Patchwork Prose and Verse
as we were driving
to our campsite
a teenage girl
crashed her bike
into a red clay hill
falling among the
rocks and it seemed
on purpose
…..that’s
one thing….but
when I took the
dogs for a walk
a preteen boy
crashed his bike
(jerked the handlebars!)
on the concrete
(on purpose!)
skidding flesh
of knees and palms
the very next day
leaving me to
ponder:
what does this say?
am I naive to
believe that purple foxgloves
bloom in forgiveness?
that what was destroyed
smiles Heaven’s understanding
and blesses again?
or am I just a
poet choosing to believe
signs hold messages?
I was mad since you
were late so I fed turtles
all your marshmallows
no roasting for you
our discussion was our campfire
spark, flame, sizzle, blaze
they smiled and thanked me
reminded me to tell you
to keep slowing down.
when I’m birdwatching
and you’re nodding
off in the chair
next to me on
our campsite,
me: thrilled in
a composed way
behind my binoculars
and you with
holes in your socks
broken-breath quiet snores
I wonder ~
are we those old
people we’ve
always known
we’d become
one day?
Give me your Tevas
Let me have your Birkenstocks
Toss me your On Clouds
Your Chacos, your Reefs
I have a shoe addiction
in my DNA
soles are soul-soothing
not changing size where clothes will
holding me steady
Give me your Nikes
Let me have your Adidas
Toss me your Hey Dudes,
Your Hokas, your Clarks
I have a shoe addiction
in my DNA
Blind Rage Rispetto
such blind rage overtakes me on a thought
these triggers self-combust in open flame
one moment I’m quite civil, next I’m not
and all the same, I know you’re not to blame
I’m not sure how to turn things back around
to compromise and find some common ground
to put the world back on an even keel
……until I try to feel how you must feel
Invitation
I was once
invited to a
wedding
but I saw
the truth
of that
invitation
and
declined
without hesitation
without gift
without regret
without excuse
Reduced Speed Ahead
crave different days
not working deadline-driven
not governed by clocks
seems all or nothing
drowning in a swift riptide
too tired to love life
sacrificing hearts
of days just to earn a wage
what’s a better way?
we could take lessons
from chickens in a dust bath
shaking it all off
instead dwell in mud
wallowing unforgiveness
pig kin bickering
get out of the mire
unstuck from the yucky muck
before it’s too late!
*inspired by a recent sermon heard on YouTube
Other Sunrises
if we have
glorious sunrises
here on earth
are there billions
of
galaxies
with other sunrises?
and how breathtaking
are they?
*********
p.s. It’s May 1. Have you said, “rabbit, rabbit?” yet on the first? Here’s to a great month, plus a picture of my backyard rabbit named Rabbit Rabbit.
Common Threads 