Fall
Walking down the street, the
Sky is a beautiful blue with white fluffy clouds.
We inhale the scents of the multi-color trees and
Count our blessings as the gentle wind
Flutters the leaves to the ground.
Back home again we walk up the
red carpet, to our front door.
2008
My grandson, 4 years old
had recently lost his grandad
who he loved deeply-
Weeks later
we went to McDonald’s,
his favorite chicken nugget
place and we sat in a booth.
He closed his eyes and turned
his head up to the ceiling,
and I asked
What are you doing Michael-
his answer took me by surprise-
“I’m” talking to Grandaddy.”
That same night, he said
I was going to have to be
Grandaddy and Gramalie,
from now on-
The family of deer living back in our yard
Who robbed the bird feeder from time to time
Have not shown their faces in recent weeks
But we know they are close, and keep up our guard
Trudging out in the dark to collect the feeder
Safely bringing it in night after night.
As daylight breaks, we hear the birds tweet
As if to say where are you and where is our seed.
The cardinal, pure red, is perched on the top
Waiting patiently for someone to come
Other birds flutter across back & forth
We’re coming already!
Loss & Gain
As the days are shorter
The cool air travels
From west to east
From north to south
The thermostat changes to
warm the house
The birds are hungry
Seeming to need more for warmth.
No breakfast on the porch
To watch our feathered friends
Hummingbirds are gone
To find warmer places.
Trees are fashioning colors
That don’t seem real!
We know they will soon
Cover our lawns.
Sunsets are awesome
With bright beautiful colors.
They come too soon now
Our daylight is shorter.
It’s time to be still
And meditate for longer
than I seem to have time for
During the summer–
