Stone 29 - Friends with Cameras

Friends with cameras
look for angles to
catch smiles, hugs,
connections, cherish
each friend present.
Most dominant, unspoken,
her empty chair.

Stone 28-Starlight

Windy summer night
stars swirl through wood,
enfold me, hold me,
rock away cares
of city day.

Stone 27- Easter Egg

My daughter says I look like
an Easter egg in the lime and
white silk punjab I couldn't
resist buying at Savers.
Not my own ethnic heritage,
Not my tradition. I love it.
Happy Jewish Easter egg here.

Stone 26 - Por Lump

Plain white plate
painted with cartoon
in black of long dog,
inscribed Por Lump,
impulsive gift from frind
to friend over lunch,
in museum under glass
because painter was Picasso.

Evidence of good things 2- People remember kindness

Haven't seen her for two years,
her husband either. Helped them
during tough decisions, transitions.
She came up office stairs this morning
arms full of white lilies, purple stock.
fragrant appreciation. She just wanted
me to know they haven't forgotten I helped.

Temptation to Panic

Dear friend called from hospital.
Rapidly worsening abcess in hand.
Surgery, IV antibiotics, scared.
I respond tenderly, matter of fact.
Of coourse I'll put a sign on his
office door, reassure his clients.
Does he need a visit, a book?
Inner voices screams He can't die.
His wife, his kids, his mother
need him. His clients need him.
I can't handle losing him yet.
He can't die.
Of course he can.

Evidence of Good Things - a new experiment

I saw the excellent play "The Book of Grace" Saturday night and was struck by the main character's effort to keep a book of "evidence of good things " in the world. I've done gratitude lists befor, but this seems a little different, not so much what I'm thankful for but what gives me the strength and encouragement to keep hoping. I don't know how this is going to go, but I'm starting very late, or very early depending on how you see it, with a short list poem from my very good day with family.

Evidence Families Can Work

Liam, two, came into my room tonight to offer a sip
of his prized root beer "Grandma, I want to share with you.
Danny, at twelve, played an hour and a half with his two
year old sister with her doll house so adults could talk.
My grown daughters and I can talk about mistakes I made,
pushing school work to hard, not buyin an erector set,
and each understands the other and no one gets defensive.
Even though their money is tight, Jo and Tracy paid for our lunch.
Chris cooks us dinner most nights, mindful of diets and tastes.
Zachary, eight, cuddled ten minutes on my lap and told me dreams.
KK, fifteen, didn't roll her eyes or say "whatever" all day long.
Joanna and James managed the custody transfer with mutual respect.
Bob loves me. Bob loves me. Bob loves me. Bob loves me.

Stone 25 - Overheard

Lilt of laughter
Daddy, Mama, son,
as love assembles
monorail under
kitchen table.

Stone 24 - Marlon Brando's Address Book

Little brown leather book
under museum glass now,
lost decades ago despite
penned plea, Anyone who
finds this, I'll die if
you don't return it.
I've already lost seven.

Wordle from Whirl -BLink

Twist of head, blink,
scan of room through
parted purple curtains,
stripped off gild, marvel
rendered reprehensible,
two entwined in clouds
of scattered clothing,
whir of stolen passion.

Stone 23- Theatre

Empty stage,
Fills with story,
empties me out.

In Love

In love is climb,
not fall.
Not abandon,
commitment.
Not slip
but triumph
of will,
of choice.

Stone 22- Saffron Rice

Yellow, with onion and butter,
Yellow with saffron and sun,
Awakens spirit, nose, tongue.

Stone 21 -Gift

Two hanks for two hands,
rose pink hand dyed in Chile,
alpaca, merino, silk, donegal
requires US size ten needles.
Soft against cheek.
Warm for winter.
Product still a mystery.

Geode

When I was six
I believed each rock
would be a magic geode
alive with crystal light.

At sixty I know
most rocks are
simply rocks.
I still hope for geodes.

Six Intentions

Promise only what I can do then follow through.
Listen, consider, avoid snap judgements.
Accept help even when I don't need it.
Ask for help when I do need it.
Eat only when hungry and when hungry, eat.
Stay open, mind, heart, spirit

Stone 20- Gingersnap (also response to food I love prompt from last week)

Perfect circle
sits on tongue,
crunches between teeth
warms mouth,
invigorates.

Sixth Decade

Time to remember, record.
Time to pare, hone, refine.
Time to apologize, forgive.
Time to cherish, give thanks.
Time to accept, expect change.
Time to mourn, comfort friends.
Time to live, still time to live.

Stone 19 - Invisible

Wing beat, snort,
rustle, chatter, trill.
Wood resounds with life
invisible from trail.

Timeless

Daddy said
Six of one
half a dozen
of the other.
Hold your horses.
We'll cross that
bridge when we
get to it.

Daughter says
Don't sweat the
small stuff and
its all small stuff.
Stay in the moment.
Be mindful. Do it now.
Worry is useless
One day at a time.


Different words.
Different centuries.
SAme wisdom.

True Green - Stone 18

Single fan of
sabal palm
reflects jade,
emerald, forest,
shades between
words, essence
energy of green.

Impact

Tiny butterfly
leaves large
shadow.

Stone 16 - Native Speaker

Resaca mocking bird,
laughes like a native
from mesquite perch
as I struggle to decode
Kisk, Kis Ka Dee Dee DEE?

Ticket Out of Here

Train Case, black rectangle
packed with bathing suit, towel,
address book, hiking shoes,
soft shirts, skirts, sunscreen.
No office keys. Escape in sight.

Overkill

July moon full,
oversize
overripe
overbright
sneaks in before dark.

Stone 13 - Destruction Equipment

Roar of bulldozer, excavator
shakes building, rattles thoughts
destroys peace in name of change.

Fifteen-Stone 12

Green eyed, barely fifteen
you order birthday dinner
with shy smile, blush at
attention of handsome waiter.

Stone 11 - Hug

You hold me like live oak
holds morning glory vine,
solid, still, strong, anchor.

Close it

Closet, Close it.
Don't let it out.
No mess, no truth.
Keep your secrets.
No truth, no mess.
Don't let me in.
Don't expect me to
stop seeking the key.

Reciprocity

Strong baby fingers,
entangled in my hair,
held fast, while lips
suckled nipple and my
own fingers stroked
your fresh silk cheek.

Stone 10 - Sunbeam

Forest floor shifts underfoot,
oat meal colored oak leaf mosaic.
Suddenly rectangle, like open door,
flashes white gold, sunbeam.

Flood (from Sunday July 10 Wordle)

Galloping poem flooded logic,
onslaught sufficient to resist
world buzz of twisted thought.
Whim fluttered up from instinct,
spring released pure river of love.

Untangling

Untangling dove blue homespun
yarn, inch by snarled inch,
nubby softness over fingers
allows me complete control.

Good Night House

Every night different.
Every night the same.
Invitation into blanket cave
to read book or three.
Shy retreat, hooded eyes
as you pull shawl over
head to nurse your Mama.
Warm squishy hug, coy smile.
Always brush teeth,
Always, Good night Liam
Always, Good night house.

Hungry

Hungry
Empty, aching
Hungry
Fill me, fill me.
Hungry,
absent answers.
Hungry,
Fill me, fill me.
Hungry,
Hollow, yearning.
Hungry,
Fill me, fill me.
Hungry,
Bereft, longing.
Hungry,
Fill me. fill me.
Empting, aching,
Hungry.

BLue Time of Night - Stone 8

Indigo swirl dominates sky,
erases apricot light.
Seven minutes later, black.

Headstone

Live oak etched in granite
beneath outstretched arms
of live oak we planted
in fresh grief 25 years ago.

Stone Six - Virtual Wake

Day of your death
friends in kitchens,
offices, on couches
type memories, keep
connection, we love
you, we miss you,
remember when...

No Candle (from burning candle at both ends prompt)

I am no candle with
finite flame or I
would have burned out
when I was raped,
when I held first
love as he died,
when I grieved
and raised daughters.

I am no star with
fire of my own
or I would have
sputtered out when
my mother lost her mind,
when my daughters
disappointed each other.

I am a moon, reflecting.
I am a tree, connected
to sun, earth, divine.
I am a channel,a path.
I have no fire. I do
not burn. I am finite.
The light is infinite.

Ice Cream Sandwich - Stone 5

Creamy vanilla,too cold
for comfort, chocolate
cookie soft, sweet, rich.
Tastes like childhood.

First Curtains

First curtains I sewed resembled
meadow of spring wild flowers,
fortunate find on bargain
basement sheets - queen size
for windows bigger than bed,
happy curtains for first nest
we feathered for ourselves.

Every Which Way

Always looking up gives a great view of sky,
but I would miss looking you eye to eye,
miss the view of beach stones, roots, seeds.
miss the scope of vast horizon, earth to sky.
I want to see life from every possible angle.

Stone 4 - Heat

Heat beams down from sun,
Steams up from asphalt.
Sweat streams down face, arms.
Cool hint of breeze stirs
parched grass, rattles seeds.
Fall will come. And spring.

Stone 3 - Knit Stitch

Simple knit stitch pulls yarn
over, under, around, through
cycle, circle as violet scarf
flows into being inch by inch.

Escape (inspired by wordle)

Reaching hands tossed
moss flossed flecks,
hurtled toward fresh face.
Dreamer turned,
flew clear of
fading siren song.

Bushy Eyebrows

Bushy eyebrows, busy eyebrows
expressive above wide gray eyes,
assymetrical,dramatic, endearing
busy eyebrows, bushy eyebrows.

July 2 Stone - Memorial

Navigator's jump suit from Korean War
oak leaf clusters neat on shoulders,
good as new, hangs empty in church hall.

For Mary

Comfort is not always possible.
Peace is not always possible.
Foot in front of foot infront of foor.
breath after breath after breath
is sufficient to abide in the dark.

July 1 Stone- Sleepy Boy

Cheek soft in my cupped hand,
Hair like feathers, blue eyes
half closed, you teach trust.

Not Obsolete

I file old skills like pressed flowers.
Cut cloth on diagonal to tear clean.
Corn starch soothes heat rash.
Wet hat before working in hot sun.
Carry stationary to write at bus stop.
Write thank you notes within a week.
Tucks in girls skirts allow for growth.
Save buttons. Scraps make great dolls.
Dress under quilts on coldest mornings.
Start space heater before you wake children.
Sing in the kitchen. Sing on the prch.
Slow down in the heat. Cuddle in the cold.
Tell your own stories. Ask me for mine.
I file old skills like pressed butteflies.