52

Weeks in a year

cards in a deck

Ivory keys on a piano

An untouchable number 

for a touchable you

on this birthday

New Beginnings

I gave up eagles for seagulls and pigeons

I gave up counting cars for a classroom

I gave up freedom for responsibility 

I gave up route planning for lesson planning

I gave up life on the road for a sticks and bricks home

I gave in to being an open book with new blank pages

Redwood City

Moving to Redwood City

Redwood City here we come

They got a crazy way of living there 

and I’m going get me some

Parked in Trailer Villa

in spot 10A

Parked in Trailer Villa

Parked in spot 10A

Snuggling with my baby

Hoping this will work for today

I can leave by plane

I can leave by bus

But I want to drive 

Through the cars in all a-rush

In Redwood City

Redwood City here I am

MOTHER

Mother feeds a tree, long after gloaming
heart worn and wormed no longer roaming
intact she entered the clay
for she and the Son to rise some day
now is pinned by granite engraved
her family neighbors also enslaved
behind a latched gate
no animals shall ablate
dirt isn’t the best halm
or the way to think of mom

HomeLess Joy

Writing a book is hard work and it takes a lot of help from friends and family as well as fellow writers.  The launch was held at Orland public library on October 10th at 5:00 pm with a small but welcoming audience, I shared several poems and many of my beliefs and reasons why this book is important.  

I'm currently soliciting help from the local newspaper volunteer who wrote a short article about the book launch. Luckily, I was able to pay for express shipping and sold several copies of Homeless Joy and offered Unadoptable Joy for sale as well.  

Firefall

Firefall

Red leaves 

turning brown
Flames of fire 

consuming wood
Eating the forest

Lean

Lamppost leaning left
tempting me to not turn right
My path flows right along the bay
as the houses lean left
from eons of winds off the water

I think if I ever get another Labrador,
I’ll name her Ilene as previous ones owned
loved to lean against my legs
at least that name wouldn’t be as disrespectful
calling a yella lab Beach when you live in Texas,
just doesn’t work. It comes out all wrong
when you visit the gulf and your dog takes a run.

Lean is just all wrong too.
My dad used to say, “Either sit or stand.” 
If your too tired to do either you should be in bed.” 
He also told me I should stand for some sort of cause.
I should stand up not only for my own rights
but for the rights of others.

Although both mom and dad offered to give
me a reason to not be able to sit down
with belt or wooden spoon in the kitchen.

I learned as I worked in kitchens,
“if you have time to lean you have time to clean.” 
As I see another streetlamp leaning,
this one against a tree for support,
I notice the wind that has picked up, 
“lean into the wind” and continue the path
I am supposed to follow.