What We Can Do

What judgement closes

compassion can open, and

even if we can’t

agree, we can acknowledge

each other’s humanity.

                                                                                    JDG

A Cardinal Reminder

Just when the world seems

drained of color, a cardinal

reminder stops by

and with a nod of its red

head, asks me to look once more.

                                                                                         JDG

Constancy

Those yellow pansies

aren’t deterred by weather. No

matter what, they shine.

                                                                               JDG

Reading Practice

As I read the news this year,

I’ll practice breathing in and breathing out,

opening myself to all that’s there,

remembering the humanity we all share.

It won’t be easy, I confess,

but I will do my very best,

and if, in time, compassion comes,

I’ll offer thanks for heart’s wisdom.

                                                                                                                  JDG

This Year

Instead of lofty resolutions

which seldom get off the ground,

this year I promise myself to really do,

what I’ve promised so many times before –

not to increase suffering, mine or theirs, by

over-focusing on what’s bad and wrong.

Acknowledging my discontent, I will  pause

and bring to mind some other things, those

that are good and right, and step forth from there.

                                                                                                                             JDG

Timely Questions

Time will tell, but what will it say?

Can we talk back? Say yay or nay?

Does it depend on what

time brings or is it

what we give to time  

that lets it fly or drag or sing?

                                                                                           JDG

We Wait And See

The clouds didn’t seem

to matter when after days

of gray, light poured forth

and warmed our sun-starved souls. All

too soon gray slipped back

in, this time joined by gusts of

wind, and pushed warm light

away. Will blue skies and sun

return?  We will wait and see.

                                                                                                        JDG

                                                                                                       

A Dog’s Gotta Do What A Dog’s Gotta Do

Seeing he didn’t

want to rally and walk, she

lured him with a treat.

He grabbed it quickly and ran

leaving her with leash in hand.

                                                                                JDG

In Surgery’s Wake

No deep insights or

mystical revelations –

just overwhelming

gratitude and a taste of

profound peace – more than enough.

                                                                                          JDG