Chartreause

Blog 428:

There’s something new, and something old
‘Bout curiosity at corner store’s floor so bold
Vintage sitting, traditional decors
Even surprising old wooden floors
Spot the pot rack stunningly bronzed
Decorative place setting, bowls embossed
To the left, quaint embroidery pieces
To the right, colorful glasses, silvery platters
Outdoor furniture nondescript or strange
All compete in distressed look and age
What’s not to love at a quaint discovery place?
Nothing there I’d cross out for my own space!

Divergence

Blog 427:

Hearts split paths …
It was nothing more, but a simple disagreement of opinions:
“I want to build a reading room!” she declares.
He retorts, “I want a room where I can play video sports!”
Neither one spoke to the other after that exchange
Many days passed, but nothing got built
Except tension, heartache, a house of discontent
Until one cold morning … out of the blue and restless despair
His eyes and hers converged
Both break the silence of the moment
They spoke at exactly the same moment …
“Let’s break bread, and disagree no more!”
A few days after, construction went on
And before long, a reading/entertainment room emerges
With headphones each, she read as much, and he viewed his games
Both lived their hearts’ desire without discord ever after!

eyeofthebeholder

Blog 426:

Throw-away Woodblock
Dusty, shabby, worn-out
Aged, it no longer fits its purpose
Once loved, but now strewn away
Corner dump passersby ignore it
At a glance, it has nothing more to give
Given a chance to shine, it could live its potential
A gifted wood artist spots it
Without trepidation he picks it up
“I will turn you into something WOW,” he whispers
A day after its time at his workshop …
The once grungy-looking woodblock is transformed …
A useful, extraordinary handwork it has become …
Bread Bowl

Renew

Blog 425:

Healing Treatment
It pacifies my aching physique
It relaxes my overworked muscles
It calms my screaming joints
With knowledgeable and experienced hands
A therapist quiets and lulls my every nagging pain
Rehabilitating, restoring, revitalizing every inch of it
There’s no other panacea for a roughed-up body
There’s nothing better than a caring well-performed
Deep Tissue Therapy

Fretting?

Blog 424:

The challenges of today are front and center
Tomorrow, they come again
And the day after tomorrow, tests again pounce …

Why fret?

Decisions minute and enormous come …
-On what must we focus this second and the next?
-Which problem should we first tackle?
-Where is it best to carry out a plan and why?
-How do we deal with people and issues around us?
-Whom shall we care for today and days afterwards?

Why fret?

Bills come …
Accidents happen …
Sicknesses attack …
Danger hovers …
Everyone has an opinion …
Careers take off and slump …
Living things grow, live on, and then die …

Why fret?

Stop that drained, wearied outlook
Carry on with what you could confront
Be decisive and win a battle
Face and dispute one opposition at a time
Stand firm
Let life’s troubles come and fade away!

Let Go!

Blog 423:

Quiet down, Heart!
What intrigues your center?
You are the master of your being
The queen of your realm
The pilot of your ship …
Stop worrying about actions already taken
They will have consequences bad or good
And there’s nothing you could do to change paths trodden
Do you forget that other hearts direct similarly?
Others’ Hearts, like yours, are always at will-
Wielding, testing, yielding, questioning …
“Let not your Heart be troubled!” the great Master says
If you truly believe in His promise, let go and let be!

Plan B?

Blog 422:

Yellow noodles, check!
How about adding white rice noodles?
Shredded cabbage …
Julienned carrots and onions …
Celery slices, all ready!
Let’s see what else this recipe calls:
Four cups of water, condiments, check!
Salt’n’pepper to taste, check!
All ready except for the deep pan
Steps 1, 2 and 3 done …
Base sauce boiling hot and looking good …
Last step calls for noodles to go in
So both you yellow and white noodles, go!
Stir a bit here and there …
Hey!  What’s happening to the white noodles?
Why are they melting?
Good grief … they’re becoming paste-like!
So much for noodle-caboodle craving …
My Cantonese Noodles turned big-time disaster!
What’s plan B meal for lunch?

Get Going ...

Blog 421:

Get up and put things behind
Get out in the open
Keep going …
Nothing could change now
What’s done is done
No more tears for you
Don’t even entertain regrets
Or think of emotional scars …
It is best that you found out now
His lying heart
His rough words
His dangerous temper
And all the scars he left on your body
Are not worth crying about now …
Get your head up
And walk away sans shame
Past is past
The road ahead of you waits
It is inviting you to start over
Take one step and a second
Your strength will uphold you
The future waits for you
Getting up from a fall is what counts!

Irritation

Blog 420:

Brittle fingernails
Nasty-looking cuticles
How do you get looking so nasty and ugly?
Clip and cut …
File and shape …
Now let’s pull you out hanging cuticles
You irritate me!
What makes you both grow out like wild weeds?
Water, huh?
I can’t avoid that!
What’s that?  Calcium feed?
Well, I must take it you know.
My bones need calcium.
Still … I don’t understand why you grow so fast
Your wild life on my fingers really irritates me!

Fruit Medley

Blog 419:

Hunger calls to be gratified
Raid the fridge
Hmmm … apples, oranges and pineapples
Great pick, I think!
Colorful, shiny and sweet smelling
Off to the sink you all go fresh harvest!
Run cool … maybe lukewarm H20 under you
Wash and peel oranges
No, not you apples green and red
You look yummy just the way you are
Let’s just slice you in wedges
Or cube you in bite portions!
Out from the can, pineapples …
Your turn to blend and put in spritz!
Sweet, tangy juice you have
Okay - prep all done
Now let’s get you all in a big bowl
Whisk in yogurt
Taste test …
Yummmm!
Perfect fruit toss!

Unease ...

Blog 418:

Unease within strikes
Least important, one might say
But restlessness nonetheless attacks …
Not everything is well
Eyes survey mismatched things in a small space
They bellow, “Take us out of here!”

True … fact … real …

A fireplace hides behind a narrow Cherry wood table
A wide screen TV sits on top of a tall Pine wood desk
Both look at each other and scream, “Hump!”
A dark blue ‘Lazyboy’ recliner sits between Oak wood bookcases
By the window rests a faded tan stool
Beside it a freshly painted teal blue shelving

“Hump!” they roar in unison ...

To which I said, “Alright … out you all go!”

Disruption?

Blog 418:

Neighborly knock on the door disrupts my day
It was surprisingly from friendly faces
Overwhelmingly gracious and lively!

They came to bring a bunch of cheer
“How have you been?” she asked
“We have missed you!” he quipped
Pleasantries progress
Then an offering of gifts …
Oranges, apples, bananas and grapefruit juice
“These are for you!” he remarked
“They will make you get better very, very soon!” she said

All I could say of course was a simple thank you
Just two simple words, but gratitude-filled …
… Thank you for the blessing
… Thank you for the visit
… Thank you for your thoughtfulness
… Thank you for your friendship

Neighborly knock on the door disrupts my day
When I opened it and found familiar faces
I was joyfully ly surprised
I was awed and gratified
I was touched by gifts of kindness!

Lockdown

Blog 416:

Grey matter snaps
A mental block out
Armed with a shotgun
A man runs to the left and right
Aiming his destructive weapon at someone … everyone …
He feels the brisk movements
But he could not clearly see who or what goes

His warped mind spots shadows
They stir and surround him
They shift and shuffle beside him
They budge over and under him
He feels the brisk movements
But he could not clearly see who or what goes …

“Pow! Pow! Pow! and Rat... tat… tat … !!!”

He pulled the trigger …

“Pow! Pow! Pow! and Rat... tat… tat … !!!”

He pulled the trigger yet again …

Twelve bodies fall
Blood spurts everywhere
Then stillness triumphs …

The bloody sight wakes him
He is morose … sullen …
He screams in deep misery
Then … in the blink of an eye
He decides to point the gun to his head
“Pow!”
He ends the tension

He falls with his victims

Post Script:
At the Navy Yard in Washington, D. C.
Lockdown paralyzes everyone
Thirteen lives fall yet again
Lost to ‘weapons open store’
Lost to P.T.S.D. rage

Move on ...

Blog 415:

You made a mistake
You hurt someone
You forgot something promised …

…Three wrongs don’t make anything right
… Pick up the pieces
… Make amends
… And then … move on …

You got laid off from work
You lied about why bills are unpaid
You borrowed money unsure of how or when you’d pay …

…Three wrongs don’t make anything right
… Pick up the pieces
… Make amends
… And then … move on …

You let call of the flesh take over your better sense
You discover life is growing inside your womb
You run away from all and wallow in your predicament …

…Three wrongs don’t make anything right
… Pick up the pieces
… Make amends
… And then … move on …

Life is about figuring wrong from right
You can’t stand still and do nothing

Life is about stepping up to the plate
You can’t just throw up your hands and whine

Life is about facing up to the trials that come
You can’t just ignore that events unfold

Life is there for living the bad with the good
You can't predict what comes or goes


Live is about moving on …

autumn breathes

Blog 414:

Early September winds make a song in the air
They blow a refreshing, cool autumn breath
Like long lost friends, they rush in to hug
They make a festive welcome chill
They initiate warm hues of comfort and warmth
Just in time to bid goodbye to summer
And to rid of its blazing, summer heat!  

Achy, Braky Pain ...

Blog 413:

Torturous Finger Bones
Twisting, arching, protruding
On some days, they scream in unbearable pain
Simply opening a bottle becomes a dreadful task
Holding on to objects now is agonizing
Sore, throbbing bones limit movements
I grieve over these aging finger bones
Arthritic Finger Bones

labor of love

Blog 412:

Push or riding mower hum in unison
Limb and grass trimmers snap and cut
Rakes gather fallen leaves and twigs
Power washers force water into grainy mildewed wood

Busybodies walk the ground and around the house bend
They tidy up the cobweb-filled windows
They scrub, scour and brush out dirt from weathered decks
They clean up the undergrowth, the thicket and the brushwood
Until the entire lawn and home --- one’s castle
Stands bright and proud again
 
This day is dedicated to labor renewal
But everyone seems laboring anyway
Why labor away from grind of brain, brawn, and body?
Simple, you see …
This one is labor of love
For one’s very own worked-for-home!

9-11 remembrance

Blog 411:

In a flash, a suicide plane crashes Tower 1!
Smoke flares
Glass windows shatter
Building floors collapse
Another reckless plane crashes into Tower 2!
From broken, remaining windows …
I saw white, dilapidated shirt being waived for help
I spotted several men, women attempting a jump
Somewhere afar … I heard voices cry and scream,
“We’re here!”
“HELP!”
“We can’t breathe; smoke is thick and choking!”
“Please … come get us out of here!”

Down below the now imploded … exploded structures
In the rubbles and heaps of debris, figures collect
Tired bodies crouch anywhere, everywhere
They lay and stretch their extremities
They grab a wink to renew energy
Urgent attention and work appear endless …
EMS attend non-stop to bleeding bodies
Firefighters hand-in-hand raise ladders and pull hoses
They rush and scramble to stop fire from re-igniting and building
Volunteers search piles of crumbled concrete for trapped souls
Diligent nurses and doctors attend to wounded
All beat the clock to save lives …
All give away what they can muster to comfort …
In kindred spirit, all uphold one another
Until hate, terror and shock are subdued!

A Prayer ...

Blog 410:

Wash me
Wash out my darkest grievances
With your Living Water
Wrap me
Wrap your healing arms around my aching soul
With your Tenderness
Touch me
Touch my breaking heart
With your miraculous Love
Lead me
Lead me to numb the hurts cast deep in my bones
With your Balm
Wash me … wrap me … touch me … lead me
Make me whole, Compassionate Shepherd!

At Play!

Blog 409:

Are you flirting with me, Sun?
This morning you made me look tall
At noontime, I found you above my head
And saw that your rays cast me like a dwarf on ground
I found you again a little before dusk
You thought it was funny making me a giant, huh?
Tall, dwarf-like or giant look alike
I don’t really mind
Just keep me company day in and out
Make sure light dons and rests in the appointed hour
Insist that our world turns in sync with you
Insure that our universe dances in accord
Until every singular signature has a stamp
And all are moving in harmony with the stars!

Critter Bug!

Blog 408:

“Go back to bed, little ones!”
Half asleep, she suggests
But they don’t mind her
Instead, they scratch the bedposts
They grunt … cry … whimper
As if they know what’s best
“Okay … I’m up; what now?”
She lovingly grumps her typical annoyance
But then she remembers the little ones must go
You know … “the need to go and pass something”
Call of nature that is … waste water and roughage
They must release those from little bodies
Or make unwanted mess right there
Right on the carpet where she might put down her feet
That would definitely be a jolting wake-up!
That also might invite a scream and a litany of unkind cursing!
And that would stir and shake in scorn the entire household
Worse yet, it could spoil a quiet, transitioning morn
And wreak havoc in what could be a tranquil day!

Be!

Blog 407:

Take a determined walk
Walk down a known or unfamiliar path
Path trodden by acquaintances and strangers
Strangers down path striving to meet ‘others’
‘Others’ transforming themselves into friends
Friends touching lives and making all welcome
Welcome that invites faces and hearts to smile …
 
Smile a contagious smile and fill empty stares
Stares are meaningless and cold
Cold as ice, but which could melt
Melt withdrawn, lifeless demeanors
Demeanors wanting, waiting to be embraced
Embraced for what one is or could be
Be!

Yummy Grain!

Blog 406:

Dry Flakes of Grain
Tasty, nutritious, crunchy
It is a versatile meal anytime of the day
It is an easy-does-it breakfast
It is light in the stomach
When hurrying, but hungry …
I scoop a cup from its box and pour it in a bag to-go
When I don’t feel like cooking …
I can just pour it in a bowl, add milk or yogurt and it’s good munch
When I want to please folks with something sweet at a meal…
I put it together with raisins and ‘mallows
Then I pour the mixture into a bake dish and shove it in the oven
In a jiff, it comes out transformed … “Voila!”
What do you know … desert … ready-to-go!
Mueslix Cereal

Spittlebug Encounter

Blog 405:

Known to many as Leafhopper
It flies, flirts, mates
On sap it feeds utilizing its proboscis
It announces itself with a high-pitched screech
It’s a tiny strange-looking creature:
… prominent eyes set apart
… transparent wings
… conspicuous veins
It thrives year-round
It enjoys temperate-tropical climates
When it is threatened, it stings
Left alone, it fulfills its short life
But not until I chance-meet
My beautiful Spittlebug
My Cicada!

Cheer Up!

Blog 404:

Rise up and await the time
Hear the palpitating excitement of your heart
Look forward to the moment of embrace
Build hope and multiply enthusiasm
Until she welcomes you back in her arms
And calms all your unsettling fears ...

You must bear separation from one beloved
Brought by a tour of duty
To an unknown territory of unrest
Somewhere far and away
Where human freedoms stay oppressed ...

Night and day, keep her memory alive
Pray for endurance ...
Love and live each day ...
Cheer up and be strong ...
Stay alive!

Lamentation

Blog 403:

Mourn the loss of a love lost
Mourn the short-lived life in a womb
Mourn betrayed trusts
Cry out your wounds …
Just mourn the hurt…

Grieve over minds in shell shock
Grieve over traumas of terror
Grieve over blurring visions of a tomorrow
Lament the scars of war …
Just bewail the pain …

In the midst of distorted beliefs and vague allegiances
In abject disdain and hatred for one over another
In conflicting confidences and strives
Wallow in stark sorrow …
Just take the undisputable hurt …

Before long ...
And very soon indeed …
Numb and dazed hearts
Dry up all tears and bury gloom!

Dance!

Blog 402:

Lift up your feet
Sway your body
Make waves with hands and arms
Dance to the rhythm of the blues and soul!
 
Feel the beat of the drums
Listen to the humming winds
Swing your legs and quickly move those feet
Dance to the tempo and pulse of the strings!

Dance out in the open and express your joy
Dance out life’s scorching heat or its brewing storm
Dance and whiff off the stresses of heart and mind
Dance and celebrate the outpouring energies of your life!

Labor ...

Blog 401:

Hustle into a path of achievement
Labor brings progressive results!
Buck up and deliver your brawn
Labor is good for the mind!
Sweat out daily grind
Labor exercises muscle strength!
Toil for a living wage
Labor buys what’s required for living!
Work for something out of love
Labor yields inward gift!
Strive for excellence
Labor rewards worthwhile endeavors!
Create something unordinary
Labor transcends commonplace!
Be neither afraid to work with hands nor mind
Labor makes waking and resting worthwhile!