Pablo Casals, at ninety-two,

 practiced every

day for hours

because he could

see, he said,  a little progress.

But what kept him

at it when he

saw none? What strange

mystery of patience, love, and

memory came

into play on

those off days?

                                                  JDG

What helps when nothing seems to help,

when the black clouds

descend and block

even the moon,

when nothing soothes and nothing suits?

Rumi tells us

not to turn these

dark visitors

away. “Invite them in, offer 

tea, lend an ear.”

Today though, I

don’t want to hear.

                                                         JDG

Lenny,  you were a gardener

of hearts as well

as plants. I’ve watched

you tenderly

prepare a space for all you loved

to grow and bloom.

I’ve seen you bend

and plant tiny

seeds of hope and weed and water

them into full

flourishing – your

lasting legacy.

                                                            JDG

As long as I’m here, I’ll burrow

my nose in sweet 

  Daphne,  I’ll breathe 

in lavender,

wrap myself in honeysuckle,

slather lilac.

I’ll hold nothing

back – not now while

my heart still beats with such longing.

I’ll take it all

in til I’m spent

on earth’s sweet scent.

                                                                         JDG

When I was little, no one said

that grownups lied.

I thought it was

only me and

all the other kids I knew who

could stretch the truth

until it broke,

but now I know

growing older does not release

the constricted

heart where lies come

from. That’s love’s job.

                                                                     JDG

Yesterday when I stopped and looked,

I saw some blue

(however faint)

 in Winter’s grey

and even though I cannot say

it was enough

to send the blues

away, maybe

in time,  I can embrace them both

(the blues and grey)

without pushing

either away.

                                                                   JDG

If I stop and take a minute

before I leap

ahead and can’t

undo what’s done, 

I could save more than that minute;

but even so,

it’s not easy

to remember

“not” can take me to the center

where freedom lies

and other knots

can be undone.

                                                                    JDG

Our minds sift through all happenings.

Some pass quickly

through while others

lump and linger.

Both what passes and what lingers have

their use. It all

depends on what

we’re looking for

It could be bread; it could be gold.

In either case

sifters, we find,

work best when clear.

                                                                      JDG