be gentle

be gentle
like first light
sunset newborn
quiet steps
mark the way
alone silence
peace in place
baskets of joy
levers to pull
fingertip love
clearly slow
sweeping dusk
to night

mom

74 years ago
my first breath
was with my mom
my memory tells me
she was always
with me and still is
she made those about her
feel good
she was Gods gift to me
he said learn receive
she was not afraid
to let go to love
not a selfish bone
in her body
at 88 she took
her last breath
when it became mine

Daniels View

five year old daniel
loved to fly in the big planes
returning with mom and dad
sister sarah and brother nick
from looking at ranches
on the snake river in idaho
he was wide awake as we were
coming in for a landing
in south bend indiana
he was looking out the plane window
at a sky full of stars
he looked over at me and said
mom we must be up really high
I said why is that daniel
he said because there are stars
above us and below us

uncle henrys cardinal

it happens every so often
on gypsys old porch
now covered with feral cats
sleeping eating hanging out
as i sat at my computer
i heard the dreaded thump
a bird flew into the window
on gypsys porch
the fringes I had hung
on both porch windows
weren't working
as fast as i could i ran
could i get there in time
to save a live unconscious bird
well bad news
uncle henry the cats favorite
feral and a nice guy
was out in the yard
eating a male cardinal
all the other cats
were watching and waiting

Lexi Rain Milnor

my name is Lexi Rain Milnor
it is august of the year 2012
and I just became one year old
my mom and dad were trying
to show me off walking
for grandma diane, taylor
and grandma milnor
they stood me up
and said walk to daddy
but you know what
just standing was magical
the smile on my face
was made of pure joy
look at me I'm standing
the wonder of it
in her shinning smile

surviving

post the post
on a post
like the old
burma shave sign
along the last road
travelers read
as they ride
learning from
tired tire tread
spinning free words
as it wears away
choking on exhaust
letters learning
to breath the magic
of survival

humanities tears

today for the first time
i am inside a rain drop
dancing in the wind
falling towards something
can't stop to choose
why not jump jump jump
outside a water tear
rolling down my cheek
filling the cracks of today
with yesterdays silence
huddled in a puddle
of humanities tears