Fitness

                                I honor the new generations,

                       and the fitness regimes they all share;

                If we'd done the same and followed their games,

                        we wouldn't be bankrupting Medicare!

Leavery

                        We've watched the explosion of color,

                          when, in summer, the leaves start to fall;

                          all vivid and gay, to brighten the day,

                          but now kind of sad towards the fall.

Dazzle

                               When sunlight kisses the water,
                                    and diamonds begin to play,
                           it dazzles the eye, and sets up a high,
                                 that starts an auspicious day!

great future?

                       Some lads are pretty but not very smart, 

                              and some are just not up to par;

                       This lad has a chance, but without any pants,
                               I don't think he'll go very far.

Stitches in time….

                             It used to be known as quilting, 
                           when used to warm up the bed;
                      now masterful fingers and talents produce
                               masterpieces of art instead.


                                                                         (art by Sydne Bortel)

Taking off

                 There comes a time when you're ready to quit,
                              just sick of the daily grind;
                  then it sure would feel good if only you could
                          just take off and leave all behind!

Look at me!

                I saw this pink bloom and applauded her skill.,

                        (though I can't remember  her name);

                how she'd plopped herself in a predominant spot,

                         and surrounded herself with a frame.

Mirage?

                          It looks like it should be guarding

                             some ancient Egyptian door;

                     or is it just me, who's unwilling to see

                         it's a dead leaf and nothing more!

Shape up!

                         Sure, I'd like to be all of those things,

                           instead of this wicked old sinner;

                  but to get that sublime, how can you find time

                            to even decide what's for dinner?

Dignity

                                 If only our human contenders

                               could adopt a demeanor like this,

                              and never, like us, get into a fuss,

                                 and tear ourselves up into bits.

Oh deer!

                 How can you not melt at a face like this,
                       yet learning to love him is hard;
             when he hasn't learned yet how to act like a pet,
                     and has just torn up most of your yard!

One…two!

                         It must be a kick to be part of this gang,
                          to feel the boat move with such ease;
                       and having the fun of all moving as one, - 
                        ….but what if you have to sneeze?

Build-up

                                I know people do exercises

                               in all those salons and rehabs,

                  but its hard to believe the munitions they need

                          to strengthen some sagging old abs.

Protectors

         

                I've seen those pretty bright homes on the shore,
                        backed up by those towers of cement;
           and it seemed like those monstrous behemoths of old
                         were protecting the young innocents.

Softies

                               I often wonder why Nature
                        makes some things so soft to the touch;
                    it doesn't seem fair that others can't share,
                         we'd all be much better with such!

Nap-time?

                         I wondered if it could be resting,

                            from standing so long afloat;

            we don't find it wrong if we've been up for long, -

                  …… guess it's not the same with a boat.

Screech creature?

                              I never saw a screech owl,

                              I never thought to see one;

                           but if one chose to pre-suppose,

                        d'you think this beast might be one?

Day's end

                     Believe me, dear leaf, I understand you,
               that's just how I feel when a long day is through!

Connection

              I found this wee chap snuggled down on the fence,

                                 engaged in quiet reflection;

                    then he gave me the eye, and suddenly I

                       felt a warm and thrilling connection.

         

Hatted owls

             Did each of you pick your own hat, dear owls,

                  did you think each was fashioned for you?

    You can tell from your smiles that you've picked the right styles,

                  What next, do you think, will you do?

                                                              ("Owls with hats" by Joeanne Edmonds-Matthew)

Race Day 2

                  You start out this way when you're kiddies,

                          and then you keep building up;

            and the urge never dims, til it's more than a whim,

                            and your eye's on America's cup !

Race Day

                      Yes, the little boat has the right of way
                         in this game that they are all playing;
                       it's quite a show, but I'd love to know,
                      what the man in the big boat is saying!

Loner

                            Do blue jays always walk alone,

                              do they have no social tethers?

                           In all of my days, in all of their ways,

                              I've never seen two together!

Angel-ic

                               I like to think she's an angel,
                            with a lovely white lei of blooms.
                               Well , maybe it's only a flower, - 
                          does it matter?, - it brightens my room!

Who, me??

I'm told that I'm known as a foxglove, -

now I ask you, how that came to be?

Did they think I would love to look like a glove? 

...and what would a fox do with me?

Button babe

                  Most artists use all the tools  they've got,

                 making drawings and paintings and cuttings,

           but some artists are smart, they don't need all those parts,

                           they just do it all with buttons. 

   

                                                              (art by Marie Bergstedt)

That's life?

                      Now I don't know exactly what this is,

                          but "that's life" it seemed to say:

                  straight shoots at the start,  in the end fall apart, -

                            so be sure to have fun on the way!

Exchange

                          What do you think they are saying
                                   in this little domestic duo?
                              I believe she is saying "please",
                               and I'm afraid he's saying "no".

Bike dreams

              I saw these young women setting out for the day

                      and remembered how it used to be;

               just hop on my bike, head wherever I liked,

                      the world was just waiting for me!

Tidying up

                     We may  have concluded our meal in haste

                           but at least it didn't go to waste.

Sympathy

                              I was sad to see little Junior

                             with his poor little broken limb,

                           but glad to see mama displaying

                              her maternal concern for him.