Fine Dogs

all the secrets that the fine dogs speak

in messages passed one to the next

you hear their voices’ urgent calls

beneath sun or moon, it makes no matter

fears, anger, joy, all passed along

to the next vocal harmonizer

a language all their own to describe

their time in captivity, loved or nay,

still there is a way to share it all

with the chain of barks or howls

as they meet on the road, across town,

each one reporting the day’s events

a good run, a good meal, a round of fetch,

it all gets delivered in the news

as well as who passes by, how he smells,

friend or foe in this neighborhood

they know it all, see it all, sense it all

and when darkness falls, they are alert

Flower of Life

radiance of all that is from a single seed

divides its energy again and again

creating the flower of life, all existence

emerging in the thought of all humankind

the memories, the messages, the breath of the Creator

instilled in each living being, each quark,

consciousness, awareness, beauty, harmony

the great pattern that repeats itself throughout life

the universe, the multiverse, microcosm

as above so below are the things we know

lifting humankind with a new voice

that comes from the power of the heart

we will be heard, the seed will grow

and all life on the planet will flourish

A Painting

wrapping one arm around herself

she leans toward the table

though she stares into space

eyes not looking at scenery out the window

her red lashes lowered in deep thought

her red locks tied in a perfect bun

and yet, her blue cashmere fails to keep her warm

against the chill of winter, what she will do

to brave months of severe weather, loneliness

she feels frozen like a statue of bronze

waiting for the summer sun to reinvigorate her

waiting for the green of life to sprout

for the mossy carpet to draw her closer

to the fairy dance of spring

Homes

colors with a bit of ash calm the eye

where red and bright yellow excite

so as we stride from room to room

be it a cozy apartment or grand condo,

our emotions ride the roller coaster of intent

like so much energy and happiness

that suddenly goes downhill for a pick-me-up

and we can imagine, with clouds painted above

that we are rising, rising like angels

into the firmament, a joyful place to be

yet, do we want to feel as if we rest

beneath the stars, unprotected, at all times?

Disability

disability means curtailing things you love

it means living with fear of getting worse

you can count on losing touch with friends

because they don’t understand:  is it catchy?

disability puts walls up between people

because shared interests may no longer be possible

disability may not be seen, but it is felt

and the crushing weight of it on your day

may make you want to sit around in p.j.’s

and not do anything except nap and use the john

disability holds you down, even when you want

to get up and clean the house, play in the snow,

go for a hike, ride a bike, visit who you like,

sometimes you feel frozen in space and time

no explanation will ever free you

but disability does not make you less human

it doesn’t take away your right to speak

you are still entitled to your feelings

you still have likes, dislikes, an identity,

and you are not your disability

Sunshine

the day is so much lighter on my burdens

the brightness of the sky makes me feel glad

the room fills up with joy when the sun shines

and my heart sings like an angel in the sky

it doesn’t matter if it’s warm or chilled

the sun sends delightful energy

the thrill, the hope of rightful plenty

come what may on a sunny day we’re ready

to face the good, the bad or cliché

sunshine tastes like sprinkles of sugar

it makes everything brighter, lighter

I’m more me on a bright, blue-sky, sunshiny day

Laughter: Things Are Not What They Seem

laughter follows wherever you go

the schemes of a lifetime on open road

going once, going twice, sold to the dream

amazing creations in heavy-stitched seams

your days unfold, they are larger than life

could you picture forever without any strife??

such experience flies through perfect vision

it’s just who you are, this is your mission

to make all the world animated with love

flying, untying the gifts from above

let tomorrow be what it will, what it seems

and pray that God’s best comes in sunbeams

to change the hearts of oppressors’ greed

who care not for others, to watch us all bleed

pray for them! for them sated, their happiness filled

and perhaps they’ll remember the little ones stilled

Slumber

that time of night when the clouds come

closer to earth and chase chills with

a warm embrace like a soft wool blanket

the eyes of children grow heavy with dreams

as they are carried on loving shoulders up to bed

and the expeditions of the day melt away

as new journeys form in the mind

from past experience, from hopes and desires

comforting waves wash over them as they curl

into their bed sheets and drift into their pillows

where the night’s agenda begins to form

in the sweet minds of the slumbering babes

Lights

sparkles, sparkles everywhere you look

glisten in the eyes, razzle dazzle

brilliant to be seen, charming to behold

mesmerizing, fantasizing, captivating

all about what you see, you see,

stars in the eyes, radiant light

not only do they shine at night

but glimmer their reflection in the pond

shimmering in rays across the pool

from doorways to hearth to spotlights

highlighting trees and banner in the breeze

if they could echo they would

but for now they blush on the tile

Wondering

a cave opens before us, we follow it

down, down, its curved path lighted with red candles

like a corkscrew going deeper into the earth

beckoning to a place of sparkling diamonds

and treasures of wisdom from the creations

that have kept the earth on a gentle roll

for aeons, era after era, since time began

and we reach out as we hear them

going deeper into the reality few can see

and fewer get to touch but we follow

the lighted path to see what we will find

the spiral becomes steeper and tighter

and soon there is a light, brighter, hotter,

that reveals itself as we round the final bend

where the blue dragon, lavished in gemstones,

sequin scales and pearls to define her worth

she bids us come in and sit beside her

she tells of the ravaging of her kind

she tells the wisdom of the world is lost

in skyscrapers and flying drones and

long-forgotten stories from all the lands

and she weeps, wondering if we will

listen and learn and share the Truth