Nothing like getting the bejesus
knocked out of you
to become as a child
bewildered but
pleasantly surprised
to see the world
rematerialize
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Star-struck
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Hard to explain these welts
that prevent me from
getting around to do much of anything
Guess I’m stuck in my briar patch
until thenConvalescent
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I thought I
could come up with something
better than myselfConceited
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When retirement began
it was a desert of possibility
What started a trickle
turned into a flood
of the infinite delicate
miracle of the world
deluging us
Every walk some new revelation
every audiobook an audience
with some tender wild creature
every yoga instructor
a profound guru
A forest of thoughts and feelings
I can only wonder
for the monks
with nothing to do
so engaged
to the business
of it allDo-Nothing
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Now that I’ve lost it all
All that’s left is
the entirety of God’s creation
the breeze caressing my face
the sun kissing my skin
and at night
every star in the universe
tucking me inScraps
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When walking up the hill
the sun broke through in glory
a gentle wind ushered
a flock of leaves to flitter
all around
I considered myself
especially blessed
You might point out
such instances are bound to happen
It is the nature of life
for such happenstance to abound
Well, then, how fortunateLucky
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The most important part
was the part that got in the way
Oh, God, no
I was in the way of it
Oh, no
It was me all alongIntegration
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I visit the old gem of a pond
the tadpoles ascend from the depths
like champagne bubbles
and just as quickly return to them
then, further on,
I am graced by the winking of a new autumn sun
Peering into the clear, still water,
past the goldfish,
I see a litter of fallen leaves
freshly arrayed at the bottom
A water spider darts
its wake spills an echo of ripples
The lightest of breezes weaves
the most delicate braids
of water surface strands:
an angel’s harp plucking gossamer patterns
The sun breaks free from the clouds
and wreaths me in bright light
The day before was warm
the last of late summer
The dusk brought a storm
a solid wall of clouds loomed
and briefly wept a torrential rain
the passing black swept the sky clean
Now everything has changed
The clean breath of air
The crisp flickering of the leaves
The dimmer but clearer light
A heightened contrast
revealing fresh faces
There is a shiver in my bones
I’m underdressed
in my hoodie, sandals, and overalls
I beg for chocolate
on offer at a nearby table
Later, gazing from my bed,
the sun tickles through my tree
and flits like flame on the folds
of my still-open curtains
as the mild rose band of sunset
hems the grey-blue sky of twilightGrace-fall
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I wanted to know truth
…not what I thought
it would be…
…so much…
…unknowable…
I can’t tell you
…find out…
…yourself…Faith Oddity
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The wildest ride I ever rode
was the rodeo of my soul
My youth was spent couped
atop a cinched-up stallion
raring to be loosed
Then buck and bray
as I was tossed about and thrown
Only to receive
bruises and broken bones
“Thrilling,” some may say
“A story to tell,” well, hell
If I had it to do again
I’d raise the horse myself
Not to break, but gently tend
and by and by my steed befriendHokey Cowpoke-y
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