Christmas Creatures

twas the night before christmas
and all through the cabin
not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse
the California folks
were nestled and snug
in their bunkhouse bed
guests of son dan and wife amy
who were fast asleep in the cabin loft
just above my room
what goes bump in the night
dan was tiptoeing down the log stairway
about 12:30am
I said where are you going
he said there is something
trying to pound its way
through he floor of the bunkhouse
my guests just called me
on my cell phone
he grabbed a flashlight and a broom
and ran for the bunkhouse
in my santa flannel pajamas
I grabbed my 12 gauge and a flashlight
and followed him
the lights were on inside and out
one small head was peeking
out from under the covers on the bed
dan and his friend went behind the bunkhouse
and I went towards the front porch
we made alot of noise
without firing my shotgun
it scared whatever it was away
then we all settled down for
a long nights sleep
the night before chrismas
in the texas hill country

Skill Saw

we go to bed with the sun
gypsy and I were finishing up the day
and giving this some serious thought
old dogs and old women often
keep the same hours
it was already an extremely dark night
very quiet and still
after letting gypsy out for the just one more time
I crawled into my four poster antique bed
listening to a pack of coyotes
playing their nighttime games
a peaceful sound when you live
in the texas hill country
their yipping filled my ears and covered my eyes
with their first layer of sleep
all was well until 3:05am
a skill saw was screaming in my ears
what- who- what was going on
I thought wake up wake up
why wasn't gypsy barking
she was in the closet with her ears covered
we were scared
was there someone in the back of our woods
cutting something up and if so what was it
well since I am alone and needed to investigate
I grabbed my 12 gauge my surefire flashlight
and of course my cell phone
no one better be in our woods
it was dark and alittle spooky
I made my way slowly down
the old path leading me deeper
into the darkness of the woods
the sound grew louder
I needed back up like in the movies
I made my way slowly keeping my light low
who or what was waiting ahead
I wandered around trying to see the saw
it suddenly stopped
had they seen my light
my flashlight was growing dim
when it goes I will have trouble
finding my way back to the cabin
if the moon comes out
I will be able to see the cairns
I built marking these paths
but right now it was pitch black
was there someone headed my way
with a skill saw in their hands
I listened for the sounds
a person makes when
moving through the woods
I heard only the sounds of the night
but wait
what was that

Hummingbird Chili

the dreaded tap on the cabin window
just above the bench where the cats sleep
they leap for the birds that fly into that window
I run for the door leaving my pot of chili simmering
HELP ME LORD! get to that bird before the cats do
TOO LATE! there stands my beautiful bobtail cat
with a yummy dead looking hummingbird
clenched firmly in her mouth
BUT WAIT! is it REALLY dead
or is there a miracle nearby waiting to happen
I left the grocery bags from yesterdays shopping
hanging on the inside of the porch door
I grab them and throw them fast and hard at bobtail
who is giving me a dirty watch your step mama look
PRAISE BE! she drops the tiny destressed bird
I carefully quickly pick it up
the hummingbird sits in my hand recovering
blinking its eyes and changing its footing frequently
for the rest of its handmade hospital stay
as we sit in the morning sun pondering
this tiny beautiful trusting creature
makes me realize how fragile we are
how much we need to look out for each other
how much we need to trust and love
as I return to the chili to give it a stir
a hummingbird feather
slowly falls off my flannel shirt sleeve
and drifts into the pot

Bad Day Good Day

turn of events
making the past
much more tolerable
than the present
or the future
stuff gathers
derailing you
making the way
unclear
what has held you
in place
for so long
is slipping away
you are having
a bad day
surely a good one
is on the way

Surprises

thunder rumbles
in the distance
fog shrouds the hills
making each rain shower
a delightful surprise
each drop that falls
onto the metal cabin roof
finds a ridge directing
its path to the edge
metronome drops falling
and splashing as they hit
the wooden railing
next to the steps where we sit
making many little drops
that continue on their way
surprising the thirsty ground
marking our time here as surely
as the old kitchen clock
on the mantel
as its gong sounds the hours
time does not pass any faster
because we do
it will still leave us behind
we can't hang on to the raindrops
or the sounds of the hours
just the seconds of surprises
as they come and go so quickly
all left to the skillful
hands of time

Earthquakes

the center is shifting

there is trouble coming

great societies

have fallen disappeared

we look now

and wonder why

we see ourselves

out of control

and wonder when

the earthquakes

will shake

the last time

and close above us

Yourself

vanity and pride
hold onto
unforgivingness and hopelessness
finding finally defeat
and eternal sadness
why are you where you are?
is it where you want to be?
no?
then why are you there?
making myself think
my life is interesting to others
trying to make it so
craving acceptance and love
questioning heavy unhappiness
someone else is to blame
we have been wronged
when we do not forgive they win
do we see reality
or a world the way we
wish it would be?
finally if we choose we learn
the answers are all there
inside of us waiting for wisdom
we look everywhere but there first
we are our thoughts
how much time do we spend with ourselves?
are we a place we like to visit?
excuses and appologies
explaining ourselves
our lifeless tapes
we repeat over and over
we know them so well
there is no chance
our true self will show up
run faster
or you might catch yourself
in the webs of what you so
carelessly throw away
yourself

Arrangements

arrangements were made
the first commandment
forbidden fruit
good and evil
free choice
not free
faithless fate
more arrangements
were created