Surrounded by windows, I spend
my days in the
midst of holly,
pine and wild
cherry, home to ravens, robins,
squirrels and doves. As
they nest and feed
and squabble, I’m
drawn into a larger story
than is held by
these four walls and
my small confines.
JDG
Through winter the holly, cedar,
and pine helped us
remember green.
As we look out
upon this land, full now with young
and tender green,
may we also
remember those
who kept watch when things looked bleak
and held for us
the memory
of all that’s green.
JDG
The cherry trees and I have been
arguing back
and forth this year
about the best
approach to coming to full bloom.
I said it was
better to err
on the side of
caution. They disagreed and kept
taking risks til
their splendor showed
how wrong I was.
JDG
I awoke to many voices
singing one song –
a praise to Spring –
some loud, some soft,
some raucous, some subdued, but all
welcoming this
new day. I don’t
know who was more
happy, them or me, the singers
or the one who
listens to such
full-throated song.
JDG
Giving wild compliments to
Spring, purple weaves
with gold and brings
a softening
to land longing for Winter’s end.
I am glad to
see Winter make
way for Spring. I
too have longed to set aside this
winter weary
grey within and
weave with purple.
JDG
Breathing in the warmth and light of
the morning sun
as the red hawk
soars overhead,
I release night’s uneasiness
and let red hawk
tuck it beneath
his wings and fly.
Left grounded now in emptiness,
I sit and watch
as breath moves through
swaying trees and me.
JDG
My grandkids were relieved to hear
that I was on
my way today
to a temper
modification program called
meditation,
or at least that’s
how they see it.
I see things differently. Sitting
in silence, I
reconnect life’s
scattered pieces.
JDG
The following is a poem written by my 9 year old granddaughter after studying immigration.
Love, Life, And Liberty
Looking toward the dock, hoping for
a sign, they all
sat breathless as
she came into
sight. The Lovely Lady Liberty
sat there on the
waves, waiting, watching,
as the passengers
cheer as they sailed closer to what
they hoped was a new
chance, a chance filled
with love, life, and liberty.
Kali Wells
Nature must have been reading the
new brain research
on strengthening
plasticity
and decided to help us out
by rapidly
alternating
between Winter
and Spring this year, encouraging
us to learn the
art of constant
adaptation.
JDG
What? There’s white upon the ground once
more and April’s
just begun? It
may be icy
rain, not snow, but still I thought all
that was done and
the only white
I’d see would be
blossoms on flower, shrub, and tree.
Nature, it seems,
felt no need to
consult with me.
JDG
