THE ONLY ONE

To her myriad of friends

she was the moonlight

and she was the sun…

Her magic was how she made each friend 

feel

as if they were her only one.

FOR MANY YEARS

For many years she walked

hands close by her side

wishing she was more like the birds

wishing upon the wind she could glide

For many years she walked

never venturing too high

until the day she spread her wings

and realized…

she could fly.

HAPPY THANKSGIVEN

I had a friend many years ago who always said Happy Thanksgiven.

We all smiled at her malapropism…and she was immediately forgiven.

Many years have passed and this friend has long since left my sight

but when I consider what today means…I now think…

she was right.

Every other holiday we celebrate…though they certainly uplift

has become less about the meaning of that day…

and more about the gifts.

That’s what makes Thanksgiving special…more familial…less stressed.

That’s what makes Thanksgiving…different from the rest.

In a society that can be harried, fast paced 

and often excess driven

today is a great day to contemplate and be thankful 

for all the gifts we have been given.

Not the gifts that we unwrap…from boxes we throw away

but the gifts that we’ve been given 

that are with us every day.

Gifts that make life special…gifts that never end

like sitting around a table with family and friends.

Coming together as a family at least one time every year

where we eat, we laugh…tell stories…

and remember those no longer here.

Gifts planted throughout our lives that continuously bloom…

Gifts we see on the faces of everybody in the room.

As we watch our children…now grown up…

we laugh and smile with ease

remembering how it used to feel 

when they sat upon our knees.

Thanksgiving reminds us to cherish these moments 

knowing they will not last long

a reminder of what holds a family together…

of what what makes a family strong.

That’s what makes Thanksgiving special…

that’s why families amass 

because we know the best path into the future…

is by linking to our past. 

Seems my old friend was right all along…

she need not ever be forgiven

Today’s a day to say thanks….

for all the gifts we have been given.

ONE OF THE OLD FOLKS

I used to make fun of my dad’s age…saying with loving youthful vigor

“How come you’re getting shorter but your ears and nose are so much bigger?”

Oh, Dad would try to make a witty comeback…but usually it would bomb.

(makes me wonder where I got my talent for humor…must have been from Mom!)

So I guess it’s only payback or Karma…now that I’m one of the older folks

that I must listen to my children and grandchildren as they crack their old man jokes.

Like when they remind me how I’m over the hill and how I’m beginning to shrink…

And when they mention how my nose and ears are bigger…

I wonder…do they know they’re not as funny as they think?

They laugh when I say, “It’s nine o’clock…time to go to bed.”

and God forbid I ask, “Have you seen my glasses?” 

when they’re perched upon my head. 

They joke about my lack of hair and when their laughter clears

they remind me if I’m looking for hair…check inside my nose and ears.

In truth…I am quite content with getting older…I don’t think it is unfair.

I don’t mind a bit that I am bald because I never have to comb my hair.

And with my nose the size of a cucumber and two enormous ears

there are so many delicious aromas I smell…

so many wonderful sounds I hear.

Besides growing old is a part of life…we’re all growing older every day

and how wonderful it is to pause…and laugh at myself along the way.

I also smile as I sit back listening to these old jokes unfold…

knowing what a wonderful journey it’s been getting to be this old…

Finally, I have the satisfaction of knowing as joke after joke they tell bomb…

they didn’t get their talent for humor from me…(must have got it from their mom).

WHEN THE SKY IS PAINTED BLACK

There is a bird outside my window who somehow has the knack

of singing me awake each morning when the sky is painted black

While all her friends are sleeping ...heads nestled neath their wings

she rises early in her tree…and all she does...is sing.

She sings a beautiful melody...before the sun’s first glow.

And I wonder:

Does she know morning approaches?  

It’s dark...how can she know?

Still she fills the night with music…with dignity…and grace

and though I’ve never seen her...I imagine a smile on her face.

It’s such a lovely song she sings during the night to day interlude

and I admire her confidence, 

her determination…

her faith…

her fortitude.

And when I’m feeling apprehensive…

when it’s confidence I lack

I remember the bird who sings to me in the morning…

when the sky is painted black.

WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR BABY CRY

When you’re present at the birth…when you hear your baby cry

when the doctor announces…Congratulations…she’s a girl!”

tears flow from your eyes.

When you finally take her home…when to the hospital you say goodbye

you are a little nervous…when you hear your baby cry.

You make sure she isn’t hungry…you hold her close…

you hum a lullaby

you rock her gently back and forth…when you hear your baby cry.

When she gets a little older…you’re quick with medicines to apply

when she comes running to you with a bruise…or a cut…

when you hear your baby cry.

When she comes to you unhappy, troubled…hurting

you take the time…you try

to ease the pain within her eyes…when you hear your baby cry.

When she’s grown up and it’s time for her to go

just before she says goodbye

you’re there with a hug and a smile…when you hear your baby cry.

And throughout her life as you both grow older

you’re not sure how…or why

even when you’re far apart…you can hear your baby cry.

How you wish you were there to hug them

to hold them close

to hum a lullaby

to gently rock them back and forth…when you hear your baby cry.

And you marvel after all this time…all the years that have gone by

how she’ll always be your baby…how you always hear her cry.

And how…even after all these years

tears still flow from your eyes

just like the day when she was born…

when you hear your baby cry.

TWO FRIENDS

It passes between them silently

the moment their two hearts blend

Still, they feel the joy 

the surprise

and the wonder

when two people 

become 

two friends

THE DAY THEY BOTH LET GO

They were unsure exactly when it happened…

Does anyone ever really know?

The day they stopped loving each other…

The day they both

let go.

MORE THAN ENOUGH

It didn’t take him long while growing up to realize he was poor…

when he compared himself to other children 

and saw they had so much more

They lived in bigger houses in a better part of town.

They wore the newest clothes and rode in cars that didn’t break down

When he asked his dad about it…his dad said,

“Yes, son, times are tough but when I stop and think about it,

I think we have enough.”

“It’s true when you compare our life to others

there are some things that we lack

but we have enough money to pay our rent

and put clothes upon our backs.”

“We have enough food to eat

enough eggs and milk and bread.

We have comfortable beds to sleep on

and a roof above our heads.”

“And most importantly we have each other

You have me…and I have you.

If we lost everything else tomorrow…

that’s enough to see us through.

When he looked at his Dad’s smile

he felt warm inside…content

and when he looked around at all he had 

he saw what his dad meant…

It’s amazing how life works sometimes…

How, when we need it…what providence does

for on the same day he thought that he was poor

he discovered how rich he was.

WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT

When we are young…just starting out…as little girls and boys

Why is it important for us to feel happiness and joy?

Why is it important at least one time every day

for a child to feel joy as they run or jump or play?

Because when we get a little older…there may come a day

when it is a little harder for us to run and jump and play…

On these days when we try…but our bodies are betraying

we can close our eyes and remember

the joy we had while playing.

On these days when we try…but our bodies may be slumping

we can close their eyes and remember

the joy we had while jumping..

On these days we will realize something altogether stunning

when we close our eyes we can remember

the joy we had while running.

A SHOOTING STAR

This morning while walking in the darkness

I hadn’t traveled very far

When I looked up…

and across the sky

I saw a shooting star.

A screech owl trilled, “Did you see that?”

(he was hidden from my view)

Then I heard a second hidden screech owl answer

“Yes, I saw it too!”

I stopped walking at that moment

(as I say I hadn’t traveled very far)

for I knew I needed to make a wish

upon that shooting star…

I know a shooting star is rare

I know what the astrologers say

If you make a wish on a shooting star

you’re in for a lucky day…

They say a shooting star is strange

extraordinary and bizarre…

they say that there is magic 

in the power of that star.

Today, however, I decided not to make a wish

and though it may cause astrologers to howl…

I decided I was lucky enough

to share this moment with the owls.

ISN'T IT CURIOUS

Isn’t it curious how, when we were young 

we had a simple view of dreams and memory?

Memories showed us how things were

and dreams…how things could be.

But now that we are older

we have a different point of view

as memories now remind us

of our dreams that have come true.

And isn’t it curious how when we were young

the world was fun, and innocent…and new

still secretly we wished

to do what grown-ups do?

But now that we are older,

and the world is not as fun, or innocent…or new

secretly we wish 

to do what children do?

DANCING ON HIS OWN

They grew up dancing at a time when people danced arm in arm

when dancing had a mystique

when people held hands, twirled together

and loved dancing cheek to cheek.

They met each other on the dance floor.

He remembers she was had on a polka dot dress and a pair of white gloves

It was during their first dance together…when they both fell in love.

They married, had children, grand and great

and lived a life of happiness and romance…

Their family fondly remembers…how they always loved to dance..

They remember seeing the love on their faces

How they danced till the last note of the music was done…

And they marveled at how two people …could move together as one.

When they danced it was as if no one else was on the floor…

And they continued to dance together…until she could dance no more.

When she was gone his family was concerned…

for not only was he alone…

But often they would find him…dancing on his own.

Until he assured them he was happy…that he was not dancing on his own

that as long as he was dancing…he would never be alone.

And when he danced it was as if no one else was on the floor

And he continued to dance this way until the day he could dance no more.

When he was gone there were a few tears 

but on the faces mostly smiles shown…

For everyone knew they were reunited 

and he’d never again dance on his own.

SILHOUETTE AMONG THE STARS

“Why do you stop so often on our evening walks?” she asked.

“Are you captivated by the moon, or Jupiter…or Mars?”

“No.” He smiled. 

“Not by the moon, or Jupiter…or Mars.”,

“It’s the only time I get to see the beauty of your silhouette among the stars.”

STILL SEARCHING

If you’re lucky enough to fall in love…to have love enter your life…

from your parents, your friends your relatives, your partner or your wife…

Once you have been blessed …and that seed of love is planted

you cherish every moment……you take not a thing for granted.

For over the years there is a truth…a lesson about love that you’ve learned:

how it feels wonderful it when you give it…and even more wonderful when it’s returned..

And you truly believe that this feeling will forever be extending

never giving a thought that your love story has an ending.

You get so involved in love

in its mystery, its excitement and it’s laughter

that you think the only way your fairy tale will end

is happily ever after.

But when someone you love stops loving you

when they say they’ve had enough

or when a loved one dies…or for whatever the reason

the road turns from smooth…to rough

you find yourself crying and moaning

and you hope 

and you wish 

and you pray…

because in your heart you know that fairy tales

aren’t supposed to end this way.

Then somehow with the help of your friends,

your siblings, your father and your mother

you discover the end of one fairy tale 

can be the beginning of another.

So you jump on your white horse

and with your injured soul

and your heart in need of mending

you turn to the next page of your Fairy Tale…

in search of your happy ending.

SO MUCH MORE THAN PIE

The older we get we realize…

although we have the same amount of time each day

it is hard to get together with people we love…

as so many ‘things’ get in our way.

When it comes to our nephew and his wife…

this was a trend we wanted to defy.

The solution it turned out was quite simple…

our mutual admiration…for pie

So we made a date…a chance to meet…

to look each other in the eye

to talk about our lives 

our adventures

and to do this over a slice of pie.

And we did…

we met…

we talked like we always do…

we shared a laugh…

a cry 

and the conversation went down smoothly…

just like that slice of pie.

As we talked…as we reconnected…

how quickly time flew by…

and before we knew it we had finished…

our conversation…

and our pie

And I thought how wonderful it was to meet this way

as we hugged and said goodbye

and how easy it is to share the beauty of life

over a slice of pie

We decided to do this again and soon as possible

(not to oversimplify)

because we know time spent together with those we love

is about much more than the pie.

ON MY KNEES

Watching a sunset the other night accompanied by a cool Atlantic breeze

I remembered something my granddaughter once said…

and I got down on my knees.

We were also watching a sunset when I heard, “PopPop pick me up.” 

her reasoning was clear

“I want to see what you see…everything looks different from down here.”

I guess I hadn’t thought much about it ’til then…

I wasn’t as introspective

but she was right…

so much of how we see life has to do with our perspective…

When we look out on the world what we see is the sum

of who we are, of what we know…and where we’re looking from.

Our shared view of that sunset was different for her than it was for me

mine was colored by age, experience and time…

hers was more innocent and free.

When I picked her up, here eyes widened and she whispered in my ear,

“I can’t believe how beautiful the sun looks from up here”.

And I whispered back, “I only hope from wherever you may stand

as you grow up, your view of the world, will always be this grand”.

And as for me I hope that childhood innocence is something I’ll never lose…

as I try to experience what the world looks like from a myriad of views

.

Which is why when I stand watching a sunset these days…

in the cool of an evening breeze

and I remember something my granddaughter said…

I get down on my knees

WHEN OR PATHS CROSS

PATHS THAT CROSS

After crossing paths with a parent of two of my former students 

it instantly occurred to me…

how our paths that once crossed everyday…now cross infrequently

I immediately remembered her smile and how her family always found a way

to make my life a little brighter…when our paths crossed every day

And it made me wonder:

Is it possible the people we meet in life are part of our destiny

that our paths don’t cross by accident…but our meetings are meant to be?

Is it possible from each person…certain wisdoms will emerge…

that promise to reshape us…when our destinies converge?

Is it possible we are like two rays of light with intersecting beams

two independent rivers crossing in midstream?

That at the point we cross…the moment our two paths are combined

We capture part of who they are…and leave some of who we are behind?

So when our paths divide…what we had together is not lost…

and we have been forever changed…once our paths have crossed?

Seeing her immediately set a host of memories in me free

Allowing me to look back in time at the person I used to be.

Reminding me of all I gained in the short time our two paths merged…

for this in one of the blessings when destinies converge.

I am thankful our paths crossed…

thankful it was our destiny

I only hope I influenced her family 

as much as they did me.

TO A BROKEN HEART

What can I say to ease your sorrow? In a lifetime of words I’ve spoken…how do I find the right ones…

to ease a heart that’s broken?

When I see that you are hurting…that you’re struggling

know this to be true…

Because I know you…admire you…love you…

my heart is breaking too.

I am struggling with how to act…knowing I can’t make your pain go away.

I’m struggling knowing what to do….finding the right words to say.

I know the right words at the right time

might soothe your heart and brighten your day. 

While the right words at the wrong time

will fall like the first snow of winter and quickly melt away.

I am also struggling because it’s often hard to determine…often hard to see

exactly when the right time is…exactly what the right words might be.

With that in mind…I offer these words today…it’s all that I can do…

Read them now if you are ready…

or wait till the time is right for you.

Know that just like other setbacks you have faced 

you will emerge from this one…it’s true!

for scars are merely a part of life…and can be beautiful too. 

Know that as sad as you are there will come a time…

only you know where…or when…

you will hurt a little less…

smile a little more 

and find your happiness again.

Know that as long as I am living …through your sunshines and your rains

I will rejoice in all your joys…I will share in all your pains. 

And finally, no matter what happens to you in life…

let this in your heart be known…

as long as I am living…

you will never be alone.