The Best Flight

 

There is no greater ignition

Than the flight of someone’s laughter.

Even brighter when one can be the

Inspiration for that lift-off.

 

The experience of pain and grief

Is an everyday occurrence.

And sometimes, one is called upon

To bear another’s suffering.

 

But laughter is the universal gas

Propelling the elevation of spirit

To appreciate the greater beauty

Of all that we are given in this life.

 

And friendship is the fulcrum

On which our lives are balanced.

It feeds our joys and memories

And encourages anticipation.

 

We do not exist alone in living

Or grow a satisfying universe

Without the favor of our friends

To fuel our inner tanks!

 

God bless you one and all

And thanks for your existence

Your love and laughter is the source

That fills my cranky vessel.

 

Consequences

Ah, there it is.

Sunset sprinkles golden

Across the starving landscape

Breathing life into the spirit.

 

The sun-warmed air breathes

A slight breath of cool

As it wafts over the

Struggling body.

 

Across the way

New fawns find their

Legs and speed across

The sun-parched fields.

 

I sit, as on most days,

Watching the waning colors,

Begging for calm and cool,

Baked and roasted.

 

It is impossible to

Move within the charring

Landscape, withering and

Crying for moisture.

 

The burning brain

Cannot produce a single

Thought worth thinking

As the hours dwindle.

 

What have we done?

The Universe scolds

With flaming heat that

Blazes our breath.

 

And all around turns

To blackened cinders.

We have killed ourselves

With our lust for comfort!

 

Drumbeat

Gliding on the breeze, the scents of Spring

Tickle my nose and awaken my napping heart.

I feel my Spirit swell as the steadying drumbeat

Connects me to Mother Earth.

 

The odor of decaying leaves and plants

Gently teases my tingling limbs to rise.

Look closely and one can see the first,

Gentle stirrings of emerging growth.

 

The foliage of daffodils and dutch iris

Has emerged from the parched earth.

Mountain laurel has already donned

Her dazzling purple blossoms.

 

The Springtime migrants perch in branches

And call out with joyful songs.

It’s time they say to clear the Winter’s

Moldy, sloppy decay and clutter.

 

For many magical dancers await

Offstage, to make their splendid entrance.

The cycle begins anew for rebirth and

Rebuilding of Nature’s most glorious season.

 

Ode to September

 

The dowdy old maid of the calendar year

She is a frumpy, listless wanderer.

Her summer adornments have shriveled

To dried, oft dusty clutter.

 

She is confused and undirected.

Neither lively Summer nor crispy Fall.

She’s the end of fun and frolic.

But not yet cozy and comfortable.

 

Her scenes are uninspiring.

Migrating birds land only to rest

On her halfway barren branches

Before heading south to greener pastures.

 

But without her, the clock would not turn.

The seasons would not change.

Seeds would not hibernate nor

Nature revive and reproduce.

 

She’s as necessary as wind and rain

Snow and ice, heat and breezes.

Her sad status is to begin the process

Of Nature’s assured renewal.

 

Do not disparage her for tis her fate

To be the ugly stepchild hiding

In plain sight, to clear the Summer’s

Droppings and begin the slow rebirth.

 

Regrets

 

We all have them, don’t we?

But what’s the point?

Middle of the night thrashing, rehashing

Rephrasing, recalling what one should’ve said.

 

My head tells me there is no point.

Regret is living in the past

Recent or long ago.

The moment cannot be lived again.

 

I’ve lost too much life

Being embroiled in regret.

Each incident is slightly different.

No rule applies for next time.

 

I make no New Year’s resolutions

Regrets can’t be repaired.

I tell my heart to do one thing.

Embrace each day refueled.

 

Forget the fault lines of the past.

Embrace the fresh new morning,

With a promise to rise from ashes

And be the best You you can be.

 

Don’t dwell in bad decisions,

Unkindness, ill tempered actions.

Look to the new with gratitude

And joyful anticipation.

 

For you are only human

And imperfect by decree.

Let Love and kindness be your guide.

Inhale the fresh new air!