Lovely

 Beauty is deceptive, even that strange, 

not-quite-morning light 

God has arranged to greet my day.

For or Against

 For the Love of God

Must every option

for something

also be a decision 

against another?

When I am at ease,

I write.

When I am uneasy,

I write more,

not squeezing life,

merely caressing it.

Simplicity and proportion.

Balance matters.

When a tree dies,

I plant another.

10 Words

 This week at PoeticBloomings2 we write ten random lines, not poetry per se, using these words…compete, tough, imposter, strange, scandal,

yearn, knife, discipline, exception, constellation…

When the day is done, the dishes put away, the cat and I compete for the best spot on the bed

Tough mind, tender heart, a good equation 

At Christmas times, I lay out imposter snow, with little people scattered about

Beauty is deceptive, even that strange, not-quite-morning light God has arranged to greet my day

We didn’t worry about scandal then, our heroes too true to worry about future tarnished footprints 

I yearn for the day I might hike trails again, letting my mind search for a poetic refrain

A fan of most tradesmen, but he’s never learned to trust knife-wielding butchers

He trained for many things, all based on the discipline of the heart

He’s not too hot about professional sports these days, but baseball’s an exception, still warm to the touch

Summer nights, under the stars, competing with each other to name the constellations

The Power of My Wods

 When I began writing, I quickly learned that if I was to become a good writer, I needed to be a great reader, remembering also to re-read my own words before making them public, because, good, great or poor, my words have power to influence others, to impact the world, to affect who I am. I learned too that it is best for me to write about useful, helpful things, and to set reasonable goals for what I wish to say.

So, I think often about that for which I am grateful, less excited about big, noisy events and more moved by small soft acts of kindness and generosity, clearing my muddled mind until the clarity helps me feel lighter. In doing so, I see that my writing gives my thoughts and feelings more three dimensionality, helps me engage with life and its daily experiences in a way which helps me manage and control them. Writing helps me be saner, more balanced, calmer, healthier, more efficiently organized and productive…in a sense, my own words, when I read what I have put to the page, are transformative and enlightening.

I find, even when writing about memories and experiences, I am not bound by the past, nor limited by thoughts of the future. If I choose, I can be eager, excited and optimistic, even when I am writing serious thoughts.  Writing, for me is important to my health in aging, equal in value to nutrition, music, physical exercise, rest and friendship. I see how regrets or remorse can have a powerful bite, so I try to be flexible, even amusing, more forgiving and gentle with myself. I remind myself that I am living in Grace, that healing is a process, and that changing my thinking can can change my life.

When I write, be it fiction, poetry or essay, I think of the audience, the readers of my words. Especially when I write with my veteran brothers and sisters in mind, I do my best to come from a place of humility and dignity, honoring their brave sacrifices, knowing many are still locked into their safe zones, living a quiet life, attempting to not remember some life-altering events, avoiding unimaginable thoughts. Realizing that some of them share while others don’t, I am even more grateful that I enjoy the freedom to write and that I have place make my words public, perhaps helping readers to reflect on their blessings, to know they are not alone.

I give thanks for the comradeship I feel, with hope and optimism for the veteran and writing communities in which I participate.

My Library

 Close…walking distance…one of the reasons we chose our forever home. Quiet if you you want it, active if you choose. Books, hard & soft, newspapers, magazines, videos, music cd’s, computers, meeting rooms small & large, nap areas for the wee ones, maps, an atlas stand, a globe, bulletin boards and display cases. Children’s sections, and Young Adults areas, then the rest of it…fiction and non, categorized and not, tables and chairs of all sorts, even couches, old and soft and worn, study carrels, staff work areas, a small rock garden. A powerful, affinity space, full of shared interests, uses and goals, open to both locals and visitors, owned legally by the city, but more so by the users. Used book store, staffed by seniors, Friends of the Library, a couple of quiet rooms, a large community room, where music is played, lectures are given, Ikebana and art are taught, medium sized meeting rooms, where creative writing and fly fishing and bird watching are discussed. Children, teens, adults of all ages, forty (or more) ethnicities, several local homeless men, respectful and grateful for the shelter from their individual storms, small bus loads of special needs individuals, some of whom still learning to be quieter in this sanctuary. And me.

To honor my barber and his sweetheart

 Barbershop Role Models 

In air, through water, 

and, of course, on land,

life’s joy is ever theirs 

to take in, to command.

May they live with happiness,

never fears nor tears,

appreciative of their achievements

through their many remaining years.

May their success continue

for a million more days,

as it’s certainly their due

in so many ways.

May they be the ideal,

it’s definitely within their might,

keep on keeping it real,

continue shining their light.