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Re-entry

 Even the dogs barely glanced my way

when I returned home after several days.

Kids and cats were subdued too,

all letting me know quite civilly

that they were less than pleased with me.

That night, as I lay abed, I wondered what might lie ahead,

 but with the rising of the sun, I heard  the cats begin to purr

and the dogs’ tails swish and swirl.

 When the kids burst in the room chattering of the coming day,

I knew we had all moved on and they’d decided to let me stay.

                                                                                                            JDG

Together We Dare

Even though we’re going home,

there’s no going back.

The way’s been long

and the struggle hard,

yet we showed up,

spoke up, 

dared.

What will follow we can’t know

but what we do know is this:

we will dare together. 

We are not alone.

                                                                                        JDG

(In acknowledgement and celebration of The Daring Way Community established by Brene Brown, the senior faculty, its outstanding facilitators and participants. For more information visit http://www.brenebrown.com.)

At Circle’s Center

Though the night was long

and fire’s flames had gone,

at circle’s center embers still glowed.

With new wood and a blow of breath

fresh flames leaped,

lighting the night, bringing warmth.

                                                                             JDG

In Good Time

For decades, within the clenched fist

of anger and fear, a young girl huddled,

seeking comfort, hiding from shame,

until her now aged self reached down,

took her in her arms and rocked,

crooning a love song over and over

until the clenched fist opened

and they both rested in an open hand.

                                                                      
  JDG

Those San Antonio Moons

When multiple moons

glowed through our hotel window,

I knew we had to

 cut back on Texas moonshine.

Soon I was relieved

to find those many moons weren’t

Texas excess. They

were simply shining orbs from

a nearby parking garage.

                                                 JDG

 

Unforsaken

Moving into my new office, I was sad.

I knew I’d miss my friends

the birds who visited regularly,

perching on my second story window ledge,

nesting in nearby holly trees.

But

the word went out

and they came here:  robins,

sparrows, cardinals, jays –

the old gang- and even though

I have no trees, I have

a ground floor window ledge

where they still visit me.

                                                                               JDG

Quite A Collection

It’s quite a collection, this,

of dogs and cats and books and kids,

of doors opened and doors closed,

of dripping faucets and weeds grown tall,

of hummingbirds and cawing crows,

of wasps and bees and peonies

and, of course, there’s always George,

the fish who’s been caught many times –

all these make up the collected works called HOME.

                                                                                                                        JDG

Today I Celebrate

Having lost my mother when we both were

young, I have found

mothering

in good

friends.

They

have loved

and challenged

me, guided and

sustained me. Today I celebrate friends.

                                                                                                        JDG

His Light Still Shines

Cotton clouds crowded

the bluest of skies as friends

and family came

together to celebrate

the life of Gus Deeds. Music,

poems, and stories

paid tribute to this young man,

an inspiration,

comfort, guide, and endless source

of laughter and fun

to campers, counselors, and

staff at Nature Camp.

Here, in the Blue Ridge Mountains,

his laughter and light still shine.

                                                                                            JDG