A cloud just
Burst open
Showering buckets
Of rain
On my flowers
And heart
Washing away
The dryness
And leaving
Me with
Sunshine

Now that we're even
Let's put it all behind us
And let's just stay friends

Running  so fast past me
In the park
Did you see the
Four ducks in the
Glistening lake
Or the.rabbit hiding
In the grass
What about the dead
Grasshopper on the ground
Did I feel.the runners high
Or each fast beat of the heart
What about feeling the breeze
Against my face
Or reddened cheeks
Same park same day
Each with a special
Experience all
Their own

Just put the pen down
You have all day tomorrow
Now go back to sleep

I feel turned around
Left foot should be right foot
That's what it's about

I gotta see a man about a horse
I gotta see a man about a job
I gotta see a man about a jet
Who do you gotta see

You.hear people say
If you vote for Trump
I will disown you
What if the Good Lord
Said
If you don't speak
Up for Me
I will.
Disown you

Rust the sight
The sound
Of it
Reminding me
Of age
Well weathered
The storms
Leaving imprints
Of yesterday
Not willing
To go away
But rather to
Leave a reminder
Of a Life
Well lived

Unless we wear masks
How can the world get better
When it.is so sick

So busy looking
Down
Almost didn't look.up
Would have missed
The seven deer
What else did I miss

How pretty the sky's
Painted canvas
Hues of.blushing pink
Soft blues in the distance
Snowy white clouds
Sifting through
Perhaps with a tinge
Of lavender
What a joy to
See this heavenly
Display
The Creator displayed
Just for you

Meant to throw away
Now there's mold
All around
Reminding me I still
Have pieces of you
To give away
Your folded cap and shirt
Ready to kiss and say
Goodbye
Your coke shirt with a
Handkerchief  tucked deep
Inside
For the ladies to cry on
Although it's been a while
I can't give away your
Pencil or paper
You used to write your
Stories on
Perhaps you can
Whisper a joke to me
A prank to play
And that I can
Keep forever

Waiting on the phone
Hoping to get some answers
Forgot the question

How peaceful the night
The moon so full
Shining light
For the sky
Is now a stage
Stars to the left
And stars to.the right
Rock the galaxy tonight
There's the.dish
And the spoon
And the cow who
Jumped over. the moon
Planets spinning all around
Even knocked a comet down
Lightning.struck
Earth gave a yell
Nothing left
No more to tell

So much to say
Yet now is not
The time
No hurting words
Or healing words
Now is not the time
So much to see
Yet now is not
The time
No sunny skies
Or rainy days
Now is not the time
So much to smell
Yet now is not
The time
No warm cooked bread
Or baby's breath
Yet now is not the time
So much to touch
Yet now is the time
A wrinkled hand
And baby's  toes
Now is the time

Oh sun and moon
How far from
Me you are
But you my
Friends
Are my constant
Source of delight
You warm me up
When I am cold
And light my
Way at night
Your colors change
As do my moods
Even when I leave
You always return
Perhaps waiting for
Me
Too bad you are
So far away
To grasp you
But then you
Might disappear
Into the waiting
Sky

you broke me into
A million pieces
Perhaps you did me
A grave favor
Leaving me to pick up
The scattered pieces of
My life
All around lay remnants
Of my sordid past
What I hoped would
Never surface
Sadly appeared
Tears tried to clean
Up the sorry mess
To no avail
Perhaps it was a blessing
And I can begin anew

I did it again
I'll do it again
Didn't title my poem
My words are rushing
Round my head
Have to get
Them down
How easily I
Forget
And ill probably
Do it again

You look like a ghost
Coming from my haunted past
Vanishing away

It's pretty bad
After waiting on line
For a response
A r
      O
          B
             .o
            ......t
Says  s
            O

    ...........r
    ..........  .r
    . ...............y
I don't  understand
Let me connect your

See you on the street
Hauling that battered bag
Around
Matching your pants
And top
Bleeding toes poking
Out of hole made
Shoes
What are you carrying
Crusts of bread from
Yesterday's trash
Could I bring you
A clean bag
With clean shirt
And pants
New shoes to
Walk in
What can I do
To lighten your
Load
And just not go
By
And say Tssskkk

How is it possible
To catch every
Beam from the
Moon
Every ray from the
Sun
Every pebble from the
Sand
Every blade of grass
To walk upon
How can.i count each star
And make them add up
To You
Darkness is coming
The sun has quit shining
While the moon is  a winking
The sparkling pebbles in
The sand wait for morning sun
And grass waits for morning dew
To freshen up
And you my Creator
Stay with me day and night

Denial: Keep putting off filling out all
           ....the paper work
Anger:   why do I have to retire I was
              ....going to wait till end of
                   School Year
Bargaining: What if  I wear a mask
.......                and keep my distance
Depression: I'll miss getting up and
          ...          seeing my students and
    ....................staff
Acceptance: I can walk 4 miles a day
   ...................and observe nature do a
    ...................bird count read more
   ..............    ...write poetry and read
    ..    ...          .great poetry Thank God
      ...      ........im alive and can retire

I forget many things
Too many to count
As long as I
Don't forget you

There you were
Thousands of
Teardrops later
Drenched with
Heartache from
My soul
Sopping with.bitterness
Shaking from pain
And distance from
Long
    Long
    .............Ago

Ahhh it's that
Time again
Run my mouth
Run my words
Better the running
Of words
Then the mouth
Words when written
Are honey on
The tongue

'

Life means so much
Animals people flowers
All serve a purpose
Animals guide the blind
People helping each other
Flowers for beauty
And scent
Life is a Miracle
To experience
Ready or not
Here i come

I.told.you I
Lit a candle
Just for you
But you went
And blew.it out
I brought you
A sandwich
To work
You threw it down
I tried to make
You laugh
You growled
At me
I.opened the door
You closed it
You said  hello
Now I say goodbye

I broke your heart
You broke mine
So now we're even

The coldness the rain
Reminding me a new
Season is arriving
Shovels are ready
Boots hanginging
Near
Sweaters to wrap
In
Mittens to cheer
Hot cocoa for sipping
To take chills away
Maybe a fire
To warm the feet
Days will be
Long and cold
Nights too short
For sleep
But as long as
Love is all
Around
In family and
Those all around
It will be a
Season of
Joy

The thought of you
Slowly ever so slowly
Drifted away
Now a bit of fresh air
Can just linger

My heros don't
Dress up
Spin webs to
Get trapped in
Use fists to
Punch
Legs to kick
Capes to fly in
But what they
Have are guts
To face each day
One armed bandits
Walkers with crutches
Deaf with hearing aids
Blind with a dog
Bald from cancer
Another melt down
Taking place
These heroes  don't
Give up
Even when pain
Is too hard to take
They are the champions
Fighting a battle
Each day

You've said you're sorry
Over and over again
But do you mean it

Gold drops out of
Pen and onto paper
Words of humanity
Love fear beauty
Stench and laughter
One may need a kleenex
Or a trash can
Nearby
Whatever it is
Don't stop writing
You have the
Midas touch

Big leaves small leaves
Even the babiest
Of leaves
Lay crumpled on
The ground
Reminding me it's
Time for change
Throughout and within
Leaves scattered
All around
Like thoughts
Within my soul
Full of decay
Needing to die

Do I mix.
Sunny days
With rainy days
Or do I  match
Sunny days or
Rainy days
Im.in a quandary
Knowing you can't
Have all sunny
Or all rainy
Days
With the sun
Rain must fall
With the rain
Comes sun
Do I stop
Or do I go
Play or work
Talk or keep
Silent
Whisper or
Shout
Laugh or
Cry
I can mix
My emotions
Stirred deep
Within
Or
I can match
Them
Either way I choose
I must know
They are part
Of the bargain
Called
................L
                    I
                       F
                          E

Oh for another chance
To undo what
I have done
Amidst the sands
Of time
I wander
Sinking in as
Opposed to moving on
Trapped
Sinking
D
    E
        E
           ..P
     .............E
     .................R
             .................. and
    ..............D
                     E
      ...........  .......E
   ..........        .........P
   ..............                 E
       .................................R

Until I am buried
Alive
Waiting to be
Rescued

















..





        .........

The day draws to an end
Of aworking day
Time to put skeletons
To rest
And awaken to the beauty
Of what is to come
Cicadas keeping tune to
Croaking frogs near-by
Darkness is nearing
Stars will soon appear
The moon is a wink away
Time for evening  Prayer
A comfy pillow a clear mind
And sweet dreams to
Start all over

Tears fell from
Your face
   Drip
  .......by
   .. ...........Drip
On your sneakers
Leaving traces  of sadness
You wouldn't let
Me dry them
So I'll wait
Till next time
Maybe you'll
Let me in

One for the road
Of sleepy time
Where time
Stands still
No movement
Made
Cept the beating
Of one's heart
Up and down
No sounds are
Heard
Perhaps the zzzzzs
Getting louder
As we sleep
Peacefulness adorns
The face
And horrid thoughts
Try to disappear
Let the body
Relax and
Lay still
Dream peacefully
Tomorrow you'll
Be here again

What am I
To you
A China doll
Easily broken
Licorice to twist
And twist
A piece of trash
To just toss
A storm ahead
A lighthouse dim
What am I to you
A broken record
Playing over
And over
Again
A pillow to toss
A turkey to stuff
Tell me what
Am i to you
If i really meant
Something to you
Would it really
Even matter

Knees can't  bend
To the ground
Hands too balled
Up to pray
Voice too weak
For words
Mind can't remember
How to sign
The Cross
Ears can't hear
What you say
But I give you
My heart
Did you hear
Me
Amen  Alleluia

Alternating picking up
Fallen plants
Winds are blowing
Plants are falling
Harder the wind
Keeps blowing
The more the plants
Keep falling
Perhaps like me
The stronger it gets
The quicker I fall.
But will someone
Be there to
Pick me up
Or will I just
Continue to
Lay there

I don't like where
This is going
To a black corner
Of the world
Where negativity
Is on display
Weird contorted faces
Left over from
Wounded hearts
Oceans of tears
Flooding the ground
Fear has taken over
Leaving nowhere
To turn
What a desolate
Place to be
Turn around and leave
Before it's too late

Light casting shadows
On darkened walks
Making one larger
Then life
Could be eerie
Depending on where
You stand

My thoughts like a
Speed car racer
Circling round
And round
Until the finish line

Trying to put my
Head to rest
Words bubbling inside
A volcano of sorts
Ready to burst
Leaving only ashes behind

Darkness is falling
Time to settle down
Words won't let me
How do you cover
Up words
Waiting to be
Exposed
Hide the
Paper
Toss the
Pen
Turn off
The light and
Say
AMEN

In wheel chair
You sit as
Others go by
I'll walk for you
Eyes can't see
Birds flying high
I'll see for you
Ears can't hear
The barking
Of dogs
I'll hear for you
Withered hands
So bent in pain
Can't feel the
Soft fur of
A cat
I'll touch
For you
In your own words
From your chair
You'll sit for me
Birds through your
Imagination
You' ll see for me
The dog barking
You can touch
His vocal chords
And hear for me
The Cat's fur
Put by your cheek
You'll feel for me
Come let's share
Our differences
Yet are we
That different
When all we
Really want
Is for one
Another
To experience
What we can see
And feel
And touch

Today is the anniversary
Of my Mothers death
We were blest to
Have a woman
Strong and gentle
A woman with
My father who
Raised six children
One with diabetes
And all the complications
That go with it
You never knew
Her life was one of
Love and song
This is a day of cherished
Memories
And Prayers she taught us
I've been blest
With my Mothers love
And that's Prayer enough
For me
Thank you Mom.
I love you