightens up from the electric charge moving through
The air fills with the sound of thunder
It’s pounding a rhythm
A summer storm is fast approaching
Playing the wind chimes outside like a musical instrument
As they clang back and forth to the rhythm of the wind
Hold on
It’s coming

I am a person
I am alive
I have feelings
I have needs and desires
I am no different than another
I can be hurt
I can cry
I can mourn
I can and need love
I need care, a home, sustenance
I need to belong
I want peace not war
I want to walk free
To live my life without pain or hurt
At times I am alone
At other times, not
I am no different
Than another
For I am human
We all are

I will love you
I will care about you
I will think about you
I will see you in my dreams

No matter what

I will miss you
I will need you
I will treasure you
I will stand by you

No matter what

I will love you
I will care about you
I will remember you
I will keep you in my heart

I will see you in my dreams
No matter what
Always

Memories slide in and out of the recesses of our mind

Like clouds lightly floating by
Some make us smile
Some make us frown
Some make us laugh out loud

Some seem so real it is as if we can touch them once again
They can take us to a comfortable and magical place

Memories

Listen to the music
Let it guide you

Listen to the music
Let it lift you up

Listen to the music
Let it heal you

Listen to the music
Let it touch your heart

Listen to the music
Let it soothe your soul

Listen to the music
Let it make you smile

Listen to the music
Let it show you the world

Red Velvet Blues
He’s got the red velvet blues
He loves the feeling of the fabric Smooth and silky to the touch Intoxicating in its beauty
Red Velvet Blues
He once saw a girl wearing one He was mesmerized
He’d never seen anyone like her Nor the dress
Together they were beyond belief Red Velvet Blues
She looked like an angel Almost not human
So beautiful and fresh The dress was stunning So was she
Red Velvet Blues
He asked her to dance
Held her close
The red velvet dress soft to his touch He never wanted to let go

Red Velvet Blues
Even to this day
Many years later
He remembers the girl and that dress He never forgot
She was embedded in his soul

While sitting in a church
the other day
I strongly felt your presence
It’s been nine years since you left

As I sat there quietly
In the stillness and calm of it all
I felt you sitting next to me
Answering my questions
As if we were talking like before

I told you I’ve made mistakes
You said we all have
It’s part of being human
I told you I should have done more
You said I did just fine
Don’t worry
Everything is fine

I told you thank you
You said for what
I said for what I was taught
What you gave me
Your legacy
You smiled
I told you I wanted you to
be proud of me
You said you always were

I told you there is an empty space in my heart
You said you were sorry for the pain
I miss you

It’s the holidays again
Your favorite time
I asked if you remembered
You said you did

I miss you
Every day of every month
I always will

As the new year begins, may you have a wonderous year filled with blessed moments and magic

At this time of great rancor in the world let’s try and reach for the light instead of darkness
To light the world step by step
One small thing can brighten someone’s day
If we can each shine a light the darkness will lessen

Smile when you can
Share laughter
Offer kindness
Judge less
Hug frequently
Love harder

Treasure what you have
And always be grateful
We have a brand new blank page
Let’s make it count
A fresh start
Let’s begin

It was the heart of fall
The season was in full swing
There was a slight breeze
An unusual looking feather fell to the ground
Before falling it swirled around caught up in the wind

It was black, gray and white with a hint of red
It was in perfect condition
It was sitting in between the fallen leaves

A small boy was walking home from school
He found the feather sitting on the ground
He picked it up to look at it
To him it was beautiful and magical

To save it he took one of his school books out from his backpack
He opened the book and put the feather in between the pages and closed the book for safe keeping
Little did he know the magic was just starting

It’s that time of year
The light has changed
Ever so slightly
From summer to fall light
The suns brightness less intense

It’s that time of year
The light has changed
From summer to fall light
The air is crisper
The nights cooler

It’s that time of year
The light has changed
From summer to fall light
The heat of summer is leaving
The beauty of fall is coming

Its that time of year
When leaves start to turn
Orange, yellow and red
Dabbling the landscape
Like a fine painting

It’s that time of year
When colors are bright
There is a special shine to everything
Moods are high
The world puts on its best face

It is that time of year again
Smells of pine trees
Doors decorated with wreaths
Ornaments glistening as they are hung
Beautiful bright colors
Red, silver , gold , green and blue
Gorgeous garlands
Candy canes and goodies
Houses adorned with lights
Cookies being baked
Hot apple cider and hot chocolate
Choirs singing familiar songs
People running to and fro
Looking for the perfect gift
Shoppers online
Children visiting Santa
Cities and towns decorated
Friends and families coming  together
It’s that time of year

Quiet time
When it’s still
When you can hear a pin drop
Peaceful
Sitting with my cat
Hanging out
Listening to her purr
Feeling calm
Enjoying the moment
Watching the news
Looking at things
Working on lunch
Small things
Yet important
They’re part of life
Sometimes forgotten
Quiet time

Surreal

Sometimes life seems surreal
That it’s not real
When I look back
I can’t believe my age
Have I really lived this long?
Where did the years go
They just flew by
In an instant
Yet I remember things
As if they just happened
Deep inside I still feel like me
Even if I don’t look the same
My hopes are still there
So are my dreams
Yet I am at the last third of my journey Instead of the beginning
How did that happen
Is this all a dream
So I will wake up some day
If not, I need to get busy

Surreal

When feeling lost
Go to the forest
Smell the trees
Take in the freshness
Let it cleanse you

When feeling unease
Go to the forest
Feast upon nature
Walk amongst the trees
Listen to the wind
It’s talking to you

When feeling confused
Go to the forest
Sit amongst the beauty
Let it calm your soul
Let the beauty fill your heart
Be lifted up

When not sure what to do
Go to the forest
Listen to the answers
It will show you
Let it inspire you

The waves are moving back and forth
Pulsing like a rhythm
The sound calms
The sky is a bright blue
The air is warm but not too hot
There is a slight breeze in the air
There is a hint of salt in the air
Like a sweet perfume
But the smell is not overwhelming
Nature’s magic
The water is a deep blue
With hints of white as the waves roll in and out
As the sun hits the water
Diamonds appear on the surface
Glistening against the light and the water
It looks surreal
It’s a perfect beach day

When hope is lost
Heavy darkness settles in
Light diminishes
The idea of tomorrow fades
We feel mired down in muck
Hope

When hope is lost
People lose their north
They lose their sense of purpose
Seeking any sliver of light to lift them
To show them the way
Seeking anything to inspire
Hope

When hope is lost and darkness comes
We hunger for the light
We tire of the heaviness
We long for hope
Hope

When hope returns
We lift ourselves up
We seek the light
Want to stand in the sun
And never leave
Let the light and warmth heal
Hope

When hope returns
We have a can do feeling
We believe once again
We are willing to try
We offer a hand
We smile brightly
Laughter can be heard
Hope

When hope returns
We are inspired
We can create
Music gets louder
People dance

Esperanza

After the rain
When the sun shines
And the sky is blue
The city is cleaned
It looks anew
The plants are greener
Brighter


It’s as if Mother Nature
Gave the city a bath
Just as a mother would
Putting on new clothes
Making sure everything
Is as it should be
Cleansing

What is special?
When someone says
You’re not that special
That others have more value
Than you
What does that mean
But what is it to compare
People to people
Relationship to relationship
As we are all unique unto ourselves
No one is the same
So if someone says you’re not special
What are they also saying
About themselves
For how can we judge
One person’s worth
To another
How can we compare
Without being in their skin
We are all unique
Each with our own destiny
Different from another
Yet all human
How can we be anything
But special
For we each are an individual square
On the quilt of humanity
Together making up the whole
That’s special

I was dreaming
In a deep sleep
When I heard your voice
So real
Saying “honey”.
I thought you were there
With me
But you weren’t

I was dreaming
In a deep sleep
Body relaxed
Letting go
When I heard your voice
Saying “honey”
I thought you were there
With me
But you weren’t

You were in another place
Not here
Not with me or by me
But in my mind
You were there
In my heart you were there
With me

When the hot heat burns into your soul, imagine that you  are standing in a river with cool water running over your feet

It is soothing to the touch
It is calming

Imagine a cool breeze gently blowing across your face like butterfly kisses
Your skin feels cool

Imagine the scent of pine trees in the air

You are in another place
It is magic

Words can hurt
They can cut into the soul
Leaving deep wounds
Sometimes they remain
Never healing
Words can also uplift
They can heal
Touch one’s spirit
Inspire
Bring hope
Or they can break the spirit
Playing over and over
Bringing darkness
Destroying creativity
Or they can bring light
Inspiring great artwork
Literature and music
Tempt the imagination
They can break hearts
Or mend them
Cause tears
Or stop them
It all depends
Which words are used
Choose carefully
Words

I am a person
I am alive
I have feelings
I have needs and desires
I am no different than another
I am from this world
Just like you
I can be hurt
I can cry
I can mourn
I can and need love
I need care, a home, sustenance
I need to belong
I want peace not war
I want to walk free
To live my life without pain or hurt
At times I am alone
At other times, not
I am no different
Than another
For I am only human
We all are here
In the end
We are all the same