Summer

A cool splash
a warm breeze
good books
shady trees.

A slow stroll
bare feet
a sunny day
a quiet street.

A long journey
a distant park
a sky full of stars
a moon in the dark.

On Sharing Your Life Together

Feel the soft warm breeze that smells of sweet magnolias.

Touch the wet grass with your feet when they are bare.

Listen to the rhythm of the dancing rain as it pitter pats on your roof and on the pavement outside.

Share in life’s sweet senses.

 

When you are rushing to meet a deadline, notice on the way, the smell that reminds you of her.

Hear him laughing when he is miles away.

Remember in the afternoon, the expression that was on her face as she slept last night.

Share in life’s sweet memories.

 

Give Chris a hug on a day when you sense he needs it but will never ask for it.

Kiss Tiffany on a day when she tells you to leave her alone.

One day, for no reason at all, give him a gift.

On her birthday, because you remember it, give her a gift.

Share in life’s sweet affections.

Ode to the Cardiologist

This is a poem I wrote for my grandmother’s funeral, who died basically from heart failure.

When I was little,
I would
wait
on the curb in front of my house
for the bright red van
to turn the corner at the end
of the street,
anticipating the love that would accompany it.

It was a love that knew no
boundaries
and carried no burdens,
a love that was ready to fulfill
what yearns deepest in the hearts
of children.
It is a love that will penetrate
the children of my children’s
children and their children.

This is the heart of my grandmother.

Nose

It seems there’s a mountain
Blocking my view,
And all I can think of is eating some stew.
I can’t see very well,
But boy I can smell,
So eating is all that I do.

Monster Bus

The monster bus came for us.
I didn’t want to ride.
But Mama said I’d be okay,
And Mama’s never lied.
So I got on reluctantly
And sat down in the middle.
And the monster boy in front of me
Began to play his fiddle.

A Leaf Falls

A leaf falls;
no trajedy, no revolution.

A new life is far away
and unknown,
as the world spins.

Friends come and go.
Light is darkness; nothing left to see.
It seems there is
nothing else
to live for, but
I know there must be.

Another moment passes and it’s over,
a new leaf
falls with grace,
and it is wonderful.
It glides with the wind and the comfort of the breeze
is like a new breath, cool and revitalizing.

Suddenly, whatever it was
that crushed me before,
carries me now.

A revolution does occur
when a leaf falls.

Stretch

It can be hard
to reach one more yard,
but a cinch
to reach one more inch.

Inch by inch,
you’ll stretch to a yard,
and it really won’t be that hard.

Don’t Ever Tie your Pet Giraffe to the Telephone Pole Downtown

If you have a pet giraffe, you might want to take her for a walk.
I can see you might want to stretch her legs, or have a nice long talk.
You might want to take her to the store to buy her a plant to eat.
Or to show her off to all your friends, cause a giraffe is pretty neat.
When you get down to the store, you might want to tie her up outside.
Cause should you take her in with you, the clerk just might be mortified.
I understand you might think to tie her up, I see.
But if you hitch your giraffe at all, try to find a tree.
Find one very high in the sky, rather than low to the ground.
But never ever tie your giraffe to the telephone pole downtown.

 

 

Country from the Dictionary of Imaginary Places

Endless nighttime,
       constant stars
and a perptetual full moon.

There is a country far away
           that the sun cannot find its way to.

The flowers grow by moonlight
           and a romantic place it is,

For always and ever there is
           a strip of light reflecting on the ocean.
And on this beam, lovers walk
                          back and forth,
                             hand in hand.