MOON GLOW

If I may be so bold…when you start to get a little old

you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night.

But for whatever reason…depending on the season

you may be treated to some fascinating sights.

Up last night it caught my eye…the moon up in the sky

because the light outside seemed to be flowing.

It came as a surprise to me 

when I stepped out on the porch to see

the ground, the sky and all the trees were glowing.

When I stand in the glow of the moon oftentimes I swoon

as I’m reminded of a place from long ago.

Where I was happily creating 

with friends whom I was skating

joy...at a rink…its name…Moon Glow.

I remember the freedom of the skate…sometimes I’d have a date

I remember sweating…skating backwards…having fun.

I remember gliding, falling down and then…

getting up…skating again

I remember dance contests and races I never won.

Every now and then when blinded…by the night…it’s good to be reminded

of the innocence of youth from long ago

A time of no responsibilities…

when we skated round and round with ease…

Perhaps that’s why I love the moon glows so.

And though my skates are now retired…my skating days expired

when I wake up in the middle of the night I never know…

what beauty I will see…spreading out in front of me

Like the nights when the ground, the sky and all the trees begin to glow.

NIGHT RAIN

I love to listen to the rain. I love to feel it, to smell it, to stand in it a while

I am not ashamed to say…I am a pluviophile.

I love to sit on the porch and watch and listen as the raindrops fall

sometimes they can come down loud…other times they make no sound at all.

I love watching the rain advance in the middle of the day

with the thunder announcing its visit and lightning showing the way.

But there is something about a night rain…the one I cannot see

that stirs my imagination and fuels my fantasy.

The night rain comes as a surprise…completely unexpected

It softly tiptoes in, surreptitiously…undetected.

At first I think it is the wind…for the wind and rain share a melody

and in the darkness of the night…neither can I see.

So I step out on the porch and by then it’s very plain

It wasn’t just the wind….as I’m greeted by the rain.

Then off in the distance I hear a sound I hadn’t heard before

as the thunder muted by the night whispers instead of roars.

Then I see the lightning blink…across the sky I see it splash

and I smile thinking even God when he’s taking pictures knows at night to use a flash.

And for a while I am happy to sit and listen to the night sky weep

but eventually I head to bed and let the rain serenade my sleep.

With the hope that in the morning memories of my dreams will still remain 

for are there any better dreams than those inspired by the rain?

MOONLIGHT

On the porch last night I felt a familiar pull when I noticed through the clouds how the moon was full.

As I listened to each song the crickets sung…I remembered back to when our son was young.

As we sat on this porch at the end of the day he asked me, “Dad, why does the moon fade away?”

“I’ve seen it many times at night and noticed something is not quite right.”

“What makes the moon go out and then…what makes it come back on again?”

“Don’t worry son,” I said, “don’t feel perplexed.  “The moon that sines has not been hexed.”

“Once a month the moon is full…and we all enjoy her brilliant glow.”

“Then gradually she becomes less round..because the moon’s light bulb is running down.”

“The man in the moon does not mope or pout…he waits patiently till the moon is out.”

“Then he reaches into his overalls pocket…and pulls out a new bulb for the moon’s light socket.”

“He screws it in and there you are…the moon again is a shining star.”

I suppose as an answer to my son’s inquisition… I could have explained how the Earth. the moon and the sun all change positions

I could have told him that the moon he sees…changes relative to his geometries.

But one of the reasons for a parent’s creation…is to stimulate their children’s imagination.

And could there be a better way…than watching a full moon fade away….

And now years later I wonder as he sits on his porch listening to the crickets tune…

if he still looks for the man in the moon…

Hoping tonights the night he comes into view…

If he does he’ll be glad to know…that I do too.

ALL A PERSON NEEDS

Her daughter loved visiting the older couple who lived next door

but after the lady’s husband died the daughter said, “I don’t want to visit her anymore.”

“She’s so sad every time I see her…and she still talks to her husband too.

It makes me a little uncomfortable…I don’t know what to do.”

Her mom said, “I understand your feelings but surely you have to see

now that her husband is gone…how lonely she must be.”

“But what can I do to help her?” she asked…”She’s acting awful strange.

It’s not the same when I visit now…everything has changed.”

Her mom looked into her eyes then patter her on her head.

“I think the best thing you can do…is just be her friend.” she said.

“Let her be sad, let her cry, let her be somber. let her be grim…

Remember she lost someone she loved…and she wasn’t done loving him.”

“I imagine right now she needs a friend…who quietly by her side will stay

and listen…just listen…until her sorrow fades away.”

And so the daughter followed her mom’s suggestion…

and though she’s not sure exactly when

slowly she noticed her friend began to smile again.

She began talking about other things…found other reasons to be glad…

until the day thoughts of her husband…no longer made her sad.

And the daughter learned a valuable lesson…

about how one doesn’t always have to intercede….

sometimes just knowing a friend is near 

is all a person needs.

BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS

How many beautiful moments are in a day?

You’ll find its a staggering amount.

Imagine if you tried to add them up…how quickly you’d lose your count…

And to show what I am talking about..to prove what I’m saying is true

let me take a moment and identify a few.

I get up early every day…before the night has gone

I enjoy the quiet of the morning…I am partial to the dawn.

When I listen in the darkness sometimes I hear animals on the prowl

and before the sun begins to rise I listen to the wind and to the owls.

And though I like to think I’m as quiet as a lamb

somehow the owl must hear me…and keeps asking who I am,

I like to listen to the crickets and on this I am resolute…

once the owls nod off to sleep…the crickets follow suit.

This is followed almost immediately by the chirping of the birds

Imagine every morning!…a concert without words..

The concerto reaches a crescendo as it floats in on the breeze

which is quickly joined by sunbeams as the dance among the trees.

The dancing seems to tire the sunbeams…for they stop and seek relief

and spend the rest of the day at rest…seated on a leaf.

I imagine they are preparing themselves for night fall

for as the sun descends

the sunbeam thanks the leaf for sharing

and begins to dance again.

These are but a few of the day’s beautiful moments

and I hope when the day is done 

although I am partial to the morning

I’ve taken advantage of each one.

DEAR GODS

Dear Gods,

This plea goes out to all of you 

at the top of belief systems across all our lands.

We thank you for having the faith 

to put the fate of the world in our hands.

But after all this time you must be aware

I’m sure wherever you dwell it is known

that we humans haven’t done such a good job

down here 

on this Earth

on our own.

We could use a little help…

surely from wherever you are you have seen

the ways we mistreat our planet and one another…

and we ask you now…

please intervene.

Dear Gods it is time you get together 

before it is to late

and drive out the evils we’ve created in our world 

and extinguish all our hate.

Help us revitalize our planet 

help us live in peace not constantly at odds

help us be the people you created us to be…

Help us!

Please help us…

Dear Gods.

BROKEN HEART

I have witnessed so many tragedies of late…

many my country’s created…

I am frustrated…I am discouraged…

I’m completely devastated.

But as I watch the people agonized by all these tragedies

for whatever reason we’ve torn their families apart…

It leads me to wonder…

If there is anything in this world more destructive…

or heavier than a broken heart?

My country is acting in ways I never thought possible

doing things I never thought we’d do…

And under the weight of the sorrow we’ve caused

my heart has broken too.