Widow

Tonight her heart seeks quietude and rest

within a silent room where lamplight falls 

with mellow grace and flickering fire enthralls 

and lures the mind to meditative quest 

for here his presence is most manifest 

and loneliness retreats beyond the walls

it is a reconciling peace that shawls 

her being with the oneness they possessed.

Through years, in faith and trust her soul had sought 

the cherished warmth of his bold spirit's flame 

whereby love's sweet security is wrought 

he sensed her need in that unspoken claim 

and now there is the shared and secret thought 

to blaze with precious memory of his name.

(written for a dear friend that lost her husband, recently) 

Little Friendly Lake

You lure us from from duty's hurried street 

to riches not compared with coins of gold 

you offer time to rest the aching feet ...

here, prodded minds and bodies loose their hold 

from care to pause and play in wide-swung doors 

green-lacquered reeds and water lilies doze ...

while rhythmic ripples softly kiss your shores 

here, harmony and happiness repose 

and songs of birds ring heavenward and high ...

though but a mote of mirror, you reflect 

deep calm and peace in wood and field and sky

constructed by a Master Architect ....

(and the pelicans were on the lake that beautiful day

my husband is the photographer. ) 

And the Robin Sang ...

How I wanted that day to last forever! How
I wished every one  could have lived it! To
some that day was not an unusual one, for the
sun shone only as brightly as it did on any
other spring day. But those seemingly ordinary
hours were the most sublime I think I shall ever
recall for I was lifted from the despair of doubt
into a great happiness and a more complete
understanding.

The tall trees stood erect as the warm
breeze rustled their lovely green leaves. A
policeman strolled merrily through the park.
His young wife, wheeling a baby stroller
walked beside him. Through a great love and
some strange power a child had come into
being. From a tiny acorn had sprung the
stately tree beside me. Still I doubted, but at
that moment, a robin sang above me - his
time-old song revealing that which I now
understand. Surely there was a Creator, some
Divine Power to make possible this beauty I
had felt in its fullness only today. I bowed my
head in humility and prayed - prayed to a
God I knew truly existed.

The perfume of fresh lilacs filled the air -
so pure, like Him who had created them.

That day seemed everlasting, it is forever
seared in my memory. A robin had shown me
the light. Some need holy men, others a vision of a miracle but all I
needed was nature and a robin's simple notes.
I walked on, its song still echoing through
my heart and the sun was at my heels ...

Quiet Neighbors

They stand inside the terrace rim
he, six feet two, alert
she, at his side, close to him
in a quaint hoop skirt

They never talk, laugh or sigh
they never even stir
until the wind comes running by
then he sings to her

The rain to them is anodyne
they welcome snow and dew
he, the lusty Douglas pine
she, the feathery yew.

First Teacher

At our first sentence: "A man ran"
she leaned closer and listened.
Her eyes, when we read "Fan me Ann"
rounded and fairly glistened.
Then when we counted right
that eager, glad September
her smile was far the brightest light
that shone!
Yes, I remember!

(My mom was a teacher and she was my first teacher,
 Remembering that first year with her in Kindergarten, some very wonderful memories)

Mother Goose Lullaby (for my precious Rose)

Hush, you darling little thing

listen closely while I sing

'Bout the sandman who will call

when you into sleep shall fall

First, he'll give you sleepy-dust 

when your travel, sleep you must

Then he'll take you in his arms 

show you all the dreamland charms 

You shall have a hurried look 

on the folks in story-book

How they play and romp and run 

you have never seen such fun

You shall see old mother goose

with her goslings running loose 

all about a great big pond

'bout which geese are very fond

Then you'll see the jumping cow

try to figure out just how 

she could jump so very high 

o'er the moon up in the sky

Then, dear, try to solve the riddle 

'bout the cat that played the fiddle 

Next in line, the lazy spoon 

whom the dish outran too soon 

Taste Miss Muffet's curds and whey 

she was eating on that day 

then the spider came to call

she forgot to eat them all 

After you have seen this jumble

tell the sandman not to stumble

over Humpty's wall but see 

that he brings you right back to me!

It Was The Mockingbird ...

It was the mockingbird singing at night 
singing for other birds , sleeping or flown 
piping his stolen flute, trilling the light 
measures that were never his alone ...
It was his mockery, pulsing and bright 
carelessly borrowed from all that he had known 
It was the mockingbird, singing at night 
that taught me a song of my own!