The Coming of the New Year

the coming of the New Year

brings gracious opportunities

it encourages the imagination

to create a new life plan

and help us realize our dreams

if only we shall dedicate ourselves

pledging to live a life of joy

and bring good things to our realm

the Light and laughter encircle us

among all we love and love us

that there shall be all we desire

all healing, all happiness, all harmony

Heavenly

in rural places there are scents

that might not seem like heaven

but sweet clover at the height of summer

comes awfully close, I believe

it resides along the roadside

with Queen Anne’s Lace and milkweed

the blue chicory and pink columbine

and if you’ve never seen these

or known the delight in wildflowers

I must say you are missing a treasure

that you can never find on city streets

their random placement is all the more

beautiful and charming to the eye

and a deep breath of their scents:  heavenly

Free

dark clouds churn and tangle

a sunbeam streaks the air

the threshold of the century

opens before us, beckoning

like a puppy caught in its fence

how will we answer the call?

should we turn away in ignorance?

nay, the Light sweeps into us

and we face the darkness with joy

we succeed in our hopes with laughter

our mirth not only heals the heart

but opens the doorway to a new dream

where we are everything we desire

overcoming worry, doubt and dread

moving higher, lighter, brighter

coming into the realization

that we are free

Good Cheer

the holidays sneak up on you

with special timing to be sure

you wait and hope and hold your breath

and then the days come fast

when baking and a traditional meal

each day as it comes to you

your dreams carry you forward

in a magical wonderland

snow or none, leaves or none

the weather is like a fantasy

but the most for which to be grateful

is the joy of our loved ones

that we share in good cheer

Sol

I had a dog, his name was Sol

he lifted my spirits, was faithful, too

he protected me from the world at large

he was a big collie, smart and cool

he walked with me round about the town

every day we went, to keep him fit

no matter the weather, winter or spring

fall or summer, we would go a bit

he was the leader of the pack, you see

he would put all the strays in their place

none dared to attack us or come nearby

we would always go fast, he picked the pace

Sol was my friend, my buddy, my pal

he is gone now, I miss him and all

Return

geese sitting on the icy pond

in rows getting ready to fly

to the warmer climes in time and space

such perfect formation, I wonder why

they remain as they do this winter

perhaps they have not received their orders

from the leader of the flock to go

or perhaps these are young ones

not knowing the direction they’re meant to go

or perhaps still, it is global warming

that redirects them so to stay

somehow, somewhere, they will need to fly

and enjoy the warmth of southern water

The Shower Song

let the water spray upon me

like an all-day springtime rain

like a waterfall because I’m small

I sing as it goes down the drain

when I’m good and wet, the soap is next

a lather’s good for my skin

I rub my belly and laugh like jelly

I splash and dance and rinse again

my hair is last to scrub-a-dub

the bubbles run down my arms

don’t be mean, I’m crystal clean

when I’m dry I rest all my charms

my shower’s done, I dry my head

whew! time to hop right into bed

Witness

the feeders are surrounded by squirrels

where once there were meant to be birds

a cavalcade of colors and sizes, chirping

taking flight and trading places

while ducks eat seeds from the ground

and chase away the naughty squirrels

but further out, beyond our reach

there is the home of wild turkeys and deer

and, of course, the hopping bunnies

that dodge the feral cats hunting

so much nature weaving amongst the trees

and we are blessed to be witness to it all

Muddy Little Feet

little feet find muddy puddles

to hope, skip and jump through

on rainy days with overcast skies

like a duckling as it waddles

to and fro, flapping its little wings

as the droplets spray over it

and little human feet do likewise

feeling the glee of being alive

running back and forth, hopping

taking Mother Nature’s plaything

to new heights of fun

muddy little feet don’t care

about being messy

Songs of Tomorrow

he speaks in whispers like a soft breath

caressing your cheek in perfect rhythm

to the light of a summer’s day

we know, we see, we hear

and yet we think it is an illusion

the message of the eternal one

the mind of the whole universe

where we find our aspirations

amongst the daydreams of childhood

we can still get there from here

if only we allow the joy in our hearts

to be expressed with songs of tomorrow

Deserve

fair weather or foul we still move about

like so many ants on a popsicle stick

we go to and fro, helter skelter

little sense in our movements

as they see us from above or below

what makes humankind special

that we count ourselves superior

than the four-leggeds or no leggeds

fish, fowl, bears and wolves and deer

all have life teeming through their veins

and all our relations count on us

to give them the respect they deserve

The Coming Year

butterflies fresh from the cocoon

rest their wings to dry for now

not to be too anxious, lest they tear

the fabric of their delicate form

soon enough it will be time to release

the helter-skelter flight

to collect the nectar inside flowers

to pollinate and spread nature’s mysteries

so that the kaleidoscope of beauty

might be reshuffled and ready

to delight the senses once again

in the coming year

Sounds of Winter

the sounds of winter are oh, so silent

snow dances its ballet with no drumming

the wind comes and goes in a huff and a puff

but then returns to nothing on its exit

the pond freezes over time and yet

the fishes therein make no noticeable melody

how the songs of carolers stir our hearts

as the out of doors suffers lack of resonance

and in their planned harmony we feel

warmth against the dire cold of the season

were it just a moment to remember the lost

such dumbness might be tolerable

yet, it is such intolerance that urges our harmony

our coming together in joy

Echoes

echoes through the air

heavy, like bated breath

a story told of centuries past

yet ears not meant to hear it

for the darkness swells

and the daylight is yet too far

when will humankind learn

that life, however made, is precious

and some are the same value

as any other whether two, four or none

and what about the Earth Mother?

she is the most precious of all

not to be trifled with in her wisdom

yet watching eyes know it all

Remember

walking through a garden of delights

a circle of lavender and roses and bluebells

a small fountain of water sprays upward

leaving a covering of dew on the flowers

trees from all around the world

elms, cherry with its pink blossoms,

the stalwart oak, the white dogwood,

all of these leave a freshness in the air

a pond with golden koi swimming in circles

leaves the heart calm and restored

somewhere, the sound of wind chimes tinkling

urges the soul to rest and remember

Meditation

the body floats upward in relaxation

the arms stretch outward toward freedom

robes hang loosely, the head rests back

and music, like singing bowls,

spread their songs like a dream

a whisper of meditation forms a gentle fog

around the entire body, like an aura

so sweet a touch of healing lights

like so much water in a slow stream

lifting the emotions and the spirit

to rise for yet another day

Notes

musical notes float from the piano

the vocalist paints pictures with his voice

seed lights around the fence create an air of fantasy

and the warm air feels like velvet on your skin

a fine red wine tickles your throat

someone asks you for a slow dance

you nod and follow him onto the dance floor

the two of you sashay and breathe softly

what more could you ask for in a dream

the anonymous greeting of a soulmate

as the new bud of the proverbial rose

it starts here and who knows the path

Once Upon a Time

gallant heroes race across the screen

saving gorgeous damsels with ebullient grace

the trolls defeated with an arrow or blade

how remarkable a pattern to inspire us all

grand gestures of medieval times

or other realms we cannot see but feel

lead to the best and brightest in our world

and guide us to heal and restore life

what may seem like a tale of woes

shows us the path of right or wrong

each character a hero or a villain

and how we suffer as they switch roles

but hope is the answer that is always there

our hearts are warmed as it comes to pass

thankful that goodness wins out in the end

and wishing our own world could be thus

Applause

dancer in tights jumps and kicks in splits

hands raised, carrying him forward

he lands and bends at the knees

as the symphony plays a classical tune

a crash of the cymbals and he jumps again

this time he reaches his hands to his toes

spread eagle once, and, turning, again

a spin now, fast, bobbing up and down

then a tick with a great stretch

and, finally, the dancer takes a bow

uproarious thunder of applause

Star Bright

a smattering of stars in the Milky Way

home to humans, created from dust

what do we see in quiet of night

so many shapes:  a scorpion, a bear

we could study them forever

and never know them completely

do other creations exist on their landscape?

can they travel through time

like they travel through space?

are we friends in some when, somewhere?

oh, the pain of growth in spirit

learning to trust, to put our hope

upon the star light, star bright

As We Must

the land of dreams is lost in streams

flowing amongst a forest of trees

a perfect place to hide and retire

amongst nature’s creatures fine and divine

and here we have our tales of joy

finding the fine-feathered friends above

and watching their ground-covered homes

of burrows and dens and roots restored

but this is more than a tale of a forest

and dreams make us heroes and victims sometimes

let our battle cries carry us to new heights

rejoice that our inner foes are part of us

we are victim and victor, we do as we must

Listen

what becomes of Mother if the snow don’t fly

when warm and callous breezes fill the sky

what say you when the heat kills the flowers

is it all some mad scientist’s lie?

the whip of wild sand covers the trees

an ocean, if there is one, the blind man sees

a leader standing watching from steel towers

and the common man believes, if you please

do you have a name for this new world’s time?

is it the land, the people, who suffers sublime

do even aliens come along with their powers?

who has the words to fill hands of a mime

if we cannot hear and will not listen

our grandchildren’s hearts and eyes will glisten

Read

I’m always chasing word puns

up, down, all ‘round the town

I’m always falling on my buns

like a sad and frowning clown

to find the words that rhyme so

making my sonnet sound smart

it more than makes the time go

to make the horse before the cart

will I ever reach a conclusion

that brings sense and sensibility

without tripping and suffering confusion

that brings with it responsibility

these words jam up inside my head

grace be with me that I’m read

To Be

a petal falls from the folds of a rose

one at a time, gently, on the breeze

the air barely stirs but to lift it

in its descent:  a little flip, rocking

like a babe in a cradle, sleeping

so does the petal drift in the air

not aware that anyone is taking notice

and yet it does its tender dance steps

to the beat of nature’s heart

without the wish for applause

without explanation or excuse

just that it is and chooses to be

Friends

I see you coming for miles and miles

the sweet smell of clover fills my nostrils

the dust you leave behind you

and the rain is for but a moment

at once when our eyes meet

it is the instant recognition, my friend,

for we are kindred energies

and our story is not done

there has been an empty place within me

from so long ago I can’t recall

but the healing is within you if you let it

and our voices speak as one

so let us meet once more

come face to face within our minds

reach out with gentle hands

and break the silence beyond today

Thanksgiving

we drive and we drive through inclement weather

awaiting our loved ones to see

we cling to our birthrights to be at the table

and eat a fine dinner at three

for our mothers and grandmas have held in their hearts

such love for their whole family

so without them to celebrate the holidays

their purpose would no longer be

remember well, then, on Thanksgiving this year

that it’s love makes the world go around

a hug means much more

no one’s keeping score

so give them away, not just to a tree

Play

snow hangs in the air as it descends

from gray, pregnant clouds above

some will try to catch it on the tongue

it is wet, heavy, early in the year

but soon enough as the days become short

and the temperatures have fallen

the snow will be lighter, small flakes

for now, we wrap up in heavy clothes

to keep the chill, wet out of our way

and, perhaps, shiver a little

before we go out to play

The Game

my team is better than your team

our colors fly high, right up to the sky

our linemen hit harder

right through Granny’s larder

our running backs fly over, around and through

we cheer our team on in a flurry of pompons

the weather changes to snow, yet we go

further, harder, faster and over

it’s halftime and our band marches forward

they bob and they weave as our anthem they play

drums beating loudly, brass singing to the crowd

the scoreboard will prove our school prowess

no matter where you’re from, you will know

the game is the best when we’ve played

Sunflowers

field of golden petals around hearts of brown

wobble in the wind and lift their leaves

skyward as they silently call for water

the field stretches for miles like a crown

atop the mounds, atop the hill, nary a tree

just the smiling faces of sunflowers

raising up to worship the golden orb

and fascinate the passersby who wave

at the endless gardens so fair

just an ever-flowing painting by Van Gogh

frozen in the infinity of the horizon

The Quill

the quill tells all on any given day

remarkable magic, you might say

it squiggles and wiggles, showing the way

perfection in humility for which we pay

the story transcends time to be sure

it cannot ignore reality, be it demure

what it parlays we must all endure

if our hopes and dreams fall in manure

and yet, the fine line we come to walk

imagine how ideal a future we talk

as if in our day we line it with chalk

and never do we fake it with a balk

indeed life sends us stories in dreams

and the truth is not always as it seems

Ball Of Light

so perfect a ball of light rises

over the lake on the edge of town

a visage of mystery and romance

a source of inspiration and healing

this light in the night sky

our moon, a source of power

for those who call her mother

watch closely as she makes her way

high into the sky, then back again

to slumber beneath the horizon

Who We Are

lily pads floating atop a quiet pond

the lotus reaches for the sun

how this is like the quiet life

we float along, not noticing the way

that we are comfortable on the water

yet our minds are longing for Light

and we embrace it in our own time

stretching, stretching as far as we can

perhaps being a little shy, awkward,

yet we know in our hearts

that we can be more than just floating

let it go and reach for others

for in their eyes we learn who we are

First Ray

at the top of the world is the mountain

surrounded by roiling, thick clouds

the sun rises in rebirth each day

a whoosh of the wind, all it sounds

you can see the far side of the ocean

grand depths and great heights all the way

Life takes place, everywhere it abounds,

such power, to stand tall with emotion

and watch, as the guardian, in play

each raindrop brings thunder as it pounds

the ground at the top of the mountain

where I dream of standing in clouds

like the sun as it bends its first ray

Starry Sky

starry sky across my palm

some lights bright and others dim

star shine calms my heart like balm

the night sky soothes my every whim

as I imagine the blue, blue sea

rocking like an infant in its cradle

no waves threatening my bedtime tea

as I sit and rock gently as I’m able

my thoughts run over the porch rail

as crickets sing their syncopated tune

no bubbles of conversation curtail

the rhapsody of summertime to the moon

soon enough sweet slumber comes

as the song of the whippoorwill strums

Sinners

tick tock how goes the clock

we vote, we cheer, we do not knock

against those defeated, unless replete

with lies against their fellow man

to be sure, they are all full of conceit

those who try to be civil never can

and still, we believe only our candidate

so full of truth and grand merit

the others don’t catch on ‘til too late

that they hide in their hole like a ferret

no matter who wins they take advantage

of the perks afforded to winners

this was true in the past, at any age

and they all are absolute sinners

Complete

whiskers tickle me awake

with a tap, tap of a fluffy tail

a soft meow in my ear

brings me to total wakefulness

little, fuzzy feet brush my cheek

until a blur of fur rolls over my face

a little ball of love ready for pampering

a bit of food, some water,

a gentle brushing and cuddles

so precious to make my day complete

You'll Win

twirling a coin on its edges

it spins quickly, but soon enough, falls

twirl it again, repeatedly send it

to keep time with the music you hear

for as time marches forward like this

we wonder why our actions don’t change

the results amble on as we stammer and then

we hope and pray for the best again

but here is the secret to remember

as you wander through your daily life

come heck or high water everyone matters

if you send love to your comrades you’ll win

Heritage

golden grains, tall and willowy

bless the plains of the grasslands

such a painstaking home of the buffalo

strong, powerful, numbers increasing

the herd gallops around the sand hills

the purveyor of tall grasses and berries

what they behold of the strangers in wagons

the firearms that deplete their numbers

how in their lifetime they come to slaughter

their hides for clothing, meat left to rot

sorrowful for all who honor their sacrifice

now as we look down from the mountain

a newer time when we hope to repay

the damages done over centuries

to restore the life of our heritage

Water

water slips through your fingers

quicker than mercury with little trace

it takes the shape of what surrounds it

chirping or rushing or babbling o’er the landscape

water abandons the heavens in droplets

cold, pelting the trees and the ground

and creating creeks and new rivers

as it joins with its rivals, together

water overcomes all its enemies

it keeps the world green and clean

it quenches the thirst of all beings

including fire, it tames the flames

water stands as the spirit of humankind

and at once is its greater foe

Sleepy

a leaf is such a simple thing

with veins arrayed so perfectly

it changes colors to pace time

its scalloped edges or toothy rim

alert us to their mission in life

and yet so benign the majority

the occasional poisonous ones still hide

and cause us a blister or two

and so the autumn reds, oranges and yellows

collect on the forest floor

protecting the ground from the coming cold

a patchwork quilt for a sleepy world

Will

secrets come, secrets go

who can tell them, we don’t know

all the players who can read

take advantage of the seed

wherein the country and the state

hide their truths at any rate

and if our neighbors try to win

we block them with a tiny sin

just let us come to finality

we have no special formality

for now the messages we send

make for an inglorious end

records are no longer hidden

when hackers will is bidden

Heart

here, too, ends the grand life

of those who think great thoughts

those whose art stems of genius

whose gifts astound all comers

and advance the mark of humankind

yes, we all, high born or low,

fathom the unbecoming

of whatever height we have attained

and track our way back

to the dust in which we were formed

think not, then, that you bear greater promise

than those who serve or support you

for the sacrifice of all bears witness

to the wonderful power of God

and the blessing of the human heart

The Stars Fall

why do we test each other’s limits?

why do we let anger flow?

it could be resolved with talking

and let me tell you what I know

the heart is not a fickle beast

it knows what’s right, what’s true

when we care for each other, at least,

it makes the best outcome for you

but we also must learn to listen

even before we learn to speak

truth for one, truth for the other

no games, no tit for tat, no leak

just coming together for the good of all

and we will be happy before the stars fall

Rest Easy

tap, tap, tapping on my windowsill

like a stranger, blind, looking for light

in the darkness, in the autumn chill

and I wonder what it is they seek

perhaps to put me in a fright

or is it just a wish for warmth, safety,

I am suspicious of this noise

and the fingers that tapped it out

soon enough it stops and I see the full moon

a limb stretches down by my window,

scratching and tapping, stretching, tapping

I can rest easy now

Forever More

footsteps down the hall

echo through my mind

a surreal ribbon of thought

wraps gently over my eyes

and, like a gift tied with a bow

I bring myself to center

where all the bright lights flash

as if they were neon rainbows

catapulting pots of gold

into my arms from high above

and all good things come to pass

wherein a peaceful dream ensues

and all is well forever more

Stars

stars encircling the moon’s crescent

flash and fade with gentle descent

colors of green and yellow and red

they streak the heavens as they are led

to the atmosphere of some vacant sphere

so far away we can’t imagine it here

for if the stars should fall one night

leaving none in the sky, out of sight,

we would have nothing left to wish on

perhaps the light of resulting fission

if we can avoid the mushroom cloud

but the sound would be ungodly loud

let us hope for peace and harmony

and bless each other in unity

Levity

the brevity of levity grows seamlessly

to bring a smile, a snicker, a laugh

with happy clowns and tricksters

a juggler, a mime, all variety

of entertainers, resisting the sound

of the merry-go-round and Ferris wheel

but the crowds that wound their way through

are silenced now as the cold breeze washes

through the tree limbs, shaking the leaves

that dance and prance on their way to the ground

but I remember the joy on children’s faces

covered in cotton candy and holding a balloon

while Mom and Dad try to win a teddy bear

tossing rings onto pop bottles while I

was ready to go to bed

Full Moon

the stairwell winds upward in a circle

a tight eye surrounded by railings

the blue steps creating an atmosphere

of breathability, segments like the Nautilus

if we could see the inner workings

up some go, down some go, others stop to look

through stained-glass windows that gather

the rain, the snow, the pigeons

that cluster on the windowsills

and in the very middle of the ceiling above

resides the full moon

Eagles and Owls

copper edges of the pyramid

seal the healing energy

as light of green and blue hues

rest and penetrate my body

raising the senses in fences

that create greater strength

while allowing the best and brightest

of my wandering, meandering thoughts

to flow in all that I know

and I can imagine the day

when happiness comes to rest

on my shoulders, unlike boulders

that keep me down, clown,

and I will soar with the eagles

and exhibit my heart with the owls

Trail

walking down the trail I see footsteps

one foot, the other, dog prints, horse hooves

a wiggly, wiggly snake slipping along

leaving a map to the wetlands ahead

the story of who goes there before me

playing out before my eyes

twigs snapping in the woods beside me

reveal a fawn, my companion on this hike

and then the water of the lowlands

hosting boasting bullfrogs and a single wood duck

flying up, out of the brush at water’s edge

the sun nears its exit point in the West

and I find my return route for home

ready to leave nature to tomorrow

Good Will

an all day rain that taps on the windowsill

it seems like the sky is being cleansed

such perfect meter sounds like a typewriter

a playful time for the ducks to enjoy

and yet, there is a parting of the clouds

as if someone in heaven is waving hello

so the sun sends a ray of light

to make a rainbow, or two, in fact

brightening the whole sky and uplifting

our senses and our good will

Near and Far

puddles, puddles everywhere

the sky drains onto the ground

with whipping winds it rips right through

and makes an awful sound

the clouds wring themselves dry

making the ocean boil with anger

if only we knew a “stop rain” dance

it might make life less filled with danger

the mighty men, their stories told

how briefly they stay in the news

once life and limb have been secured

and animals are gathered in twos

we can’t imagine unless we live it

how disheartening the storms truly are

we can only say our prayers

and hope for the best, both near and far

Release

all the dreams pushed back in your mind

from laboring over intense demands

the stories that have faded with time

stuck in remorse, emotional paralysis

you don’t know if the flow will take over

to enrich the words, the images

and you think by beating the wall

that perhaps more will come, will appear

but that would be yet another dream

a glorious, Technicolor spectacular

that comes, pulled out of the pit of your stomach

and washes the tears from your eyes

while the insight floods your body

with release

Waves

waves on the Big Lake wash ashore

deposit their treasures on the sand

little toddler chases them back as they ebb

and runs away as they flow

then a pause to squat down and explore

the shells and bits left behind

those little eyes all aglow

wondering what lived in the shells

what they can be made into

into a pocket they go for future games

and go back to chase the waves

Overhead

stepping stones along my path

through woods and waters

I see through the arch of ancient trees

a waterfall to cool my soul

as I swing on the vine

the water like glass beneath me

mossy rock walls line the pond

sunlight flows down in rays from above

and blue sky without a cloud

reigns overhead

WE ARE

torch raised high above her crown of light

chin firm, resolute in knowing

that all beating hearts long for freedom

she towers over the harbor

making a promise to those who come

that they may have life, liberty and happiness

once they pass beside the golden door

but no longer can the huddled masses

find relief within these borders

for tradition has become a lie

and the hearts of the people

are burdened with the path to return

unto the ideals upon which we were founded

for we ARE the Nation OF the people

BY the people, FOR the people