Late Afternoon Snooze

One never knows for sure 

when the Sandman will drift

tiny grits of fine sand

into the corners of my eyes ~

lids weighing heavily despite

Herculean efforts to prevent closure while the television entertains, eyes fluttering open only to realize that lovers have finally embraced in the midst of my nap. Passion is neglected on a sleepy afternoon.

“Two things are infinite: the universe and naps; 

and I’m not sure about the universe.”

~ Albert Einstein

Early Morning

In the early morning

picking up the newspaper

set on the table inside,

walking across the foyer

swept clean of yesterday

to the elevator carrying

awakening staff to work ~

each human heart

filled with passion to

shelter and care for

those unable to

shelter and care for themselves ~

even when arms and legs feel

heavy and stiff with early morning.

“They know these mornings well and love them desperately because

 they cannot last - these people who know that nothing lasts.”

~ Peter S. Beagle, A Fine and Private Place

Below the Hovercraft

Global passionate concerns about climate change

hover menacingly over our daily lives while humanity 

sucks, scrapes and fracks 

our lands dry of oil, 

disturbing eco systems and 

the land's natural order of life. 

Forests logged and cut down 

indiscriminately 

create an irrevocable unworld

except in the daily lives

that say ‘no’ and ‘stop’

in communities and neighbourhoods

where passion for our grassroots

remains healthy and strong.

“The Earth is what we all have in common.”

~ Wendell Berry

Beautiful Survival

Never-ending rolls of beauty and form, sound and fury are displayed all around us. Whether outside in parks, along sidewalks and up in the blue, blue sky or in the items we’ve chosen for our homes. I’m not talking singularly about sculptures or paintings. In parks, the passion and care of the designers has created beautiful structure and form of trees and flowers. Passion that extends to local environmental concerns, that will promote the best growth for these beautiful natural sculptures. Along sidewalks, it may be a single rose or poppy that grows on a rock walk or climbing an old fence. Up in the blue, blue sky? A horse tail cloud drifting lazily or maybe a clear summer sky being threatened by great castles of thunderous storm clouds. In my home, I look around to see what is beautiful. It definitely is not an art gallery of any great import. Each item, from a handsome acrylic painting or framed high school picture, a rocking chair or any of my items that I like to call ‘my stuff’ has the beauty of ancestors, family, friends and experiences. Balls of yarn being crocheted into gifts for babies, children or something just for me. Beauty can be also be found in the laughter, or tears, of children. Temper tantrums, not so much, but exquisite in their own detail. The destruction and sadness of thunder storms and temper tantrums often only bring out the beauty of the human spirit to survive. The desire and will to take one more step in this life. I guess I’m feeling particularly grateful today for my good fortune in all of the experiences I’ve had in life ~ the good and the not so good.

“Survival starts by paying attention to what is close 

at hand and immediate. To look out with idle hope 

is tantamount to dreaming one’s life away.”

~ Yann Martel,  Life of Pi

Quilted Memories

Outlandish stitches of colours and shapes remind me of quilting. I’m not a quilter like one of my sisters, like friends from here and abroad but I do appreciate the skill, creativity and yes the passion of quilters. My one completed attempt, made over thirty years ago, was a little lap blanket that was repurposed to be a faithful yoga mat. That quilted yoga mat, not really long enough, was retired a number of years ago because it had become faded and many of the beautiful little squares had come loose from their stitching. It is so fragile now that it’s resting place is on the back of a rocking chair. Remembering the day that I made it always qualifies as a warm fuzzy. A colleague of mine from my Texas days and I had a quilting day. This friend and very passionate quilter I have completely lost touch with as our paths separated soon after that lovely sunny day. She was a quilter with a collection of brilliantly coloured fabric prints. She showed me the measure and cut for this project, where and how to line up the panels so that I actually created this precious small quilt. 

I tell you about this because it is what I like to call ‘experience in memory’. I have loved going through boxes and suitcases of pictures, and more recently, paging through my digital photo albums. I still prefer the tactile nature of photographs. But I digress. Back to the little tattered, faded lap quilt and yoga mat. Each time I gently pick it up, carefully refold it, or even just glance at it, I remember that day. It’s not the sewing machine or my friend’s home, but is the sunny day working with the passion of that friend about quilting. I have not taken up quilting due to that experience but have appreciated quilters, their passion for quilting and the many quilts that have covered me and in general, grace my home. They each have their stories.

“You should *have* an experience; it shouldn’t just *be* an experience,”

~ Alan Cumming

Timing ~ 2

Intuition’s ideas percolate and bubble

 ~ mostly in the shower

or while driving in heavy traffic

or in the midst of a sneeze

or taking a walk

What is the trick to remembering?

The trick is that there is no trick ~

passion for belief 

 in beauty, 

    in life and living,

      in creativity

like a golden thread 

will bring the ideas back

when it is time…….

“Intuition is seeing with the soul.”

~ Dean Koontz

What's Missing?

Something’s different 

but not amiss ~

All chairs, pillows, tables, 

even clutter still in place ~ maybe a bit dusty,

gardens still growing

tomatoes hanging 

wait to redden in the sun

But 

something’s different

Quick! Look around

maybe the laundry’s not done

no ~ empty laundry basket

a window left open?

no ~ stuffy and close in here

Hmmm.

Something really is different!

a quick look in the mirror

gray hair flying away as usual

earrings on ~ clothing, maybe a bit drab, 

but neat and tidy

Sigh.

just an ordinary sigh?

not a big sigh of exasperation?

just a sigh!

That’s what it is!

no worries!

anxiety has flown the coop

calm and passion simmers softly in my soul.

Wow!

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

~ Winston S. Churchill