A WESTERN CIVILIZATION

Gandhi was a kind, nonviolent man whose wisdom is widespread…

When asked what he thought about Western Civilization

“I think it would be a good idea.” he said.

A civilization that treated all people with tenderness, 

with love and with affection

that accepted everyone in life 

without reservations or exceptions.

A civilization filled with tolerance, 

with mercy and charity…

A civilization where people work together…

where everyone was free…

As Gandhi said it is a good idea…

a civilization that is kindhearted…

and if we are going to create one…

perhaps we should get started.

WAITING FOR THE WIND

When he looked up at the sky, 

and saw the clouds 

he grinned….

then he climbed up to the top of his tree

and waited for the wind

TO THE STARS AND BACK

We thought his rocking horse would only be ridden in the house….

but it was imagination that we lacked….

for he road to castles,

over rivers, 

through the trees…

then to the stars and back.

FIRST AND LAST

They were asked:

what makes your love so easy

so innocent, 

so beautiful…

so vast?”

They answered:

Every day we treat each other as if it’s the first day we ever met,

and 

as if it is our last.

HOW MANY TIMES

He was moving out to be on his own. 

She was filled with happiness…and dread

“Drive safe…don’t forget to call me when you get there…

and remember…I love you…she said.

“Mom!” he said rolling his eyes, then smiling facetiously, 

“I wonder in all the years I’ve lived here…

how many times have you said I love you to me.”

Which immediately started her thinking as her heart was beginning to bleed

“How many times have I said I love you?” she whispered.

“How many times indeed.”

“How many times have I held you in my arms?

How many times have I seen you laugh, seen you cry?

How many times have I read you a story or sang you a lullaby?”

“How many sandwiches have I made for you?

How many cookies or pies or ice cream?

How many lunches have I packed you over the years

How many times have I watched as you dream?”

“How many times have I worried about you?

How many solutions to your problems did I seek?

How many times have I bandaged your knees?

How many tears have I wiped from your cheeks?”

“In all of the times I’ve hugged you hello,”

She said as a tear fell from her eye,

“I never dreamed this day would come

the first time I’d be hugging goodbye.”

“So no matter how many times we say goodbye

each time for me is going to be rough

and no matter how many times I’ve told you I love you

one more time is never enough.”

I WANTED TO WERITE A POEM ABOUT HATE

I wanted to write a poem about hate…

as a way to understand it

but the more I tried…the more this poem…

didn’t go the way I planned it…

I wanted to write a poem about hate…

but the more I searched my brain

I found hate much too complicated…

too difficult to explain…

I wanted to write poem about hate…

instead the best I can do

is write about something I’ve often wondered about

something…I believe to be true….

Something we all need to be reminded….

to remember before it’s too late…

how we were created by love…to love

not created by hate…to hate.

It’s funny:

I wanted to write a poem about hate

because lately…it’s what I’ve been thinking of

but when I sat down to actually write it

all I could think about

was love.

FUTURE MEMOIRES

Immediately upon entering the house 

she squeezes her husband’s hand and sighs

for she can see so many future memories

unfolding before her eyes.