Again and again

he tried to get that dangling 

sack of birdseed ’til

at last, his tail aswish, he

turned aside, seeming to

see all this effort was not

 for him. It was for the birds.

                                                                                   JDG

When that swoop of red

met that swoop of blue amidst

a field of white, I

wondered if we were in for

a patriotic

fight, but that cardinal and jay

formed a more perfect

union. They pecked not at each

other but at seed discovered.

                                                                                        JDG

The bluest sky came

after sun-set and before

moon-rise.  I watch bare 

tree branches reach out as if

to say,”Stay” and so

the blue lingers. The outdoor

cat, glad for company,

kneads and purrs, looking toward me

as I look upward

toward the now star-scattered sky

as blue becomes grey, becomes night.

                                                                                                              JDG

Prophets are like that,

you know. They set themselves in

our path and refuse

to budge until we take note.

That praying mantis

lived up to his prophet name,

plastering himself

to our door in silent

proclamation of

the power of prayerful stillness,

challenging us to listen.

                                                                                              JDG

When I was a kid,

my friends and I rode pretend

horses in moonlight,

found treasures in unlikely

places, dug a hole 

to China, and cautioned our

younger siblings  not

to get too close for it was

a long ride down with

no way back. Though I never

fell in that China

hole, life pushed me forward til

I left behind those moon-lit 

rides and followed a

different course. It’s only now,

more than six decades

later, that I’ve returned to

moon-lit rides and hunting treasure.

                                                                                                    JDG

We start out thinking

our careful plans will take us

where we want to go,

but somewhere along the way

our plans go up in

smoke, we lose our way , and,  if

we’re lucky,  find ourselves instead.

                                                                                                             JDG

When worry begins

its circular walk and starts

to run its well-grooved

course, I’ll invite it

to come and sit a spell, to

pause and catch a breath.

From this vantage point we’ll look

and maybe choose a different path.

                                                                                                    JDG

Will the real turkey

please step forward? Was it me

slamming on the brakes

so suddenly? Was it that

long-necked bird crossing

the road so leisurely,

or was it that chagrined man

following so close behind?

                                                                                 JDG

Sometimes there’s nothing

for it but to start with what 

we’ve got. If we wait

til things are perfect, we could

  stay forever in

this imperfect spot. Although 

perfection’s  lovely,

 it is not enough.  Let’s just

move ahead, trusting in our lot.

                                                                                               JDG