In the band

you saw him from a distance
so you knew he played guitar
and you knew for sure that you
could only love someone who
played guitar

because you were 29
and it was impossible to date
someone who was not a rocker

a forgotten life

in the distance your crooked smile
I confused it for a smirk
so I hurried off to avoid you

and so the distance grew,
a vat of spoiled stew
no one watched
or saw that it was stirred

we grew so far apart
our images were blurred
our voices echoed
but were not heard

my sounds struggled
to catch up to you
but bounced off of
the hectic walls of blue
paint that we
had been meaning to paint
over but had no time

the date night we missed
and we could not find
a time ago, we had fun
now we work
'till the day is done

please be careful

Careful not
to think too fast-
hold the moment
so it will last.

Watch my words
as they float past
catch them softly
in your ears,
clink a glass
this New Year's-
to someone you love
sent from above.

Careful now,
and hold him close

Careful please,
take my hand
it's worn and fragile,
and it might bend.

Careful not
to let this end

Hope (written by me in 1999 approx.)

There are stars
in the dirt
sparkles in
a puddle
rainbow rays
in the rain
beauty over-riding
pain

smiles rolling
in the mud
laughter heard
in the dark
giggling girls
at the park
in moonlight
better friends
after a fight

love healing
the worst bitte

when there's wind
fly a kite

12-20-2015 (warning - not a warm and fuzzy Christmas poem)

5 days 'till Christmas
kind words spill over,
a sweet volcanic eruption
that could destroy you

a Hallmark photo-shopped world
that explodes with goods and wants

we complain about

water pressure,
global warming
work stress

while someone
lives in a make-shift box,
tattered and soggy

has gone days
without a shower

has lived in the streets
since she was ten

endures the temperature
changes while the rest of us
overuse the world to the point
of its exhaustion

tired of our fast-paced lives
we are running 'till
we run out of time

and she only wishes
for her time to run out

fun with kids

a morning of giggles
a daytime of wiggles
a nighttime of snuggles
bears, and huggles

tied up in sheets
and jumping on beds
laughing at shadows
losing our heads

what a gift it is
to be a mom!

A Christmas Blessing

amidst the hurried lanes
of harried shoppers,
of horrified cashiers -

we wish each other cheer

but do not fear
the end is near
the lanes will clear

we'll wish each other a Happy New Year

our stresses lessen
oh the holidays
are a blessing!