Saturday, April 7, 2018

WHEN A TREE DIES

They were walking in the forest when the little boy started to stare
“Daddy, when a tree dies in the forest,” he asked, “does anybody care?”

“Are their other trees around him who will cry or weep or moan?
Does a tree have other tree friends…or does it die alone?”

“A tree has many friends.” His father said. “You can see them all around.”
Then he sat his son upon the very tree that had fallen to the ground.

“Trees and the all the trees around them have many sisters, many brothers
And with the help of the sun, the rain and the Earth they rely on one another.”

“They rely on each other for food and shelter…and when it’s time to say goodbye 
I do believe they mourn together…I do believe they cry.”

“Look upon the ground beneath you” the father said, it’s proof of how trees grieve.
When one of their own has fallen…their teardrops are their leaves.”

“When one tree dies word is sent through all tree roots. 
It travels to the their ears
and they weep for one another until the ground is covered with their tears.”

“Tears that gracefully fall to Earth,
tears all trees release,
tears that form a blanket
so their friends can rest in peace.”

“No…you needn’t worry about trees my son.” the father said.
“These leaves prove they are never on their own….
and prove that any tree that passes

will never die alone.

Friday, April 6, 2018

CAMPING LESSONS

Our first camping trips is over and as the last log in the campfire burned
I got to thinking about this adventure and wondering what I’ve learned.

I’ve learned while out in nature life moves at a slower pace,
how the smallest flower in the forest can bring a smile to my face.

I’ve learned to greet the moon each morning as she gently floats across the sky,
that there is pleasure to be found just watching butterflies.

I’ve learned to marvel at the artistry in a sky painted pink and blue
and how squirrels as well as mosquitoes enjoy their camping too.

I’ve learned how we are but a tiny part of this planet,
that there’s a multitude of diverse creatures living out there,
that this Earth is not here for us to take,
it is here for us to share.

I’ve learned how everything’s important
from the littlest sapling to the largest stone
and how the quiet of the morning has a beauty all it’s own.

I’ve learned that there is perfect symmetry 
between the blossoms and the weeds
and when a head bangs the corner of a camper window
how quickly it will bleed.

I’ve learned how easily people harmonize…
how a smile and kindness are the key
to bringing us together
as one big family.

I’ve learned that life moves ever forward,
how rapidly time flows
how years can pass like seconds…
how quickly grandchildren grow.

And as we hook our camper up for our next adventure
I’ve learned no matter where we roam
If we have people we love next to us…
and in our hearts
wherever we stop…
is home


Thursday, April 5, 2018

SHE ROSE

I never met Maya Angelou but we would have been friends I often surmise.
I was not blessed to know her but I did witness her rise.

I admired the way her words sang to my heart…
words of her life her truth her fears…
and when I heard her recite her poetry it was music to my ears.

She did not have an easy life, she had her share of woes
but hope lifted her up and up and up…and she rose…oh how she rose.

She found during life’s hard winter the key to eternal spring
and when she felt like a caged bird she taught that bird to sing.

She would not let others tear her down.
She deflected hatred’s blows.
And somehow with a smile on her face
She rose…like the air…she rose.

She held her head up high as she walked proudly down the street.
She even learned to dance with diamonds on her thighs
despite people stepping on her feet.

How hard it must have been for her to be poetry in a world of prose.
but through her words and actions… 
She rose…so high…she rose

I wish I would have met her
I would have told her how she glows…
How she gave my life more meaning
As she so magnificently rose.

I would have loved to be at her funeral.
I would have kept my eyes open…never closed.
I would have smiled as heaven called her
And she rose
She rose

She rose

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

66 days

Without making a big deal of this…without sounding too dramatic 
studies have shown it takes an average of 66 days for a behavior to become automatic.

I don’t bring this up casually…I have an ulterior motive instead.
Since we’ve had our new little camper…I’ve become worried about my head.

Oh, I love the camper so far and Deborah heartily agrees
but there is a part of this new camper that has it in for me.

We have these lovely windows that open out to let in fresh air
But they should come with a huge sign on them…
A sign of warning…a sign…BEWARE!

Because when I am not careful (and that is often) my face turns a bright red
when I bump into this window and blood gushes from my head.

And you think I’d learn my lesson…you’d think I’d remember when…
I hit my head that first time…but I banged it once again.

The third time I had my phone in my hand…
this bang did not put one bruise upon my head
but I flinched away so violently my phone flew…
and I cracked it’s face instead.

Which leads me to wonder how many more times will it take?
Will this head banging ever cease?
How many more bruises and broken phones 
before the window and my head reach a peace?

Then I remember it takes 66 days for a new behavior…a habit to grow
And I gaze at the window and wonder what my head will look like…

with 63 more days to go

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

LISTENING TO THE MOON

The entire campground is still slumbering this morning.
perhaps I’ve risen a bit too soon?
But it has provided me the opportunity
to listen to the moon.

There are no sounds of people
no children running around.
There is only the light of a waxing moon
and I find myself listening to the sounds…

It’s too dark to take a morning walk
so I sit basking in the moon’s glow
And I listen as, from high above, she conducts her morning music
soft and low.

The crickets who she conducted to play fast and loud last night
Allegretto….Crescendo …Prestissimo
realize the concerts almost over 
as she conducts them soft and slow.

The morning breeze and trees perform together.
There is percussion all around.
The soft cymbals of the rustling leaves…
falling branches drumbeat to the ground….

Then out of this peaceful symphony 
the moonlight settles on the wing
of one bird…and one bird only
as the moon conducts her now to sing.

And I revel in the harmony and the beauty
And feel lucky I’ve risen so soon
blessed to sit in the darkness

and listen to the moon.

Monday, April 2, 2018

SOFT HEARTS

They say the very young and the very old have the softest hearts.
That one possesses wisdom while in the other innocence dwells.
Which is perhaps, they say, why these two ends of the rainbow
get along so well.

As I was walking in the park he came up from behind…
He gently took my hand in his…he had something on his mind.

There were birds along the waters edge…
he didn’t wait for my assent…
he pointed in their direction, tugged my hand
and, quickly, off we went.

We chased the birds to our mutual delight…
his grip…determined, safe and strong.
The birds would fly away then fly right back
happy to play along.

He was not afraid to be near the water…
not afraid of the unknown…
Instinctively he knew by holding hands
he was not there alone.

We only walked together for a little while
before his interest realigned…
But even as he toddled off
he left his palm print etched in mine….

I say it matters not how old you are
if you walk hand in hand with a young one often…
every time they slip their hand in yours

your heart is bound to soften.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

TINY DANCER

The music began to play and as the dancers began to stir
the eyes of the the crowd settled on the them…
but I was watching her.

She had been playing with her stuffed unicorn…which she dropped…to my surprise
when she saw the young ones dancing…and then she stood there…mesmerized.

She slowly toddled up to them…and I watched as the seeds of dance were sown.
Proving, once again, dance and the music that inspires it has a language all it’s own.

Then slowly, ever so slowly, she began swaying to the beat
Perhaps in that one moment…she was dreaming with her feet.

Perhaps she did more than wonder as she watched the dancers spin and reach their hands up to the sky…
Perhaps in that moment she understood…
she didn’t need wings to fly.

Then she danced the way we all should dance…
with no inhibitions…just having fun
And I thought, if there is a shortcut to happiness…
dancing must be one.

I watched her smile as she danced and spun…
with no more thoughts of unicorn…
And I felt blessed to be there to witness…
A tiny dancer being born.