Category Archives: Gratitude

Who’s that?

Time has changed us so much 
We are unrecognizable even to
Ourselves. I certainly don't know
The woman in our wedding photo
The man by her side has been so
Transformed, he might not be you
But I know it is. Changed, but the
Spirit lives on in your eyes. Cute
As you were then, maybe cuter as
Time has added years and taken
Nothing, maybe given back what 
We never had before if that were 
Possible. We always knew who 
We were. Changes puzzled us, 
But they changed nothing. Time.

Dawdle

If it's dawdling in plain sight
Then I am trained for it. Not 
Just trained but training. My
Skills are in moving. Slowly. 
Or you might say deliberately 
Across the tableaux that are
Your games. I know the rules.
I can ignore them or play upon
Them. My effort is well worth
It. You have met your match.

Love … enough

Words of love are exchanged, but
Common and unexceptional. They
Don't meet your expectations yet
They are true and accurate. Just to 
The point. What more can we hope 
To hear? Murmurs and whispers of
Affection and adoration might be
Enough to keep in our hearts when 
Our hearts are open when the sky
Is blue or the sunset pink when it's 
Hot and it's summer or we enjoyed 
A walk in a drizzle or suddenly saw
What the other meant about that
New brand of coffee. Love is enough
If you love enough and it's cold or 
It's just winter when the clouds are
Billowing and the sun fades as if it
Never appeared or we ate a really
Great salad or suddenly understood 
That enigmatic cartoon or figured 
Out what that ending said about 
How it all began. Love is enough.






Puppy love

Write about your first crush.

It feels, looking back this
Long distance, like I was
Always in love. In the 6th
Grade, it was the class bad
Boy. He was always behind.
Pink and grey were in style.
I find myself drawn to that
Combination of color still.
My first grade boyfriend 
Lumbered about carrying
My books. I was his crush 
He not mine. In Russian 
Class I liked a fellow who
Couldn't pass without me.
In summer camp a son of
The head counselors; his
Family all sit-com perfect.

Every day

What do I see that, perhaps,
You don't? Where does my 
Eye or my mind wander that,
Perhaps, is off the track? Do
I cherish being unique or does
The phrase "that's different"
Suggest the faint praise and 
Deeper criticism I expect from
My errant behavior and wild
Thoughts. Do I crave the more
Staid? Do I want to be ordinary?
Is the conventional a hint for
My future? Will I succumb to
Traditional desires and embrace
The norm? Regular can trend;
The usual need not bore. I can
Bear my standard without it
Dragging me out to sea or off
The rails. Typical might intice.

Simple joy

Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

It's easier than I think
Anticipation is harder
Than the simple doing
Not the t-shirt slogan
The doing comes with
Thoughtful provocation 
Nothing "just" about this
Accomplishment, but I
Know I can make words
Spill and tumble, whorl
Into a pattern because 
Here I am an athlete in
My stride, taking a high
Hurdle, clearing it with
The ease of thoughts in
Motion. I anticipate and
I land. It was a moment 
Of tension, everything 
Clenched. Then release.