I spent cloud-reigned days
praying for sun on my skin.
The rain insisted,
while barreling through my door,
bright blue sky is not my friend.

I am weary!
Exhausted
Overwhelmed
Snatching moments of joy,
but wondering if I will ever 
FEEL happy again
Needing uninterrupted sleep,
but every night, tossing and turning
and seeing 2 and 3 am too often
Grateful for the friends that are checking in
and making plans with me, some of which
I just can’t make
and I pray that they understand
that right now, I am a weary traveler
on this road of life!

The power line flossing birds that string like rows
of blackened teeth or tahitian pearls.

Tarnished square silver belt buckle clinks gently against
the blue metal fence, paint flaking.

Breathe through your mouth- this field belongs to the
deer that keep coming back.

Summer dusk in the most beautiful place you’ve ever
asked questions about.

It’s like that sometimes. Carpet of lightning bugs set
the grass on twinkling fire.

I only start feeling guilty when I start to feel confused, like
I’m losing tug of war with my heart.

I have limited interest in breakfast foods. Let’s make a
secret pact and take it to our timely graves.

I have two small distractions,

And they seem to hate to see me work.

While I fume and fuss and sweat and write,

Around my chair they lurk.

They both are Heelers,

Supposed working dogs,

But it seems the genes for work appreciation,

In them has slipped some cogs.

The older dog nudges my legs,

To lie behind my feet,

She’ll lie there twitching and snoring,

And some odiferous things I won’t repeat.

The younger one’s a dynamo,

Thumping toys against my legs,

She growls and barks demanding attention,

And when all else fails she begs.

In slow demands the older one

 Puts a paw upon on my lap,

This is her request we go outside,

Now that she’s finished with her nap. 

To the door I then go,

As my four-legged shadows glide,

And the younger one must again be reminded,

That all toys must stay inside.

They run outside across the grass,

Their business to be done,

While I stand and wait in watchful silence,

As they have their outside fun.

Occasionally, I’m included,

As across the fields they streak,

They quickly come back to ask like hopeful kids,

“Can we go play in the creek?”

So I laugh out loud and say “Let’s go!”

To me, or both of them?

I suppose it doesn’t matter much,

I write while they swim.

I’m inspired to remind myself,

That life is not only about toil,

It’s also nice to relax the mind and soul,

In a little revel and a roil.

and near our house. 

but I wouldn’t take more than I need

definition of abundance
married to humility
and humanity

There’s nothing to fear
when the sun sets, 
it’s simply bringing 

its daily dose of light 
to children
on the other side of the world

besides

all things are sun-made
its atoms keenly sprinkled 
from firefly to cinder spark, 

it glows from the windows 
of stark houses and the lamps of cars,
why even the gravestone 

at your head
casts a long shadow
over these my sleepless nights.

If too short were a small potato, 
and long was the yam.
I vote for a regular old spud stuffed
with butter, pepper,
cream cheese, and ham.

To my beloved parents on their 76th wedding anniversary in heaven
I dedicate my Confidence Manifesto to you 

Confidence empowers me to Love & Care for me
Confident choices place me wisely on life’s game board
My confidence grows based on the beliefs I hold of myself
Positive beliefs encourage me to respect all I am and all I do  

Confidence is courage to ask for what I need and feel deserving to receive it Confident self-respect protects my best interests
Honoring my confident knowledge allows me to speak up, self-assured
Confidence is a B-12 shot of self-respect and positive self-talk

My Confidence Badge is tempered in humility, strengthened in self-respect
To only accept supportive loving behavior and to prioritize my own needs
To speak up when I need to set a healthy limit or boundary  

Healthy Confidence places me in circles where I am heard and supported
To confidently stand up for what I truly believe in
To never compromise or engage in exchanges that demean who I am
To calmly stand in my power as I lovingly and self-assuredly shine my Light