Laugh

November 27, 2017November 27, 2017

A Waterfall of Violets

Waterfall Violets

A rolling-pin gracing
the kitchen wall
visages of her life
speckles in the landscape
of my mind

a woman of small stature
with black hair
almond smiling eyes
a happiness laced laugh

I am embraced, a nephew’s wife
I left my shoes by the wall
inside the threshold

a home far from Kyoto
amidst the evergreen trees
I entered a coalesced union
both east and west

cultivated plants to bloom
black wrought iron shelves
a waterfall of African violets
blossoming shades of color

pink
violet
white
blue

feisty approach to business
offerings of octopus
dried salty seaweed

gastronomy not fathomed
teaching me her language
sharing plant knowledge
easier to impart

the rolling-pin still
flaunts her efforts
black char marks

remind me of a fusion
a friendship
between east and west

This is my fond memory of a woman from Japan named Nobu. I met her years ago when I was married to her nephew. She was married to an American serviceman she met in World War II. She lived here for many years until her husband’s passing and then returned to Japan where she eventually passed away. It was an honor to know here.

The above photo is taken from Public Domain Pictures and digitally altered by myself.

September 24, 2016September 2, 2017

Many Colored Patterns

There is always hope peace will come
if not encompassed in the living
most certainly not in the dying
but in increments of moving forward

Making changes interacting with others
knowing that even in differences
we are all connected in commonalities

That loving & laughing in twilight hours
should be brought into the light of day
broaching imagined fears & realizing
that others may have the same fears

That birdsong & music must be heard
over the sound of bullets piercing us
to hear the poets words stitched into lines

That the birth of all natures creatures
the wail of a newborn’s crying demands
is the crescendo beckoning to humanity
to see life as the ultimate gift

That life is not as simple as a color
& more complex than lifestyles lived
that defects & handicaps are beautiful

That the poets stitched lines a stanza
of many patterns woven into many colors
of all life with powerful voices to hear
there is always hope peace will come

Photo Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

many-colors

There has been yet another mall shooting here in Washington State killing lives that most hold dear. Please see others’ writing for 100TPC that is holding a virtual event today at https://intothebardo.wordpress.com/2016/09/23/100tpc-2016/

February 2, 2012

Flood Waters

Flood waters have
subsided
irrelevant of the
time and space
left between
as differentially

notations are jotted
down in betwixt
margins
in my mind
filtered down
amongst
darkened hallways

secreted away in
shadows hiding you
from me erudite
of those times
when bewildered by
your bravery

I would glance
skyward and finding
you there was
filled with wonder
you extend your arms
to me laughing
exposing a
reality

your revelation
but my ephihany of
living fearless as
you enfold me
warmly melting
away all
sorrow

in invitation to
your treetop canopy
where the waters
have left you
I contemplate if

this is a dream…or
something
much more

I dreamt of my oldest daughter who has Lupus and is presently not doing very well, a surgery pending and perhaps another…we aren’t sure…and felt it had to be written down.

June 28, 2011June 28, 2011

Beauty

                                She only saw blue veins worming through
                                liver spotted hands, joints knarled as
                                aged tree branches turning this way,
                                that way, unable to grasp unless with
                                pain that penetrated deep into sadness

                                We saw a heart overflowing with love,
                                heard laughter pealing like sacred bells
                                high in a church tower and knew a young
                                woman walked alongside her straight and
                                tall apart from her bent leg and cane

                               She thought if only time would slow and
                               beauty isn’t only skin deep because I
                               feel the years all the way through and I
                               really commiserate with the Ugly Duckling
                               longing to be that beautiful Swan

                               We thought how beautiful she is especially
                               when she smiles making us warm inside amid
                               gloomy days always sunny causing us to think
                               how wonderful to age with such grace and to
                               cause others to feel as beautiful as she

In memory of my grandmother, who no matter what, was young always.

May 3, 2011June 26, 2011

Airwaves

The airwaves brought
you to me from
around the globe
the other side
of the earth

                                                           Up  “popped” the box
                                                           telling me you
                                                           had arrived in
                                                           grand fashion to
                                                           tickle me inside

Your voice emanated
via your words
sending your love
with a big ‘Hug’
making me laugh

                                                                        The airwaves brought
                                                                        you inside my room
                                                                        an electronic link
                                                                        from the other side
                                                                        of the earth