The quiet fall of snow silenced

our house, made us

look up, look out

beyond ourselves

to nature’s wedding, held at last

and just in time

before Spring ran

off with Winter’s

bride. We heard all the rumors, saw

all the  flowers,

now put to rest

by snow’s showers.

                                                                                   JDG

Patience is wisdom in waiting,

the sages say.

It all seems to

come back to that.

And back to that is where I should

have gone today,

but instead I

rushed ahead where

even fools know not to tread. Now

I wish I could

have simply stood

  and gazed ahead.

                                                     JDG

In the grey of morning, the crows

call out a tale

of grim and grit,

eye-opening

indeed. I much prefer softer

verses, gently

sung to begin

such  dreary days,

but since the crows have brought me this,

that’s where I’ll start

and set aside

 all that is not.

                                                                      JDG

When the icy winds of fear blow,

minds fog over,

hearts freeze. We wrap

ourselves in cruel

certainties, seek anger’s comfort.

Through those long nights

we huddle in

tight bands, keep watch.

But out beyond such vigilance,

past fear and fire,

the warm truth of

 blameless love waits.

                                                                  JDG

Gold shines forth from everything if

we could see right

through to being’s

core. Sometimes we

catch a glimpse in the shimmer of

light on a raven’s

wing at the start

or close of day.

It’s in those moments we can rest,

knowing something

the poet Frost did

not – gold can stay.

                                                            JDG

Memory’s tide came sweeping in

and caught me by

surprise. First one

wave washed ashore

and then another, until I

stood knee deep in

images – some

sad, some sweet – all

waves of the past coming to ease

my weariness:

nature’s holy

washing of feet.

                                                                   JDG

Sometimes a nod is all I need

to gather up

all my concerns

and cross the bridge

back to community where I

am held with all

my stuff in warm

embrace. From there

I can venture out  once again,

strong and renewed

to face whatever

must still be faced.

                                                            JDG

Last I heard, there were several

saints all known as

 Valentine, none

great patrons of

romantic love until Chaucer

came along with

this added spice.

Of course, today

Love  holds full sway and even pets

are sent a card

so I’m sending

this on to you.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

                                                                            JDG

Pablo Casals, at ninety-two,

 practiced every

day for hours

because he could

see, he said,  a little progress.

But what kept him

at it when he

saw none? What strange

mystery of patience, love, and

memory came

into play on

those off days?

                                                  JDG