It's coming to that time of year again
When familiar sights, sounds and smells seep into the memory and mind
When holiday lights and decorations appear everywhere

Magical times

Holiday tunes are played on the radio
Shoppers abound on the streets, searching for that perfect gift
People take on more hustle and bustle

Magical times

Light snow flakes dance through the air
Coffee shops full of hungry diners
Smells  of hot chocolate fill the air

Magical times

Cities come alive with a different feel
It’s that time of year
When magic comes alive
Once again

Magical times

Are like dabbles of paint
on a canvas
Being strung together to
make a painting
Really a work of art
We each create our own
Some are of a bright color
Some of a pastel
Some are dark

Some make us laugh and smile
Some, bring tears to our eyes
once again
Some teach us
Some help

But our memories are the true
jewels of our lives
They connect us to our past,
present and future

Let’s treasure them

See what you can see
Feel what you can feel
Touch what you can touch
Take in all the fragrances
See the wonder of life
See me for who and what I am

Open your eyes

Take it all in
Look everywhere
See Mother Nature
In all her glory
See the oceans
See the forests and mountains
See the animals
See me for who and what I am
I am Mother Nature

Feast upon the glory of it all

After feeling pulled underwater for several months

I can breathe

After feeling uncomfortable

I can breathe

My shackles have been released

I can breathe

My troubles have passed

I can breathe

Like a whale swimming to the surface for air

Once again I can breathe
I am free

Go to a place and still yourself
Close your eyes
Sit quietly and listen

Stillness

You will hear the universe speak
Peace and harmony will be found
You will have what you need
Always

Stillness

Sweet moments
Those small moments
Sometimes fleeting
Make life worth living
They can pass quickly
Touching our hearts
Touching our souls
Hard to hold onto
Delicate
Somewhat fragile
Like a butterfly

Sweet moments
Make lasting memories
Taste like honey
Decorating our days and nights
Brightening our lives

Put them together
They form a life

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

See what you can see
Feel what you can feel
Touch what you can touch
Take in all the fragrances
See the wonder of life
See me for who and what I am

Take it all in
Look everywhere
See Mother Nature
In all her glory
See the oceans
See the forests and mountains
See the animals
See me for who and what I am
I am Mother Nature

Feast upon the glory of it all

Wake up
Clear your head
It’s another Thursday
Time to get going
Wake up

It’s another day
Time to get things done
Time to clear the head
Time to get dressed
Time for coffee and breakfast

Wake up
It’s another Thursday
The weekend is almost here
One more day
Time to get busy

Wake up
It’s Thursday
Time to get coffee
Time to have breakfast
Time to get going

Where are you?
Where have you gone?
I don't recognize you these days
At times you bring tears to my eyes, and a deep ache in my heart
Why has hate replaced love?
Why has intolerance replaced tolerance?
Love with harshness and cruelty?
Dreams replaced with nightmares?
Smiles vanquished
Less joy
Where is the tolerance, kindness and goodness we are known for?
Where is love thy neighbor and look out for each other?
This isn't about red states, blue states or purple states
It isn't about white, black, Asian or brown
Or old, young, gay or straight
It's about all of us
It isn't about our differences, but what we are together
Someone recently said  we are an idea
The great experiment
Where has it gone?

I miss you and so long to see you once again
Please come back
Please stand up and walk away from the darkness towards the light once more
Please stand and say no more hate
Please stand and say no more
Enough
Please say not here, not now, not ever
Please come back  and do the right thing
Not just for now but forever
I am counting on you, and so is the world

See what you can see
Feel what you can feel
Touch what you can touch
Take in all the fragrances
See the wonder of life
See me for who and what I am

Open your eyes

Take it all in
Look everywhere
See Mother Nature
In all her glory
See the oceans
See the forests and mountains
See the animals
See me for who and what I am
I am Mother Nature

Feast upon the glory of it all

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 elusive
But needed
Without it
It’s hard to move forward
It’s hard to function
There’s a heavy feeling
Of darkness and despair
When we are knocked down
Hope lifts us up
To try again
To reach again
To be
Beyond ourselves
And our own limits
Hope inspires us
To new heights
It fills us with light
It gets us to look for better days
To focus on the possible
To open our hearts
Hope is everything

I’m melting
Just like the witch
In the Wizard of Oz
The heat is stifling
Hard to breathe
Or do anything
It’s everywhere
All over the world
Fires
Severe weather
We were warned
For years
But we chose to ignore
Now here we are
Melting
Like butter
In a frying pan
I feel like I am on fire
Never cool
Nor comfortable
Looking for a reprieve
Yet nothing comes
So instead
I’m melting
As is the world

Home is more than a place, or a location
Its where you are cared for, and where you belong
It’s where you are meant to be
It can be anywhere, not where you were born
It can be anyplace in the world
Home is not an idea
It’s a feeling

I have known you
For such a long time
For the better part of my life
You have always been there
Since we first met
Remember?

I have known you
For such a long time
Ever since I first saw you
You have been a part of me
I have always loved you
You have dwelled in the deep recesses of my mind and heart
Intertwined in all of me like a never ending thread
Never leaving
You are part of me now
Like my eyes, hands or lungs
You bring light and happiness

Without you there is no real life

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

When you left
I missed that
Like being withdrawn
From a wondrous drug
Things felt hollow
Flat
Empty
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
I never want to leave

Bring comfort
Offer calm
Give one a sense of belonging
Help one feel centered
They are important
They are most needed
During times of trouble
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
Erasing darkness
Bringing in the light

They first met in high school
After that they were inseparable
As if there were a golden thread between them
Sometimes they had the same thoughts
They wanted to always be together
Forever
But life got in the way
Through no fault of their own
Decades went by
Though they never forgot the other
They lived in each other’s hearts
It’s as if a golden thread
Tied them to each other
Across both distance and time
One day something extraordinary happened
They had a chance to see each other again
Afterwards, they never separated
The golden thread keeps them together

Cool balmy breezes brush against my face
Caressing
Soothing my spirit and body
Calming my mind
I focus on the moment
Taking it all in
Slowly
Deep purple colors the sky
As night sets in for the city
Lights twinkle in the background like glistening pearls and diamonds
Traffic sounds play their tune from below
Plants sway to and fro to the breeze
As if they were dancing
A cool respite fast approaches
To heal from the blistering heat
Of the day
Once again nighttime is coming
Bringing a gift of coolness
And peace

They had been together for almost a year
Their time was ending
They had gone out to dinner
In the big city
One last time
Spent time walking around enjoying their time together
They were with her parents
It was spring
The weather was perfect
She wore a lilac colored dress
It was a perfect night
The city was full of magic

Soon they would have to leave
To head back home north
They didn’t want to leave
They didn’t want the night to end
But it had to
They had no choice

When the car came around
They sat in the back
Her parents were in front
As her father drove
They were quiet
Then his hand reached out to her hand
Touching it ever so gently
They sat holding hands the entire drive
Quiet
Together

It’s one of those days
Still in the midst of winter
Skies gray and cloudy
Air cool and damp
Clouded over
People are moving slowly
Streets are empty
Cafés are full
People getting breakfast
Slowly sipping coffee
Clouded over
Warm beds are tempting
Heavy blankets and jackets
Cups of hot tea with lemon
Soothe the body and soul
Hard to get moving
Clouded over
Looking for that ray of sun

Imagine sitting in the desert
Alone
The sand is bright white
You are kneeling
With your eyes closed
It is silent and still
Out of nowhere it starts to rain
Black colored rain drops
However, your mother appears
She stands over you
Smiling
Emanating white light
She holds a special umbrella
One of a kind
Over you
It’s translucent
Made of white light
As the rain drops fall
They hit the umbrella
And roll off
Never touching you
Disappearing into the ground
With no trace
Imagine

Sunday morning
Nothing like it
It’s special
A quiet time
Family time for many
The last day before work
End of a week
A big newspaper day
Time to slow down
Catch a breath
Before Monday
Sunday Bliss

Some go for walks
Others exercise
Others make a large breakfast
Others stay in bed longer
Enjoying the feeling
Sunday Bliss

Big news shows come on
Showing their best
Cafes fill with clients
Enjoying their coffee
Parks fill with children
Sunday Bliss time

You are on a Greek isle
There’s a bright blue sky
With a few white clouds
Bright fuchsia flowers
Adorn the area
The ocean is sapphire blue
Nearby is some laundry
Hanging in the wind
Bright white sheets
Just washed
That move to the rhythm
Of the wind
Giving off a scent
Of cleanliness
It’s calming and hypnotic
Magic

Dark blue velvet accented by soft white lights giving off a magical glow
A winding river decorated with pearls
Ducks fishing for their dinner
Light breezes brushing against my face
Quiet all around
It looks like something out of a movie
Too perfect to be real
Magic places are special
They light up the world

It was a crisp winters day
In the middle of the season
The sun was bright blue with a dotting of a few white clouds

Winter wind

There was a cold wind whipping through the trees
It was bitter to the skin
Branches were bending to it as if they were dancing
Wind chimes could be heard in the distance

Winter wind

The snow was blowing around shifting location creating white dunes like cotton candy

Winter wind

The fireplace was burning with a fresh log creating a hypnotic warmth in the room
The wood gave off a pleasant scent as it burned
It was a good day to be inside

Winter wind

It is that time of year again
Smells of fur trees
Doors decorated with wreaths
Ornaments glistening as they are hung
Visions of tinsel

Beautiful bright colors of red, silver , gold , green and blue

It’s that time of year

Houses adorned in lights
Cookies being baked
Gingerbread men being decorated
Choirs singing songs

It’s that time of year

People running to and fro
Cities and towns decorated in their holiday best

It’s that time of year

Friends and families come together to celebrate the season
It’s the holiday

That time of year

The day has been set for cooler weather, rain on the horizon
Skies are gray with a hint of sun
The air is cool and crisp, the weather folks say it may rain

I have been snuggled in my bed, with the covers pulled high reading the news
My kitty was at my side, sound asleep

My husband was getting ready for work

As I sat and read the news, sipping my coffee, enjoying the warmth and comfort, I contemplated my day

Gray colored day

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

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
It’s precious

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

It becomes an intoxicating perfume
For the soul and heart
To comfort and calm
When we are away or leave
We hunger for the scent of home
It never leaves us
It’s in our heart

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

Silver Gold and Glitter

It’s a time of sparkle
Glitter, silver and gold
Rubies, diamonds and emeralds
Beautifully wrapped gifts
Sugar cookies
Gingerbread
Apple cider
Hot chocolate
It’s a magical time
Where wishes are granted
If we just believe and hope
It’s a special time
It only comes once a year
But when it does
It lights up the world
For just a moment
Bringing silence and peace
Silver gold and glitter

I’ve got the sleepy time blues
I am drawn to sleep and dream land

My body fights waking up
Preferring to rest in bed
The blues are dragging me down
Like a hypnotic drug

Craving for the warmth of blankets and the comfort of bed
Sleep has control over me
It won’t let go

My muscles don’t want to move
My mind is quiet
Thinking is hard
Muddled thoughts

When will sleep let me go today and set me free ?

Sometimes I feel like my life is surreal
That it’s not real
When I look back on my life I can’t believe my age
Have I really lived this long?
Where did the years go
They just flew by
Yet I remember things as if they just happened
And 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 or so of my journey now instead of the beginning
How did that happen
Is this all a dream and I will wake up some day

Stand up
Show you matter
Bring your best to the world
Offer kindness
Open up your heart
Do the right thing
Accept everyone
We all want the same thing
We are all human
No matter where we are from
No matter where we live

Offer light instead of darkness
Inspire
Lift
Light up the world
Believe

It was early morning
It was the in between time of
night and day
She went out onto the terrace
She was dressed all in white
There was a slight cool breeze moving through her clothes
Making them move with a slight rhythm

She climbed up onto a black table
She was barefoot
The table was cool to the touch
As she stood on the table she looked out onto the city

She could see for miles
The city was still asleep
She stood at the back of the table
She then spread out her arms
She started running and leapt

As she started falling she changed into an eagle
She flapped her wings and flew
She soared through the sky
She aimed up towards the clouds
Eventually turning to the sun

She had become her true destiny
The eagle

It’s Sunday morning
People are just waking up
Searching for their coffee
The sun is out shining

It’s Sunday Morning Treasure

People are walking about
Cafés full of breakfasters
Cities waking up
Everyone has the slows

It’s Sunday Morning Treasure

Newspapers sit on sidewalks
Street vendors full of magazines and papers
Stores getting ready for another day


It’s Sunday Morning Treasure

The inspiration is gone
Flew like a flash somewhere
The muse has left

The poet is sleeping

Darkness has replaced light
Heaviness is  in the spirit
As I struggle with my thoughts
As I struggle with my feelings
I am stopped cold
I feel lost

The poet is sleeping

The muse has left
No more sounds of sweet music
No more inspirational thoughts
No more magical dreams
I lost my purpose

The poet is sleeping
I am searching for the light
I am searching for my friend
Inspiration

I hope to find it soon
I miss it

Gold, Silver and Red

Gold, silver and red everywhere
It dazzles the eye
Blue and green glimmer
Pine trees standing high
Waiting to be taken home
People looking for the perfect gift
Gold, silver and red

Wreaths hung with care
Adorned with ribbons
Lights strung on houses
Decorations in cities and towns
Holiday smells in the air
Gold, silver and red

Presents wrapped under the tree
Children smiling and playing
Music fills the air
Gold, silver and red

Families getting together
Memories fill up the heart
Gold, silver and red

They come dressed in white
Covered head to toe
Wearing protective gear
They are the warriors
Here to fight the enemy
They didn’t ask for this fight
It was brought to them
As so many times before


They are on the front lines
Full of courage and care
Making sure the war is won
They are the protectors
The healers
They bring hope at a time of despair
They bring light when there is darkness
They are the warriors

They are our best hope
Every day they fight for the world
To keep us safe
While others may run away
They run towards the enemy
Full of courage and care
They are doctors, nurses and caregivers
They are researchers and scientists
They are warriors
They are heroes

It was quiet and still. A couple of birds flew through the air in the distance
The trees created a rich green carpet covering the grass
The sky was a pale blue gray with fluffy pillows of clouds scattered about
They broke up the sky with their placement and artistic strokes
It looked like an impressionistic painting
The sky was also highlighted by a background light which created a shadow

As I watched the clouds, they became brighter, and started to turn to a light pink color ever so slightly

Mother Nature making magic

Looking out onto the street
Watching people going to and fro
It’s Sunday in the big city
Sipping a cup of coffee
Checking out the news of the day

Sitting up high
Looking out onto the street
Contemplating life
Planning my day

Sitting up high
Surrounded by dark wood
Listening to quiet jazz
Sipping my coffee
Checking out the news
Contemplating my day

Our lives are treasure chests
Filled with memories and experiences
Feelings
Every emotion possible
Images, smells, sensations
Each one is precious
Unique to us

Like a gemstone
Each one helps to define us
Each one helps us grow
To become who we are
Who we are meant to be

Our lives are like treasure chests
Valuable like a diamond or ruby
As time moves on they take on more value
Each one is a thread that helps mold us

Our lives are treasure chests
Beautifully designed
Intricate in every way
Filled with memories
Filled with experiences
Each one precious

It's coming to that time of year again
Christmas is just a few days away
The excitement is building
Children waiting in anticipation
When familiar sights, sounds and smells seep into the memory and the mind
When bright holiday lights and decorations appear

Christmas and holiday movies appear
Some are good old regulars
Offering comfort and cheer
Stores dressed up in their best

People take on the holiday hustle and bustle
Light snowflakes start dancing in the air to their own melody
It’s that time of year
It’s the holidays

We find ourselves
Facing the same threat
We thought it had left
That we had won
The enemy had been crushed
But alas it’s still here
Fiercer than before
All that we did before
We must repeat
Because the war is not won
People still need help
We need to be careful
More has to be done
Until one day
In the future
Hopefully not too far away
We can say
It’s over

It’s the season
It comes once a year
It’s special
It brings
Lots of memories
Togetherness
Good cheer
It’s the holiday spell
It’s magical
It’s a time to come together
Bring light not darkness
To reach out
Offering kindness
Light up the world
With your special power

It’s morning
Saturday
The weekend
People are just waking up
Searching for their coffee
The sun is out shining

People are walking about
Cafés full of breakfasters
Cities waking up
Everyone has the slows
Newspapers sit on sidewalks
Street vendors full of magazines
and papers
Stores getting ready for another day

It’s Weekend Morning Treasure

Where did that 16 year old girl go?
What about the 28 year old?
Where are they?
Life passed so quickly
Where is the strength and freedom of youth?
The excitement of the new?

How do I find her and bring her back ?
Is she in the recesses of my mind and heart ?
Is she hiding ?
Dimmed by life’s travails

Where is that 16 year old girl
Filled with energy and emotion
How can I find her?
Where is she?
Is she in me when I look in the mirror ?
How can I feel free?
To run on the beach or fly like a bird

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