" All Is Well "

shot heard 'round the world
gun shots in the distance
it occured to me that
I would not hear the shot
or feel the lead
as it pierced my flesh
I wouldn't know
where it came from
it caught me entering
on the left side of my neck
in a split second I dropped
to the ground
and stood up safe and sound
in the next time and place
they were right
the shot heard 'round the world
would end your life quietly
all is well

" One More Time "

I want to go back to ohio
where I was born and grew up
seventy one years ago
I want to see if the small town
that I thought was so big
is still like it was
to see if it has changed
or if I have changed
I want to go and visit
my mom and dad
where they are buried
in the town cemetery
I want to drive by the house
I remember in my old neighborhood
where it was safe for us
to go anywhere
I want to drive around
and see if it is all
still the same
I just want to feel
one more time how
it was to be a child
living out my childhood
in this wonderful place
growing up left alone
to explore and learn
on my own
I just want to see
one more time

Loving to Be

there is
beauty in getting old
long life is a gift
needing to be nutured
as time goes by
more and more
like a new house
needs maintenance
as it ages
a good thing is
as you get older
you finally see
what you always knew
that the hearts key
is
being to love
loving to be

Winter

seasons cycling
like life
changing
borders

winter sky
cuts
cold
patterns

rain
ice
snow
show

wool
jackets
fireplaces
holidays

cold
wind
change
coming

chambers
listing
furrows
forming

you
better
watch
out

Wrinkles

time lines
etched
forming
character

years
in the making
priceless
perfection

can't be bought
can't be sold
treasure
story told

" Hadley Jace the Wild Child "

the wild child is coming to stay
we are preparing for the day
a whirlwind of smiles
in all kinds of styles
her holsters are loaded
with two new teeth
which so far
have given her no grief
she has no fear
a fact that is very clear
as she pulls herself to stand
starting her fall down again plan
at nine months she is opening
the front door
and crawling out onto the porch
to look for more
the wild child
hanging by the chandelier
with one hand
and reaching out
for what is next with the other
she totally bypassed baby food
not in the mood
we conclude
she will be here soon
with smiles and good cheer
grandma and gypsy
will stay near
although what we will do
is still not very clear

" Dans Concusion "

Dan was excited because
he was starting school
at Hidden Forest Elementary
it was close to our house
and my mom lived
just across the street
preparations were made
and off he went
not long after that
I got a call from
the school
Dan had fallen
hit his head
and was seeing double
I left immediately
and went to get him
I was worried because
as soon as I saw him
I knew he was having trouble
we went directly to see the doctor
he had a concusion
he would have to be watched
awakened every so often
throughout the night
and kept quiet
Dan recovered in short order
and once again returned
to school

" Little Brother Dan "

Dan is Nicks little brother
he got use to hearing me say
get in the car and don't
ask any questions
like when Nick broke his arm
riding his motorcycle
in the meadow near the house
where he had made his own
motorcross track
Daniel had to go along
for the ride to the hospital
Nick was in the backseat
of the car and Dan
was up in the front with me
the road was bumpy
and Nick complained
because of the pain
Dan called him a big baby
tempers flared
after x-rays our doctor
was going to put a cast
on Nicks arm
he started to cut the sleeve
on Nicks motorcross shirt
Nick stopped him
I told Nick I would cut the shirt
on the seam and sew it like new
the cast went on

" Nicks Days "

three days in the life
of a four year old Nick
Dick was the fellow
who boarded his horses
at the stable
behind the house
he also had Ethel
a goat and fancy chickens
one day one of the chickens
attacked Nick flying
towards his face
we cleaned up Nicks face
and made chicken soup
next day Nick was riding
on the wheelhorse mower
with his father
it went over and landed
upside down on top of Nick
some how his father moved it
when he walked into the house
I was on the phone
but knew immediately
when I saw him
something was wrong
when I reached up and brushed
the hair off his forehead
it was turning blue
as luck would have it
I was on the phone
with our doctors wife
he was on his way home
from the hospital
she told him to turn around
Nick had a concusion
shortly thereafter
I was in the kitchen
just having made
our morning coffee
I had put a cup and saucer
of hot coffee on the kitchen table
Nick came running into the kitchen
and grabbed the edge of the table
and flipped the hot coffee
onto his face
I ran for ice and a towel
which I put over his face
my heart sank when he said,
"Mom I can't see."
I said,"Why?"
he said,"Because you have
a towel over my face."
his face healed nicely

"The Little Dog "

Nicholas Sarah and Daniel
our three children
attended a small rural
Indiana Elementary School
in a town called Rome City
they started right out
in the first grade
after an hour long bus ride
from time to time
I went to pick them up
like when Sarah
got her hand caught
in between the double pole
supports at the bottom
of the big school flagpole
Larry the principal called me
I went immediately
as I pulled into the parking lot
next to the playground
a small fox terrier styled dog
alone approached the steps
of the high metal slide
walked up the steps
and slid down the slide
what was he thinking
Sarahs was alittle frightened
until her hand was freed
then there was the time
I shut her hand
in the car door
but that is another story
I saw the little dog often
and laughed everytime

" Photographers Maze "

don't get too wrapped up in stuff
there is still alot of chance
involved in what happens
best if you keep your head clear
and move ahead in the simplest manner
some say
he didn't see the forest for the trees
maybe we are all alittle like that
don't scrunch your brain
with gear fear
see how easily your shadow
finds you
and yes don't forget
you can't fool film
your camera may filter out the light
but not you
the right film, camera, subject
light, time and place
learn wise chance
stay close to your shadow
follow your light

" Revolution "

revolution
is a good thing to happen
every now and then
don't you think

" Extra Extra Read All About It "

newspapers
eagerly awaited
the heartbeat
of the country
porch delivered
sold at
the newstand
quietly slid
under hotel doors
disappearing
faint journalism
insipid pabulum
ragman rhetoric
drooling droning
deserted readers
empty porches
extra extra
READ
all about it

" Hope "

The rain had come
the night before
and washed it all away
I hope it comes again

" Mayday "

do you remember mayday
a radio-telephone distress call

we are losing altitude
our engines are on fire
we are coming in
on a wing and a prayer
mayday mayday

our ship is sinking
abandon ship
pacific ocean
sharks are waiting
mayday mayday

we are up in the hills
with rifles and handguns
we see the enemy in tanks
headed our direction
mayday mayday

a parachute didn't open
a parachute opened
caught hanging in a tree
the enemy is coming
mayday mayday

we need airsupport
we are trapped
incoming fire
on the beach
mayday mayday

language of war
language of life
a shot heard
around the world
mayday mayday

" Take Time "

there is no measure
no test no tricks
are you happy
is life good
have you looked to
fortune tellers
astronomy psychics
psychologists
psychiatrists
well meaning friends
self help books
religion that seems
to leave you behind
does not connect
there is someone waiting
for you just you
just like you are
He has loved you
from your beginning
He still loves you
open His book
open your heart
leave your unhappy path
follow His path for you
He will never change
He will never leave you
walk with Him in a quiet time
breath Him into your soul
find Him He is waiting
He will walk with you
and talk with you
faith in the right place
your place
take time
for Jesus

" What Shakes Your Faith "

what shakes your faith
movies books or coins
that question Gods
existence
do you really think
taking In God We Trust
off a coin
threatens God
He remains unchanged
we are tested by
these wordly threats
afraid of what it means
God remains unchanged
He knows you know
He is more powerful
than a book movie or coin
look He is coming
with the clouds
for all to see

Just Me

just me
I thought
I was never enough
the world told me
what I should be
I couldn't do it
I was what I was
and still am
I envied others
who knew more
were prettier
and smarter
had lots of friends
and boyfriends
were homecoming queens
rode on parade floats
won awards for athletics
and stuff they made
and entered at the fair
I wanted to be
popular and get
chosen first
it took a life time
to see
how fortunate I was
just to be me

"Seams"

in 1936 seams
ran up the back
of womens silk
stockings

women had
voluptuous
interesting
bodies

movie stars
tapped danced
their way
to fame

they didn't
have
to look
perfect

there was
something
on the
inside

2009
things have
changed
for women

more die
from
heart attacks
heartache?

womens
movement
liberation
want it all

they have
forgotten
how
to

keep their
seams straight

" Family "

Halloween 2009
my dads birthday
something happened
it just happened
maybe we had been thinking
about it probably wondering
and watching
I am not sure
we were at Greune
a small texas town
Nick my oldest son
was in a bicycle race
it was warm sunny day
mom Sheri and baby Hadley
and grandma and grandson Kody
were spectators
we were hanging out
until Nick started at 3:29pm
Sheri came to me laughing
with delight
she had just discovered
Hadleys first tooth
Kody and I laughed
and felt inside Hadleys mouth
and sure enough there it was
a tooth had just punched
through her bottom gum
another first
so many in the beginning
time marks our days
as it moves us along
braiding us together
by something called family