Without air

Who was it who said it takes ten compliments to counter one negative one?  She/he/they are right

So often
One person's voice
Carries louder
Than another's.
We all
Have sore spots.
When touched
They launch us
Into outer space.
It's no use
To say we are
Sore-spot-less;
If we do
They will catch us
Unawares.
I know
Whereof
I speak.
The Earth
Is orbited by those
Who choose
To stay
Up
Without air.

Forever

Ruminations on Malcolm Guite leading a retreat in London on the Seven O Antiphons.

It is easier to stay
For counted things
We are
A numbered people.
If there is
A beginning
An ending
We are more happy
Than if things
Go on
Forever.
Forever cannot
Be numbered.
Forever
Cannot
Be counted.
Forever
Does not fit easily
On an advertising
Poster,
So if people show up
To hear the reflection
They may be there
Forever.
No one
Will let them
Go home.

Quiet

The house is quiet.
Advent
Has yet
To begin.
Snow cleared
Which asked
To be cleared.
Silence reigns.
Coffee warm
In my hands.

Solidify?

A decision is not necessarily a forever choice.

No decision
Is once and for all.
Because
I think to do this
Today
I may find out otherwise
Tomorrow.
This seems
To confuse others
Who want
To solidify
The world
Adam or Eve
Land
Or sea
Creepy
Or crawly.
No decision
Is once and for all.

Crowns

I preach tomorrow

We all wear crowns
All of us
Every single one
Of us
Even
That one
Jesus couldn't possibly
Include.

Assignments

Thanksgiving assignments

Everyone has
Thanksgiving assignments
Decorations
Fish
Mashed potatoes
Salad
With pomegranate seeds
Of course.
Canned cranberry sauce
The kind
With the ridges.
Pumpkin pie
For dessert.
Thanksgiving assignments
It wouldn't be
Thanksgiving
Without them.

How to cook a turkey

Approach with reverence

Approach with reverence.
This will be the centerpiece
Of your Thanksgiving table
If you are not a vegetarian.
Take the innards out of the turkey
Before cooking.
Cook the stuffing
Separately
If stuffing
Is your thing.
Consider putting onions
Celery
And an orange
In the cavity
Where the innards lived.
Opt for simplicity.
When in doubt
Call the Butterball
Hotline.
Above all
Approach
With reverence,

Show me your socks

I am glad to know it is simple as this.

Show me your socks

She says

Then nods

Approvingly.

The world is right

If my socks

Show it so.

Stripes

Polka dots

Pictures of all

Varieties

Show me your socks.

If I have managed

To pull a colorful pair

From the drawer

All is right

With the world.

I am glad to know

It is simple

As this.

Falling

Learning how to fall and get back up. I have a "goodly heritage." 

I am the daughter
Of the man
Who fell off a truck
In WWII.
This was his rendering
Of the story.
So what's that purple heart for?
He was blown off
The truck
No one else
Survived.
The truck
Did not survive.
My father
Did.
I am the daughter
Of that man.
I have my own falls
To account for
But still
I am the daughter
Of that man.

Convention

Thank you, Jane. Thank you, Bishop Benito.

So I land on my rear
And can't get up
Think I'll participate
In the rest of convention
From the floor
But no
No
No
The priest
Sitting next me
And the Bishop
of Southeast Mexico
Must lift me
Back to my chair
Ask me
If I need
A glass of water.

Alternative cat carrier

The younger cat hides when she sees the towel.

The very old cat
Is off to see the vet
In a towel
And food bag.
We misplaced
The cat carrier.
He is not happy
In the food bag.
I hear yowls
All the way
Down the front walk
Into the car
Until the car door
Closes.
He may be quieter
When he returns.
Or not.

Like always

Routines

When I awaken
I don't want to write
Who would want to read it?
I don't have anything
To say
Then there is blue sky
Snow left
On the bushes
The lady in red
She feeds the ducks
Like always
Who am I
Not to write?
She feeds the ducks
Like always
We both have our
Routines
So I write
Like always.

Jazz and piranhas

I never thought of keeping a fish tank with piranhas.

The driver today
Listens to jazz
Keeps piranhas
At home
He started with five fish
Now there are only two.
He says
I don't know
What happened
To the other three.
I looked for them
On the floor
They are gone.
The other two
Hang out together
Wait for their next
Goldfish meal.
Did you know
They have red bellies?
He asked
They are beautiful fish.

Backseat

More backseat stories

What a pleasure
He said
To have you
In the backseat.
He told me
About his wife
A nurse
Driving adventure stories.
What a pleasure
To listen
To him.

The world gives me rides

There are always things to learn from the back seat.

The world
Gives me rides
Tells me things
I never knew
Before.
Pakistan
Nigeria
Over the road
Truck drivers
She used to bring
Her dog
With her
All over the country.
Now she gets me
I get her.
The world
Gives me rides
Tells me things
I never knew.

Vote

These are the times that try our souls.

Everyone watches
Here and there.
We stand in line
Wonder
What may happen
Tomorrow.
Predictions fly
Heads
Are buried
Ears
Are plugged
La
La
La

Balancing

I watch gymnastics and wonder how I ever made it from one end of the balance beam to the other. Heck, I wonder how I ever got on the thing at all.

I remember the balance beam
Sometimes
My feet
Kept me upright.
I made it
To the end.
Jumped off.
Gymnastics
Was never
A strength.
Now I look
At that balance beam
I am amazed
Anyone
Balances
At all.

Legos

Legos come in kits with directions. I suppose those directions might be a good starting place, but never a place to end.

Throw the directions
Away
Make your own creation
Red and green.
Blue and yellow.
Throw the directions
Away
Place a Lego person
On top
Of your creation
Name him
Name her
Max or Maude
Throw the directions
Away
Most of all
Throw the directions
Away.