The Conductor

Orchestration of a life takes 

today, tomorrow and everyday 

with silent rays of bright sun, 

drift and clamour of storm clouds, 

dark of night pinpricked by the stars 

while seasons conduct 

the come and go of spring flowers 

trees decked out in green summer wear 

give way to the flamboyance of fall

fields of grain divided by country roads, 

snow and ice, wind and rain, 

heavy fur under coats for animals and 

heavy parkas and boots for soft bodies 

joys uplifting souls while sorrows bring

counterpoints to the orchestration of life.

“Conductors don’t suffer, they are part of the performance.”

~ Michael Tippett, composer

(1905 ~ 1998)

Things that Matter

A good book full of 

    mystery and enchantment.

Grandchildren and all children

Scrambled eggs - or eggs ..

Colouring: 

    inside or outside the lines

Taking a challenge just because 

Coffee: strong and hot made

    from beans from the tropics

Seasons that rotate through 

    green leaves and flowers to gold to drifts of snow

Trees for beauty, shade and breath.

My big black kitty 

    that loves me just because

Strength of mind, body and spirit

A blank page, and a pen

A cosy sweater in winter 

    just for home.

The aroma and taste of fresh bread

The moon, the sun and the stars in the sky

Parents to honour and to love, 

    warts and all.

A cup of delicious hot chocolate 

    topped with marshmallows.

“The things that matter don’t necessarily make sense.”

~ Russell Hoban, writer

(1925 ~ 2011)

Edges of Light

Searching in the dark 

for edges of light, 

my memory reached out 

to touch the wisdom 

of my ancestors

while my heart adjusted

to shadow, to edges of light 

and I knew that I was safe.

“The spirits of the dead may be invoked for the good of the living.”

~ Shinto saying

When We Were Children

We are all tired 

tired of the day 

the season 

the night 

tired of the work 

that builds our lives 

and yet we continue

to be grateful, 

to laugh

to love

to create families and homes.

Perhaps our energy feels low 

because the life we live 

is filled with so much more than 

the one that we promised ourselves 

when we were children.

Can we not rest easy within this abundance?

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

~ E.E. Cummings

To Grow and Learn

Birthday parties are fun

But birthdays are special

‘How old are you?”

A frivolous question 

when a family celebrates the 

presence of a precious child 

in their parenting world.

Glossy, colourful bags full of 

toys and clothes, games and puzzles 

set the stage for creative play, learning and growth.

“There is still no cure for the common birthday.”

~ John Glenn, astronaut, author

(1921 - 2016)

Saturday Night

9 p.m.

Saturday night

Felt like a going out night

    when I was much younger 

Feels like a movie night

     then and now

Feels like a staying home night

     to read, to watch a movie, to be home.

“Saturday night is perfect for writers, because other people have ‘plans’.”

~ Mike Birbiglia, storyteller, comedian, actor

For the Ages

In the evening

I listen to poetry

Tonight

Desiderata

Listening to the wisdom 

I’ve lived with for decades,

my belief is unchanged

in all the seasons of my life.

“Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.”

~ Max Ehrmann, Desiderata (1927)

(1872 - 1945)

*Listen on YouTube - RedFrost Motivation

September Dessert

 

bread pudding

simple 

cinnamon spicy

delicious

“The proof of the pudding is the eating.”

~ Miguel de Cervantes