Eyes

February 22, 2019

Beyond Affairs of The Heart

Once someone told me
I was not done having affairs
I surmised its meaning
a human touch of warmth
as felt in dreams fleeting

yet years watched me falter
confused with sightless eyes
though clear with seeing
trapped me as blindness nigh

looking beyond lackluster need
striving toward pleasing
to win acceptance
in uncertainty

in platitudes shown vaguely thin
rooted amid trivial detritus
I stepped into an empty life
always out of reach
in plaintive din

I clearly discovered as late
the affairs of life I sought
walked alongside me
each step taken
each breath
of naught

are not affairs of the human kind
nor affairs of a heart of flesh
but an affair of a desperate need
to create missives with words
of light and breadth

that require none but my own
masked eyes to open and see
to cause my own spirit to soar
giving respite to my soul
without fear
nothing more

Image Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art

Beyond Affairs

September 16, 2017

The Happiness of Music

Visiting family always meant surprises
anticipated from my niece then a girl
who loved everything theater and song

whose tight curly hair & bright eyes
shone like a happy beacon of light

she remembers talk of a voice teacher
& the one time both niece and sister
practiced the violin

but the one memory that dances across
the pages of her mind is the visit
to a restaurant on a clear warm night

where the happiness of the girl seemed
simply to overflow & take flight

so when they walked into the night air
she believed they had left her behind
but not very far had she gone

for the landscape had small hills there
where she stood upon the top of one

hence she raised her arms spread wide
breaking into song to make us smile
‘the hills are alive…

my sister just smiling at the big voice
that filled the night and I sighed

This was first published in the Jamie Dede’s August Issue of the Bezine at https://thebezine.com. The photo below was taken from the Public Domain Pictures and digitally altered.

Love of Music

September 9, 2017

Seeing Within

This is in response to Rick Daddario’s 30 DOH/Days of Haiga you can read at

Haiga 2017-008-30doh: Evening Watch

This is a photo of my son’s cat.

Archie Eyes

January 17, 2014January 17, 2014

Gifts They Brought Me*

pussy willows fallen from
the pussy will tree
dandelions plucked
with small hands freed
no longer unwanted
the gifts they brought me

faces stained with hints
of blackberry juice
smiles shining, wide eyes
from a berry picking sleuth
containers nearly emptied
the gifts they brought me

stories written about family
clay ash trays, a mobile too
a card on mother’s day
the sound of music playing
to fill my heart & soul
the gifts they brought me

even the laughter & tears
the many unsaid hopes & fears
days filled with moments
none of them ever dull
& the best thing brought me
the gift of themselves

Image Taken From http://morguefile.com

My children and grandchildren are a huge part of my life and without them there would be a huge gap, a hole to large to ever fill. There have been joys and sorrows and challenges throughout the years but I would never trade any of it for the experiences I have shared with them have shaped my life and the person I am.

December 30, 2013December 30, 2013

Sunday’s Child Suspended

sunday’s child suspended
in balanced dreams
is the illusion of time
made of silk threads
strong as dovetailed beams

you see in re-claimed jars
through his eyes untold
tiger striped garden spiders
beauty of captured bees
lifes’ mystery doth unfold

sunday’s child suspended
a cocoon created of time
silk threads weaving a life
unique, tempered and bold
a blended pattern that shines

Image by Mary Corbet http://www.needlenthread.com

I have five adult children and many grandchildren but of my five, only one was born on a Sunday and my life’s love and challenge. They are all special in their own ways but Nathan is my Sunday child.

December 3, 2013

Things You Left

hibiscus grows beautiful
reds
oranges
yellows
i see them through your eyes
eyes no longer seeing
& the mockingbird sings
no song of his own
as the sun sets
spilling light
over those things
you left
for us to love

Image Taken From Morgue File

September 17, 2013

Rescued

Goggle Image

fur soft and course
all at once
like brush bristles
left untouched

eyes speaking to me
from deep inside
her voice only heard
in a blink of time

always rescued them
as they came my way
her I chose
an autumn day

Let me begin by saying the above pic is not of the dog I recently adopted but looks enough like her, I decided to use it here. I call the dog I adopted Dulce and she is 7 months old. She will hopefully, like all my pets, have a very long life ahead of her. She traveled here to Washington along with many other dogs that were rescued from what they call ‘kill facilities’ in California. She has spirit and I believe will let nothing get her down.

August 30, 2013August 30, 2013

‘We Pick Our Battles’

Google Image

sleepless nights
were in the making
for you but
so were dreams lost
in a twist
of corded fate

fevers ran high
with slips of wet hair
plastered
to your face
against a damp pillow
caressing
even in the storm

i look at you now
‘challenging’
each day as a wall
of obstacles
to overcome
rock climbing easy
in comparison

a shine in your eyes
like jewels centered
in chocolate-brown orbs
‘we pick our battles’
you always say
so casual
in a way

it captures my heart
melts me
into a languid pool
i see you struggle
as night falls
a starless black
moonless sea

every day you continue
to show me how
teach me the way
to love me
into being alive

for how could i
not resist
the tilt
of your head
your nose
like no other &
laughter singing
in my ears

as does the sound
of how you call me
‘mama’ smiling
even now when
you have children
of your own

I have two very strong, determined daughters who give back to me every day they are here. My oldest continues to merit my admiration as she battles Lupus on her terms and will not let it dictate who she is.

July 9, 2013July 9, 2013

Digging In My Garden

Google Image

his heart beats strong now
within his small chest
a babe newly born could
hardly find a breath

his clear blue eyes show
a window to his soul
blond hair & dimpled chin
he’s such a dapper fellow

came to dig in my garden
right along his dad’s side
a shovel bigger than he is
accomplishment & pride

even though the work was hard
never was there a complaint
he only asked his mom this
‘how much do kids make?’

My seven year old grandson can work hard just like his dad in my garden but he’s smart, this one, as he knows there is a bit of money to be had? Just loved it when he asked. Here’s to you, Wyatt!

http://dversepoets.com/category/openlinknight/

March 24, 2013

Ransomed Time

Altered Google Image

seasonal changes of ransomed time
coming ’round again in your eyes
when scenes play out in your mind
sepia toned images playing rewind

a summer day on a sunlit beach
walking to the water’s edge
just out of reach
casting long shadows
in our stride
digging for treasures
in the ocean tide

a vacation spent camping
at yosemite park
no pine needles allowed
in the canvas green tent
a diaper laundry line hung
between pine trees
the Coleman stove, the lantern
the sky a starlit sea

winter skies warmed by
the california sun
a metal christmas tree colored
as the color wheel turned
a little girl gazing
waiting anxiously for
christmas ‘morn to come

a spring day showing off
our Sunday best
the elm tree, the ’52 Ford
and all the rest
the smell of vinegar
the strongest kind
hunting easter eggs
our want to find