America ?

The rough beast of greed

disguised as freedom

slouches through our streets

holding aloft the banner

of the second amendment

as the slaughter of innocents continues

at school, at church, at home, 

in cars, movies, malls, and bars.

America, what has become of thee?

                                                                                                    JDG

 

 

 

 

Word Problems

If we’re lucky, we’ll

lose our minds and find a truth

deeper than our words.

                                                                                      JDG

Words Upon The Wind

Words upon the wind –

let’s not be swept away.

Are the seeds this wind bears

ones we want to keep?

Will such seeds bring forth

the harvest that we seek?

Words upon the wind –

let’s not be swept away.

                                                                                                  JDG

Where We Find Ourselves

The odds against it

are mind boggling high, yet

here we all are – wasps

and spiders, cardinals and crows,

groundhogs and squirrels,

tiny purple violets

and large oak trees, you

and me. We’re here on

this green, life-giving planet

under sun-soaked skies.

I reach across the chasm

between us and offer my hand.

                                                                                        JDG

On The Job Training

First day of first job.

Grouchy curmudgeon

can’t forgive her small mistake,

demands refund, storms out.

She shrinks.

Kind witness says, ” You did great.

That guy’s a jerk.”

She grows.

Some lessons learned.

                                                                                   JDG

Why?

We humans insist

on giving small answers to

very big questions.

                                                          JDG

For Right Now

Right now

I release

mind chatter –

pain over what is no longer,

worry over what might come.

Right now

I embrace

what I see –

sunlight dancing on rolling hills,

cows grazing contentedly.

                                                                                                                  JDG

At First Glance

Strange green creatures made

of leaves sit, eyes glittering,

among rain-soaked trees.

                                                                        JDG

For Kodi On Commencement Day

As you step forward

to receive your diploma

and into the next

phase of your life, I have no

words of wisdom or

sage advice. What I have is

a memory of

wisdom you imparted long

ago when you were

just in kindergarten. Your

younger sister had

made a mistake and you took

her hand and said, ” That’s

ok, Sami. You’re little

and you’re learning.” In the years 

to come, may you find comfort

and encouragement

in your own wise  words as both

your sister and I have done.

                                                                                             JDG