Starting to give way

Take time to look beneath, 

At the foundations that support 

The life we’re leading, and notice: 

Things are starting to give way; 

Held in place by a thread 

That may not withstand the pressures 

 From above…

Solace in imperfection

In the midst of the overwhelm, 

Find solace in the delicate green beauty 

Of imperfection.

Daffodil memories

The late afternoon sun ignites my daffodils: 

They dance in the wind, 

Hoping to awaken the plastic goose 

I picked up years ago at a garage sale, 

In memory of Kiwi, the baby goose 

We raised to adulthood. 

All that awakens, though, are memories…

Contemplation

It’s always good 

To make time in your day 

To sit and ruminate; 

To ponder on and learn from the past, 

To breathe in the gifts of the present, 

To imagine possibilities of the future, 

And to breathe out positivity 

 For those in need of hope.

What is true?

How can we know any more what is true 

When so many have embraced 

What we believe to be false?

 I ache, not only for the lives disrupted 

And the years of systems 

 Put in place to keep us safe 

That have been dismantled, 

But for all those who’ve been convinced 

That this is good for our country 

And have yet to experience 

 The negative impact of these changes — 

Or are those just bots, 

Who leave those nasty comments 

On our postings about community?

Rest and reflect

Safe at harbor, 

Today we rest, 

Reflect and recover: 

Enjoy the still waters 

Of peace.

Set your soul alight

Breathe in this vast sweep of sky: 

Let the colors set your soul alight, 

And give you courage 

 To face the task ahead: 

To love, and care, and find new ways 

To love and care again.

Tariffied

Does this ship’s captain know 

The value of his goods increased 

While he was off at sea? 

And what will he take back 

When he returns to his home, 

Or will he return empty, 

To be tossed relentlessly by the waves? 

Will the other ships stop coming? 

The thunderclouds grow deeper 

As the tariffs, the questions 

And the offenses mount up…

Speaking truth to power

Speaking truth to power 

Can be scary, but essential —

 Especially when done on behalf of others, 

Which, for some reason, is easier for me.

 I’ve had my hand slapped, 

Literally and figuratively, more than once 

By bosses who didn’t appreciate my observations, 

But I don’t regret having spoken.

Two clouds

There are two clouds on my horizon; 

Thunderclouds, that threaten all they touch;

 Whose shadows cast reflections far and wide, 

Striking fear into the hearts 

Of all who observe their progress. 

What act of nature will it take 

 To defuse their threat, 

Or must I sit here, powerless, 

Awaiting some inevitable destruction?

Spring sunset

What is so lovely 

As a sunset in spring, 

With the daffodils glowing 

To echo the sky?

Spring colors

Surrounded by the colors of Spring, 

The artist’s brush responds 

With a resounding yes.

Rejuvenation

By the time I realize the azaleas are in bloom, 

Their petals are already starting to fall:

There’s nothing I can do to stop the flow of time.

But I trust and remember 

 That the rhodies will be the next to bloom:

I know that nature will rejuvenate.

But how can I trust 

That all these institutions we so carefully created 

Will survive this ruthless pruning?

Peaceful morning

Back at home in my favorite chair, 

Staring out at the morning light 

 Gracing the garden shed 

Framed by the darkening sky, 

The ancient stove, too heavy to move, 

The reflections of the flags, 

Waving in the breeze, 

And the pine cones suspended 

 From the branches of the eagle’s favorite tree,

 I am at peace, 

Ready to begin a new day.

Change is blowing in the wind

A strong wind is blowing, 

The red light is flashing, 

And the machinery for change 

Has been put in motion. 

The gaps are appearing: 

May the truth be made manifest 

 For all who’ve grown addicted 

To the lies and the fear.

Be led by the light

When trapped in fog, follow the light — 

And there will be a light, 

Placed precisely by those who’ve gone before, 

Where there’s the most danger, 

In order to guide you to safety. 

Some days, I think it might be our constitution.

The scents of spring

Someday soon, 

The weather will be dry enough 

For us to mow the lawn, 

But in the meantime we’ll just enjoy 

The gracious plumes of grass, 

The daffodils, the seagull, 

And the gentle scents of spring.

Another perspective

What may look solid, even overwhelming, 

When faced head on 

Might actually prove unsteady and vulnerable 

Viewed from another angle. 

Don’t give up hope:

Try seeking another perspective.

Looking up

I’m so tired of looking and feeling down.

 Let’s look up, even if things aren’t looking up. 

Perhaps in doing so 

We’ll get inspired, and reminded 

That whatever power structures people build, 

Nature can and will surmount them.

Waiting for a ray of hope

This is what we’re looking for, 

Hoping for, waiting for: 

Some ray of light or hope 

 That might illuminate 

And unite enough of us 

That together we’d have the power 

To step back from this dark and shameful path 

We are now being forced to travel.

In bloom again

The cherry trees, in bloom again, 

Announce that Spring’s returned — 

At least to our community. 

But to other souls in other places, 

Winter’s on its way, or has deepened, 

What with war and unemployment 

And the ill effects of climate change. 

So our rejoicing has an edge of concern 

For all those for whom Spring brings only 

Emptiness, cold, and fear.

These divisions

We erect these walls to shield us; 

Surround ourselves with nature and with beauty, 

 Then peer fearfully out at the world beyond 

That we’ve shut out,

 Failing to understand 

That that which shields us 

Also isolates, 

And heightens our sense of vulnerability. 

Perhaps it’s time to venture out 

Beyond these false divisions we’ve created…

Intimidated

Intimidated as we are by the looming power 

Of those who would be king, 

We do our best to stay 

 Grounded, solid, strong in our ethics, 

United in believing in and protecting 

The rights of our fellow humans.

When troubles loom

When troubles loom,

 It helps to step away a bit, 

To gain a fuller perspective. 

Then we begin to see the possibilities; 

The steps we might begin to take 

To overcome the challenges ahead: 

A different route, or perhaps some gift 

We might not have anticipated…

The sun will rise again

Each night the sun goes down, 

Sometimes in flames of glory, 

And other evenings, hidden in the clouds. 

But each time, we leave 

The glory or the clouds behind:

 Time carries us away 

Into a future yet unknown. 

That moment’s gone, 

Yet still, we know and trust 

The sun will rise again.

A new breed of abolitionists

Could it be the time has come 

To step up; to take a stand 

For all who’ve been excluded; 

To become a new breed of abolitionists, 

 In favor of abolishing 

 All forms of cruel discrimination?

A light in the darkness

Beset on all sides by threatening clouds, 

She still shines bright, as should we: 

Like her, we exist; 

 We have agency, 

And are ignited from within 

By the bright light of spirit, 

Which shall not be extinguished.

I wish…

The earth has not stopped turning

 -- Yet --

 And so the sunset colors 

Have begun their annual slide north, 

Past the trees and into view, 

Rewarding us for our patience 

Through this long winter; 

Promising a return of joy 

Despite the current prophesies of doom. 

I wish I could still trust and believe;

 It seems…

 Improbable.

Uneclipsed

Obscured by clouds and falling snow, 

The lunar eclipse might never have happened: 

We certainly couldn’t see it. 

When we peered out a few hours later 

The moon was full and beaming, 

Surrounded by a rainbow halo, 

Proud to have surmounted 

Both the darkness and the storm. 

We, too, I hope, will still be here 

When this troubled time has passed.

Challenges ahead

There’s a long and winding road ahead 

With storms predicted, snakes in the grass, 

And no relief in sight: 

We just need to trust we’ll get through this; 

That we’ll learn what we need to learn 

And end up where we’re meant to be. 

Though it feels like we’re lost and alone, 

The hands of fate still guide us.

Not alone

Though you are safely stowed at harbor, 

The current atmosphere leaves you feeling

 Alone and exposed; vulnerable.

 But look around you; 

Peer through the fog of anxiousness, 

And know you are surrounded,

 In company with others who feel the same. 

We’re not alone, we just have to find a way 

To work together.

Let’s go together

Let’s travel this path together. 

I’m not sure where it will take us — 

We may just go round in circles — 

But it will be lovely to have you with me 

As we explore the possibilities ahead.

The wind is rising

Sunrise, 

Looking across the farm, 

And another day begins, 

With another day’s minor tasks 

Still calling for completion, 

Even as the world beyond’s in turmoil. 

I reset the clocks, feed the cats, 

Wash the dishes, 

Breathe deep, and look again:

 The sun’s already gone, 

Lost behind a cloud, 

And the wind is rising.

Life’s beauty

Life’s beauty, 

 Glimpsed through a netting 

Of branches and reflections, 

Is still clear; 

Our work’s clear, too: 

 To notice, to honor and protect that 

From all who seek only to exploit.

Shine the light

The fog these days is thick, 

And many are feeling far from home 

And far from safe: 

All the more reason 

To shine the light of welcome and encouragement; 

To let the wanderers know 

There is still kindness in the world.

A new path

We cannot know where this path will lead, 

But it seems we have no choice but to take it. 

Take a deep breath, 

Gird your loins, 

Gather a few close friends, 

And take that step into a different future 

Than we could ever have imagined, 

Listening closely for hints of guidance 

 Along the way.

Still bringing love

Like this tree, which, though it’s fallen, 

Still produces apples every year, 

We may be down, but we’re not out: 

 We can still bring into the world 

What we were born to bring: 

Faith, Hope, and Love — 

And the greatest of these is Love.

A renewed sense of purpose

I need community; we need community, 

And, however naive this may sound, 

I believe our community 

Needs voices of hope and faith 

To keep our spirits up 

For the challenging path ahead. 

And so I’ve decided to reduce my exposure 

To the darkness we're all seeing, 

And I pledge to do my best 

To be one of those calm voices. 

Thank you for your patience,

And thank you for listening.

Spring returns despite our fears

As the first wee daisies 

Begin blooming in our lawn 

And the bellies of our does swell with new life, 

We know that spring is on its way again, 

Unhindered by the many worries 

Intruding in our thoughts and fears.

How can we stop this?

Even the plants are lifted in prayer: 

Please, can’t someone do something to stop this? 

And the echo in my heart: 

What can _I_ do to stop this? 

The helplessness is paralyzing.

Even the animals

Even the hawks are watching in horror. 

Perhaps all the money 

That didn’t get spent yesterday 

Needs to go to the Ukraine.

Economic Blackout Day

 I won’t be here on Friday,

but I’ll be back Saturday with a report.

Painstakingly constructed

Like this little gazebo, our government 

Is a painstakingly constructed edifice, 

Built to stand the test of time 

And shelter those who need it. 

To destroy the work of so many 

Is a brutal tragedy.

Dismantled

Watching the dismantling 

 Of the systems put in place to protect 

All those less fortunate than ourselves 

 Creates an unassuageable ache in the hearts 

Of all who were once proud to have been 

Part of a country founded on the principles

Of inalienable rights and equality. 

What will it take to rebuild?

Maintaining focus

There’s still clarity and beauty out there, 

It’s just hard to detect 

When so much is happening in the foreground: 

The reflections of our own thoughts and fears, 

The raindrops of our tears,

The light all the pundits try to shed, 

And the flag waving of both sides — 

All obscuring what we know to be true: 

 Compassion and hope must prevail.

Artist as poet

It took me sixty years 

 To discover I was an artist, 

And I may spend another sixty 

Exploring what that means,

 But I always knew I was a poet; 

I just didn’t know I could be both; 

That I didn’t need to choose between the two, 

Or that the rhythms found in one could be 

Reflected in the other…

Creative tension

The question is this: 

What do we choose to focus on? 

The fierceness of the storm, 

Or the colors in the sky — 

Or can we hold it all in creative tension; 

That both are true, 

And therein lies an opportunity 

To express what needs to be birthed 

 At this particular moment in time?

Be watchful and brave

Despite the high winds, he climbed 

 To the topmost branch of the tree, 

Then crossed to a neighboring branch 

That swayed in the wind, 

Then climbed back down 

To a stabler place 

And settled in to watch the deer. 

We’ll need to be equally watchful 

 And brave in the coming months: 

There’s a lot at stake.

Living on edge

It seems we’re all living 

Life on the edge these days. 

Somehow we need to find 

The beauty and possibility in that 

And not become paralyzed 

By our fear of falling…

Morning greetings

It’s morning, 

And the mama and her yearling 

Are here to greet me as the day begins. 

My heart sings, 

Rejoicing in our connection.