Final Thoughts

On the horizon

gold-illumined clouds spill light

on a much frayed day.

~~

                    ~~

Sometimes endings make

clear what was always there:

the dignity of those

often unnoticed and the

crassness of those who feign care.

                                                                                  JDG

Today I Think I’ll Hop A Cloud

There are those who say

gold is everywhere, even

in the pits of dark 

despair, but for today I

think I’ll hop a cloud

and take a ride to rainbow’s

end. With so little

energy to spare, I will

ride and slide my way to gold.

                                                                     JDG

Rumor Has It

What’s that whispering

I hear growing louder, more 

distinct? It’s my own

voice in my ear saying,”Though

imperfect, you’re still enough.”

                                                                                JDG

Subdued Start

It’s a subdued start,

this slow shift to Fall. New hues

softly inch their way

among the leaves as autumn

rain wipes away summer’s shine.

                                                                        JDG

First Faint Sniff of Fall

Not even the dogs

like those dog days of summer,

but with the first faint

sniff of fall, they begin to

shake with doggy ecstasy.

                                                                        JDG

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