Marsha & Derby
The child is perfect,
Pure, innocent, beautiful.
Filled with love
Brimming with joy and expectation.
Everyday is an adventure
A mystery to be solved,
A journey to be taken,
A destination to be reached.
The wonder of a blade of grass
Pulled slowly and carefully
That gives up its sweet succulence.
A honeysuckle bloom
That yields its sweet nectar.
Warm sun on the face,
The slurpy kisses of a dog.
Digging bare hands and feet
Into black fertile dirt.
Starry Milky Way on a dark night.
The smell after a spring rain,
Sounds of frogs croaking,
Fresh, clean, washed, purified
Buried head in the neck of a horse,
Warm horse smell and soft, soft muzzle.
Feel the strength
Jump high, run fast
Laughter and giggles on a
Blissful summer day.
Nothing expected
Nothing gained
Just pleasure and joy
In each moment.
When did the darkness appear
It crept into my being
And created a black hole
For me to crawl into and
Escape.
Feels like it was always there
But no, it wasn’t.
Yet once it appeared
Seems it wanted to stay
And because I hadn’t learned
To say NO —
It’s my world, my life
It took up residence and
Hollowed out a piece of my soul.
Years passed
Triumphs, failures, successes,
Loss, grief, despair
All took their turn
And wrote a chapter on my heart
And played out their song on my soul.
Yet the spirit,
Though bruised and battered
Disoriented and denied,
Finds courage to renew
And rise again.
A walk in th egos
All enveloping like a soft blanket.
Early morning in January,
The herring boats out chugging, chugging
As the nets are drawn in
The sea gulls flying and calling wildly
“It’s a party! It’s a party! Food for all!”
Sausalito Herring Boat used with permission of Martin Stringer
The sea lions bark and cavort
As they add their song to the chaos.
It’s an early morning cacophonous orgy
Of delight and plenty.
No matter how many demons and dragons are slain,
No matter how many successes and triumphs are enjoyed,
All we really have is that moment,
That precious, simple moment
When we choose
Choose to forgive and accept
Choose to heal and survive
Choose to LOVE.
