Overlapping Circles

It began with a cup of coffee and a walk
Smiling eyes one to the other.

Knowing glances of eternity
Soon two joined hands and were one.

Then two pairs of little feet came soon thereafter
The family was complete.

Finally Snow - 12/16/09

Majestic maples in wintery repose
Glistening with frosty crystals
Slumbering branches so spindly
Snowfall blanketing the sky
Obscuring the marching sentinels of trees
Fading quickly up the street
Muffling the sounds of our city
Quiet coming to the bustle
Crunching footfalls
Firmly sink in a line along the walk
A lonely pattern meanders lazily
Crisscrossed by feline paws
Snowbanks yellowed by passing dogs
Breathing in the cold crisp air
A wayward snowflake's tingly cold sensation
Landing on an outstretched tongue
Staying for just a moment then melting
Becoming fast a memory....

Holiday Performance - 12/7/09

So hard to believe
Just six years ago
All of you standing so tall
Were once so young and small

Standing now, such joyful exhuberance
Singing songs of the season
Cheerful sounds usher in the darkness
The power of light so consuming

Slightly off key for sure
Quirky words unclear yet eyes gleam mischevious
Waving hands with sweeping motions
Bringing tears to older eyes

The present pageant unfolding amidst
Mixtures of memories past
Of diapers, first steps, the falls and oh the words
Scrambled together with off key singing

The miracle of life's cycles
So long ago we were on the same stage
With our parent's before us
Frightened and anxious we were

Enjoying the clapping and adulation
Goofiness of a holiday performance
The relief of almost being done
The last bow signaling anticipation

For Santa's plunge down the chimney
And the magic of the season.

A Whistle in the Night

Sitting in our bed with windows open
Sounds of crickets pulsating through
Sonourous frog calls echoing in the woods
Unceasing rhytym of the night

Barking dogs calling out
Screeching of brakes descending to a stop
Rumble of engines passing
Up and down Towne Hill Road

All of these surpassed every night at ten
Lonely clarion call of evening train
Echoing over verdant hills and valleys
Lately a less familiar sound

Once such a powerful force for change
Of country wide transformation
Today slips into the background
Fading out of daily life and story

While dull today this nightly sound pulsates
And powers our will to invent, to create
To transform our great nation
Reminding me of the power of innovation

Great ideas lie just around the bend
The embers of our collective genius awaits
Sounding every night through our window
Filling my heart with optimism

In giddy anticipation, wondering what will come.

Waves

Wind blowing from the south
Energizes your every move
As does the passage of the moon

White crests curling
Splashing one after another
Some more than others

Causing squeals of delight
Chilren's screams dodging tennis balls
Disappearing in your sparkling coolness

Re-emerging with huge smiles
Hands clenching clumps of sand
Dissolving quickly in their hands

Laying on beach's edge
Face down on the wet sand
Listening and feeling your surges

Eternal rhythm calming
Clammy chill comforting
Transmitting to every pore

Lulling sounds engaging
So completely compelling
Falling into lethargic summertime trance

Knowing this time forever
Recalling its beauty
When the winds begin to blow

From the South in summer.

(Written on the shores of Lake Michigan July 20, 2010)