Worry came knocking today.

I invited her in as Rumi had suggested,

and offered her a cup of tea.

She refused the tea and began

wandering through the house.

She saw problems everywhere.

“What about this?” she asked; “What

about that?”. Finally I suggested

we take a walk and let Knox lead the way.

So we walked and she talked. I watched Knox

sniff the ground and run around

find some sticks and run and play.

By the time we got back home,

Worry waved goodbye, saying

she’d return some other day.

JDG

I have to admit

growing old can be full of grit,

but today I choose to bask

in the glory of my morning walk.

First and foremost is the fact

 I’m still here and I can walk.

With my ground-sniffing companion, Knox,

I pass Bradford pears bursting with white. 

Their scattered petals remind me

I am a bride, married to this land and to this life.

Cardinals, blue jays,and birds whose names 

I don’t recall regale me with their song.

As the sun crests the horizon, I prepare

to renew my vows only to be interrupted

by the honking horn of a neighbor’s

teenage son who’s learning to drive –

a moment of glory for him

though much different from mine.

   JDG

All through winter

and now into spring

that hydrangea, red-brown leaves,

blossoms beige, sang boldly

of faded glory. The leaves

were the first to go

leaving the blossoms to sing solo.

The blossoms’ song is finishing now,

and it won’t be long before a new song,

one celebrating unfolding green

and bridal white, will begin.

JDG

The air is filled with

bird chatter as Knox and I

begin our morning walk,

 but he’s not interested

in bird talk when the earth

swells with alluring smells.

JDG

I wonder if that

old, crooked-branched tree

saw something

of itself in me?

I could have sworn

I heard it sigh

  as I passed by.

JDG

There are days when

I don’t want to shift

and I definitely don’t want

to shift into gear.

On those days I prefer

to be sublimely shiftless.

JDG