Sometimes we may fail
We may even feel like a failure
We may fall down or not meet expectations
Ours or others
But if we try, including new things are we?
As long as we get up and try again
Failure

People judge others all the time
Holding them up to their standards
Whether they are appropriate or not
How can one truly know about another
Without being in their shoes
Failure

If we take a risk and try something
If we reach beyond our means
If we find our own way
Even if different and unique
If we define ourselves based on our choices
Are we a failure
It’s in the eye of the beholder
Especially ours
Failure

Goodbyes can sting
Over forty years ago I said goodbye to my dream
I watched him walk away
It was almost more than I could withstand
It was to be our final goodbye
It was our first and most gripping

As I watched him walk away
I felt my heart start to crack
Tears streamed down my face
My body shook as if going through withdrawal

Goodbyes can sting
Today felt like deja vu
Unbelievably over thirty years later
I had the chance to see him again

At the end of our visit we had our second goodbye
We had big plans and high hopes
The second goodbye did not sting as much as the first because of hope
Unfortunately our plans were dashed

Goodbyes can sting
Luckily fate found us again
Putting us on the same side of the ocean
Today we had our third goodbye
Once again I watched him walk away

In some ways it stung like the first
Memories flooding back
This pulled at something I had not felt in a long time
While I know I will see him again
The heaviness in my heart will not allay
My emotions are tight like a fiddle
It’s funny they always say it’s easier to leave than to be left

Goodbyes can sting
My heart says that is true
They also say distance makes the heart grow fonder
That has been proven true as well

Goodbyes can sting

Once again we wait
After diminishing
The enemy has returned
With a fury
Touching all parts
Of the world
No one is immune
Even the vaccinated
So we take a pause
Slow down our excitement
And wait
We are frustrated
We are tired
Both emotionally
And physically
Yet we go on
We have no choice
We return to past practices
To protect ourselves and
Loved ones
Watching for signs
That once again
We can finally stop waiting
And start to return
To life

The summer storm came with a fury
The rain poured down as if coming from a glass
Rushing quickly to the ground
Blinding the eye like a whiteout
The plants danced in the wind
Happy to receive natures elixir
The air got cleansed of the soot and heat
The sky washed fresh
The streets were cleaned
The sidewalks scrubbed
Mother Nature at her best
The plants were nourished  to the roots
The summer storm came with a fury
Making everything new once again

It’s another Saturday morning
Start of the weekend
Sitting at a cafe
It’s crowded
Waiting on coffee and croissant
People come to and fro
Warm inside
But very cold outside
Another winters day
Sun is out to brighten the sky
Last Saturday of the month
Almost time for a new month
The city is waking up
Time to get going
Things to do

You are my light
You are my moon
You are my sun
You are my prince
You are my universe

You touch my heart
You touch my soul
You are perfect
You are my universe

You light my world
With your presence
You bring joy
You bring deep happiness
You calm the waters
You are my universe

You are my moon
You are my sun
You are my prince
You are my everything
Without you there is no light
Without you there is no life
Looking at you
Brings me closer to heaven

It’s early
On a Saturday
The city is quiet
Peaceful
Not many people out
There’s a stillness to it
Refreshing
The air is clear
Shops not open yet
It’s the beginning
Of another day
Soon the quiet will leave
Replaced by people and noise
But for now
There’s a little bit of heaven
In the quiet and peace
Early morning

As the sun goes down for the night, clear your mind
As the sun goes down and the heat calms down, look towards the moon

As the sun goes down and the world slows down, slow your heart
Slow your heart and think about the good things you have

As you get ready to rest for the night, let your body relax and carry you to sleep

And as you wake for the next day, smile for a chance at a new start

And treasure each moment and every second as they are a gift

When one is surrounded by clouds of darkness
When the burden feels to much
From weight and darkness
Look for the small light shining in a distance
It will guide your way
It is your destiny awaiting
It is these small slivers of light that give us hope
Believe
Light up the world

She sat in utter silence
In an unfamiliar place
Everything was new
Never experienced before

She was barely noticed
Almost invisible to the eye
Out of her own element
She tried to melt into the wall
She was an outsider

She sat in silence
Barely noticed
Quiet
Almost invisible
Barely seen and heard

She was from another place
Another time
She had traveled a long distance
To be here

She was not seen nor heard
She was insignificant
She was the unfamiliar one
She did not truly exist in some ways

At a time of negativity
Be positive
Be thankful
For loved ones, family and friends
For the life you have

Gratitude

At a time of great strife
Be thankful
For the many blessings that have graced you

Gratitude

At a time of darkness
Reach for the light
Let it lift you
Let it inspire you
Be thankful

Gratitude

At a time of difficulty
Reach
Persevere
Believe
Achieve
Inspire
Be thankful

Gratitude

Look around you
See what there’s to see
Experience life to the fullest
Give love
Offer care
Make someone smile
Offer light instead of darkness
Lift up someone
Then the world
Be thankful

Gratitude

It’s elusive
But needed
Without it
It’s hard to move forward
It’s hard to function
There’s a heavy feeling
Of darkness and despair
When we are knocked down
Hope lifts us up
To try again
To reach again
To be
Beyond ourselves
And our own limits
Hope inspires us
To new heights
It fills us with light
It gets us to look for better days
To focus on the possible
To open our hearts
Hope is everything

The day has been set for cooler weather, rain on the horizon
Skies are gray with a hint of sun
The air is cool and crisp, the weather folks say it may rain

I have been snuggled in my bed, with the covers pulled high reading the news
My kitty was at my side, sound asleep

My husband was getting ready for work

As I sat and read the news, sipping my coffee, enjoying the warmth and comfort, I contemplated my day

Gray colored day

They had been together for almost a year
Their time was ending
They had gone out to dinner
In the big city
One last time
Spent time walking around enjoying their time together
They were with her parents
It was spring
The weather was perfect
She wore a lilac colored dress
It was a perfect night
The city was full of magic

Soon they would have to leave
To head back home north
They didn’t want to leave
They didn’t want the night to end
But it had to
They had no choice

When the car came around
They sat in the back
Her parents were in front
As her father drove
They were quiet
Then his hand reached out to her hand
Touching it ever so gently
They sat holding hands the entire drive
Quiet
Together

When you left that night and walked away a part of me died inside

My heart was weeping from the loss of my better half


My spirit was trapped in darkness
I felt lost without an anchor like a ship without a port

I had lost my North Star

When hope is lost
Heavy darkness comes
Light diminishes
The idea of tomorrow fades
We feel mired down
We are frozen

When hope is lost
People lose their north
They lose their sense of purpose
Seeking any sliver of light to lift
To show them the way
To guide
Seeking anything to inspire
But the vast void

When hope is lost
and darkness comes
We hunger for the light
We need it
To survive
We long for hope
We pray it comes

The Ship

A dim light shines across the waters a distance away
Shining in the dark and fog
The light reflects off the waves of the water
Creating a path through the waves
In the distance is a ship which has been gone for a long time
The ship lost its way and has been looking for home
Seeing the light off in a distance the ship turns and aims for it
As the ship gets closer the light gets brighter illuminating the land by it
The land looks familiar now after so long
The ship is coming home

There are silences that don’t come from peace,
but from being quietly, persistently excluded.
This poem speaks to that — to the kind of moment where someone enters a room
and is met with the coldness of not being welcomed.

It isn’t loud.
It isn’t dramatic.
But it stays.

When the Room Falls Silent

It wasn’t the first time.
It’s happened before.

The hush arrived like an old companion,
unwelcome, settling in the corners
as she walked into the room.
She knew it well.

They were talking —
her husband’s son, wife,
and former sister-in-law.
A circle she couldn’t penetrate.
No matter how hard she tried.
Or what she tried.

Many years of setting down roots.
Creating a new life
in soil that never quite warmed to her.
No longer in her home country.
She moved across the world for him.
She sacrificed.
Because of love.
True love.

She felt out of place.
In her own home.
She wanted to crawl away.
She smiled, again.
Apologized, again.
As if entering a room
was unappreciated
when you don’t match the pattern of the others.

But she remembers another time.
In another place.

When something opened —
a warmth still nameless.
She thought maybe things were different
maybe she belonged.
Finally.

She carried that memory with care.
Hope. Happiness.

But this time
the frost returned.
The coldness.
The silence was deafening.
With a message.
You are not welcome.
⸻

Still —

She is not invisible.
She is not less.
She exists.
She has value.

She is simply is not theirs.
But she is hers.
And she will not spend her life
trying for the unattainable.
It hurts too much.
At times crushing.

A summer wind whips through the air and the trees
Lightning dabbles the sky like a quick paint brush
It’s stunning
Tree limbs bend as the wind moves through them
Like a dance
The sky lightens up from the electric charge moving through
The air fills with the sound of thunder
It’s pounding a rhythm
A summer storm is fast approaching
Playing the wind chimes outside like a musical instrument
As they clang back and forth to the rhythm of the wind
Hold on
It’s coming

We all have a place where we belong
We call them home
We feel a connection to it
It’s as if part of our spirit lives there
Some call them happy places
There are those that have one
Others have may have many
Where one feels comfort
Safety
Bliss and pleasure
The trick is in finding it and in keeping it

It’s time to rise up
Lift ones spirit
High towards the sky
To leave behind the little things
To leave behind the mundane
It’s time to rise up
To something bigger
Grander

It’s time to lift oneself towards the sky
Towards the universe
Towards the stars
Towards all that is good

It’s time to rise up
To take the spirit to a higher place
It’s time

Dark blue velvet accented by soft white lights giving off a magical glow
A winding river decorated with pearls
Ducks fishing for their dinner
Light breezes brushing against my face
Quiet all around
It looks like something out of a movie
Too perfect to be real
But it is
It’s magic
Pure magic

Folks drinking coffee in a cafe
Surrounded by red cushions that adorn bright white walls
Music playing with a soft hypnotic sound
News playing in the background on a TV
Tables set with clear dark red glasses
Professional waiters moving to and fro
People sitting outside under red umbrellas which offer welcomed shade
On the start to another hot steamy day

Summertime

Don’t grudge
Like
Don’t hate
Love
Don’t judge
Accept
Don’t isolate
Join
Don’t disbelieve
Believe
Don’t focus on ugliness
Focus on beauty
Don’t disrespect
Respect
Don’t harm
Help
Don’t despair
Hope
Don’t see smallness
See grandness
Don’t offer darkness
Offer light
Light up the world
With your special light
If we each offer light
The darkness will diminish

It’s been almost 2 years
Of lockdowns and isolation
Masks and very little contact
Today I saw a friend
For coffee
We talked and laughed
For hours
It was cathartic
I felt like a kid in a candy store
Wow
Like a release
It was a gift
I will always treasure
Hopefully more outings
Will come
It felt good
After so long
Wow

It was in the woods
A small cabin
Far from the bustle of the city
Almost buried by trees
In all shapes and sizes
In the fall, it becomes an orchestra of colors
Bright oranges, reds and yellows
The cabin was made out of wood
It had a simple design
Yet it was pure heaven
Comfortable in every way
There was a stillness to it
Which was peaceful and harmonious
The air was always fresh
Especially in autumn
When it became crisp
At night when the wind blew
The leaves would rustle
Making a pleasant sound
It was almost too good to be true
A little bit of heaven
The cabin

It was Sunday morning
In a small city on the east coast
The rain was gently falling
The sky was a muted gray
It was early
There wasn’t much traffic
It was quiet
There was a feeling of stillness

As the rain fell two cats slept
They always slept together
One was. brown and one gray
They were like sisters
It was calming to watch them

The sound of the rain was calming and hypnotic
It was a cool fall day
The leaves were still on the trees
Gold, red, and orange

As the rain hit the side of the building it made a noise like a faint drumbeat

The air smelled clean and refreshed
There was a hint of the wet leaves like a natural perfume

The entire scene evoked feelings of peace

Watching the rain and world was like being transported to another world

People out running to and fro
Cold breath hanging in the air
Its holiday time
The season is upon us
Markets are full of people
Bright colors and tinsel
Lots of good energy
People selling their wares
Stores fully decorated
With their best
Streets full of holiday lights
People smiling brightly with cheer
Trees decorated inside and out
Children running and playing
Parents shopping for the perfect gift
It’s that time of year
Street scene

We are so fragile
If you really look at us
We are the wisp of something
Like queen anne’s lace
We hunger for care
We hunger for gentility

Oh we may bluster
We may puff out our chests
We may yell
We may stomp our feet
In the end
We are so fragile
Like a leaf
Like a flower petal

Our hearts are delicate
Easy to hurt
Easy to break
We seem strong
But we are not

We are so fragile
Like a leaf
Like a flower petal
We hunger for care
We hunger for gentility

It’s  a winter wonderland
The holiday lights are out
Houses decorated with their best
Scents of pine waft through the air
It’s heavenly perfume
Snow is lightly falling
It’s a winter wonderland

Streets are full of people
Running to and fro
Buying their wares
Shops are decorated

It’s like magic
Once a year
That touches the heart
Deep inside
Making people lighter
Hearts bigger
Smiles are brighter and bigger
Laughs deeper
Love is everywhere

It’s a winter wonderland
Believe in the magic

It’s that time of year
The light has changed
Ever so slightly
From summer to fall light
The suns brightness less intense

It’s that time of year
The light has changed
From summer to fall light
The air is crisper
The nights cooler

It’s that time of year
The light has changed
From summer to fall light
The heat of summer is leaving
The beauty of fall is coming

Its that time of year
When leaves start to turn
Orange, yellow and red
Dabbling the landscape
Like a fine painting

It’s that time of year
When colors are bright
There is a special shine to everything
Moods are high
The world puts on its best face

Life is so fleeting
One minute we are here
The next we may not be
We think we are invincible
Especially when we are young
Yet we are really fragile
Both in body and spirit
Each day we wake up
Is really a true miracle
Because one never knows
What may be waiting
In the shadows
It’s important to focus
On joy and lightness
Pushing the darkness
Away
Because in the end
That’s all we really have
Believe in the possibility
Light up the world
With your own special light
It’s waiting

Bring comfort
Offer calm
Give one a sense of belonging
Help one feel centered
They are important
They are most needed
During times of trouble
We all have them
Without them
We feel lost
We can’t find our way
They are like a lighthouse
Steering a ship to port
They clear out the fog
Erasing darkness
Bringing in the light

There is a very special place a long, long ways away.....it is thousands of years old with traces dating back to Spain and before.

In the land of a thousand and one nights. The place of myth and rumor, is a city built of light rose pink buildings with turquoise window frames and a feeling of a great peace and harmony.

Things move slowly here as there is no reason to rush. At night, a calm falls over the city and it takes on a lavender hue.

People sit in cafes enjoying their coffee while the hypnotic breezes brush across their faces tempting smiles and laughter. Some call this feeling the purple haze. It seeps into buildings like a vapor, moving through the walls and windows covering its residents with a soft blanket while they sleep.

It has a delicate scent of lilacs and the color is a pale colored lavender with flecks of gold and silver woven through it like a fine tapestry or fabric.

As the mist penetrates the air, it brings about a feeling of total peace and tranquility second to none. The origin is a mystery,  though some say it comes from the snow capped mountains near by.

All anyone knows for sure is that it is a precious gift.

It’s magic

Mornings
When it’s quiet
Peaceful
Are sacred
Times of stillness
When the soul
Is most present
It’s those times
When we find
Our true self
When the chaos of life
Subsides
Music is also a key
So is nature
To sacred times
They are precious
Like a rare jewel
Treasured
Always

The summer storm came with a fury
The rain poured down as if coming from a glass
Rushing quickly to the ground
Blinding the eye like a whiteout
The plants danced in the wind
Happy to receive natures elixir
The air got cleansed of the soot and heat
The sky washed fresh

The summer storm came with a fury
The streets were cleaned
The sidewalks scrubbed
Mother Nature at her best

The plants were nourished  to the roots
The summer storm came with a fury
Making everything new once again

There’s so much rage
It’s everywhere
Seeping into the crevices
Hidden
Not just in one country
But over the world
Trust has been broken
Little things become huge
The light is being replaced
By heaviness and darkness
Yet every now and then
Some light sneaks in
Even if it’s just a little
And when that happens
Rage dissipates
It runs
Replaced by brightness
We must treasure
Those moments
Through them
We will heal
We can move forward
If we believe
We can light up the world

Writing is in my blood
It runs through me like a running stream
It is intertwined into my inner most being
I am driven to do it
It is part of the air I breathe
It is life
It lifts me up
Like meditation
I disappear to another world

Writing is my blood
It is intertwined into my inner most being
Without it I am lost
Without it, I am not me

Writing is part of my life
It lifts me up
Like meditation
I need to write
I crave to write
It is like giving birth
Creating a new work
From nothing


Writing is my blood
It gives me peace
It brings harmony

It was you
That I first met
That entranced me
That I first danced with
That I kissed
Touched
Laughed with
It was you I never forgot
That I always loved
Thought about
Thirsted for
Prayed for
It was you
That I wanted not just for a moment but forever
It was you
My beloved

Hello Fall
Are you here?
Today when I awoke it was cooler
Today the air felt crisp
Today the sky is clear
Today my hopes are high

Hello Fall
Are you back?
Will you stay?
I missed you
Where did you go?

Hello Fall
I miss your colors
I miss the smells
I miss the food
The hot chocolate
The apple cider
The pies

Hello Fall
Are you back?
It feels like you are
I hope you are
I missed you

The colors
The crisp air
The smells
The food

Hello Fall
Please stay

There is a grey colored mist floating through the air almost like a haze in the air
The sun is starting to come up over the horizon – a hot pink ball slowly rising over the sea
A man is standing on the beach facing out to the water, bare feet buried in the sand
He lets the ocean waves gently wash across his feet
The water is neither too hot nor cold, it is just right
He is wearing a muted grey colored sweater
Standing with his hands in his pockets, he is facing the water, watching, listening to the pounding of the waves as a soothing drum beat ever so slowly
He closes his eyes to listen and smell the salt in the air like perfume
The sounds and smells calm him – leave him with a sense of peace
He then opens his eyes and looks off to the right, down the beach
He sees a woman slowly approaching him from a distance
She is walking slowly to the rhythm of the waves
He closes his eyes once again, waiting for her
Then he opens his eyes and sees her standing by him now watching and listening to the roar of the sea
They smile to each other, grasp hands, turn and continue walking down the beach together

The inspiration is gone
Flew like a flash somewhere
The muse has left

The poet is sleeping

Darkness has replaced light
Heaviness is  in the spirit
As I struggle with my thoughts
As I struggle with my feelings
I am stopped cold
I feel lost

The poet is sleeping

The muse has left
No more sounds of sweet music
No more inspirational thoughts
No more magical dreams
I lost my purpose

The poet is sleeping
I am searching for the light
I am searching for my friend
Inspiration

I hope to find it soon
I miss it

You are on a Greek isle
There’s a bright blue sky
With a few white clouds
Bright fuchsia flowers
Adorn the area
The ocean is sapphire blue
Nearby is some laundry
Hanging in the wind
Bright white sheets
Just washed
That move to the rhythm
Of the wind
Giving off a scent
Of cleanliness
It’s calming and hypnotic
Magic

They walk among us
They have always been here
They are the ancient ones
Teachers
Guides
They are everywhere
They are part of the earth
Quiet
Listening
Watching
Protecting
They are of the spirit
More than the body
Their faces reflect light
They have seen things
Back to the beginning
They understand
Our purpose
Why we are here
They carry peace
Harmony
In their hearts
They are part of
Everything
And beyond

Every few months
She disappears
She hides
Invisible
As if a ghost or spirit
She’s not part of anything
She’s something else
Unnoticed
Comes from a different world
A different place

She melds into surroundings
Becoming very quiet
Keeping to herself
No one pays attention
It’s better that way
More comfortable
She watches from afar

I am a person
I am alive
I want to live
Just like you
I have feelings
I have hopes and dreams
I have needs
I am no different from another
I need love
I need care
A home
Food and water
I want to walk free
To be able to live my life
Without pain or hurt
At times I am alone
Other times I am not
I am no different than another
I just want to be
Like you
In the end
We are all the same

If someone touched your life a long time ago, but you lost touch -- reach out
If someone touched your heart in a very special way -- reach out
If there is someone you never forgot and wish you were still in touch -- reach out
For all those wished second chances -- wish and try again
For all those lost opportunities, try once more
For all the times you lost faith, believe again
For every time you received a kindness, or a break, or something wonderful happened, be grateful and smile
For all the love you have received, love back
For all the smiles you have received, smile back
This is a magical time, whether or not one practices these holidays
Take advantage of this time, to love, to give, to remember, to smile and to reach out

They have held
While other things have weakened
They remained strong
Like a dam

While pushed and threatened
While others spun stories
Trying to change reality
They stood firm
Holding the rushing waters back
Waves frequently breaking  against their wall
Yet it held
Like a dam

The more water that came
The fiercer it was
They held
They stood firm
They did not buckle
Yet it held
Like a dam

While there was an onslaught
Day after day
Never stopping
They stood firm
Never bending
Like a dam

Strong
Unbending
Like a dam
A true warrior for justice

Many many years ago
You touched my heart
With yours
You lifted up my spirit
With brightness and light

Many many years ago
You touched my heart
With yours
You tied me to you
With a golden thread

You found a place and never left
You took me to new places

Many many years ago
You lifted up my spirit
You touched my heart with love
You gave me care
You tied me to you
With a golden thread

Many many years ago
You touched my heart
With yours
You lifted up my spirit
You showed me the world

You showed me the moon
You gave me the sun
You gave me everything
You touched my heart with yours

Sweet moments
Those small moments
Sometimes fleeting
Make life worth living
They can pass quickly
Touching our hearts
Touching our souls
Hard to hold onto
Delicate
Somewhat fragile
Like a butterfly

Sweet moments
Make lasting memories
Taste like honey
Decorating our days and nights
Brightening our lives

Put them together
They form a life