My mother had a saying she used frequently throughoutOur childhood yearsOn occasion, we children, at times had gotten ourselves into a mess or a situationand we would sit in a heap complainingAbout our lot in life My mother’s advice was always consistentThe words “pull yourselves up by your bootstraps.”Which always meant the same thing.A bootstrap…
Wounded
Your provokingMy hearts choking I will take itUntil you quit A stepping stoneFor my heart alone Every time you eruptMy path, you disrupt You keep provokingEmbers your stoking When your fire goes outIt is my turn to shout But, I will not provoke youListening to you Is the clue I will not choke your heartBelittle…
A Photograph
Days roll byno times for hi’s youth is blindingno wrinkles binding no limits on daysjust hours we play youth on our sidedoors open wide running carefreeso much to see laughter and tearspassing of years as it winds downwishes not found memories unwrapFrom photos in my lap my tears trickle downmy voice lost its sound I…
My Daddy’s Lap
We always took turns sitting on our daddy’s lapafter he got home from work and he hung up his cap he would plop in his chair with crocheted doilies on the armshe was tired and thirsty but succumbed to his little girls’ charms he would wrap his arms around us and pet our heads with…
Timeless Days
Some mornings I sit in the sunon a rock by my houseNo brothers or sisters;it’s quiet as a mouse I sink my feet in the smooth sun-warmed sandHolding rocks and little sticksand tin cans in my hands The big rock by my house looks to me like a mountainThe creekbeds nearby are crystal clear; it’s…
Make Your Happy
We do not find happiness On a shelfIt’s always sitting in our emotional self You must reach inside and grab a pieceof the happiness wheel full of life’s grease No one else can make happiness flowWe own the puzzle to work and show The smile that emanates from deep insideIt pleases others if they join…
Moving Mountains
There was a phrase my mother used to say You can move a mountain when it’s in your way I thought it was a joke; indeed, it wasn’t real who could move a mountain, much less a small hill Moving a mountain seems impossible indeed But it makes you feel determined to succeed Mother put…
Beauty in the Sky
The king of all the ButterfliesThe Monarchs were prominent but also wise Instinctively she plays her partUp to 4 inches long and a work of artThe Monarch will begin to embark Traveling Thousands of miles in the skyOrange and Black will catch your eye Flying high without a careDown to Mexico to winter, there She’ll…
Blue Mondays
My Achilles heel is MondaysI don’t want to let go of my Sundays I always feel a shiver of anxietyWhen Monday is in front of me It is just an ordinary day, you sayMost feel that way; that’s okay I have always found Mondays to be blueMy fun weekend grandma days through Family is the…
The Stars in the Car
We were movie stars, but we didn’t knowOur small faces pressed up against the car window glassWe were the passerby’s show Our car loaded down to capacitychildren pressed in like sardinesventuring to the nearby city Going into town with our mama was ourRoman Holiday A rare occasion from the dusty roadsour routine for almost every…