Where the Hours Come Alive

The rhythms and visions in poems,
Calm me.
I know not why.
My life is not the type right now
That bends

Towards afternoons building forts,
Long walks home at a leisurely pace,
Tasting wild black berries,
Petting the nose of a neighboring horse,
Barking back at barking dogs,
Testing my balance on curbs.

But oh how many hours I spent
On a leisurely, curious, natural bent.
And although I know where my hours pass away,
I long for them to come alive in that old leisurely way.

The Lady Contentment

When I was small
With time on my hands
I dreamed of love and home,
And a life of my own.

Now that I'm tall,
I relish the flavor
Of wastable time, rain showers
And sudden wild flowers.

But Paul says all gain is but a predicament,
When not holding hands with the lady contentment.

And here is where I ask,
Will You, dear Lord, afford to me,
Contentment with my family?

Now That I'm Grown

When I was a small child
I drew all the time
Hearts and clouds and rainbows.

A bit bigger you'd find
I read all the time
Poetry, fiction and newspapers.

And now that I'm grown
My pencil is sketching
My mind is reading
Little hearts, five souls and a home to hold us together.

Redeem It

Lots of dreams
No money to furnish them.
Lots of ambitions
But stress dissolves them.
Lots of people
Only two arms to love them
And I'm low on the faith required
To redeem them...

Upon Receipt

His hands were large
And Strong
He saw what I did
I was afraid
I braced myself
Silence
He looked at me
With kindness
I stepped lightly
My stomach knotted
Anticipating
I waited
Wondered
What would he do?
'It's already been paid,'
He said.
'But what of the thing
That's been broken?'
I said.
I waited
Wondered
A day passed
A night
Morning came,
I held my breath.
And then,
He took me out
For breakfast.
And paid the bill.

On Starting Over

Aching hands
Furrowed brow
And not a thing
to show for it.

Lesson learned
A second time
I hope this time
I grow from it.

Whistling Lessons

Miriam loved flowers, dried leaves and thistles.

And fell in love with a man who couldn't whistle.

She said, 'Move your tongue and lips like this:'

And showed him how with a nice, long kiss.