Category Archives: Gratitude

Second course

What foods would you like to make?

Cabbage and cribbage, baggage and ribbage,
Is it red or purple, green or yellow, a
Member of the vegetarian family or
A meat; dairy-white or blood-red like
A pure, well-plied hamburger, bulging
Beyond its roll. Cheeses and milks, ice
Cream or whipping cream, breakfast, or
Dessert. Each meal bigger,  sometimes better
Cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes on the vine,
Vying for a place on my plate and in my heart

Tasty

What foods would you like to make?

Vegetables, the ultimate plant-based plate,
Inspire me to cook colorful foods graced
With beauty, full of tastes. A variety I ate
Sometimes slowly, sometimes in haste.
Red, green, the onions a touch of purple
The imperial onions like periwinkle or myrtle
Enhancing the dish, make it smoky, regal.

Domestic pets

Dogs or cats?

Your choice of pet does not
Impart character to you. You 
Aren't smart just because the
Bundle of fur aloofly licking
Her paws looks like something
Out of a mummy's tomb. You
Have to earn the trustworthy
Title your golden retriever got
By being loyal. Siamese cats 
Are decorative; doesn't make
You an objets d'art owning a
Pair. Strays as we called them
Back in the day, you know 'em
As rescue dogs, are often very
Canny. Are you street-wise if
Your dog is? Or a deep-thinker
Because your cat always has 
That look in his eyes. You are
Not your pet, it's safe to say.
Who's a good boy, who, now!

Where does the time go?

Which activities make you lose track of time?

Tempus fugit. I learned that in Latin class.
I am obsessed with time, but
Time is not always as kind to
Me. Nor as thoughtful. It just
Passes me by, willy-nilly and 
Careless as you please. Time.
Where does the time go? Why
Should its passing mean so
Much to me when it cares so
Little? I'm obsessed with time
But it doesn't give a fig for me

An adventure

Are you seeking security or adventure?

I write, and when I write
I split my infinitive always
All ways, just because and
Just because I can. When 
I write, I write as I please.
Do I seek adventure? Yes,
Please. Am I secure that a
Split infinitive will please
You? No, I am not. I can't 
Tell what's in your mind,
Or if you will forgive my
Slip from grammar. Come
Join me on my adventure. 
Hope it pleases you, too.

Measures

What is the measure of a man?
Is it his worst or best behaviors?
Does he have to rise to better or
Can he fall to his lowest point?
Measure him by size, his weight
His girth, his height, the peak of
His hat. See if he must duck at
The doorway or bow at his knee.
Who shall judge him and why?
Taller than an oak, or more
Crooked than a tree trunk makes
No matter. Sharper, wittier or
Foolish or kind. Measure him 
Inch by inch by intention and
By design. Let his measure be
Reflected in your love and care.

For good and all

The best is yet to come to those 
Who wait to see what the future
Will bring and where the road'll
Lead. I expect great things will
Await when you've waited and
You've seen. There's no measure
Of good that won't land on your
Plate. You've waited and stand
To get back what the wind blows
Back. Your heart is full; it's pure.
With all you've got, you'll get more
And more there'll be for you still
When you wait, see what's coming.

The habits of the old and wise

What are your daily habits?

Wiser than you were yesterday,
I'd say. All true, my habits will
Reflect my new-found skill at
Coping. True dat. The years play
On but still wisdom is hard-won.
Habits that were every day are
Harder, are easier. They are the
Same. Daily, I seek love, or fame, 
And acknowledgment. Is that 
Wise? Is there a prize for age?
Wisdom is just a stage in a life 
Full of frolic and strife. Habits
Should stay with you. A tacit 
Rule that defines what a habit
Must be - a practice, a custom,
Routine. Nothing to intervene,
Accustomed, and, then, some.