My music box out
Tinkling sounds of Christmas play
As I turn the key

How refreshing the smell
Of new rain
On the unsuspecting sidewalk
Where worms come
Out of hiding
Ready to shimmy
In the rain of Life
Birds fly high overhead
Children prepare to
Jump in newly formed puddles
Splashing with all their heart
Lift up your hands
Stick out your tongue
And catch a few drops
It won't last forever

For all moms
And dads out there
Thank you
For being essential
To your child
Carrying their backpack
Walking two dogs
Getting the bus
Throwing a ball
Till time to board bus
Staying home with
Your child
So they can learn
Virtually
Learning new technology
So your child can stay
At home
Thanks for kissing boo boos
And comforting your
Teens
This has been a
Rough academic year
But you are hanging tough
Thank you

The serenity of the park
Stirs gently in my soul
I walk around and ponder
The wonders of God
The  birds flying softly
Over my head
Cicadas singing on morning duty
Ripples on the sparkling lake
Gentle breezes kiss my cheek
I can't thank God enough
Nor praise Him enough
From my heart
Or even a poem
For loving me and dying
For me
But I'll  try

Today achild wakes up
Without a parent
Who sacrificed their Life
A spouse looks at
an empty side of bed
Where once they lay
Who sacrificed their Life
A child does not awaken
No longer here
Who sacrificed their Life
As we sadly remember today
Let us sacrifice our Life
To the cry of others

Oh to hear you laugh
Puts a smile in my heart
Help me keep it there

Life is so precious
With all of its ups and downs
Don't let it slip by

Overnight case given
To me
And i don't
Even travel
Where have you
Been.
Traces of perfume
Or sweet smelling
Talc
Still linger on
Perhaps with memories
Pleasant or sad
Maybe a combination
Of both
Sun can't take the
Smell.away
Perhaps the smell
Is meant to stay
For reminders of
What may come

Whispered words
Spoken words
Words in song
Didn't matter how they
Were communicated
You really didn't care
Just as long as you
Could top it
Or better yet
Go over and beyond
Who was I fooling
.talking to you
With heartfelt words
When all you really
Wanted to do was
Win

Today I'm alive
I checked the paper
Pinched my skin
Said a Prayer
Or two
What I do today
Should be a
Thank you Lord
For one more day

The purple sky
Lit up
As a bolt of
Lightning
Tap danced across
The threatening sky
Buckets of rain
Poured from
The ominous sky
Making puddles
Of water
To form
On the ground

Words don't take a rest
Rushing through your mind
Wanting to let go
Feelings bursting with
Newfound energy
Waiting to be released
To the unsuspecting world
Captivating  charming
Saddened words
Wanting a place
To land
But first they must
Be birthed

Hanging on with
A fisherman's thread
Barely enough to
Keep me hanging on
Perhaps I won't.
Let go
As I sink deeper and
Deeper
If I cling tight enough
I can pull through
And carry on

A cat 🐈 curled
Around my neck
Purring a happy
Melody
Letting me know
That all would
Be okay
Jumping up
To get her
Milk
To let her know
That all would
Be okay

nightfall waterfall
Beach ball water ball
Candy cane window pane
Criss cross applesauce
fee fi for fum
Laffy taffy
Silly dilly words
Thrown out to you
Before you're winkin blinkin
And nod
Hush lil baby
Go to sleep
Don't you make
Another peep
Sleep away with
Sandman dust
Pixire dust will
Wake you up

Broken heart
Broken dishes
Queasy stomach
Long held tears
Bed of roses
Hurtful thorns
Your reality
Has become
My reality

Summer days are fading
Warmth turns into
Morning chill
Breezes are cooler
Not as gentle
But still accepting
Rustic smells in
The air
Burning leaves
Campfires far away
Sweet teas traded
For warm apple cider
Long flannel shirts
Covering sun bleached
Skin
Squirrels running round
Gathering winter's  harvest
Birds heading for
A warmer place
To nest
Dogs sporting sweaters
Made just for them
While owners
Lead with jackets on
Another season has left
A new one ushers in
With a beauty
All its'
Own

How soft was your voice
Never angry or too loud
Voice of an angel

good nite John boy
goodnite moon goodnite my
Someone goodnite
All goodnitersfrom
all awakers

The soapy hands
The careful wash
No happy birtday song
Replaced by Glory Be to the Father
Carefully wash hands
While deep in thought
The longer the better
Prayed before Corona
Continuing to practice
Just noticed
Since when did  I stop
Glory Be to the Father
Did I get lax?
NOW.....
Is not the time !

You said you wanted
To set the world
On fire
But couldn't light
The flame
Wanted to a be a
Gold medalist
But couldn't a
Record set
Tried  to be soldier
A gun you could
Not shoot
As for a doctor
You couldn't pass
The test
You.wanted to
Leave your legacy
Behind
But couldn't fit
Right in
A pen you.
Picked up
With tears in
Your eyes
Writing what a
Failure you'd been
Then a poem
Birthed forth
And you read
What you wrote
A famous poet
You then became
Leaving your
Legacy behind

Mary said be it done
According to your will
And the song
Of Life
Begun
Wrapping her baby
In swaddling clothes
Laying Him in a Manger
Animal breath and stench
From wet hay
Greeted the baby our King
Mary pondered this in her heart
Her child is growing
And He's preaching
While three days she's
Missing him but when found
Pondered this in her heart
Now in His thirties
His preaching is stronger
His Miracles are spreading
And she ponders this in her heart
In the garden you hear Him
Father your will be done
He is beaten and dies
And Mary remembers her
Be it done to me
Now her son's
Thy will be done
Both have echoed their
Yes to God
And the song lives
On and on

I like listening
To my Christmas
Music boxes
.But I  like walking
By
Turning the key
Remembering
The song that
Is playing
The shaped figurines
I can hold
In my hand
A song.plays
Reminding me Christmas
Is almost here
And so are
My memories
Oh sweet memories
Of Christmas past

Just leave me alone
Perhaps for only
Today
Or even
Tomorrow
Whatever it is
Leave me alone
So I can stare
At the empty
Wall of my
Imagination
And feel the bitter cold
Of no one
Hear nothing
But the sad
Lonely  beat of
My heart
Let the pain surface
So it can disappear
Into the universe
With all the other
Dark spots
Hidden on
The moon

it never ceases to amaze me
What I will find on this site
Actually its fun to see what
Subject will be next
As Dr. Phil says what.were
You thinking
I cry laugh salute celebrate
All that is before me
And I thank all of you
From the bottom of my heart
Thanks for being so transparent
You've been given a gift
Please keep sharing

I felt the pulse
Of the early
Morning sun
As she peeked
Behind the clouds
And gracefully danced
Her calmness beat
Into my soul
As I  walked
Toward the noise
Ahead

Let's  go to the zoo
The animals want to play
What are they up to

The wind softly
Calling to me
As she whispers
Past my ear
But the thunder
In my head
Keeps me from
Answering

Dancing waves putting
On quite a performance
To the rhythm of
The wind
Echoing a song
As each wave
Splashes by
Birds soar overhead
Joining in
There is no ending
As the waves
Get a little high
And take a bow

A new day
Has begun
A clean slate
From washed away tears
Freshness awakens
The staleness of
Yesterday
Has quietly disappeared
Along with painful
Memories
Gathered are the treasures
From of old
To brighten
The day
Celebrate each day
As a passing gift
With hopes for a
New tomorrow

Somehow it gets
Crowded inside
With all the words
Left unsaid
How can I
Release
What I can't
Feel
And yet
The words may
Pile up
Until they no
Longer serve
Any purpose
Words can't be
Forced
They need to be
Nurtured
And carefully
Oh so carefully
Birthed
And gently
Placed into
Being

Nightmare oh nightmare
Why. Are you toying with me
Nowhere else to go

A.new day
Has dawned
I'm.not quite
Ready for
Winged flight
Nesting tends to
Suit me
Where I am
Safe and comfortable
No growth can
Even take place
If I don't spread
My wings
And
   ...................F

                            L

                                     Y

Farewell to thee
My life
My poetry is
All I have
Bury me with
My thoughts
And
And sing to me
My poetry
Scatter my words
All around
Amidst the ashes

Men working
  

What about women

My coworker left
An extra napkin
On the table
For me
Perhaps that is
The best thing
She could have
Done
As I picked
Up my pen
And began
Writing

Jumping from my sleep
Is that really you again
The one I don't know

Thank you for your help
Helping me face a sad day
You said it with words

Finding your scarves
A bittersweet treasure
For me
I say a prayer
Gently caressing
Each one
Memories burning in
My heart
Each one tells
A story
Small white dots
On irish green background
For st. Patrick's Day
Christmas time and
Visits at the hospital
To see my brother
Dark purples and blues
Floral pattern
Made just for
Rainy days
Deep purples and blues
Warm for winter chill
Light pinks and blues
Soft gainst your face
Hiding a breeze
Or two
Red flowers not
Too bold
For Valentines
And special days
You looked so
Pretty in
What ever you chose
Because of your
Beauty inside
How I miss seeing
These on your
Neck
Knowing that you
Are in Heaven
But with these
Scarves so
Wonderfully worn
You touched so
Many on earth
I touch them now
And think of you
And smile and
Say thank you
Amen

I'm wired for sound
And can't get to sleep right now
Sweet dreams Mary Anne

The widow sits
In his overstuffed chair
Knowing of his
No return
Hoping for one last
Smell of the
Day's  sweat
Mixed with shaving
Lotion
Accepting the faintest
Hint of work gone by
But tears wash away
All memories
Laying back with
Aching legs
Remembering days
Gone by
Eyes burning from
Salty tears
Ready to nod off
The dog reminds you
It's time to walk

How short is Life
A baby's breath away
The span of a rainbow
The end to a Prayer
How long is Life
A Stone's throw away
A crack in the sidewalk
Pinocchio 's nose
How deep is Life
The depth of a paper cut
Twelve feet of water
A Religious novel
How sweet is life
A family full of love
Chocolate filled with nuts
The purring of a cat
How sad is life
Alife that had no chance
Innocent behind bars
Reactions to diabetes and crimes
Whether short or long sweet or sad
We are.on hallowed ground.

The rain Falling on
Top of my head
With each cold
Splatter
Reminding me
Of days gone by
Washed away
With tears
Regrets
And happiness
The need for
Sheltering
And staying
Warm and dry
From puddles
Surrounding me
Though raindrops may
Fall gently
Tip tapping on the window
With a melodious sound
It can also be frightening
As you await the bus
And puddles
As big as a lake
Splash you like a monsoon
Rain like friends
Can come down
And pounce on
Your feelings
Or can calm
You with gentle
Song
Do I want
Rain Rain go away
Or Rain Rain  stay

Me
Any chair to sit in
Can walk up steps
Hang up clothes
Take a walk
Go outsideAnytime I want to
Unassisted
She
A wheelchair to sit in
Takes an elevator
Hand clothes to roommate
Use to use crutches
Can't anymore
We
We are a team
I'm her legal guardian
And she's a part of me
When we are together
We laugh cry share gossip
I push her wheel chair
But she's the one who
Gives me a push
Because of her
I am me
And she is she
And we are we

Oh to stop
These thoughts
Rushing through
My sleepy mind
If they could
Just halt
For the time-being
Picking up where
They left off
Surely tomorrow
Can gather up
The pieces

Dew from the grass
Kissing the ground
While a foggy mist
Dances in the sky
Birds stirring in the trees
Ready to sing
Their wake up call
Squirrels busy playing tag
With the sound
Of a howling dog nearby
Children slamming the door
Running joyfully outside
Ready to greet
A new morning

Just thinking of when
Life seemed so much easier
Are those moments gone

Vincent my Vincent
Where did you
Gogh
Are you hiding
Among the Sunflowers
This Starry Night
How sad to love
So deeply
Till your ear
Couldn't hear the
Sounds of pain
What brilliant flashes
Of color you
Painted on canvas
Desperately crying out
How lonely a life
So much a struggle
Wrestling with
Your art
While down the
Narrow road
A poet  painstakingly
Pieces their
Words of hope
Together

Don't give me your
Artistic mood
Your starry night
Your sunflowers
Don't give me your
Artistic song
Your lady sings the blues
Your song sung blue
Don't  give me your
Death Valley Days
Your Lone Ranger
Rather give me
Your heart
Of gold
And golden smile
Your laughter
And tears
Your kingdom
For a horse

Feeling like
An onion
Sometimes
Where each layer
Is peeled
Slice by
Painful slice
The deeper one goes
The more it
Makes one cry
Tears held back
From long ago
Perhaps yesterday's
Tears
Maybe even waiting
For tomorrow