This morning I awoke to the chatter of birds, 

the meowing of cats, the whining of dogs.

They made certain I couldn’t miss

their plaintive cries beseeching me to arise

and properly prioritize the basic needs

of such hungry creatures.

JDG

Today begins with

not quites  and almosts.

Whether I take that  as 

a judgement, a description,

or a challenge

is entirely up to me.

JDG

Honeysuckle days,

firefly nights foreshadow

summer’s seasonal delights.

JDG

That tree was made for climbing

and if I wasn’t eighty-one

I’d give it a try. Perhaps

 I’ll get in shape 

and give it a try by and by

JDG

To would-be writers everywhere:

you can’t find your voice

if you don’t speak.

JDG

Education

is an old-fashioned word.

It smells of musty books

in libraries

with mahogany shelving.

It’s in the pensive frown

of a gray-haired professor

as he makes a point in class

or studies a hefty book.

Education

is more:

learning to ride a bike

or to swim;

setting up house;

deciding who is trustworthy

and who is not;

singing in a choir and letting

exquisite harmonies

seep into your mind.

Education

can wound the spirit

or it can make your soul sing.

May your life be more like

a phoenix rising

than the ashes of despair

from which it comes.

Err on the side of joy.

–  Beth Wiltshire

Outside in the rain, Knox

grabbed a sick, and brought it back

 for some indoor play.

When I made him leave

the stick at the door, he 

gave me a look as if to say,

“You’re all wet just like this day.”

JDG

Maybe if we softened

we wouldn’t be 

so hard of hearing

and new ideas could be

planted in otherwise

hardened ground.

JDG