THAT'S WHAT HIPPIES DO

They grew up in the ’60’s…and as their lives unfurled

They discovered they were righteous…laid back…two groovy kind of girls.

They had long hair…down to their shoulders…some people thought them wild

They were hippies…free spirits…unconventional…each one a flower child.

They wore their clothing tie-dyed in colors bold and bright

When they made the scene…they were a gas, a blast…so out of sight!

They would have gone to Woodstock but their parents didn’t approve

They believed in peace and love and they were always on the move…

But time has a way of moving too… and though they’re not sure how

Those two hippies of the ‘60s…are in their 60’s now.

Yet, through the years…through jobs and family

though their lives have rearranged….

they stayed as cool as they were back then

and their values haven’t changed….

They were sculpted by their past and no matter how old they grow

There is a universal truth…that they…as hippies…know….

Although there are certain parts of life over which they have no control….

They remain free spirits in their hearts and hippies in her soul.

They oppose violence…

They oppose hate and war…

Their symbol is the dove

They strive for a world of peace

They pursue a world of love.

So here’s to all the old hippies out there….

and any younger hippies too…

Let’s keep trying to make the world a better place…

because that’s what hippies do.

BEFORE HER

How did he ever live before her?…he wondered

and then

with his second thought

he realized the answer…

before her…

he did not.

SHE IS LAUGHING TOO

It took him a long time to laugh after she was gone

even once the initial sadness faded.

He thought it would be disrespectful.

He thought her memory would be jaded…

But then in the midst of his sadness

he remembered her laugh one day

and he knew how sad it would make her feel

If her death took his laugh away.

Remembering her laugh made him realize

how by her memory he is blessed

how finding joy and laughter without her

doesn’t mean he misses her less.

So today he loves to laugh

he no longer feels blue…

for he knows when he is laughing…

somewhere….

she is laughing too.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

The son hadn’t spoken to his father in years. 

too many words between them neither forgave

now he sits in silent sadness

seeking forgiveness at his grave.

Each one thought they would make up…some day

some day…

they thought…

some day…

but neither took the first step

and time slowly slithered away.

The son hadn’t spoken to his father in years

forgiveness…neither one ever tasted…

now he sits in silent sadness

regretting all the years that they had wasted.

It’s never too late they both thought to themselves

never too late to hold the other’s hand in his…

It’s never too late they both thought…

It’s never too late…

’til it is.

HOME

When he was a baby he didn’t know what a home was…He didn’t now hat he had

He only knew two faces there…that of Mom…and that of Dad.

When he began to crawl and walk…so many years ago

he noticed as he was getting bigger…his house began to grow.

When he was but a little boy and into every room he crept

he knew his house was where he lived…where he ate…and where he slept.

He knew it kept him safe and dry.  He knew it’s where his family blended.

He knew it’s where his day began and where, at night, it ended.

When he reached his teenage years he noticed less and less the things within it

because as teenagers are wont to do…he was spending less time in it.

He spent less time at home now…for he was nearly fully grown

Less time with his parents and family…more time on his own…

It wasn’t till he moved away…that he was hit with a surprise

when he began to see his house…through a different set of eyes.

His mind began to wander and his thoughts to reminisce

he thought about his house…and all the things that he now missed.

He suddenly remembered moments…so many lessons his house taught

Moments of love and laughter and family…he thought he’d long forgot.

And when he’d call his parents…he’d ask them if they would

say hi to the house he grew up in…and his parents understood.

Now every time he visits…from wherever he may roam…

he pauses outside his house to smile…

knowing he is home.

IT' S JUST NICE TO START SOME DAYS WITH A LOVE POEM

“I love you Mommy!” said the young boy as he climbed upon her knee

which brought his mother endless joy as she held him tenderly.

She decided as he she held him near to give her son a little quiz

So she gently whispered in his ear…can you tell me what love is? 

“What is love?” he shrugged

“I think it’s a lot of things.

It’s all those times that we have hugged.

It’s the lullabies you sing.”

“It’s like how when I’m with you,” he said

everything feels right…

Like how when you tuck me into bed

you kiss my head goodnight.”

“It’s like how you know just the right words to say…

how I never have to ask you why

you hold me in a different way

when I laugh or when I cry.”

“I guess in some ways love is a prize

we give each other every day.”

Then he looked into his Mother’s eyes and asked

“Did I answer it OK?”

“Did you answer it OK?” she smiled,

as tears her vision blurred…

“When it comes TO a definition of love my child,

that’s the best one I’ve ever heard.”

OUR LAST DAY

If we knew today was our last day…

If we knew tomorrow was the end of our bloom

what would we do

how would we act

what would we say…

and to whom?

Would we sprinkle words of love a little freer

before we pass this way

Would we hold those we love a little tighter 

than we held them yesterday?

Would we stop and smell the roses

as we head out your front door…

Would we notice a little more beauty today 

than we did the day before?

Would we smile and laugh a little more

Would we sit and watch a river flow

Would we notice the birds and the clouds a little more 

than we did a day ago.

And so I wonder…

if there are things we would make it a point to do

before we pass away

So many things we want to say or do

why wait til our last day?

THE SECRET TREE

Sally came running in the door…”Grandma I have a secret!” She yelled.

It’s a really, really good secret…but I promised not to tell.”

“I want to keep my promise but you don’t know how hard it’s been.”

“Trying not to tell anyone…trying to keep this secret in.”

Sally looked up at her Grandma…her wide eyes, big and blue…

“Grandma can you help me?  Grandma tell me what to do?”

Grandma took Sally out to her back yard saying…“There’s something I want you to see.

They sat down under a very large oak… “This is my secret tree.”

“Grandma…” Sally laughed …”This is not a secret tree!

Everybody knows about it…everyone can see…”

Grandma put a finger to her lips…and gently shook her head

“The tree is not the secret, silly…it’s what it holds.” she said.

Ever since I was a little girl…and a secret was given to me

I’d hurry home and sit right here…underneath this very tree.”

“And when I was sure I was alone…that secret I’d retrieve

then I would let that secret out and share it with the leaves.

And so this tree is filled with secrets…every secret I ever brought

secrets she will never tell…and some I’m sure I’ve long forgot….

With that Grandma stood up and walked away…happy as can be

leaving Sally all alone in the shade of her secret tree.

On her way to the house Grandma turned around and smiled…

She couldn’t be sure but she believes

Sally was whispering to the tree

sharing her secret with the leaves.

RAISING A FAMILY

When an older couple was asked: What’s the happiest part or raising a family?

This was their reply:

The happiest part of raising a family is watching how they grow and change as time goes by.

Then they looked at one another, smiled and happily exclaimed:

And If you want to know the saddest part of raising a family…

our answer is the same.

A MAN OF FEW WORDS

He was already a man of few words

but her death left him completely silent 

and bereft

as if she took to heaven with her

whatever few words he had left.

A DREAM IF YOU WILL

When we open our eyes to the world we can see her beauty everywhere.

from the colors of the trees to the birds that populate the air.

When we open our eyes to the world and see the beauty she imparts

We can’t help but feel joy in our souls and love within our hearts

When we close our eyes to the world…some of her vibrancy fades away

We begin to see the colors around us in quite a different way.

When we close our eyes to the world…we no longer see the beauty she imparts

We allow prejudice to touch our souls and hate to invade our hearts.

I believe our eyes all start out equally…free to see beauty everywhere…

urging all of us to feel the joy…and love that floats upon the air.

Sight is a fragile sense, however…and so easily we can lose it

depending on those around us…and how we’re taught to use it. 

But even if we’re taught in such a way our eyes become impaired…

There is a silver lining…for sight can be repaired.

Which leads to a hope…a dream if you will…that one day all our minds will be free

that prejudice will fade into the past…when we are again taught how to see.

When we again open our eyes to the colors all around us 

again look out on the world and see

the beauty in our differences…

the beauty in our diversity.

OLD AGE

Yesterday a young boy asked me

in a voice both innocent and bold

“Can you tell me what it’s like old man…

How does it feel…getting old?”

“A lesson on old age.” I smiled.

I’m afraid I cannot teach it.

for how can I speak of old age

when I have yet to reach it?”

CHASING BUTTERFLIES

She has long since left her childhood behind

but there are days 

she looks outside 

and sighs…

days she longs to run without a care 

finding faces in the clouds 

and chasing butterflies 

AN OLD MISTAKE REMEMBERED

I bring to you a memory…a story that undertakes

to show we never know what lesson we will learn from our mistakes.

Years ago I took my students on a field trip to Tarpon Springs

We visited the sponge docks and took a boat ride…of all things.

The plan was…after we finished with our spongy ocean jaunt

we would eat a sit down lunch in a nice Greek restaurant.

I put all my students money in two envelopes in the pocket of my coat

one half was for the restaurant…the other for the boat.

The boat ride was magnificent…a fun morning in the sun

and after paying off our captain…he hugged us…everyone…

He made it a point to thank each one of us before we went away…

I wondered if all Greek captains were as happy…or just him…that day.

The meal at the restaurant was amazing……the perfect way to end our day

but I ran into a little snag when it came time to pay.

When I reached for the second envelope inside the pocket of my coat

I realized I’d given both envelopes…all our money…to the captain of the boat.

It seems what enhanced the captain’s happiness…was my tiny, little slip

as I gave him something in the neighborhood of a $300 dollar tip.

So there I was at the restaurant…where…to my dismay

after we all finished eating…I had no money left to pay.

My students were blissfully unaware…they seemed as happy as can be

so I reached into my wallet and took out my credit card…Plan B.

I have made a lot of mistakes in my life…and I’m sure I’m not done yet

but the mistake I made that day is one I never will forget….

It’s the day I learned mistakes can also be blessings

for when I see that captain’s smile in my memory from way back then

I like to think if given the chance

I’d make the same mistake…again.

FRISBEE DOG

Yesterday I was walking in the early morning fog

When I stopped at the edge of a field to watch a man and his Frisbee dog.

The man would throw his Frisbee east, west, north or south

the dog would chase it, jump up in the air and catch it in his mouth.

Next that dog would trot that Frisbee back and lay it at the man’s feet

The man would pick it up…toss it again…and this scenario would repeat.

After each chase the dog would wait as excitedly as he did the chase before 

and I couldn’t tell by looking at their faces which one enjoyed it more…

I noticed the more I stood there watching them…seeing how that Frisbee flew

seeing how that dog would jump…I was smiling too.

I watched until they finished…until the final chase was done

and marveled at how dog and man were having so much fun.

My thoughts drifted back to our dog- he couldn’t catch a Frisbee at all

but he would act just like that Frisbee dog when we threw a tennis ball.

And I remembered when we played fetch…how I loved to watch him run

how just like this man and his Frisbee dog…we too had so much fun.

Our pets will pass away too soon…before us…this is true

and now I wonder if there isn’t an explanation…a rationale for why they do…

To remind us life is short and to get the most from our life span

perhaps we should be chasing as many frisbees as we can…

Perhaps we should be running in the fields…jumping over logs

and having as much fun living…as that man and his Frisbee dog.

WE ARE VEGETARIANS

Sometimes I think the way we view the world is a little antiquarian

for instance we have words to label everyone…from Capricorn to Sagittarian…

Take Deborah and I…we don’t eat meat…we are proudly vegetarian

though occasionally we will eat fish…which makes us pescatarian.

and since we’ve been known to eat a burger…we are most assuredly hypocritarian.

however we do not care what you eat…because we’re not authoritarian.

And though we believe in eating food that is predominantly agrarian

we know it doesn’t matter what you eat…if you are humanitarian.

It doesn’t matter if you are straight or gay…black, white or Hungarian.

If you’re Democrat, Republican, Independent or Libertarian.

It doesn’t matter…if you’re Catholic, Muslim or Sectarian

If you’re a doctor, or a lawyer…a dentist…a Veterinarian… 

It doesn’t matter the type of music you like…rap, pop or opera that’s Wagnerian

or how you like your donut cream…whipped…butter…or Bavarian.

I think it’s time to apologize and end this poem

for I have shamefully become aware…

I can’t remember where I was going with it…

and, I imagine you…no longer care.

But let me end with these two hopes…

that you are not a strict grammarian…

and that we all may someday live…

in a world…

egalitarian.