If life is a circus,

right now I can’t decide 

if my job is to tame the lions of emotion,

become a trapeze artist,

or sit back and enjoy the show.

Perhaps the task is to blend all three.

JDG

A colorful note, 

delivered to my doorstep –

cardinal’s sweet gift

on this cold, dreary day.

JDG

Though the cats and I watch

 as the birds come and go,

so focused are they

on the seed laid before them,

they refuse to give us

the time of day.

JDG

So glad to be here 

to see the sun rise, to hear

the birds sing, to smell

cat poop, to pet Knox’s fur,

to hear grandkids fuss.

to get to complain.

Nothing and everything changed.

JDG

On a bouquet of flowers

two figures of cardinals sit,

filling the room 

with imagined bird song

and my heart

with gratitude.

JDG

Knox’s joyful welcoming,

full-bodied shivers,

enthusiastic tail wagging,

lets me know he’s glad

I’ve come to my senses

and returned home.

JDG

Though there’s a downside,

I choose to focus on

all the good that’s come

my way since

this unexpected

 hospital stay.

JDG