Trying to Recall

When was it, at which point,

that I started looking back,

trying to remember?

When was it, I wonder,

that bananas lost their flavor?

Though I think, lately, they found it.

When did it happen,

that all my friends got old?

Not all of them, but most.

When was it, exactly,

that running became impossible?

And, recently, walking sort of hurts.

When did it happen,

that all my friends got old?

Not all of them, but most.

When were the years

that my parents died? 

I think I’ve now outlived them.

When did we stop traveling,

was it after that long September?

Maybe we live now where we used to go.

Totally Rad-io

I was fresh from a fitting

of expensive ear plugs,

where a trainee of twenty

put a pause to my huh?’s,

My wonderful wife

beamed broadly to see

the microphoned mini's

of total technology.

The nice news is every

wise word I now hear,

the bad luck is it also

adds inane thoughts, oh dear.

Self Love

Only we ourselves can free us,

as no one else can be us.

What we think, we’ll surely see,

assume it is and it will be.

Sending love into the world, to all today,

letting thoughts of darkness slip away,

we lovingly, faithfully praise,

creatively, honestly bless.

Good shines through the murky haze,

as we smile, receive. No more, no less.

We prepare not to die,

but rather more to live, to grow,

as life and death in the same place lie,

view our poems, what they give, for us to know.

We forgive ourselves for any doubt,

knowing Spirit is within, without.

We are one with God, 

come what may.

It’s all ours to choose,

this and every day.

Age Old Truth

Old men can’t help themselves,

it’s the nature of the beast,

the looking back,

the wondering about change.

If they’re lucky, they

consciously decide to be still, 

use their current downtime,

allow some time to contemplate 

their spiritual nature, 

realize it’s not how it was, 

nor how it will be,

it’s how it is right now.

Once they accept that,

they can rest in a peaceful heart,

live with appreciation and awe,

grateful their body is not yet used up,

smile when something is delicious,

and when it’s beautiful, simply sigh.

Random Thoughts on the Social Network

If my words offend you,

please be forgiving.

My filters sometimes fail me.

I’ve been trying to remember 

what it was I was concerned about 

last year, as May approached.

Oh, I know.

It was that cancer thing. 

And the chemo.

The stuff that has me 

ducking for cover now.

It was then I learned

there’s a time for doing things, 

and one for being still, becoming quiet.

Both are dear.

It was then I concluded

we can’t keep doing  what we want. 

We need to start 

doing what we must.

It was then I adopted a philosophy of

compassion without borders.

This sounds like a fine concept,

don’t you think?

But please, don’t ask me to march

for peace and justice and equality.

Social distancing and

bone spurs, you know.

Curiosity

I’m a counter, always have been.

It’s an oddity, but a useful one.

Made for childhood success with math,

later on with humans.

I love real people,

especially the odd ones,

a little off the norm.

They are weirdly consistent.

You can count on them.

Every one of them is a tale.

They are enjoying

their human experience.

So am I.

It’s a perfect fit.

I watch, observe, 

count the minutes,

then get to work,

being creative,

making art,

telling their stories.

Unattached

Can’t say I feel isolated,

lonely, alone.

Not with Zoom and Skype,

and there’s always the phone.

The mail has been lighter,

junk mail withdrawal.

It’s the economy, some say,

Wall Street caused it all. 

Most of my business

I do on the ‘Net,

no stash of stamps,

no envelopes, yet,

there are some things

requiring a physical touch, 

some books, magazines, 

but really not much.

Still, I can’t imagine

a life without friends,

absent them there’d be no me.

My profile, certainly,

would be nothing to see.

Much of me reflects them,

of this I am sure.

Solo, I might go on, but

in no way as pure.