THREE WISHES

A genie offered him three wishes to change the world

Then asked, “What would your first wish be?”

The young man smiled at the genie then said,

“That’s an easy decision for me.”

“I wish for everyone…every person

every son 

every daughter, father and mother

to be kind to the Earth

to be kind to the animals

and to be kind…to one another.

The genie said, “You still have two wishes…

what are you going to do?

The young man smiled, “I don’t think I’ll need them 

as long as my first wish comes true”.

IN THE GLORY OF OLD AGE

They fell in love when they were young

at that time their love was all the rage

and through their jobs, 

their children 

their ups and downs

their love remained engaged.

With the children grown 

an empty house now became their stage

and their passion was rekindled

as they reached their middle age.

And now much older than before

they find their love is still the rage

as they settle down together

in the glory of old age.

WHEN WE CLOSE OUR EYES

The best way to get in touch with who we are…

with our true self…with where our true identity lies

would be as often as we can…to simply close our eyes.

Closing our eyes is easy…in fact it’s the best way

to make a wish, to think, to hope, to dream…to kiss…to pray.

In the darkness of our souls…is where our wisdom does impart

there within the silence is where we listen to our heart.

If we close our eyes before we meet other people

before a relationship can begin

we react to what we feel not how they look or the color of their skin.

When we close our eyes….in our heart we know this to be ironclad…

that any kind of slavery

always was, 

always is 

and always will be bad.

When we close our eyes we know human rights should not have to be won

they should be universal and apply to everyone.

When we close our eyes we know everyone should receive the same education

no matter who, how, when or where….

We know that no one should go hungry and we know everyone needs care.

In fact when you stop to think about it…it’s ironic but it’s true…

when we close our eyes we can clearly see what it is we need to do.

Which makes me wonder: would this world be a little better

would it be more compassionate and wise

If its people every now and then…took the time to close their eyes.

And would we all be a little kinder…all us women…all us men….

If we followed what our heart is telling us…

when we open them again?

A FLORIDA MAN

Sad to admit I’m a Florida man…a Florida man with the blues

because I’m tired of the way a Florida man is depicted on the news.

A Florida man attacks his girlfriend with a banana…

But that’s not the oddest story you’ll hear…

because another Florida man called 911…every time he ran out of beer.

A Florida man beat up an ATM…how strange, how odd…how brash.

The reason: he was angry when that ATM spit out too much cash.

A Florida man demolished a liquor store…took out the whole distiller…

and when the police arrived to arrest him…he blamed it on a caterpillar!

I don’t watch the news anymore…I’d rather digest an entire bottle of bran

because invariably there is a story that begins with the words:

A Florida man.

So for a change of pace and to alleviate our embarrassment and our shame

I offer you some news that shows all Florida men aren’t the same.

A Florida man wakes up every day next to his wife of 32 years

with whom he’s shared his joy, his sorrow…his laughter and his tears.

A Florida man has three grown children who have happily found their way

He even spoke to all of of those children on the phone…the other day.

A Florida man has four grandchildren…

who at one time thought his magic skills deft…

And even though they know most of his tricks…still think he as some magic left.

A Florida man has friends… and family and the more his life proceeds 

The more this Florida man realizes…he has everything he needs.

It may not be as sensational…it’s not filled with bananas or caterpillars or beer

but speaking as a Florida man…it’s the kind of news we’d love to hear.

A MOTHER'S LULLABY

She sang just above a whisper…her sleeping baby on her thigh

having already succumbed to the enchantment of her mother’s lullaby.

The mother nodded when we stopped to listen before moving along

Then smiled at her baby and continued with her song.

The street was a buzz of people…a briskly moving throng.

Everyone too busy…too preoccupied…to hear this mother’s song.

But we felt privileged…

we felt honored we were there to spy

one of the greatest gifts we can witness in life…

a mother’s lullaby.

SHE WILL FLY AGAIN

When her son died she was broken…like a wounded bird

unable to fly as her sorrow and her anger

wrestled with each other to be heard.

Some days her sorrow would win…and her crying would not stop

Other days it was her anger that climbed up to the top.

So many question left unanswered:

Why did this have to be?

Why take one so young and innocent?

Why him…instead of me.?

It was anger and sorrow and sorrow and anger…until she reached a point when…

she began to wonder if happiness would ever return to her again.

But her happiness was patient…it gave her all the time she needed to grieve

until slowly, quietly, gingerly…back into her life it did weave.

Then one day her smile resurfaced

It’s as if her heart that had stopped…resumed beating

and she began enjoying her happiness again

even if, at first, those moments were fleeting.

And though she will always be wounded…

she knows once again she will soar…

She knows once again she’ll spread her wings and fly….

just never as high as before.

WHERE DOES THE MUSIC GO?

He loved the nights when it was just the two of them

when his mother would take out her guitar

and they would sit together in the grass as she’d play music under the stars.

There in the cool of the evening he felt safe, secure and calm…

It’s where he realized he loved her music as much as he loved his mom.

One night as he leaned against her…listening to her show

he looked into his mother’s eyes and asked,

“Mom, where does the music go?”

She smiled as she picked him up and sat him on her knee…

“There’s magic in the music.” she said, “but not everyone can see.”

Every time a note is played it hovers in the air.

She picked a string on her guitar then pointed

“Do you see it…floating there?”.

“Keep watching as it only lingers for a short time before it travels far…

“I see it Mom I see it! He said. “I saw it land upon that star!”

Next she played a chord and he watched the notes hover for a moment 

a musical avatar…until they flew up to the sky and landed on a star.

“Some notes are rather slow”, she said, “and some, you’ll see, move quicker.”

“But they all end up on the stars.” she winked.  “That’s what makes them flicker.”

And to this day he smiles when he looks up as he walks under the night sky

Listening for its melodies….so he can watch the music fly.

As it reminds him of a time long ago when his mom would take out her guitar

the night she taught him how to see the notes

as they journey to the stars.

THE OLD MAN AND THE STARFISH

How many times in life is discovering the beauty…the grandeur…the sublime

just a matter of being in the right place at exactly the right time?

Take today for instance…in all the years we’ve been walking on this beach

All it’s vistas small and grand

until today we’ve never seen a starfish in the sand.

But today fate was generous…for, as our walk proceeded,

we saw a starfish swimming in a little pool created when the tide receded.

We were satisfied with our find…gratified and lighthearted…

but, luckily, the magic of the day was only getting started.

For walking down the beach behind us…straddling the shore

an old man who by the look of him had walked this beach before.

I brought his attention to the starfish somewhat stranded by the tide

and watched a smile fill his face and his two eyes opened wide.

I swear in that moment he seemed younger…his hair seemed a little less gray

when he told me his grandson was born 13 years ago on this very day.

He said he came to this very beach that day…to celebrate in the fresh salt air

and as we walked along the shore he saw starfish everywhere.

He said he hasn’t seen another starfish since as he’s been walking here these 13 years

and at that moment from his eyes escaping…I saw tears.

“So this is a good sign,” I said, “finding this starfish by the sea.”

“Tell your grandson Happy Birthday!”…and I left him with his memory.

It was the end of a beautiful morning where happiness seemed to drift in on the breeze 

and when I looked back I saw the old man laughing…in the sand down on his knees.

And I had to thank my lucky starfish for helping me discover the beauty

the grandeur…

the sublime

by putting me in the right place…

at exactly the right time.

BEAUTY AND HOPE

When the news is hard to handle and it’s difficult to cope

We like to take a long walk…and rediscover hope.

Today’s walk was along the shoreline and in the salty morning air

just as we had hoped…hope was waiting there.

As we walked along the beach early before arrival of the crowds

we found hope that cloudy morning in the sun peeking through the clouds.

We found hope in the faithfulness of the waves and the rolling of the seas

In the confidence of the gulls as they floated on the breeze.

We found hope in a couple holding hands..the woman pregnant…hope within her womb

In baby birds learning how to catch fish and in buds on flowers about to bloom.

Then up ahead we saw something we hadn’t seen on this beach before

A baby girl and a puppy…playing together along the shore.

The puppy was darting back and forth her tail wagging to and fro

The baby girl laughed and clapped her hands…and begged her mom to let her go.

We watched them as they played…as they danced together for a while

The longer we stayed, the more we watched…the broader was our smile.

Yes, after our walk together this morning we found it easier to cope…

for strewn along our path we found so many instances of hope. 

And we were reminded when we open up our hearts

as we stop to survey our domain….

all the troubles of the world seem to fade away…

and only beauty and hope remain.

TWO HANDS

It’s amazing what we can learn from other people who come from other lands

If we take the time to listen…if we take the time to understand.

I had a friend…from a different country…a far off distant land

who, on the day when we were introduced…extended his two hands.

I hesitated for a moment and, sensing my apprehension

He said, “In my country we shake with both hands to show you have our full attention.

He knew we came from different lands  with different traditions

different dialects

“Shaking with two hands.”he said, “is a way we show dignity and respect”.

He said, “It is how we hand each other food…

It’s the way we give each other a gift

and when someone we know is feeling down,” he smiled,

“two hands makes it easier to lift”.

And so every time I’d greet him…this man from a different land

as a show of dignity and respect…I’d extend him my two hands.

My friend got sick…and when he was dying…my friend from different land

I sat next to his bedside…and we grabbed each other’s hands.

With my two hands in his…as his life was slipping away

He said, “You see we’re not so different…with two hands is how we pray”.

When this pandemic is over…and our world once more expands….

I vow to greet everyone I meet…by extending my two hands.

SILENCE AND THE SOUL

Is it the irony of how we were created 

or part of nature’s secrets…

her mystique

that only in our silence 

can we hear our souls begin to speak?

THE COMET WE DID NOT SEE

When we first heard about the comet with the odd name- Neowise

and we heard that we could see it- we decided to search the skies.

We knew if we didn’t see it now it wouldn’t be back for another 7000 years

so we read and we researched and we knew the exact moment it would to appear.

Immediately after sunset, just below the Big Dipper the experts stated with astronomical glee

just above the horizon to the northwest….is where this comet ought to be.

So we arrived early as the sun was setting and in the beauty of her fading light

a sea breeze, perhaps also looking for the comet, joined us…cooling off the night.

As the kaleidoscopic sun settled into the ocean we watched pelicans and sea gulls soar

and stood mesmerized by the undulating ocean waves as they merged onto the shore.

We counted stars as each made its appearance 

and once the moon made her presence felt.

we greeted the Big Dipper and, of course, Orion’s belt.

We recognized the North Star…Venus and Jupiter and Mars

and while we awaited the arrival of our comet…we even saw a shooting star.

We searched across the horizon looking for our comet with the unusual name

and although the night was clear and cloudless…our comet never came.

But we were not unhappy at the comet we did not see 

because we both stood there in awe

of the waves, the stars, the moon, the birds….

and all the other things we saw.

And isn’t that one of the beauties of life…perhaps that is a key

that it matters not the things we miss…because there’s so much else to see.

So as we walked away knowing we missed the comet…

we did not shed one tear

and we decided we would try again…

in another 7000 years.

MY GOD

You may think I am peculiar…you may think me a little odd

when I still say I am not religious but I do believe in God.

So let me share with you for a moment…a few qualities I’ve compiled

Of my god…the one I’ve been praying to…since I was but a child. 

My God is not prejudiced…not bigoted…my God does not discriminate

My God is a God of Love and sharing…my God will never not hate.

My God sees the differences in all of us…and these difference my God lauds

My God even gets along…with all the other Gods.

My God is a God of hope and faith…not a God of doom

My God instills that hope in every seedling…and has faith that every flower will bloom.

My God believes in charity, he knows the key for people to live

Is not in how much they take in life...but how much they give.

My God believes in love…knowing love shall light the way

My God cares not if I am straight, or Bi, or lesbian or gay.

My God knows no war is holy and like me prays for them to cease

My God believes in kindness…my God believes in peace.

My God has given me the ability to decide what is right and what is wrong

My God knows I’ll make mistakes for he knows my journey’s long.

My God only asks that I show kindness and treat everyone the same

so when I die people will smile at the mere mention of my name.

For nothing in this world would bring a broader smile to my God’s face

than knowing everyone my God created would leave this world a better place.

As you may surmise from this list of qualities I’ve compiled

The God whom I still pray to…is the God I prayed to as a child.

If you think that makes me peculiar

If you think that makes me odd

know I am oddly, peculiarly happy

In the comfort of my God.

THE MEMORIES LEFT BEHIND

On the night of their grandma’s funeral their Dad said,

“I think that you will find…one way to help us through her loss

is to think of the memories she left behind.

The children remembered the taste and aroma of her baking

her gentleness…how much she cared…

The adults smiled as they interrupted one another… 

with the memories they shared.

It was wonderful, in a way, to see Grandma through each other’s eyes…

but the memory their grandpa chose left the rest of them surprised.

“I’ll remember her music.” Grandpa said as he smiled wistfully.

But they all knew grandma never played an instrument,

could not dance 

and always sang off key.

“Not that kind of music.” Grandpa said anticipating their surprise

It was the music in her smile…the music in her eyes.

“There was music in everything she did.” He smiled

“Music in the way she walked.

there was music in the way she slept

and music in the way she talked”.

And as sad as they all were that night

when they closed their eyes and listened 

even before their grandpa was through

somewhere in their darkness…

they could heard her music too…

Which is why whenever there is a death in their family

they always try to find

the aromas, 

the tastes 

and the music

in the memories left behind.

LAST DAY

If you knew today was to be your last day

are there things you’d want to say…and do?

Are there people you’d want to talk to

if you knew today is the last day you’d be you?

Is there someone you’d like to thank or apologize to

before the day you die?

Are there people you’d want to say ‘I Love You’ to

at least once…or once more…before you say goodbye?

If there is…if there is someone you’d want to talk to

If there is something you’ve wanted to say..

Why not say while there’s still time?

Why wait till your final day?

There are so many methods to tell someone you love them…

We can’t possibly count all the ways…

I imagine you’d run out of days to say them

before you run out of things to say…

And just think:

If you’ve said all the things you’ve wanted to say

and done all the things you’ve wanted to do…

Imagine the contentment you will feel

If this is the last day…you will be you.

A WALK ALONG THE SHORE

Their children would run ahead of them

as they walked along the shore

because next to the sea there’s so much to see…and so much to explore.

It’s where they found their imagination…the children would later say

discovered in the stories they’d invent about the things they found along the way.

Of the many shells they found on their walk…be they small or fat or thin

they would make up stories of who lived in them and where they might have been.

They’d talk of the different rooms inside the shells…

what was hidden behind their doors

what country this shell may have come from before finding its way to this shore.

If they happened upon a starfish…they would immediately mourn the death

of the star that fell to earth after taking its last breath.

They would hold it up and wonder how brightly it must have shined

and they would search the across the heavens for the hole it left behind.

When they’d find a piece of driftwood…they’d wonder about its trip.

Was it part of a row boat, a schooner, a yacht…or better yet…

a pirate ship?

They’d dream it was from a pirate ship…that sails the seas no more

and wonder if those pirates buried their treasure…somewhere along this shore…

Their parents have long since passed away…

but now it’s their children’s children who adore

discovering their imaginations 

on their walks along the shore.

  

PROTECTION

In the middle of a pandemic every time that she was asked

She said, “My God will protect me!”…and so she did not wear a mask.

Still the virus overtook her and her friends and family cried

as her breathing slowly stopped

and eventually…she died.

She arrived at the gates of her Heaven 

feeling frustrated, confused and admittedly…a little odd

“Why didn’t you protect me?” was the question she asked her God.

“I sent so many angels to you,” her God shrugged,

“each angel with a mask and willing to share it…

but every time they offered…

you refused to wear it.”

MOHTERS AND DAUGHTERS

When she was young after their bedtime story was read

and she began to count her sheep

her mother would sit by her bed and hold her hand until she nodded off to sleep.

Her mom was there to comfort her when each day was through…

“I’ll always be here to hold your hand,” she’d say,

“because that’s what mother’s do”.

For years this was their nightly routine…when each day was through

until she thought it silly…until it was something she outgrew.

Then came the moment they were to say goodbye..

and when it was time for her mother to count sheep…

she was there to hold her hand…as she nodded off to sleep…

Her mother looked into her eyes moments before her life was through

“I’m here Mom.” she said, “to hold your hand,…because that’s what daughters do”.

And while she held her mother’s hand…and felt her breathe her last…

she also felt a link to all the mothers and daughters in her family…

who have held hands in the past.

And she smiled through her tears…as not another word was spoken

proud to be a part…of a chain that stayed unbroken.

That night after reading her daughter a bedtime story

and watching her count her sheep

she held her hand as she always did

until she nodded off to sleep.

Happy to be there to comfort her when her day is through

knowing they will always be there for one another…

because that’s what mothers and daughters do.

ELEPHANTS IN THE CLOUDS

On my walk this morning….the wind was blowing loud

and as the moon lit up the darkened sky I saw elephants in the clouds.

What made this morning special…it wasn’t just one elephant I found…

No, everywhere I looked…there were elephants all around.

Elephants laughing, jumping, playing…elephants on the run

elephants doing somersaults…elephants having fun.

And I can say with confidence…I hadn’t had one drink

when I tell you one little elephant was waving at me…

and another one was pink!

I watched these elephants for a while…high up in the sky

until they began to fade away…until the little one waved goodbye.

And I had to smile as I wondered early…

alone…far from the maddening crowds:

How special is a day that begins

with elephants in the clouds?

MAGIC SEEDS

When the old man told him the price of the seeds…the farmer shook his head.

“You won’t be sorry…trust me….these are magic seeds.” The old man said.

“The flowers that grow from these seeds will make a beautiful and varied array…

And though the farmer knew all seeds were magical…he bought these seeds anyway.

He planted them in his garden where they would always be in view…

He watered them and he waited to see if the old man’s words were true.

And sure enough the farmer was amazed at the amount of flowers that grew.

He loved their different sizes…their contrasting colors, shapes and hues.

He would sit upon his porch for hours and hours on end

looking out upon his flowers…watching their shapes and sizes blend.

But inside the garden the flowers were unhappy at what the magic seeds created.

They saw the differences between them…and they were jealous…and they hated.

The tall flowers and short flowers hated each other…they called each other names

The white flowers thought they were the most beautiful…

The red, yellow, orange and purple flowers thought the same.

And the more they fought with one another…

the more their jealousy and hatred pervaded

The more the garden seemed to loose its beauty…

the more their hues and colors faded.

And the farmer could do nothing to stop it…and in the end he cried

the day his garden wilted…the day his flowers died.

And as he plowed his garden under…

he knew those magic seeds had power….

but was saddened that the magic in those seeds

never transferred to the flower.

WISHES

When I was just a little tyke…I imagine around two

My parents told me if I make a wish upon a star…there’s a chance it would come true.

To a child that was magical!  

I didn’t have to travel very far.

All I had to do was close my eyes and take a deep breath to make a wish upon a star.

And I kept my wishes coming…I couldn’t tell you the exact amount

because, as I say, I was a child and I didn’t know how to count.

When I grew a little older (not wanting to grow up too soon)

I thought, why make a wish upon a star…when I can wish upon the moon.

The moon is so much bigger and has a brighter hue.

Surely a wish made upon the moon…is a wish that will come true.

Still not all my wishes were granted…in fact…only a few

and I often wonder what would have happened if all those wishes had come true…

I mean that pet dinosaur I wished for absolutely would have been neat…

But how do you walk a dinosaur…and how much food does a dinosaur eat?

And that fire breathing dragon I wanted…to have…to hold…to keep

would have been great for roasting marshmallows…but where does a dragon sleep?

Still…whether or not they are realized we need wishes…we really do…
because wishes lead to dreams….and dreams sometimes do come true…

So at 67 I’ll continue making wishes…still hoping not to grow up too soon…

little wishes on the stars…and big ones…on the moon.

Knowing I’ll find a leash big enough to walk my dinosaur

even though feeding him wouldn’t be cheap….

and dreaming about eating toasted marshmallows every night

before my dragon and I fall asleep.

I'VE SEEN CHIULDREN WALKING

I’ve seen children…young boys…walking arm in arm

their faces in identical grins

I’ve seen them laughing….playing, hugging

without questioning the different colors of their skin…

I’ve seen girls and boys walking together

I’ve seen them playing…climbing trees

without questioning their different sexes…

all so young 

so innocent 

so free.

I’ve seen young boys walking hand in hand

I’ve seen young girls walking this way too…

never thinking that one day there will be people

who think this is taboo.

I’ve seen children walking united

I’ve seen how their love is strong…

and I’ve also seen them being taught

how these feelings might be wrong

Which makes me wonder…

when it comes to how to love one another

If we are searching fro the truth

perhaps the answers can be found

In the wisdom of our youth.

DOWN MEMORY LANE

An old picture shared on Facebook…stirred my heart, my soul…by brain

and immediately sent me on a trip…a trip down memory lane.

We were all so much younger…the six of us standing there.

Our children were still children…and I had much more hair.

A trip down memory lane makes you wonder…

especially when it’s a picture you’re looking at….

You wonder, what were we doing, where where we going

and did I really where an outfit like that!

I don’t remember the exact year…no matter how much effort I exert

I suppose it was a time in fashion…where a man’s shoes had to match his shirt!

But I do remember the people…they’re forever etched in my brain…

I remember the smiles on their faces…on this stop down memory lane.

I remember it was a beautify day…with warm and balmy weather…

but memories are like colors in the wash…then tend to run together.

I think we were heading to Busch Gardens…amusement park rides to endure…

I want to say that’s where we were going…but I really can’t be sure.

We could have been going for ice cream…for a boat ride on the sea…

We could have been white water rafting….or it could have been all three.

It seems when we’ve been blessed with a host of wonderful memories…

set adrift in our cognition….

whenever the opportunity arises…they jockey for position.

And you as the person remembering are totally unaware…

as one memory blends into another….both happy to breathe fresh air.

Which means when I look at this wonderful old picture

of three friends…two girls…one boy

I may not remember exactly where we went

but I’ll never forget our joy.

And isn’t that what’s most important…

how somehow the joy remains

even if the details are a little sketchy….

on a trip down memory lane.