Beauty

Back in the early 2000’s, 

When I still sold my photos in galleries, 

I took a book of my best work 

To a portfolio review session, 

Hoping to be invited to show more broadly, 

And I remember the reviewer 

Turned up her nose and said,

 “These are just beauty shots. 

The best you can hope for 

Is to sell them to resellers,

 To use as illustrations.” 

 I remember being asked 

At a gallery opening 

 For a show of my photographs,

 “What camera do you use?

 I’m sure I could get photos this good 

If I had a camera like yours.” 

 I’ve been shooting with my phone ever since, 

And giving those pics away Every day. 

What beauty we can find 

In this oh-so-troubled world 

Is solace, and deserves to be shared.

Stop the world

It’s true: some days you just wanna say 

“Stop the world. I want to get off,” 

When it feels like everything’s going wrong 

And hurtling toward disaster. 

But we can’t, and it isn’t — not really, 

It’s just that we need some time and space 

To rest our wings and find our way back 

To center.

In the zone

So grateful for the days 

When art comes easily; 

When the creative spirit flows 

Onto the canvas 

And there are no voices in my head 

To make suggestions

 Or murmur questions; 

To criticize or question 

 Each decision that I make…

Blessings

Wishing you a peaceful, 

Compassionate, and productive day.

The joys of imperfection

When will we learn 

That there is beauty in imperfection; 

That it adds texture to the ordinary, 

Individuality to the commonplace 

And character to the face?

 Seek not to be perfect, 

But to be true to yourself 

And to your unique experience of life.

Spring, returning

Astonishing though it may seem, 

Spring seems to be returning: 

The cherry blossoms bloom, 

Beside the pink house once again,

 And the daffodils are springing up,

 Lifting their golden crowns 

In defiance, though the winter winds 

Still dust our lawns with frost. 

Hearts everywhere are warming, 

And smiles of greeting flourish 

As we emerge from hibernation.

That which binds us

That which binds us to the past

May seem outdated, rusticated, 

Yet despite their age, 

The old truths and admonitions 

 Still hold valid: the Golden Rule, 

The Ten Commandments, 

Our Constitution, 

The disciplines of Lent — 

All carry wisdom we’d be foolish to ignore.