Sunday, December 31, 2023

New beginnings


There are those who reassure us, saying, 
“January’s just another month!” 
But still it feels we’re on the cusp 
Of an opportunity for new beginnings. 
Yet we know all too well 
The brightness of each new dawning 
Will always highlight shadows. 
Let us remember to always choose the light.

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Nature’s Art


🎶There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow🎶
 … and a beautiful drive through the valley, 
On our way to retrieve my paintings 
From a two-month, two-woman show. 
I was a photographer before I became a painter,
 And I still find nature’s art 
Far more beautiful than my own. 
Feeling blessed…

Friday, December 29, 2023

Ignite the darkness


See? That is how it works 
When we become the light: 
Not only do we ignite the darkness, 
But in mirroring the light from above 
We’re highlighting opportunities 
 To peer into that larger world; 
 The world beyond ourselves 
Where all love lies, 
Waiting for us to reach out and engage.

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Role playing


In any group, whether of humans or birds, 
There will be those who look to the past, 
Those who are looking to the future, 
Those who are obsessing about their looks, 
Those who are listening, 
Those who are watching, 
Those who are absorbed in each other, 
Those who are resting, 
And those are patiently waiting in hope. 
Which will you be today?

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

In certain combinations


Watching in the quilt shop 
As my daughter chooses fabrics 
For the quilt her brother-in-law has commissioned, 
I marvel, yet again, at the infinite variety 
Of colors and patterns that are available 
And the ways she finds of putting them together.
 “What a piece of work is man! How like a god” 
In that extraordinary gift; 
Mixing and matching fabrics 
As we are mixed and matched as people, 
Our strengths highlighted or enhanced 
In certain combinations 
Yet made less visible, or even disappearing 
In others… in jobs, relationships, communities 
That leave us washed out, 
Emptied of vitality, 
While others we are gifted with 
Enable us to shine as part of a pleasing whole

Tuesday, December 26, 2023

Boxing Day


Like a cat who’s always determined 
 To climb to the highest perch, 
We humans seem inclined to rise 
To ever higher heights: 
Like the hardware store we used to visit 
 Whose slogan was “More of Everything:” 
More gifts, more awards, more salary; 
More fame and more prestigious jobs —
And Christmas throws that all into relief. 
So it’s no wonder that, embarrassed by 
The weight of our greed, 
We follow this season with a time 
Of making resolutions: 
 To purchase less, to eat less and give more;
So yes, today is Boxing Day: 
Traditionally a time to share 
That plethora of gifts with those 
Who may not be as fortunate. 
How will you celebrate?

Monday, December 25, 2023

Season’s blessings


Sending all best wishes 
For the blessings of the season, 
In hopes that peace and comfort 
May be showered upon all.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Awaiting the birth of peace


Here we stand with Mary, 
Trapped in what feels like 
An unprecedented poverty 
 Of kindness and civility,
Desperately awaiting the birth of peace. 
May it be born into the world this night, 
And comfort come to all who are oppressed.

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Something to strive for


I passed this sign, saw the gull, 
And had to stop: if there were something deeper 
To strive for than the peace we long to see, 
It would be this: renewed awareness 
Of the links that lie beneath the squabbles; 
The bond of humanness that connects us all; 
The fact that beneath the skin 
 We are all brothers, and are born 
 To care for one another and protect 
Not just ourselves but that connection.

Friday, December 22, 2023

Surprises


I came home yesterday to find a horse 
Calmly nibbling the grass beyond my fig tree. 
Life on the edge of town: 
Always an adventure!

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Welcoming the light


Hurray for Solstice, 
And the returning of the light! 
May each of us be beacons, 
Carrying that light 
 Into a kinder, more peaceful world…

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Reframing assumptions


So many people seem to get upset these days, 
Quick to take offense, 
Interpreting absent-mindedness,
Mistakes or exhaustion as micro-aggressions 
When we used to be more accepting; 
More forgiving, and more tolerant. 
What if we more consciously 
 Reframed our assumptions, 
Made allowance for our differences,
 Let go of our divisions 
And the need to win or lose, 
Walked away from unnecessary conflict, 
And found new ways to co-exist and share?

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Becoming mirrors


Perhaps as we age 
We slowly become invisible, 
But in a good way,
 No longer windows into ourselves , 
 But mirrors — however imperfect — 
Reflecting light back into the world…

Monday, December 18, 2023

Christmas decorations


Why put up lights and Santa statues? 
The plants in our yard 
 Have already dressed themselves 
 In Christmas colors!

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Best intentions


Whatever I set out to paint 
Soon becomes something else, altogether: 
The best intentions always foiled, 
Either by desire or lack of skill; 
By predilection, or, sometimes, 
By fear of failure. 
So much easier to start with nothing in mind 
And let the brush go wherever it takes me…

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Fear of proximity


I sat in a church last night 
Staring at a Christmas tree 
And listening to a choir singing carols
 (Not a service, but a concert) 
With pews packed full of listeners: 
First time in such proximity 
Since March of 2020. 
Later, wakened in the night 
By a scarily persistent cough, 
I made myself a pot of tea and wondered: 
What if I’ve just exposed myself to CoVid? 
As a culture, do we all share 
A collective PTSD? 
Do we fear we’ll only thrive in isolation?

Friday, December 15, 2023

Down but not out


Strolling through my yard this time of year, 
You might assume this tree had fallen; 
Died; lived out its life — but no! 
It is a living apple tree, still vital, 
Still feeding children and the homeless — 
A living testament to perseverance 
And endurance; inspiration to us all, 
Reminding us that down need not mean out.

Thursday, December 14, 2023

A tiny ray of sunshine


As autumn draws to a close 
And winter’s chill sets in 
The gray skies turn all things to dim. 
I stomp around my yard, 
Looking for something to photograph, 
And there they are, beneath my feet: 
These tiny little flowers, 
 Buried in the grass beside my car, 
Petals blushing rosily beneath my gaze; 
A tiny ray of sunshine to brighten our day.

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Catch and release


Like tiny insects under the darkening sky, 
The wee boats gather on the silver sea 
In hopes of catching the prey that swims 
Just below the surface. 
Watching from behind my window,
I play catch and release 
With the thoughts that glide idly by…

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Breathe, and breathe again


Take a deep breath, 
And feel your cares 
Being washed away...

Monday, December 11, 2023

Unknowing


Having moved to this town 
At the beginning of the pandemic, 
There’s still so much I’ve never seen, 
So many streets I haven’t traveled, 
So much I don’t yet know 
 About this community — so many surprises 
Still to be discovered… 
Having come into this world so young, 
How is it that so many of us 
Can think we understand it?

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Peaceful blues


May the peace in this photo 
Find an echo in your soul, 
And your cares and concerns subside.

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Curiosity


Like strangers passing by, 
Separated by a pane of glass 
We watch each other, wondering 
What must that life be like; 
Why do they stare; 
What is it that you seek from me, 
Or are you just a passing curiosity? 
How rare it is, to find a deeper knowing…

Friday, December 8, 2023

Instead


Instead of railing at the world, 
Of stewing over or pointing out 
The transgressions of our neighbors, 
Would it not be a healthier use of our time 
To sit and watch the clouds roll by; 
To revel in the colors of the sky?

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Fullness of a moment


So many options, at any time: 
What shall we focus on? 
The fence? The path? 
 The lush greens overhead? 
The last red rose of summer, 
Or the autumnal golds and reds that lie ahead? 
One moment in time still holds so much: 
How can we take it all in?

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

From dawn to dusk


Between night, then day, then night again, 
A host of textures and colors: 
Rivers to cross, mountains to climb, 
Clouds of feelings that rise up and pass away: 
Each day a complex compilation 
Of obstacles and opportunities 
 To challenge and inform us…

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Still connected


Though in each life circumstances may arise 
Which leave us feeling isolated,
 Alone; disconnected,
 We are, at root, all part of something 
Larger than ourselves. 
Look outside, beyond the window 
Of your darkening discontent, 
And rediscover that which brings you energy
 From the world beyond the doors 
You thought were closed.

Monday, December 4, 2023

The hunger for attention


Like a half- blind raccoon, 
Begging in the rain for food, 
There’s desperation in our search for attention: 
We long to be seen, yet run away in fear 
When the Source of what we seek draws near. 
Hungering for fame, yet still the ego craves 
 The safety of invisibility, 
Lest the darker aspects of its greed be exposed.

Sunday, December 3, 2023

Choosing to see opportunities


Where some might see an obstacle, 
Others view opportunity, 
Using their energy for construction, 
Not for complaint. 
May the troubles we encounter 
Always redefine themselves as opportunities

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Dark dawning


As time starts speeding by, 
We awaken to the dawning realization 
— Yet again —
That most of the troubles that occupy our thoughts 
At least partially result from our own foibles. 
Whatever they may be, 
 And however they originated, 
They continue to derail us, 
Yet we continue to project blame 
On people and situations outside of us. 
It’s so disturbing to remember, yet again, 
That the same traits and fears 
 That disabled us when we were younger 
 Haunt us still, though we’d hoped 
That with age we would grow wise…

Friday, December 1, 2023

Beauty as reflection


The beauty that attracts us 
Is but a reflection of the treasure 
That’s within us, 
And in uncovering that treasure 
We are returned to the source of Being 
That we, in turn, reflect.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

On praying for signs


How many of us pray for signs 
To tell us where to go 
Or help us make decisions 
When the truth about our choices 
Could be obvious, if only we lifted our eyes, 
Looked beyond our own tangled thoughts 
And followed our feet, a single step at a time?

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

An invitation to drink


Glimpsed throughugh the trees, an invitation:
 Come, sit with me and drink 
The rosy colors of the sky; 
A wine that lifts the heart and feeds the soul.

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

At moonrise


Listen to your heart:
 Go outside to watch the moonrise 
 And let life gift you 
With the colors of surprise.

Monday, November 27, 2023

Pools of wonder


Let my words be a small pool
Of wonder, 
Reflecting all the beauty 
Gathered by my eyes

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Precious diamonds


The most precious diamonds to strive for 
Are not those formed of carbon, 
 But born in stillness: 
 The patterns formed when all opposites 
 Are balanced; gently flowing back and forth 
In perfect harmony, like the breath of the gods.

Saturday, November 25, 2023

Caught in the act


Caught in the act of nibbling 
Late fall flowers, she stands still,
 Hoping to fade unnoticed into the scenery;
 A child with her hand on the cookie jar;
 A politician, with one foot in the fountain.

Friday, November 24, 2023

Cloud dance


Clouds dance above the mountain; 
Teasing; echoing its shape before drifting on. 
Sun smiles at their antics, 
Igniting edges briefly before rising to her fullest 
To breathe light into the world.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Thankful opportunities


You who walk through this world, 
Pay attention! Notice your surroundings! 
For while you stroll along, lost in thought 
You might pass by a small but perfect berry 
That could inspire a poem, an essay, 
A generous act, a wise decision, 
Or a new work of art! 
The world is full of opportunities to be thankful.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Moment vs memory


The waves leap forth repeatedly 
 To cover their own reflections in the sand, 
Creating, hiding, and redeeming 
 In the act of being themselves; 
Artistes who paint, then cover 
And paint again the same canvas, 
For whom the moment matters more than memory.

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

An uneasy truce


Stepping outside to shoot the clouds, 
I surprise a deer, sipping at his local fountain. 
He stares at me with haughty eyes,
 Ready to leap away, but meanwhile hoping 
I might be bringing food or drink: 
It’s that same uneasy truce we often find 
Whenever there’s an imbalance of power.

Monday, November 20, 2023

The seeds of resurrection


Each year we watch the trees losing their leaves, 
Turning from green to gold 
 And in their losses gilding 
 The edges of our street. 
The branches, then exposed, 
Etch graceful patterns on the sky, 
Then bud again in spring 
 With that astonishing yellow green 
That deepens, even as we watch, 
Yet still we find it hard to trust 
That life goes on after devastating loss; 
That deep within each being, each situation, 
Lie the seeds of resurrection, 
Waiting to redeem us, and bring to life 
The bright and glowing innocence of the new.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Come walk with me


Clouds swim across the evening sky 
Like fish, lit golden by the setting sun, 
While down below the old path beckons: 
Come, stretch your legs and walk with me; 
Tell me how your day has gone 
And I will tell you mine.

Saturday, November 18, 2023

When mistakes are made


Having taken a running leap, 
My cat slides into the slippery rug, 
Which then wraps itself around him. 
So he settles in, wearing the white fringe 
 Like an Elizabethan ruff 
And pretending he meant to do this all along. 
Knowing it would make a pleasing portrait, 
He waits patiently for me to find my phone 
And photograph him, then leaps out of his nest 
And runs off in pursuit of his sister, 
Howling as he goes, rather like a human, 
Who, having made a mistake, 
Seeks someone else to loudly blame

Friday, November 17, 2023

Compare, compare


Last night, the sunset was so lovely, 
I kept going outside to take more pictures,
 Hoping to capture it at its peak. 
This morning I find 58 new photos on my phone.
 How can I choose just one to publish 
And throw all these other beauties away? 
Compare, compare, compare: 
Is that really how you want to spend your time?

Thursday, November 16, 2023

The mountain’s blush


All day and night, both ships and birds 
Are passing by the mountain 
But like a young girl waiting for her lover, 
The mountain only blushes with pleasure 
When her friend, the sun, appears.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Soul pleasures


High tide, a beach awash, 
 A sun-warmed cliff and a passing ship: 
Simple pleasures fill the eyes 
And simultaneously stir and calm the soul.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Radiance


Lit by the radiance of the morning sun, 
Even my potting shed is beautiful. 
So, too, the beauty of a soul 
Lit by the inner radiance of … 
How would you end that sentence? 
Faith? Truth? Hope? Love? 
And the greatest of these is…

Monday, November 13, 2023

Fall fashions


Dressed for their autumn fashion show, 
Each tree displays her wares 
With an eye to setting herself apart. 
While standing on the street corner 
To attract attention,
 One discreetly dangles her golden leaves 
 Like a flapper’s string of pearls 
While another makes up for her lack of height 
By clothing herself in vermilion lace 
And waving in the wind.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

A grace-filled murmuration


The starlings gather in my yard, 
Chattering away as they swoop in, 
Landing en masse in the grass to feast 
On some unknown vegetation, 
And then, at some mysterious signal, 
They ascend as one into the air again, 
Circling until they alight again 
In some other part of the yard; 
Up and down, up and down,
A grace-filled murmuration, 
Like the Anglicans, who sit, then stand, 
Then kneel to pray, then sit and kneel again,
Then stand in church on a Sunday morning