RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SPRING

What is it about springtime

that makes everything smell so sweet…

that makes you smile a little more often…

that makes all hearts skip a beat?

When the winter chill begins to thaw

why do birds begin to sing?

Could it be they know water from the melted snow

will feed the daffodils of Spring?

Spring entices you too leave your house

to see what surprises she has brought.

You become a knight or a maiden on a quest…

in search of Camelot.

I wonder if the greatest love songs, 

performed before queen or king…

the most eloquent of love poems 

had their origin in Spring?

Why do older people move to Florida?

Could it be they understand what the seasons bring?

What better way to enter the winter of life

than in a place of eternal Spring?

A place where hope and love are never-ending

where joy and happiness take wing…

where beauty arrives on the cusp of a breeze

to paint her impressions of the Spring.

Yes, I love the hues of Autumn and Winter, 

and Summer has a certain flair…

but hearts beat faster and smiles are more abundant

when Spring is in the air.

DISCOVERING JOY

I love discovering joy far away from fortune and fame…

Like last night, as the sun was setting, at a child’s softball game.

She struck out on three pitches…without ever swinging the bat.

She smiled all the way to the dugout…I mean, where’s the joy in that!

Next time up, she got a hit and that same smile crossed her face…

Same smile as she took off running and landed on first base.

She plays the field wearing that same smile…is this an evil plot?

Same smile when the ball is hit to her…whether she catches it or not.

She plays with joy when she does well…or if an error she may make.

She plays with joy when she is perfect…or when she makes mistakes.

I realized the joy she feels must be in her chromosomes…

allowing her to smile when she strikes out…or when she’s rounding third for home.

Yes, as I watched the game last night I suddenly became aware

Her joy wasn’t in how well she did…her joy was in being there.

And mine too, for once again far away from fortune and fame…

I was able to discover joy…at a child’s softball game.

I NEVER DREAMED

When I was young my dreams were too…they were simpIe, innocent and free…

and a little egotistical because…they all revolved around me.

I didn’t think about my dreams…the things I wanted…who I would become…

I never asked myself the question: Where do dreams come from?

You see I dreamt from a comfortable bed…in a cozy house…with a happy family.

I never dreamed there could be people who had different dreams than me.

I use dreamed of getting ice cream from every store along my street…

I never dreamed there were other children who had no food to eat.

I used to dream of getting new clothes…the latest fashions anywhere.

I never dreamed there were other children who had no clothes to wear.

I use to dream of a bigger house. I thought ours was much too small.

I never dreamed there were other children who had no house at all.

My dreams were filled with joy and laughter…and moments in the sun.

I never dreamed, the dreams I dreamed…weren’t dreamt by everyone!

My dreams have changed over the years…that should come as no surprise…

for as we grow a little every day…we see the world through different eyes.

Now…I dream of a world at peace…where love and kindness shine…

Where every child born today…can have dreams similar to mine.

MY FATHER AND BASEBALL

My father loved his baseball, he said, “One day you will see,

how baseball is a lot like life…come…sit…and watch with me.”

He said, “When it’s your turn to bat…you do not know your fate.”

“You take a couple practice swings…and step up to the plate.”

“You’re ready…but a little nervous, as you hear the catcher pound the mitt.”

“Will you make an out this time…or will you get a hit.”

“And sometimes you get that hit…and sometimes you make an out.”

“For that, my son, is what baseball…and life are all about.”

“But the wonderful thing about life and baseball…is no matter how you do,

the next time you come up to bat…I’ll still root for you.”

As I watched my granddaughter play softball yesterday,

I had to smile as my childhood and adulthood met…

It seems my father gets much smarter

the older that I get.

A SHOOTING STAR

This morning, while out walking,

I hadn’t gotten very far…

when I happened to look up

and see a shooting star.

It was in that magical time of day,

before the night gives way to dawn.

I saw a flash,

a streak of light,

and then… the star was gone.

And I had to stop and marvel

at how that star and the night contrasted…

there but for a moment…

beautiful while it lasted.

I continued on my morning walk

again, I hadn’t gotten very far,

when I realized how all of us

are like that shooting star.

No matter how we see our life…

of this there is no doubt

We are here but for a brief moment 

before our light burns out.

I made a wish upon that star:

That everyone would be loving and caring and kind…

so people will smile when they see their star

and at the light they leave behind?

LAUGHTER

What keeps a family close?

What makes old friendships last?

What makes a moment special

before it fades into the past?

I believe the answer is quite simple, as far as I’m aware…

when friends and family come together…there’s always laughter in the air.

Some people will say love is the answer and I believe that’s partially true…

for love provides the framework…but laughter is the glue.

The glue that binds friends and families together through all our hopes and fears…

that helps us rediscover life…amid our sorrow and tears.

Perhaps that’s why we were given this gift.

Perhaps that is laughter’s goal.

To strengthen the love within our heart

and the joy within our soul.

When we look back on a person’s life…

is there a better epitaph

than to say he shared his smile everyday

or every day she shared her laugh.

So it seems to me:

If you want to keep your friends and family close

in this moment…and every moment after…

Smile when you come together…

and don’t forget the laughter.

A PATCHWORK QUILT

As Deborah lay sleeping next to me the other night I thought about the family we have built.

I couldn’t help thinking how a family is like one of Deborah’s patchwork quilts.

Two people meet and fall in love…and amid their smiles and grins…

their fabrics are sewn together…and so the quilt begins.

They adopt or become pregnant. They have that certain glow.

Another fabric is added…and the quilt begins to grow.

More children bring more patches which they happily affix,

and friends they’ve known forever are added to the mix.

The colors and patterns begin to blend as sewn in are hopes and dreams

and the larger that old quilt becomes the more beautiful it seems.

For a quilt is ever changing like the waves upon the sea

Reshaping a little every day…just like a family.

What makes a family special…when the quilt is all spread out,

we see connecting all the pieces…a thread of love throughout.

It’s true a quilt will age with time and it’s colors fade…however…

If the thread of love is strong…that quilt will last forever.

Perhaps that’s why I sleep so peacefully…knowing the family we have built

Is as warm and comforting and beautiful…as one of Deborah’s patchwork quilts.

PARENTHOOD

As a family we make memories

from our times of childhood

and as parents we attempt to ensure

all these memories are good.

So we do everything we can,

we expend all our energies,

to guarantee our family

is making happy memories.

But we’re also aware, life has its ups and downs

its ascendancies and dives.

And we can’t prevent bad memories

from entering our lives.

Which means when memories are bad

when unhappiness increases

we are there with all our love

to help pickup the pieces.

Knowing the best that we can hope for

in this thing called parenthood

is that when all is said and done…

most of our memories are good.

DAYLIGHT FOLLOWS NIGHT

In the wake of another senseless tragedy,

all to commonplace today,

It’s hard to know what one should do

or find the right words to say.

I do know when sadness overtakes us 

it’s easy to lose sight

how we spend half our life in the light of day

and half in the dark of night.

When we are steeped in sadness,

when we think darkness will forever stay

the moon and stars provide us hope

and help to light our way.

And don’t ignore the evening primrose

or the jasmine shining bright

or the moonflower or the water lilies…

which only bloom at night.

Reminders that even in our darkest moments

seeds of hope and love can be sown.

Reminders that even when surrounded by sadness

you…are not alone

I hope anyone who is sad today

will try hard not to lose sight…

will remember all the people who love you…

and how daylight follows night.

A WALK FOR PEACE

Lately, I’ve been dubious of religions…the way they’re painted on the news.

We see only the radical ones…with their racist and hateful views…

So in order to learn a little more…and help my religious knowledge increase…

I joined a crowd of diverse faiths as we took a walk for peace.

The idea: 

To try and understand one another…to begin a dialogue…

as we marched from church to church…from mosque to synagogue.

I spoke with people of many faiths. I can't remember all their names, 

but, no matter who I spoke with, the message was the same…

It was a message of love and understanding spread out for all to see

a message of hope and friendship…of togetherness and unity.

None of these people were hateful, instead, they shared complementary views

These were not the people…I have seen painted on the news.

As we walked together in fellowship…in love and harmony

I had to stop a moment as this thought occurred to me…

What if every religion is painting the same picture but from a slightly different view…

Using different perspectives, different palates, different brush strokes…different hues.

Any religion painted with love, meant to nourish the soul and heart…

though slightly different from the others…is itself a work of art.

And those religions painted with hate…have no place upon our wall

For by color and definition…they are not religions after all.

Religions, true religions, paint one message: to help love in our world increase…

And religions, true religions walk together and dream of peace.

NEW GLASSES

I remember getting glasses…and feeling so sublime.

I was in the second grade…seeing the world for the first time.

But my eyesight gets a little worse each year…a fact I can’t ignore.

I was 7 years old back then…today I’m sixty-four.

So when I picked up my new glasses yesterday…as I am wont to do.

I put them on my face…and I marveled at the view.

The world was bright and beautiful…so much clearer than before…

and I smiled until I saw my reflection…in the mirror on the door.

I couldn’t believe my eyes!  I was so much older than before!

I’m sure I didn’t look this old…in the last pair of glasses that I wore.

So I quickly ran and got my old glasses…and I was glad to see

a younger man was in the mirror…staring back at me.

So now I have two pair of glasses…one for seeing the world clearer…

and one I put on anytime…I’m looking in a mirror.

THINGS TO UNDERSTAND

He cannot see a rainbow…for his world is painted black.

He cannot see the sunshine…though he can feel it on his back.

She cannot hear her mother’s voice…they do their talking with their hands.

She cannot hear the music play…and we struggle to understand…

How this is even possible?

How did this come to be?

And what life must be like…for those so different than we.

So we attempt to comprehend without making too much of a fuss

And we try to share our world with them as they share their world with us.

And though we’ll never truly understand what being them is like…

we begin to realize, despite our differences,…we are so much more alike.

And she helps us understand her language and and we help him understand the sun

and we think: if this is true for us…shouldn’t it be true for everyone?

What if the things that make us different…instead of being feared or being banned…

What if the things that make us different…

are just different things to understand?

WHY DO WE MARCH?

“Why do we march for peace, Mom?” I heard her ask as they walked  next to me.

“For the same reason,” her mother answered, “that you and I plant a tree.”

“It will be many years from now…once that seed is laid

until your children…or perhaps your children’s children play under its shade.”

“We plant a tree for the future…” and here a smile crossed her face,

“hoping the tree we plant today will make tomorrow a better place.”

“That is why we march, my love…because I feel this need

To make the future better…to plant another seed.”

“A seed of love and optimism…that one day hate will cease…

so your children or your children’s children will finally play in peace.”

I felt proud to be marching next to them and smiled as I kept pace…

determined to help them plant a seed of hope today…

that will make tomorrow a better place.

THE BUTTERFLY

We can learn so much from nature...

from the sand

the sea

the sky...

Every organism can be our teacher

Take, perchance, the butterfly.

True, they are fragile creatures...

their wings are delicate and thin...

but they add color to the universe

and they can ride upon the wind.

Butterflies share the flowers.

All are rich,

no one is poor,

and you never see a butterfly with a weapon

or marching off to war.

They live a life that’s innocent and free,

they cause no pain or grief

For they know their time is precious...

their moment on Earth is brief.

Perhaps if we listened to their teachings

and their lessons we’d apply

Then we would live in peace and beauty

just like the butterfly.

HOW TO DEAL WITH AN OPTIMIST

How does one deal with an optimist…

who sees the good in everything!

Who, when caught out in the rain,

instead of swearing….sings!

How does one deal with an optimist

who, after losing all his hair,

says, think of all the money I’ll save

not sitting in a barber’s chair.

Who after being told he’ll never run again

smiles after taking stock

then says…”Think of all the wonders I’ll see

when I slow down…when I walk.”

Who at the funeral of a friend

is smiling while the rest of us are sad…

“I was just remembering,” he says

“all the good times that we had.”

How does one tell an optimist,

when life’s handed you lemons and your nerves are frayed,

that no matter how much sugar she adds…

you can’t stand lemonade?

Well, I have found the answer to dealing with an optimist,

although half of you I’m sure will find this solution a dumb one,

For the best way to deal with an optimist

heaven help me…is to become one.

Aging to perfection

She crawled into my lap…We were sharing the same space

when she rubbed her tiny fingers across the wrinkles on my face.

“Why do people grow old?” she asked. 

“Will I ever be as old as you?”

She put her little hand in mine…

“Will I have wrinkles too?”

Growing old is a gift, I said…I wouldn’t be too concerned,

for every day you grow a little older…

is a chance to live…

to love… 

to learn.

Our world is filled with many miracles…some are big and some are small

With so many miracles out there…we need time to see them all.

That tree you love to climb out back is as old as it is long.

If it wasn’t old you couldn’t climb it…

because it’s branches wouldn’t be strong.

And the bark you love to feel…means it’s growing old gracefully

for the bark is nothing more…than the wrinkles of the tree.

As you grow older don’t be afraid of wrinkles…

Be glad you’ve acquired some,

for wrinkles only go to show

how wise you have become.

Don’t ever worry about growing old, I said…

Grow old with some affection.

And don’t think of it as growing old…

think of it as aging to perfection.