I LOVE

Some days when I wake up I like to take the time

(I’ve done this since I was a boy)

To list some things…perhaps in rhyme

that always bring me joy

It always begins and ends with family

Wife, children…grandchildren all

and then there’s the myriad of friends I’ve had

some…from a time when I was small.

I love flying in a plane;

the first glimmers of sunlight;

I love the smell after a rain;

a cricket symphony at night

I love ketchup on my eggs

(some people think that’s awful!);

I love playing mumblety-peg; 

I love ice cream on a waffle.

I love watching a child sleep; 

I love walking along the sand;

I love the softness of a sheep;

I’ve always loved holding hands.

I love the smell of sunscreen;

I love a grandma’s squeeze;

I love a mountain, a valley…a ravine;

I love sunflowers in the breeze.

I love watching pelicans fly across the water

sometimes two and three abreast;

I love walking on a deserted beach

as the sun sets in the west.

Yes, It never fails when I take a moment

and this simple philosophy employ…

List some of the things I love in rhyme

and start each day in joy.

LIKE HONEY

Trees are known for the fruits they bear.

Flowers for their distinctive bouquets.

Waterfalls are known for their overflowing beauty.

Bees for their honey and ballet.

Oceans are known for their vastness.

The sun and the moon for their light.

Clouds are known for their wispiness.

Birds for the elegance of flight.

Meadows are known for their peacefulness.

Mountains for peaks tall and grand.

Rivers are known for their perpetual currents

Beaches for their endless sand.

It seems nature has given everything in her domain 

traits to be adored.

Which makes me wonder what’s the one trait

humans are famous for?

Oh, if we could only stop our hatred of one another,

stop our discrimination and our wars,

wouldn’t it be wonderful if when we’re finally gone

it was kindness we were remembered for?

Then we could proudly take our place in nature…

like sunlight peeking through the trees

If only kindness could be as natural to humans

as honey is to the bees.

CONFLUENCE OF THE HEART

Her grandpa’s funeral was over…but she still hurt inside

so she ran into her bedroom…closed the door…and cried.

On her bed…her face lost in her pillow…is where her Grandma found her

and with the gentleness of an angel…put her arms around her.

“I miss him so much,” she said…”and I know all this crying would upset him

but Grandma…I am so afraid…I’m going to forget him”.

“Forget him! Forget your grandpa…Why child…that’s an impossibility…

Take my hand,” she said with hers outstretched,…”come and walk with me”.

They walked into her back yard…to the confluence of two creeks.

And as they sat down by the water she wiped the tears from off her cheeks.

“What you and Grandpa had was special…and he wouldn’t mind it if you cry…

but you’ll never forget him as long as you live.” she said, “Let me tell you why.”

“These two rivers flow independently…at least down that way…where they start,

but when they come together…here…you can’t tell them apart.”

“You and Grandpa are like these two rivers. Since the moment your lives blended

it’s hard to know where your life begins and where your Grandpa’s ended.”

“Whenever two people share love,” she said, “in their own time and space

A harmony…a symmetry…a confluence takes place.”

“A confluence is like a miracle…one river born from two…

Which means you will always be a part of him…and he a part of you.”

“It’s a simple fact of life…that nature has created…

Once two rivers come together…they can’t be separated.”

The little girl placed her head on her grandma’s shoulder,

she held her hand…she wouldn’t let go…

and they sat in silence on the riverbank

watching the river flow…

Watching two rivers blend into each other

watching how only one departs…

and sharing in the miracle….

a confluence of the hearts.

WRINKLES OF TIME

In that old photo…is that me?

I’d really like to know

I think it does resemble me

but that was long ago.

I was so young…this I avow.

Still creating my blueprints.

But I’m much older than that now…

A lot has happened since.

In that new photo…is that me?

So old…but looking gay

I’m pretty sure that man is me

at least that’s me…today

The first photo…of course that's me!

but you can barely see my joy

The second photo…also me…

and also that little boy.

I’m not sure how it came to be

I’m not sure how it can…

But on the path of destiny 

that boy became that man.

The man was not part of the boy

For that is nature’s plan

But you can see it in his joy…

the boy is in the man.

Life is a series of photos

and as we live and grow

one photo is but one photo

not the entire show.

The man is 65…that’s true

The boy is 17

But the story of the two of them

lies in all the photos in between.

And though time has added a few wrinkles

that cover up my face

the boy, his joy…his twinkle

time cannot erase.

NEVER DO NOT SAY GOODBYE

She was in the mall…he was playing ball

when they got the call…they were both appalled…

And they were left disheartened wondering why.

He was in a different state…she’d been running late…

They’ll always remember the date…when they were damaged by fate…

For they never had the chance to say goodbye.

Every day in sun or rain…someone, somewhere dies in vain

and we feel the pain…those of us who remain.

As we are left dumbfounded wondering why.

Why did he die…why did she die

and we let out a sigh as tears fill our eyes.

Because we never had the chance to say goodbye.

Life does not last…and the end can come fast

when their destiny’s cast…they become part of our past

And we are left saddened and wondering why.

Why on this day…did they go away?

Didn’t we pray?…Why couldn’t they stay.?

Why didn’t we have the chance to say goodbye

Perhaps the best we can do…this has to be true!

is always bid adieu...paired with I Love You.

So we’ll never again wonder why…

And we’ll know come what may…at the end of the day…

love will not go away…love is with us to stay…

Because we never did not say goodbye.

LIFE DOESN'T ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED

When I was young:

I planned to be a football star…but I wasn’t the right size

When I was young:

I planned to be a movie star…but that never materialized

When I was young:

I planned to be a doctor…but the sight of blood made me faint

When I was young:

I planned to be a famous writer…but obviously…I ain’t.

When I was young:

I planned to be a farmer and live off of the land

But as is glaringly apparent…

life doesn’t always go as planned.

When I was young:

I never planned to go to college…

I wanted to stay home with my peers

When I was young:

I never planned to be a teacher…but I taught for 30 years

When I was young:

I never planned to move to Florida…

but now I’m here to stay

When I was young:

I never planned to marry and have a family…

but now wouldn’t have it any other way.

When I was young I made so many plans

but now that I’m older I have come to understand:

Most of the love and happiness in my life has come…

from all the things I never planned.

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

We discovered her this morning…as we walked along the street

A tiny bird with a spot of yellow…lying at our feet.

Deborah bent down and picked her up…not a feather disturbed on her head…

no indication whatsoever as to why she might be dead…

We immediately looked skyward…our eyes wandering into a nearby tree

as we searched for any semblance of her friends or family.

But the air above was silent…not another bird in sight

no way of knowing how this tiny bird…had come to lose her flight.

Yes, we know nature can be erratic…in who she allows to stay alive

those, who today, will perish…and those who will survive.

And we know nature can be cruel…as there’s often no discernible reason why…

this animal gets to live…while this animal has to die.

And we know they’re all connected…life, death, happiness,…sorrow and strife

For this is the nature of nature…this is the circle of life.

But as Deborah gently held this little bird…so beautiful…so petite

It saddened us to think…how her circle was now complete.

And we asked ourselves these questions…had this little bird ever flown?

Was her shortened life a happy one…did she perish all alone?

Deborah carried this little bird all the way home…she was as gentle as can be

and we buried her in our back yard…neath the shade of an old palm tree.

She now returns unto the soil…(from this world she is now gone)

where she will nurture the tree that shades her…

and the circle of life goes on.

FAVOFRITE CHAIR

I was moved to smile the other night when I, once again, became aware

How life looks pretty good to me from the comfort of my favorite chair.

And it made me wonder…When did it happen?

For it was subtle…no fanfare…

When did this chair I choose to sit in

became my ‘favorite’ chair?

Deborah and I take a walk each morning, 

enjoying the beauty, breathing the air,

We eat our breakfasts side by side

seated in our favorite chairs.

When our children were little we had our routines

filled with laughter, love and care…

bedtime stories, meals around the table

seated in our favorite chairs.

We love when our grandchildren visit…

In our house you could find them there…

on birthdays, holidays, dinners together…

sitting in their favorite chairs.

As we grew older our routines changed.

The entire family can’t always be there

but those of us who can attend

find comfort in our favorite chairs…

There’s something safe about a favorite chair

for no matter where we roam

we know it’s patiently waiting for us

to welcome us back home.

Perhaps that’s why we smile

as we curl into them with ease.

for we realize our favorite chairs

our filled with favorite memories.

Perhaps that’s why I smiled to myself

and I, once again, became aware…

How life looks pretty wonderful

From the comfort of my favorite chair.

YOU CAN'T

He stood in the line to be processed…one old man with hair of gray

They were deciding who would’ve to leave our country

and deciding who could stay.

You have to answer a few questions first…the man behind the counter said

The old man looked the questioner in the eye

smiled then nodded his head.

They make us ask the easy questions first…So…for what it’s worth.

Can you tell me the name of the place you were born…

The old man answered…Earth.

The questioner looked at the old man…wondering…what am I to do…

then asked the next question…what is your race?

It’s human…just like you.

The questioner readied the next question…now thoroughly appalled

What are you politics he asked ready to write…

Why that would be freedom…freedom all.

And your religion? The questioner asked

wondering what this man could possibly be thinking of…

The old man smiled again and said…

My religion…why that would be love.

Let me get this straight the questioner said

now becoming a little inflamed…

You’re birthplace is Earth…you’re human,…freedom is your politics

and love is the religion you claim?

If everyone answered like you…how can I tell you apart?

the questioner asked in a rant

A smile filled the old man’s face…

You can’t…he said…you can’t.

MY RIGHTS...YOUR RIGHTS...HUMAN RIGHTS

There is so much that is wrong with the United States…

and even though our founders were farsighted

the country they created

Is far from one united.

But as I marched with women yesterday 

through the streets in broad daylight

I was focused less on what is wrong with our country…

and more on what is right.

I marched with people I’d never met before

I marched with them…shoulder to shoulder

I marched with many people younger than me

I marched with many people older.

I marched with people of different religions

Different colors,…different abilities

Different sizes, different sexual preferences

Different shapes and ethnicities.

We came together for our own reasons

different objectives…varying appetites…

but we had one thing in common…

we marched for human rights.

We marched so all humans can be free

We marched to show all humans that we care…

We marched so all humans can be safe…

We marched for humans…everywhere

We marched to change what we think is wrong with our country…

Humans united in one crowd

And as we marched together I couldn’t help thinking…

Our founders would be proud.