Goals

Memories and Dreams

He occasionally hears the voice of

     his mother, gone now for sixty years.

Country carnivals are captured in his memory,

     wrapped in their colors, smells and sounds.

Raccoons still grab the plums before human hands arrive,

     as the California coastal sky carries mist, but no fireflies.

The images of his father, dead now for thirty years,

      are mostly still, silent.

The only things which come easily to him are

      things he does not desire.

Ah, tasty food.

Now, there’s a legacy to love.

In these matters of Spirit, words get in the way, 

     feelings being the language of the soul.

Be brave! No limits! Yes, you can!

When the time is right,

        he’ll live within the Grace of a single day.

One more Descort

From Here to Uncerainty

I have, of late, surrendered 

     to my experience, whatever it is.

Love is a choice.

      Oh no, did you put peppers in that?

Last dance, let’s grab our...

    ...oh no, caraway seeds.

No whining on the yacht.

   PTSD sucks, for sure.

I am saving the world...

   ...oh no, this circle has no center.

An “ex” poem...

Semper Fidelis

There are no

ex-Marines,

not even me,

nearing 74,

still at home,

awaiting orders.

A couple of Descort form poems

Daily Zen

My memories are a wonder, when I remember them.

Compassion curves back, touching the giver’s heart.

I am not perfect, yet good enough.

Life is not a beauty aid.

Waking each morning, finding the floor and smiling.

Remorse wastes a great day.

If only.

I once tried to tell my cat what to do.

Oh, I see, this is how it works.

Get to know yourself.

Sit, be quiet.

————————————-

Nothing is Boring

The hummingbird we named Rubio 

    nervously guards his feeder,

as the tuxedo cat who came to us as Joey

    eats his food way too fast,

and I can’t imagine what I would do

     with a Mega Millions jackpot.

The current pope, Francis, seems like a nice guy.

     I bet he secretly practices the tango.

Whatever became of Fran, 

     after Kukla and Ollie passed?

I enjoy sitting in the dark    
     with strangers.

Generations

The Less Screen Time Generation

I like a house

with books,

and magazines and newspapers

as well,

not too neatly piled,

please.

I enjoy a home

with smells,

real ones

from cooking and cleaning

and such,

no vanilla need apply.

I crave a life

with peace,
yet welcome are

the bumps

and fever

of sincere living 
I cherish friends

who last,

the ones who know

who I

really am.

—————————

Generating Love

There is nothing I would change

about my life, even if I could,

because it all brought me to you.

There is nothing else I would build,

not from paper, stone or wood,

except that which created me and you.

There is nothing I could say,

not even if I should,

that speaks louder in me than you.

———————-

Picture This (a triolet)

Standing back from the easel, I see that it’s complete,

even as my life is still a work in progress.

Maybe too many blues, perhaps a dab of joyful pink, and yet,

standing back from the easel, I see that it’s complete.

Some lush strokes, others thinner, the whole of the canvas

is what matters, and not every mistake should be fixed.

Standing back from the easel, I see that it’s complete,

even as my life is still a work in progress.

Daily Zen

lately, I’ve been posting my somewhat random thoughts,under the heading of “Daily Zen”.  Here are some of them.

Be quiet

The big secret...just pay attention

Oh I see, this is how my mind works

My memories are wonderful...when I can remember them

Your time is yours. Don’t give it away

Be open, steady and patient...then, be grateful

Compassion curves back, touching the heart that gave it

Meditation: the antidote for topsy-turviness 

Fear of the unknown is a theft of life...and it’s an inside job

Spirituality isn’t complex, nor is it expensive

Whenever you think you’re hot stuff, try telling your cat what to do 

Remorse, guilt and sadness are tremendous wastes of a nice day

Two words to remove from one’s thinking: “if only”

Everything which is religious in the world was created by humans

People who love me do so because they choose to, not because I earned it

Waking up this morning, I find the floor and smile

I am most grateful for simple pleasures...plus, they are much easier to achieve

If you would be happy, first be grateful

Life is not a beauty aid. Looking in the mirror, I see every day I’ve spent

I am not perfect, but I am good enough

I’m not seeking the meaning of life...I’m looking for the meaning of MY life

When you start with “I am”,  be alert, because a truth is coming

Heartfelt Prayers

The world is less simple 

than I once thought it, 

with good and evil,

I must admit,

in everything, in everyone, 

devils and angels, 

a part of all of us.

My devils have ruled me before,

even as I sought peace and joy,

but now I’m choosing happiness,

ecstasy if I can find some, 

knowing my heart is not a toy.

I’m taking time to 

celebrate what’s going right

in my quite ordinary life,

shining my simple light

on a sense of welcome,

open-armed, without a fight.

Most yearning souls ask,

can we still talk to God?

Can all the hurt, all the worry

be swallowed up there?

I would answer,

when seeking magic or miracles,

any form of legerdemain, to be fair,

maybe first peak into your heart,

then pray with abandon,

without holding back,

it’s a good place to start.

And there Grace awaits.