We must do more than merely speak

our sympathy

to families and

friends of those shot

down in the midst of daily life.

We must do more

than piously

intone regret.

We must stop speaking hate and start

speaking sense. We

must find a way

past violence.

                                                           JDG

How do you write a poem when

you have nothing

much to say? Are

poems, like mail,

to be delivered faithfully

without regard

to snow or rain

or heat or gloom

of night? If writing a poem

is a matter

of showing up,

at least I showed.

                                            JDG

Bees and butterflies come to dance

and dine amidst

the purple blooms

outside my door.

Arriving early, they always

leave at dusk, just

as the air fills

with the sound of

country music and the steady

hum of others

not quite of their

high-flying kind.

                                                        JDG

When whys don’t work,  ways can be found

to carry us

to solid ground.

What teases the

 mind doesn’t sooth the soul, but when

  body and heart

 find their ease, mind’s

 torch can light and

sometimes  lead  beyond all whys to

 a peace so deep

it passes  all

understanding.

                                                   JDG

“Something there is that doesn’t love

a wall” – these words

of Frost’s rang true,

but lately my

heart has opened up to walls and

embraced limits

long fought against

for they can give

us pause and in that moment we

 might see anew

what once seemed so

 tired and true.

                                                                 JDG

Like a contented cat basking

in the light of

evening sun, I

slowly stretch and

yawn, soaking myself in silence

as night tiptoes

in and softly

settles down. Still

savoring the quiet end of

day, I gently

rouse myself and

whisper deep thanks.

                                                          JDG

No stereo, radio, or

t.v. No X-

box, Playstation,

or even Wi.

No plunk of piano, no strum

of guitar, no

talk or squawk or

hum or song. Just

the soothing sound of sweet silence

until the kids

return with full

cacophony.

                                               JDG

When Suzuki spoke of Beginner’s

Mind, I thought he

meant to approach

each thing fresh, as

though meeting it for the first time.

I didn’t know

he might also

be referring

to meeting myself with that same

freshness when I

fail to apply

what I have learned.

                                                    JDG

This evening as I look over

the curve of my

friend’s land to the

shimmering water

and the pink tinged sky aswirl with

gray clouds edged in

iridescent

light, I shimmer

too, alight with gratitude for

the kindness of

her gift of place

where peace abides.

                                                      JDG

Like a dark cat, summer’s sudden

storm snuck up and

pounced. Unable to

escape, we played

a waiting game until the storm

grew bored and left

for other climes.

Blue skies and the

sinking sun sang evening into

night, erasing

 all harsh storms and

fitful drives of day.

                                                       JDG