The Worn Ones

Loveliest, the shells worn the
Smoothest by the pounding -
Broken, battered, beaten
By the constant, rolling tide.

Tested, yet triumphant, with
The turbulence abounding,
Tossed from wave to wave
On the terrifying ride.

Brilliantly enduring all the
Surf and sand and more -
Lovely are the worn ones
On the ever shifting shore.

Incredible

gathered/carried
shucked/moved
cut/scraped
cooked/cooled
bagged/frozen
eaten/savored:

300 ears,
Incredible corn.

poem of the bees

heavy honey jar -
condensed:  two million flowers,
Poem of the bees

full

hole punched through darkness,
roundly illumined,
eye of the night sky,
Sifter of time

Too Long

It’s been too long since I walked in

            the wildness of a river,

Waded the expanse of

            a living liquid thunder,

Washed my eyes in waves of

            a clearly moving beauty,

Tossed my soul to rest on

           a rocky, untamed bed.

redbuds in the Spring

redbuds in the Spring

amethyst & lavender

tossed among the green

Pursuit

- the purest pursuit

- won’t take ‘no’ for an answer

love (most relentless)

Raindrops on Tulip

raindrops on tulip

swaying pink, orange, yellow

on gentlest of airs

Watching, with towels

Watching, with towels,

with dryness for the dear ones,

their faces drippy-wet and their bodies soggy-soaked,

those runners of the morning and of

Spring’s sudden showers.

Hello, Spring

Silky, sunny buttercups

bouncing on their stems –

Not to be missed!

Not to be missed!

Froggy serenade

near wooded wetland spots –

Not to be missed!

Not to be missed!

  

Tender, greening willow shoots

A-swaying in the breeze –

Not to be missed!

Not to be missed!

Pollen-laden honey bees

on henbit, purple, new –

Not to be missed!

Not to be missed!

Lacy patches, lavender,

of redbud here and there –

Not to be missed!

Not to be missed!

Hello, Spring, you

Wondrous Thing – You’re

Not to be missed!

Not to be missed!

  

iPhone

All the Time

All the time and anyway,

Completely, all the time –

I’m treasured, loved and sheltered by

My God, my All the Time.

Connection

She looked at me with newborn gaze,

A soulmate recognition,

A love beyond all boundaries

Of life and breath and time.

She, come from where I’m going,

Me, going where she’s been,

Us, passing near, in currents swift,

Embracing our connection.

One

Every single flake, a

Tiny, minor miracle,

Spinning its uniqueness

Oh so softly to the earth.

It’s a

One-of-a-kind, one-at-a-time,

Frosty, fine, inspired design –

Made by the Maker of all things lovely,

Loved by the Lover of all things made.

Snow Show

Driving in the polka-dotted, decorated air:

Flakes a-flying, me-oh-mying,

Moving, ever moving through the

Ever changing show!

Tires spinning, (traction winning!)

Praying (eyes wide open) in the

Mesmerizing snow.

The Ha-Ha with a Smile

Tell me, what is sweeter

Than the first laugh of a baby?

The unexpected chortle –

The ha-ha with a smile

Her dancing eyes,

Her parents’ cries,

Cameras snapping,

Hearts a-clapping

Baby’s voice,

Her “funny” choice,

Joy explosion,

Raw emotion

Tell me, what is sweeter

Than the first laugh of a baby?

The unexpected chortle,

The ha-ha with a smile

hello snow

cold surprise

blinking eyes

stumbling tries

wintry skies

sliding tires

unplanned mires

welcome shires

cozy fires

playful winks

muscle kinks

busy sinks

steaming drinks

chilly toes

runny nose

record lows

snowball foes

icy splats

soggy mats

rolls & pats

snowman hats

I remember

I remember rickrack,

Smartly sewn on gingham,

Just below the ruffles,

Right above the seam.

I remember stitches,

Embroidery creative,

Lazy daisies, French knots,

Painstaking genius.

I remember appliqué

Edges shaped and sewn,

Quilted lines, metal hoops,

Images with meaning.

I remember houseshoes

Made for me at Christmas,

Crochet hooks, sturdy thread,

Complicated patterns.

I remember thimbles;

I remember darts,

Tissue paper pinned to cloth,

Fabric cut with scissors.

I remember fingers

Bent around the thread,

I remember Nanny.

I remember love.

In

 

Dogs in the dog house,

Bees in their hive,

People in (off roads),

Looking out windows

Goats in the round bales,

Birds in the dry,

Fences all outlined,

Bushes encrusted

Missed in the forecast,

(Morning surprise)

A children’s delight –

Snow in the southlands

 

Steadfast*

Teach it to me, please –

Neverending, always true –

God, Your Steadfast Love.

(*based on Psalm 119)

Cotton Candy

Pink and blue and striped

Glorious winter sunset

Cotton candy sky

Frozen

Frosty forest on the paning,

Outside world and work a-waning,

Cozy comfort found within –

Frozen:  noise of daily din.

Welcome:  winter morning.

Gifted

Appropriate is easy.

Thoughtful - I can do, but

What I’m going for here is

Special:

It can’t be faked or hurried.

It can’t be bought on a whim.

There’s no substitute for

Self,

Parceled out and gifted.

& all

Let’s let this day unfold as it will,

(corners & wrinkles & creases & all),

casual, effortless, flexible, simple –

Plan of the unplanned,

(paper not saved).

Gotta Split

Soft, brown, repulsive ones,

And not the first, either,

Staring at me with expectant reproach

From their time-honored spot on the counter.

What?  No lessons learned here,

After years of household management practicum?

New plan (or, at least, experimental vow):

I’ll never buy more than four again, maybe even three.

I’ll look both ways and split up the Brady Banana Bunch

Right there in Ingles,

Giving not a moment for teary banana family goodbyes,

Throwing nobility to the wind and taking the best ones for me.

Hey – If, then, we run out of them,

I’d rather be

Hungry for bananas,

Starving for bananas,

Desperate for bananas,

CRAZY for bananas

Than to ever waste another.

Accessory

More honest than makeup,

Brighter than diamonds,

Fresher than fashion,

Braver than hairstyles,

More brilliant than small talk,

Better (far) than artifice,

Beautiful accessory –

Just a simple smile.

I'll Meet You in September

At Fall Creek Falls,

In Autumn, fine,

I’ll meet you

In September.

By the lake

At eventide,

I’ll meet you

In September.

On a trail,

By foot or bike,

I’ll meet you

In September.

Woodsmoke, folkart,

Music, lines,

I’ll meet you in September.

Everywhere I Ever Am (for Melody from Nana)

I love you over mountains,

under clouds and

up the rivers.

I love you past the roads,

with rolling wheels

and many miles.

I love you on the phone and

through the screen and

in your pictures.

I love you all the time

and everywhere I

ever am.

Leavings

I’m watching the leaves fall,

Freed by the breeze,

Waltzing and diving,

Flying the wind –

Then gracing the ground

With colorful litter,

Bold shapes and bright hues,

Leavings of Fall.

Just Barely

Sprinkles, drizzle, mist

And intermittent showers –

Just barely raining.