Category Archives: Gratitude

Connected

The neighbor's dog comes
Running to greet me, my 
Heart leaps, recognizing
Connection. All creatures
Large and small, as that
Sappy Brit put it. I saw
The TV series, never did
Read the book. My thrill
As I pet her head is also
Sappy. Sappy and happy at
Her enthusiasm, bestowed
Quickly, and forgotten as
She trots out to sunshine,
A happy tail still wagging

I look at the skies

You know, I look out at
The sky. It's beautiful 
Again. I have seen many
Skies as beautiful and
That look like this sky
The clouds, the setting
Sun, all configured as
If mathematics were part
Of the equation at this
Time of day, to mark the
Falling sun, the close of
Another perfect evening.
It will not be the last I
See. There will be many a
Sky as beautiful as the
Perfect sky was tonight

Overhead

The clouds, full of themselves, 
Puffed up like cotton candy,
Looming overhead, more tasteful 
Than that sticky carnival abomination 
The sweet powdery stuff children 
Love and adults allow 'cause it's 
A special day. The clouds are
Always special, gracefully sitting
Overhead, puffed up but not so vain
As to make more of themselves
Than is appropriate and seemly

Smile

Never again will your 
Smile greet me, broad
With delight, as if I 
Bring the bright light 
Home, giving me your
Sunshine for mine. It
Is a greeting I wish 
I could hold in real
Life, not just in my
Mind's eye, in memory
Never again will your
Love shine its welcome
Upon me as I turn the
Corner and catch your
Eye, as happy to see
You as to be seen and
Welcomed, a smile for
Every muttered I love
You, for each kiss you 
Accept, as pleased as 
You are pleased. Never
Again, only in memory
And dreams. I am glad 
For the memory of your 
Smile. It is all I have
This acknowledgement
Of our love.

I remember this

You hated the word moist
I never knew why. Nor did
You, when asked to explain.
This is a memory this early
Morning. I also remember 
How you shuddered when I 
Described a food as silky.
Verbal quirks. Some of 
These memories are edged 
Forward by serendipity, I 
Recall, seeing Marisa Tomei
In a YouTube bit and my
Review of her in a play 
Years ago, in the first 
Row, your knees touched 
Hers in a scene in which
She sits on the stage apron.
You were delighted. She 
Waved to you at her curtain
Call for Marie and Bruce.
You were even more delighted
What will surprise me today
For you are everywhere and
I am delighted.

Tomorrow

When I was young, I looked ahead
To years I would spend facing the
Great unknowns, the unexpected.
When I was young, the future was
Not in the rearview but it loomed
Near and far. The future was just
Where I wanted it. Where it should
Loom. It was all my tomorrows. I
Loved its mystery. I anticipated 
The twists and turns but did not
Know where it would lead me nor
Where I would follow. Today, the
Tomorrows may be fewer but I do
Not know what that future holds. 
Now, that I am not young, I hold
The hope that the future brings a
Little closer and tighter. It will be
A surprise, I hope. Unexpected, a
Mystery lies in my tomorrows, or
Maybe if I am lucky there will be
Many mysteries. Still even now.

Words

I listen not for meaning, 
I cannot understand but
Every sixth word, but for
The rhythm, the pitch, I
Feel the music pulsing in
The delicate delivery. It
Is deliberate, written with
Care, I know this from an
English rendition I heard
First, and that knowledge 
Has me listening, careful,
Listening deliberately, for
That sixth word I might 
Catch, as if my butterfly
Net is dense enough to
Keep foreign words from
Escaping into the ether
I listen for the pleasure 
Sound brings as words
Hit the air, reverberating
With sense or nonsense
I listen, not for meaning,
For the pleasing rhythms