Tangled

When the world gets all tangled, 

So do my paintings: 

It’s hard to stay calm in times like these…

Mountain blessings

We rise, and say good morning 

To the mountain that hovers in the distance, 

Blessing all who fall within her sight. 

May all who struggle find comfort 

 In her serene presence.

Joys of Spring

Autumn used to be my favorite season, 

But now it’s spring: The daffodils, the tulips; 

The cherry and the apple trees; 

The glorious scent of lilacs; 

The rhododendrons blooming 

In all the colors of the rainbow,

 And then the fawns arrive, 

So tiny and so new, 

Their mama is still licking them clean — 

Irresistible!

Spring’s invitation

Like wheels of sunlight, 

Or troupes of dancers spinning, 

Their golden skirts flaring, 

The rhodies in my garden burst into bloom, 

Welcoming the return of warmth, light, and color. 

O, darkness in the world and in my heart, 

How can you resist their invitation?

Some of us, like cats

Some of us, like cats, 

Hoping to fit in, 

Like to crawl into boxes: 

Like labels, they give definition 

To the challenges of life, 

Narrowing our options, 

Reducing our decisions. 

But something in me resists categorization; 

Seeks ways to do and be and see 

What’s unpredictable — 

Except when it comes to food!

Golden evening

A calm and glorious evening, 

With neighbors gathering at the cliff’s edge 

To watch together as the golden glow 

Spreads across the water, 

Tossing all that is not light into shadows.

Past and present

It’s rhododendron season, 

And their lacy ebullience enchants me; 

Hints of purity and weddings, 

A lush promise of perfection and abundance, 

Yet still I mourn the lilac bush 

I’m told once graced our yard with scent

But was torn down to make room for our garage. 

I tried to plant another 

But the deer keep nibbling on 

Its leaves and branches:

It looks like a pile of sticks, and never flowers.

I try not to let what’s lost overwhelm

The pleasures of the Now.