Maybe Both

We are alive in

so many different ways 

whether walking down 

a snow covered sidewalk 

the trees still winter black 

lined with snow

or visiting with friends in 

a buzzing coffee shop telling 

each other tales of books, 

or recent events 

or the latest fashions. 

Passersby and neighbours 

live their lives while 

taking a walk along the frozen lake

or driving from here to there

There is no must be 

   or should be 

only what we each believe 

~ maybe a belief in 

stern, no smiling, 

one foot in front of the other, 

or it may be a belief 

    in the joy of being alive.

Maybe both?

“Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate 

or tortuous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.”

~ Joanne Harris, Chocolat

This Narrow Moment

Late  

more words 

to spill 

onto the page 

fitting into 

this narrow moment 

bracketed by sleepy eyes.

“There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.”

~ Homer,  The Odyssey

Listening to Music

Rhythm 

tap tapping of toes 

swaying 

embodying the music 

feeling the gentle dance 

envisioning the ride 

down a sun-drenched lane 

hearing the clip clop of 

a sleek brown horse 

stopping beneath a willow

graceful fronds caressing a lake. 

“People do dismiss ambient music, don’t they? They call it 

‘easy listening,’ as if to suggest that it should be hard to listen to.”

~ Brian Eno, musician

Author’s note: 

    inspired by an Easy Listening piece, 

    head back, eyes closed to the outside world.