FRESH

FRESH

Fresh fruit

Fresh vegetables

Fresh flowers

Fresh sheets…

My mother called yesterday

“What are you doing?” she asked

Her voice hoarse, of course

When you are 89 years old coughs don’t just linger, wickedly taking away your voice. Sometimes they stay for the rest of your life.

“Laundry.” Was my reply

“You are always doing laundry,” she stated.

Less hoarse

More aware

Of me

Wasting water

Wasting away

Folding fresh sheets once again.

“You create work” she went on “changing sheets every couple of days.”

When you are 89 years old the children you have loved so dearly for so long can do no wrong.

She laughed as I explained…

“Oh but I love fresh sheets, Mother.”

You

C

L

I

M

B

Into bed

As your body hits the mattress you

Stretch one leg

Then the other

Your head

Finds the pillow

As you inhale you realize that

Nothing

Is igniting old thoughts

You are here

In this moment

With

Fresh

Sheets

Who can describe the feeling?

I am not even going to try

That’s what fresh sheets do to me

They take away the thoughts that stress my body and contort my heart then fuel my mind so it goes looking for more unwanted thoughts to think about.

With fresh sheets surrounding me

I rest

I reflect on nothingness

And soon

I am fast asleep

Floating peacefully

Through my dreams

About…

Fresh fruit

Fresh vegetables

Fresh flowers

Fresh sheets

And my mother calling me to ask what I am doing.

FOUND

FOUND

I placed my heart inside a box

Locked it with a golden key

Dug a hole in my back yard

Threw it in and watched the rain

Cover what was left of me

A body with no feelings

Oh so free

That night between my cotton sheets

I could not pray

I could not sleep

I listened to the thunder roar

The lightening streaked the floor

But nothing mattered

Not anymore

To what was left

Of me

The next day I awoke

A fresh new day before me smiled

I missed the beat

Felt no defeat

Drank my coffee

Like it was wine

Then took a dive into the day

No feelings there

To sweep me away

Along my street I dared to walk

To the neighbors did not talk

They were feeling way too much

I no longer knew the lingo

Didn’t want no human touch

That night I sat before my grave

Dug a small hole

Feeling brave

Grabbed a feeling, just to see

What the night may hold for me

I dreamt of bluebirds

And their song

Listened all night

Was much too long

But, upon awakening I felt peace

“A feeling is just right,” I thought

I felt release

The day it turned out wasn’t bad

I didn’t smile but wasn’t sad

My feeling led me through the time…

I placed my body on the grass

It was nice; I found a dime

Lucky me, I felt just that

One feeling definitely was enough

Clutching silver in my hand

I began to understand

That I would have to dig my whole heart out

If I was to learn

What this thing called life is all about

So that night I went outside

With a shovel at my side

I sat too long

But I felt strong, and I began to dig away

I needed feelings here to stay

I dug until the stars were in the sky

Staring at me with curious eyes

I dug until a feeling took a leap

I then went back to bed to sleep

The next day I embrace the sun

Embraced the rain until it was done

I sipped my coffee

Played with thoughts

Picked up the phone and made a call

But that was not all I did that day;

I bought a shovel big and strong

Dug with unwavering force all day long

I opened my box up with the key

Took my heart out and set it free

I felt the pleasure in my chest

I felt tingles, I found rest

And when at last I fell asleep

Every feeling did I keep

The good, the bad, the nagging ones

Those that hurt me for so long

Then I gave them all a kiss

I slept through the night

In a wondrous bliss

My heart now keeps me in the place

I want to be; the human race

I live my life for those who pray

For heart felt feelings every day.

BLOOM

Bloom

“Look at me.’ An angel said

Wings golden like the sun

I can fly and you can too

Don’t wait until your life is done

Fly through bad times and the good

Fly through sadness and the smiles

Spread your wings,  soar on through

The steps in life that turn to miles

Open hearts and open arms

Will get you past chaotic days

Open minds and present thoughts

Ensure happiness is here to stay

“Look at me now.” The angel smiled

Wings lined in silver like a cloud

I can swim above the tides

Hear me sing and hear me loud

No ocean is ever spread so far

That you cannot find a way to swim

Climb a mountain, take a dive

I can promise that you will win

All the things in life that count

Are the things that pass the hours

Like the pleasure of a friend

Who with you smells the flowers

“Open your eyes,” the angel sang

Walk on over to a mirror

See that smile; tender, sweet…

That’s

The

One

That

Gets

You

Nearer…

To all you ever wanted

Dream about

Spend your thinking of

Sometimes ignoring

Pretending it is not really there.

Where?

Here…

Like they say:

Under your nose

Simply blooming

Waiting to be acknowledged.

The angel vanished but never left

It sits pretty on your shoulder

If some days are filled with pain

Reach to the right and really hold her