This is A Moment

This is a moment when 

memories tug at my heart 

begging me to tell their stories. 

Stories of the first day 

trying to ride a bicycle, 

of all dressed up for 

the first day of school, 

of the brick wall of that 

school where we bounced

rubber balls with white, blue and red

raced each other on 

a sliver filled teeter totter

Skipping ropes - Double Dutch so much fun!

Hop Scotch on the sidewalk at recess

Swinging on seat polished swings

Each of these moments 

of fun tucked away in my 

heart for a moment for story.

“As long as there are memories, yesterday remains.”

~ Billy Joel

Never Square One

We are never back to square one. It may feel that way:

 ~ frustration, 

      anger

        annoyance!

years of life and learning 

gives opportunities 

to shape new circumstances 

with well used lessons.

“In the oddity or maybe the miracle of life, the roots of something 

new frequently lie in the decaying husks of something old.”

~ Craig D. Lounsbrough, writer

Storm: Refreshed

Thin morning clouds 

hovered and grew 

Thunder muttered 

Rain spattered then

poured in sheets

Fragments of blue sky 

peered through ~

gone in an instant

air fragrant with moisture

Evening clouds 

ride high and spent.

“I love the smell right after a storm.”

~ Elijah Wood

Storm

Clouds thick and lowering

Thunder rolling across the city

Flicker and flash of bright lightning

Trees lashed about by unruly winds

Rain bucketed straight down, 

    undeterred by wind

Drains stopped by stray leaves,

My red clogs splashed to clear them

   reached with a long poled squeegee

Tonight calm, damp and cool.

“I can hear your whisper and distant mutter. 

I can smell your damp on the breeze and

 in the sky I see the halo of your violence. 

Storm I know you are coming.”

~ Robert Fanney, 

(Author of science fiction and fantasy)

Good Morning

A good morning

That’s what I call it

The sun is up 

Even if it’s behind thunder clouds

Even if it is pouring rain

As long as I’m awake and 

putting my feet on the floor 

it is a good day 

there may be 

      tears, 

   frustrations, 

             interruptions

but they may be mixed with

  smiles, 

   sunshine, 

     contentment and 

the beauty of trees, 

  grass and flowers; 

the kindness the community 

  as I go about my day. 

If I believe 

that all of the good 

is coloured grey, 

I will miss so much!

and so I wish you 

A Good Evening!

“A day is a day. It’s just a measurement of time. Whether it’s a good day 

or a bad day is up to you. It’s all a matter of perception.”

~ Donald L. Hicks, Look into the Stillness

Things I Did Understand

Things I did understand ~

questions unanswered 

asking why of no use because 

the answer was ‘because’ 

But when those ideas floated away 

I understood crayons, 

cartoon shapes to colour, 

dresses to cut out with the little tabs

Then I could

design ball gowns

for paper dolls

colour inside the lines

just right for this little girl 

bright crayons within my reach

What I understood was that 

I didn’t need to know any more 

than what the next picture needed, 

which doll I should cut out.

But I filled expectations, 

like setting the table for a meal, 

practicing piano or 

getting cleaned up for church, 

going to school. 

I did understand that I was ‘growing up’ 

but didn’t know that meant 

more than how tall I was.

Today in retirement I am still ‘growing up.’

“If you carry your childhood with you, you never become older.”

~ Tom Stoppard

(English dramatist)

Things I Didn’t Understand

Things I didn’t understand ~

questions unanswered 

asking why of no use because 

the answer was ‘because’ 

But there were ideas

I just let float away 

ideas stacked around my life 

unopened books on shelves, 

unused dishes in cupboards. 

Ideas 

about designing gowns, 

about being a journalist, 

about being a linguist ~ 

too big for this little girl 

too far out of reach. 

What I did not understand were 

moods, emotions and 

how to understand others,

why I learned differently 

not as fast as others. 

But I filled expectations, 

like setting the table for a meal, 

practicing piano or 

getting cleaned up for church, 

going to school. 

I didn’t understand how to be, 

but I understood how to do. 

“Doing” carried me a long way

Today in retirement I can learn how to be. 

“No one will understand you. It is not ultimately that important, 

What is important is that you understand you.”

~ Matt Haig,  The Humans

Music in the Trees

Wascana Lake Bird Sanctuary
Regina, Saskatchewan

 

the language of birds 

music that makes trees 

sing in staccato chirps

“There is a peculiar virtue in the music of elusive birds.”

~ Aldo Leopold,  A Sand County Almanac

When I Stand

When I stand outside 

the life I’ve chosen to live 

I see loneliness or a life

without meaning yet 

When I step inside the life 

I’ve chosen to live 

I feel fulfilled and

meaning is all around. 

When I stand outside the life 

I’ve chosen to live, I love the busyness of community 'til

I long for the quiet of home 

When I step inside the life 

I’ve chosen to live 

I sit down with pen and paper 

to frame the meaning of my heart.

When I stand outside the life 

I’ve chosen to live, 

my life is a joy 

with friends, with family.  

When I step inside the life 

I’ve chosen to live, 

I miss them all but am surrounded 

by the gift of their presence in my life.

“Even the longest journey must begin where you stand.”

~ Laozi, philosopher

(604 BC ~ 531 BC)