WHEN SOMEONE WE KNOW DIES

There is no cure for the sorrow we feel

(It’s one reason that we cry)

no antidote for the pain

when someone we know dies.

We immediately wonder why her…why now…

how we would have loved just one more day

one more moment…

one more memory

when someone we know passes away…

Our mind flashes back to certain moments…

wonderful memories we linger on

as the joy we feel for having known her

mixes with the sadness that she’s gone.

Our memory happily jumps back and forth.

We give thanks she was ever sent to us

and we hope and pray she understood

everything she ever meant to us.

We couldn’t have created a better friend

If we had planted seeds ourselves then grown her

and we know our lives will never be the same

and we are better people…having known her.

So we are content to grieve a moment…

knowing in our hearts she wouldn’t mind…

knowing the sadness we feel today

will acquiesce to the joy she left behind…

Yes, today we’ll allow sorrow to envelop us

we’ll linger in our tears a while

knowing in the future

every time we think of her

with every memory…

we’ll smile.

THOUGHTS ON A SUNSET

Yesterday while watching the sun set

I thought how nature is so beautiful…

and yet

I find myself hesitant…afraid

at the world before me man has made

At all the horrible things we’re doing

At all the bitterness and hatred brewing

As the sun descended this thought entered my mind

There is a way to make the world kind?

And though this may be hard for some to swallow

I believe it depends on who we follow.

What if at sunset…when today is done

We stop following fools with power…fools with guns

And when we awake to a new sunrise

We follow only leaders whom we think are wise.

So at future sunsets we’ll just enjoy the view

Like, I believe, we were meant to do.

THE AMBULANCE IS ON ITS WAY

We all heard the siren while on the road that day.

We all immediately slowed down…pulled off the road

there was an ambulance on the way.

And I thought to myself:

it isn’t likely 

the person hurt…

is any one we knew

but how wonderful 

everyone instinctively 

allowed the ambulance to go through.

We had no way of knowing if the person hurt

was black 

or white, 

if they were 

a muslim, 

a jew 

or gay.

We only knew someone was in trouble 

and there was an ambulance on the way.

And I wondered:

if we knew the person hurt 

was black

or white, 

if we knew they were gay

a muslim, 

or a jew 

would that have changed the way some of us reacted…

would we have still allowed the ambulance through? 

And it made me long for a world where we don’t care 

if a person 

is black 

or white, 

where we don’t care 

if they are a muslim, 

a jew 

or gay

A world where we treated everyone 

as if

the ambulance was on its way.

GRANDPA'S CHAIR

GRANDPA’S CHAIR

One day as we visited Grandpa and saw him sitting there

we thought it was probably the right time to buy him a new chair.

He’s sat in that one forever…when he moves around…it creaks

the cushions are uneven…and one arm rest is weak.

The stitching barely holds together…not much if it remains

and where Grandpa loves to lay his head…is permanently stained.

It’s time for a new one, we all thought, and we were so excited

knowing Grandpa was going to love it…knowing he would be delighted.

But it didn’t go quite as we expected…I guess our thinking was a little out of whack

because when he presented it to Grandpa…he said, “Thanks…but take it back.”

Then Grandpa smiled at the lot of us…and after letting out a sigh

sat back in his old chair and explained his reasons why.

This is the chair I was sitting in when you all first came to visit me.

This is where I held each one of you…where I bounced you on my knee.

This is where we watched TV together…where I put you on my lap

where after a day of playing whatever game you wanted…we’d sit down and take a nap.

This is where I’ve sat each Christmas watching the magic taking place

From here I’ve watched you all grow up…with a smile on my face 

From here I’ve smiled at your grandma…and wondered how she found a way

as we have both grown older…to look more beautiful every day…

Grandpa went on for a long time…(as Grandpa often would)

and well before he finished…we all understood.

So the next day we sat his new chair by the road with gentleness and care…

FREE, the note read, 

with one condition…

it must become a Grandpa chair.

HOW COULD HE HAVE KNOWN

While writing the story of his life

when he reached the part where his heart needed mending

how could he have ever known 

she would come along

and write his happy ending.

That she would create his joy

his comfort

would compose his music 

and his laughter

and the rest of the story would write itself

as

happily ever after.

BEING HUMAN

There are places in this world where seldom a day goes by 

where someone doesn’t weep.

Where the night rings out in gunshots…

and no one 

ever 

soundly sleeps.

Where, if you look and listen closely 

no children can be found

because where they used to play and run and laugh 

is now a battleground.

There are people in this world…

too many to count its sad to say

Who, if they don’t hear a bomb go off in 24 hours…

they say it’s a good day.

There are people living in constant fear…

who only want that fear to cease

who have given up everything they own 

for a chance to live in peace.

Who have been forced to leave their land…

where their neighborhoods and schools were burned

leaving the only home they’ve ever known…

never knowing if they’ll return.

Who go on a harrowing journey…

wondering will they live…

will they be sold…

and if they survive this arduous odyssey…

not knowing what their future holds.

Have you ever thought about their plight?

How their life has been forcibly redesigned….

How whatever joy they feel at being given a new life

Is mixed with sadness for the life they left behind? 

There are people in the world…

who only want a chance to grow 

to learn

and to be free

Men 

and women 

and children….

human beings…

like you and me.

There are other human beings who for whatever reason, 

hatred, 

bigotry 

or fear

refuse to acknowledge these other humans…

who scream…

You are not welcome here!

Who ignore their pleas for help, 

their heartache 

and their pain…

which makes wonder 

when did being human…

become so inhumane?

THAT OLD CAR

I saw her as we were driving…she was rusty, dented…out of place

But even with weeds growing all around her I saw pride upon her face.

I wondered how she ended up here…what paths…what roads she took…

so we turned off of the highway to have a closer look.

The years had altered her appearance still I couldn’t help but stare

because even though a little weathered…there was still much beauty there.

Where have you been old girl I wondered as I gave her hood a feel.

What kind of adventures have you had?

Who once sat behind your wheel?

Perhaps you were some young boy or girl’s first car…when they were but a teen.

Oh, the fun you must have had…Oh, the places you have seen.

Perhaps you took a couple on their first date…in the winter cold or summer heat…

Perhaps they fell in love right here as they sat upon your seat.

I wonder did you drive them to their wedding?

Was it a beautiful day in May?

Were you cleaned and polished and shiny?

Did they decorate you that day?

Did you drive them to the hospital…ignoring stop lights in the early morn

the days they needed you most…the days their babies were all born.

Did their children play upon your seats?

On long trips did they sleep upon your seams?

Did you ever see them gazing out your windows and wonder what they dream?

Of course she did not answer me…but after helping her reminisce a while

I’m pretty sure as we walked away 

when I turned back…

she smiled.