resolutions??

 

                                   With the dawn of a new year approaching,
                                         I see only clouds of grey;
                                         as I wrestle with resolutions
                                            to produce on this meaningful day.

Art's part

                               There's nothing that ever quite equals,
                                    the intense absorption of art;
                                       with every eye filled, and every breath stilled,
                                            all feeding the creative heart!

                                                                             (with thanks to Becky)

Shell dreams

                               I dreamt I was far from the seashore,
                                     surrounded by beautiful things;
                                    and then, even more, I dreamt I could soar,
                                          that this shell had developed wings!

So I'm sorry!

                                         Why won't that bird ever listen?
                                               How many times have I said,
                                                  "I promise, my friend, it won't happen again",
                                                         now can't we just go to bed?

Storm warnings

   

                                     
                                 When you see a storm coming, you've been warned to run,
                                     whether it's that way or this;
                                         but whatever the blow, is it better to know,
                                              or remain in ignorant bliss?

Back-up

                                               My master enjoys a good party,
                                                     and afterwards likes to roam;
                                                         so it's lucky I"m here, and ready to steer,
                                                             when it's time to get himself home.

A wish

   

                                                               A fervent gift
                                                               from me to you,
                                                              for Christmas joy,
                                                              and new year's too!

Peace?

                                        Peace is a word that often is heard
                                          at this time of the Christ childs' birth;
                                      but the way things are going, will we ever be showing
                                                  any hope for peace on this earth?

Dream in distress

                                   When storms lash their fury through harbors,
                                         the dreamboats are caught in the stream;
                                      from "queen of the sea" to "please rescue me" -
                                               it's sad to see endings of dreams.

Buddha's retreat?

        

                                       If Buddha could see all those statues,
                                            the big ones the museums save,
                                                 don't you think he would rather be
                                                      back in his own little cave?

Boxed Up

  

                                     Most folks don't think about boxes,
                                             except maybe incidentally;
                                   yes, we have our pride when there's something inside,
                                          but we think we look nice when we're empty!

Dear Santa

 

                                 I know I already wrote  you,
                                   but that was an earlier date;
                                       now I want something more, even more than before, -
                                              please tell me it isn't too late!

Papa Santa

 

                                    I never knew jolly old Santa
                                       had such a big family;
                                          with candies and birdies, and all those absurdies,
                                                 the king of diversity!

Night sight

    

                                    Sometimes it's the simplest impression, -
                                       the sight of a bird in a tree:
                                           the stillness of night, the dark and the light,
                                                they always bring pleasure to me!

Duck days

From all the ducks that come down this way

at this migration time,

If we could each get to pick a wee pet.

This bufflehead would be mine!

Bright Rain

                                                   How can it rain in the sunshine,
                                                      when the sky's an impossible blue?
                                                    It couldn't in Maine, or New York or Fort Wayne, -
                                                        California, I really love you!

Avian applause

 

                                There are days when everything's perfect,
                                       the air is so soft and so clear;
                                      and  I just flap my wings, it's one of those things,
                                          I don't know how else to cheer!

Tidal tales

 

   
                                    What if the tide keeps receding,
                                        'til it reaches the opposite shore...;
                                           and then it turns 'round? Then we all will be drowned,
                                                and we'll get our come-uppance  for sure!

Noelle

 

                                            I love singing Christmas carols.
                                                 I love to spread joy and good cheer;
                                                    I  love all the snow and the lights all aglow
                                                       I'm so glad it's this time of year!

Roadside religion

                                          They  used to build roadside altars to pray,
                                               which may seem to us now as odd;
                                                but see us today, we still need to pray,
                                                      only now  it's a different god.

Rescue

                                                   How is it a lighthouse can rescue lost boats?
                                                        it can't reach out and drag them ashore;
                                                  but, knowing that light will guide them all night,
                                                          the boat is not lost any more.

Gentry??!!

 

                              What a monstrously sad situation
                                   our once-classless nation's come to;
                                           to speak of our "gentry"is not complimentary,
                                                   it's a sickening thing to do!

Ice Advice

                                However you  weigh global warming,
                                      be sure you don't miss "Chasing Ice";
                                         A spectacular show, that will dazzle  you so,
                                                 you'll have to go back to it twice!

Communication

                                  I like to watch how a big dog
                                       communicates with a pup;
                                  there's a graciousness there, as he offers to share,
                                        when he knows he could beat the kid up.

KItty-kat

 

                                            As Ogden Nash said so succinctly,
                                                   "the trouble with kittens is that..."
                                            (no matter how charming, they soon are alarming)
                                                          '.....they always turn into a cat"

Something fishy

   

                                      I was planning to pick up some salmon,
                                          hearing there was some on sale;
                                             but when passing by, I was faced with this eye,
                                                   so how could I ask for his tail?

Leaf's belief

                                            Up in our native tree-top
                                                    we never were viewed all alone;
                                                  but now, on the ground, I've surprisingly found
                                                       I've a dignity all of my own!

All kinds

  

                                    Just how you describe us angels,
                                            depends on your state of mind;
                                      mostly we're fair, with bright golden hair,
                                              but I say it takes all kinds!

                                                                     
                                                                                       (art by Robin Hope)

Sky-flying

 

                                    When I see a landscape like this one,
                                          I wish that  I'd be allowed
                                               to float gently up there, try my wings in that air,
                                                      and bounce on those marvelous clouds.

Awful omen

 
                                Oh mercy me, that I had to see,
                                   a sight that brought terror to me:
                                      the tearing asunder of the flag we live under,
                                             that threatens this land of the free!

Rescue

 

                                   It's nice to see how, in disaster,
                                      the mighty respond to the small;
                                         they answer alarms and reach out their arms
                                              to rescue the maimed from the squall.

Lost at sea?

                                             Rub a dub dub, three men in a tub,
                                                whatever happened to them?
                                            If this was their boat, that didn't quite float,
                                                    I do hope they knew how to swim!

Construction

       
                                     You can choose mountains and fences and  trees,
                                            and glue all these pieces together;
                                        but you're never quite done 'til you've added the sun,
                                             so they all can enjoy the weather!

Remembrance

                                               It must feel great to be honored,
                                                  in music or writings or art;
                                               but best of all, to be found on a wall,
                                                    in feelings that come from the heart.

Ghost?

 

                                     I saw a grey ghost in the twilight last night,
                                           it was a strange kind of a meeting;
                                         and whether her sign was a "hi" or "goodbye"
                                              I appreciated the greeting.

Dog dreams

  

                                     I must have flown up to heaven,
                                         where I didn't think dogs were allowed;
                                             but I know I am there cuz I'm floating on air,
                                                  wrapped in the arms of a cloud!


                                                                            (with thanks to Maggie and Will)

Fly away

 

                                             I try to be gentle with flies,
                                                just shoo them out of the door,
                                            but when caught on the mat, I say "please don't do that,"
                                                we really don't need any more!

Old folks

                                        We never were drawn to each other
                                              when we were all green on the tree;
                                                   but now that we're aging together.
                                                         what a wonderful pair we could be!

Past peak

      

                                 There's a lot to be said for aging,
                                     despite our decline in physique;
                                          it's nice to review what we don't have to do,
                                             like I don't  have to conquer a peak!

Dog gone (2)

                                     Let me be a shining example,
                                          Of some bad things people  can  do;
                                       I was loved and adored, then thrown overboard,
                                         Dont let this happen to you!









world ca be,
                       

Grandpa?

                                            I know I don't look like  your grandpa,
                                                 I'm not on your family tree;
                                                      So we're not the same, well I'm not to blame ,
                                                           my family appreciates me!

Eager egret

                                     When the sun turns the water to silver,
                                         it brings out the rover in me;
                                            and I'm sure, as I strut, that there's no question but
                                                   the egret is king of the sea!

Heart-less

 

                                       Oh dearie me, whose heart can that be?
                                            I hope it was not thrown away!
                                               A heart is a thing one never should fling, -
                                                     just get angry some other way!

No show

                                         They used to like to pretty me up,
                                              so I'd win 'em a prize in the show;
                                                  now it's them what gets pretty and goes to the city,
                                                       and me what's got nowhere to go.

Battle cry

  

                                   "Forth into battle" was always the cry,
                                           and for somebody's honor, of course.
                                                 So, naturally, then, they'd lose some good men,
                                                       but why sacrifice a good horse?

Rain's pain

                                   

                                                I

                                    Have  you thought what it's like to be Rain?

                                        The decisions! - again and again!

                                           Folks pray for a touch,  they die with too much,

                                             I say it's a pain to be Rain!

Shadow

 

                                              I know there's a shadow behind me, -
                                                  is she there to haunt or inspire?
                                                     Is she chiding my past for the sins I've amassed,
                                                          or urging me on to reach higher?

Sky pie

  

                                       Someone's been streaking across my sky,
                                            I don''t know who and I don't know why;
                                               but they're' slicing it up like pieces of pie, -
                                                    oh please don't chop up my pretty blue sky!

Gone grace

                                            Oh for the days when Astaire ruled the screen,
                                               dancing with top hat and tails;
                                                  now it's all jazz and razzamatazz,
                                                    simple grace no longer prevails.