I’m coming back, o yes, I’m coming back
from drug-induced exhaustion. More like spring,
I open, little at a time, and cling
to daffodil arrangements. Winter black
took all my energy and made me spin
out on my walking paths. I stand now, straight,
again feel able to walk through each gate,
hear melodies of birds, not tuneless din.
An urchin, infant, tiny new one comes,
but rocking, lurching to reality.
Spring doesn’t sing this year, but only hums
a whispered whistle. Can’t we now agree
that birth has finally, finally taken place?
The daffodils and robins do not lie.
Forsythia, like puffs of yellow lace,
tell us to winter we have said goodbye.
with delicate and
slow unfurling
let me savor
then, every
curl and
ruffle.
our
spring
is upon us
i’m here waiting,
an ear to your soil
and listening.
always.
Amid this winter’s grey mist grip
our April mocks her Spring impression.
Rush hour red lights stop and start,
frustrated and my happened glance at
a waif like girl no more than nine,
she’s mouthing words of imagined rhyme.
I watch her whispering monologues
as she tiptoes boulders in the park.
Pure innocence her soft protection
from cruel worlds I suffer much too well.
I mouthed my thank you to the waif
and she tiptoed boulders until dark.
and if i
sound wide eyed,
it’s because
i am.
i’m
a little
in awe of what
i’ve become,
so late
in my
day.
written April 2013
Here comes the snow, just very gently now.
I wonder if predictions will come true,
that we will have enough to need the plow.
Six, seven, eight, the inches will accrue,
according to the weatherman. We’ll see.
So far it simply flutters through the air
with no accumulation. I agree
with weather guys, but only sometimes. Dare
I wish for one more covering? This cold
needs snow, a partner in the winter dance.
Please, just enough for memory to hold?
Then we’ll move on and let the spring advance.
So, no I haven’t been here for awhile, other than to contribute some 14-word poems for the Valentine project. I will attempt to have more of a presence, and write regularly. After all, isn’t that the point of 20 Lines? I’ve reinstated my Facebook account and have been updating it, and have also been concentrating on weight loss. That keeps me busy shopping and cooking well, eating healthfully and tracking what I eat, and making sure I get in my daily exercise. Whew. That’s all time-taking.
But…my first love is writing, so I will return with a poem:
Connecting once again on Facebook, loss
of weight…important, yes, but not the boss.
I come to write, and writing fills me up,
brims, spills and overflows my little cup.
Words come to me in silences of night
or when the sun melts snow, the sun so bright
that I can barely look outside. Could spring
be far behind? Words wonder, question, sing.
Circles of cycles
move me farther from birth,
closer to death.
I do not acknowledge the latter.
Seasons teach me:
Infant blossoms in spring,
full bloom of youth, the summer,
a winding-down in fall, raking up excesses, lowered skies,
then frozen winter.
I know my season,
just as the clock ticks inexorably.
The sun is cooler now, the summer’s done
and green tomatoes sit upon the vine
all chances of them ripening are gone.
But autumn brings her own bounty of fruits
the countryside brings forth its harvest time
before we pull the plants up by the roots.
We bag and bottle, freeze and jar our gains
to use our produce through the winter time
And ploughmen till the land to sow their grains.
In winter’s inhospitable cold soil
beneath the crisp top coat of outer rind
begins again the farmer’s annual toil.
For out of dark and cold unfriendly clay
and even though we dismiss her from mind
The Spring will come and live another day.
I’m editing this to dedicate it especially to Caroline Rhein. Caroline is the former sister in law of my brother Steve’s wife Jean. She was just critically injured in a motorcycle accident, in which her companion was killed, and is recovering in the hospital. It’s my understanding that she still doesn’t know about her companion’s death. They had been out celebrating her birthday. I met her 10 years ago, in April of 2002, when I was visiting Steve and Jean in Colorado. We seemed to really get on well, and I never forgot that time visiting with her and the connection we made, although we did not stay in touch through the years since. But she’s been through more than many people could endure, including the tragic loss of a son 3 years ago. You can read about that in my brother’s blog here. Praying for a speedy recovery for Caroline, and for healing in her heart for the many trials she’s endured and is still enduring.
May there be no violent storm raging deep within your soul
But may there be a summer breeze that blows, and does console
May you know the warmth of being loved, and loving in return
And if your love should leave you, may your light inside still burn
May you never become bitter, with cold and hardened heart
May you always know that every day brings with it a new start
When you can lay aside all the troubles you have known
And recall only the memory of kindness life has shown
This is my prayer for you, upon this August day
When fall is now approaching, with the leaves that fall away
May they carry with them all the things that take away your smile
So to lighten up your journey as you walk another mile
~~~
The journey is amazing, with such beauty to behold
But along the way, I know the winds that blow can be quite cold
I pray the flame of God’s great love will always keep you warm
And you will know to look to Him to keep you from all harm
Remember through the winter that the snow will one day melt
I pray that melting with it will be all the hurts you’ve felt
And when the spring returns again, with new life all around
May it bring you peace from deep within, and blessings that abound.
Anne’s challenge- http://anexerciseindiscipline.wordpress.com/2012/07/05/the-shed-another-challenge-for-you/
The curiosity took the better of me,
I walked further with a surprising glee,
Looking at the shabby walls,
And those age old woolen balls,
Scattered here and there for how long who knows,
There were also the dried petals of roses arranged in rows,
The sunlight shimmered the place seeping through the opening,
Blowing in the warm pleasant air of the spring,
There was an eerie silence, peaceful but yet frightful,
And I walked away out with an automatic pull,
I tried visiting it again once more the next day,
But I could see even standing at bay,
There was no shed, nothing over the same place,
It was now an empty space,
I still remember that old shed with the sunken roof,
It is now gone leaving behind not a single proof.
being alone I’m looking for you
it never arrives it must not be true
no sense in worry we all dredge on
new doors open , others foregone
I try understanding , but can’t see thru
it wasn’t our time for me or you
this tunnel I’m walking is widening out
the light gets brighter , life starts to sprout
the old falls off , I’m starting to peel
my body sits dormant , and now I heal
if what I feel , or love ever comes near
thumping of my heart I’m sure will appear
looking before me can’t always be done
I’ll take my time , this time I’ve won
Sundays here so now I pray
Earlier this week I lost my way
Not knowing where my life will lead
It’s words like his I must heed
My eyes straight ahead without looking back
I’ve reached my new life , why don’t I unpack
If I only knew its here I’ll stay
It’s Sunday again and here I pray
The colors I feel , I keep deep inside
Blue is the first , I feel when I cried
Not all my days are like an odd fellow
The happy days almost , make me feel yellow
Now yellow is mostly for when I feel keen
A nice walk in the sun , sometimes also feels green
Green is the grass or leaves in the trees
Brown is the color of her babies booties
Orange is the color of the setting sun
Whites the ball that made the homerun
Red is the color that works best for you
My color of love and always I’ve knew
I look to the day to solve it all
Waiting for my obstacles to just take a fall
Happy no more I just sit and hold
The memory’s once held to me close
They all say forget , it’s how we start new
my mind is at war , to stay or to lose
I think it gets easier , I hope and I pray
The answers within me to go or to stay
