It's  getting cold out
Flags are dancing in the breeze
Time for my jacket

It's so cold out there
Need a fire to
Warm me up
A hot cup
Of chocolate
Would do
So. would a cozy sweater
As these thoughts
Ramble through
My head
I..see a man
On a cold bench
Without a coat
Holes in his pants
With shoes to match
An empty bottle
Near by
I no longer
Feel.cold.
Or need to feel
Warm
What I need is
A cover
To spread
Some warmth.

The  cold wind slapped me
In the face
And brought me
To my senses
Such activity in
The early morning
Grey
Two unexpected gulls
Just enjoying the sky
Dancing over the lake
Taking a bow
Dipping in the
Cold water
For curtain closes
A baby cardinal
Calling in the sky
One two three testing
Her vocal chords
And the resounding
Of birds
Answering her call
Dark purples and grays
Line the sky
And  the movement
Of the lake quickens
Stillness all around
Peace overflowing
I'm no longer cold
Nature has warmed
My heart

A squirrel gathering
Nuts for the
Winter ahead
I collect my thoughts
Ready to store
Till summer comes

We knew he had
Just left the cafeteria
Leaving the students
To finish
their breakfast
You didn't  see him
Only the scent
Left behind
Some recognized the
Scent from their
Husband's
Others  from the
Department stores
It became a guessing
Game
One volunteered to
Follow their nose
To find him
Sometimes if we
Got there
Early  enough he
Would tell us
What he wore
We had one
Sniffing him
Down the hall
Those days are
Gone he
Went to another
School
A New guy came
And with him
A new smell
But this was
Talc from
Baby's  fresh skin
Now he is
Gone
But the.memory
Of cologne
Lingers behind

Start day in color
Splashes of pinks and yellows
End in charcoal grey

The sound of the white birds
Soaring by
Calling to me
With each
SCREEECH
Come fly with us
Do you see us
Hoarding
Or overcome with
Heavy burdens
Are tears flowing
From pain
Or hearts beating
With sorrow
Dive into the
Fresh water
And cool your
Burning heart
Cleanse yourself
And drink
Of Life
Come follow
And let your
Heart take flight

Nothing is coming
It's all a *** of empty
Spooky how that goes

Heard songs from the past
Songs of demonstrations
Marching hearts peaceful
Hearts
With a message of love
Of hope oneness
Ironically what was being
Strongly sung then
Still continues today
"Where have all
The flowers gone
When will we ever learn"

Dreams more like the dark
Hidden deep inside of me
Come to the surface

Birds barely visible
As masking takes place
Can't tell if there's a snarl
Or smile that you wear
Distance keeps us apart
Conversation turns to screaming
Rabbits are fleeing
Birds circling high
Ducks further in water
What once was near
Seems eons away

Especially now every breath
We take is a miracle
Every step we take
Is a blessing
The song we sing
Is an Alleluia
Waiting to happen
Spread our wings
And fly freely
Let our breath be praised
Our steps  with a purpose
And our song
A symphony to the Lord

Counting the hours
When I will see you again
For all Eternity

Shining on the ground
Collecting rays from the sun
Afraid to pick up

Oh these covid dreams
Awaking me from my sleep
Oh what a nightmare

Covid dreams racing
Through my mind
Going at full speed
Avoiding obstacles
Along the way
One hurdle after
Another
Avoiding crashing
But cannot brake
Spinning in circles
Stirring up dust
And making
Lots of noise
Where is the
Finish line
I ask
Gasping for air

Insomnia has awakened me
From the depths of sleep
Trying to sink deep
Within my covers
Stirring me awake
Grasping in the dark
For my glasses
Knocking down.a pile
Of books
Trying to make sense
From darkened sky
And room
What thought was it
This time to invade
My precious sleep
Might as well grab
Paper and pen
A book or two
And welcome this
Covid Routine

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

we are a Covid people
Masked up
Keep our distance
People
Fearing what's next
Expecting the worst
People
Helping out giving out
People
Prayerful meditative
Non praying
People
Church going stay at homers
Watch preaching on tv
People
We are a people
Who want to remove
Our  masks
And be able
To breathe
Again

Where are the children
There's no running or shouting
Children of the block

Masked children running
To catch the bus
Watching out for
Cracked sidewalks
Can children hear greeting
From masked rider
Teachers near desks
Plastic headgear on tight
Laughtet from children
Muffled by mask
Footsteps softer as
Distance is kept
Will it ever
Be the same
Or is this
The new normal

Today if we can smell
Raise our heads
Lift our voice  
And breathe
On our own
Let us give thanks

Imprisoned with my thoughts
Words aching to be
Set free
Armed with authors
And Poets past
Story tellers and preachers
Words not stolen
But kept within
Break ins of the souls
Of poetry
Releasing their hearts
Sentenced for Life
To live with words

Dad had the pen
Mom had the spoon
Dad had the paper
Mom had the recipe
Dad penned
Mom cooked
Both used their gifts
At one time or another
Mixing of words
Mixing of foods
Dad dished up words
Mom.dished up food
And when all
Was complete
A feast of words
A feast of food
Was served
And digested

Just tore at
My heartstrings
Little boy calling
Out to his adopted father
Daddy
Does he know he's adopted
Whether or not
He does.
Doesn't really matter
What matters
He is loved by
Someone he can call
Daddy

Scrambled eggs,
Scrambled thoughts

The sky grows darker
My mood seems to fit right in
Oh moon where are you

night has come
day is done
Put all troubles
behind you
Close your eyes
dream your dreams
of places faraway
no more worries
Just relax
Let your body
be still
good night ladies
farewell gentlemen

Just when I thought
The day was ending
And I could
Put my mind
To rest
A word or two
Now became three
Just enough to get
Me to start thinking
How those words
Could work
A happy here
A sad there
Bright colors
Splattering words
People and places
Animals and stars
A grocery list
Of topics
Waiting to be born
But for now
Day is done
Day is done

You circled around
The graveside
Sniffing the ground
Of your owner
.Upon hearing
No answer
You lay down
Let out a howl
And died

A New star
Fills the sky
Shining in
The distance
Bright at first
Reaching its
Destination
Watching over
Me
Reminding me
Of days
Gone by
So bright at first
But as healing
Takes place
Your light will
Dim with
All the other
Stars

Take away my pen
My lined paper.or napkins
And a poem has died

Oh the warmth
Of the morning
Sun
Upon my back
In the early
****** of a
December lullaby

The voices churning
Deep inside.my head
Are actually words
Waiting to
Get out
And recite
A poem

I sink deep into
The valley of my soul
Ups and downs
I roughly travel
Do I have the
Right tools
To continue this journey
Or do I hide
Amidst my shaken humanity
Never to be set free

i am here
You are there
Why are we apart

While you lay dying
In your bed
At home
Christmas lights
Across the street
Blinked off and
On
At each gasping breath
You took
The last of the
Blinking lights dimmed
As  you drew
Your last breath
The last light now gone
From outside
As the light from
Inside
Died

My dreams turn to you
On the wings of an angel
I fly unto you

Continuing dreams
Awaken me from my sleep
Did that just happen

Dreams appear to me
Like mist lifting
From the lake
I can't see too
Far ahead
I reach out
Yet there is nothing
To grasp at
How can i.retain
What I can't see
Or touch
My feet steady
On the ground
As reality hits the floor

Perhaps that is why
I have something called dry eye
All the tears were shed

You hurled your
Vicious words at me
As long as I'm in
The game
I'll play
Duck  Duck  Goose
I'm tagged
I'm it alright

Such a peaceful time
Early morn is
To awaken
While the world
Is still sleeping
In
Catching the first
Sounds of silence
Perhaps the faint
Sounds of
Morning chimes
Or soft whispers
From stirring leafs
And the golden ball
Of fire
Felt from the sun
The stillness
Ah the stillness
Time for thinking
Gentle thoughts
Before the noise
Of day
Joins in

The earth is a
Kingdom of
Surprises
Golden leaves
And flowers that
Bloom
Silver threads sparkling
In home spun webs
Diamonds in the
Night sky
Ruby red the
Setting sun
Emerald green
The dew covered grass
Pearly white
The crescent moon
Bronze colored fields
Of whispering wheat
And we the royal
Court
Have all of
These treasures
To share

Eerie quiet
Envelopes me
As I walk this
Foggy morn
Car lights peek
Through
Like green eyes
On a prowling cat
The quiet.of
No one ahead or
Behind you
Thoughts go flying
As unseen birds
Squawk ahead
Can't race on
No walk.to.see
Just keep.walking
Your destination.is near

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

No one knows I'm scared
Just hiding behind my mask
So nobody sees

Fallen leaves
Fallen soldiers
For honor
Or glory
Serving their purpose
Never to be forgotten

Abeautiful sun burnt
Orange leave
Daintily falling
To the ground
Lying on the walk
To be crunched on
Stomped upon
Sometimes I feel
Like that
Perhaps it is
Seasonal

Perhaps a false start
Without putting your mask on
Can you really win