Many feet of snow

may not be nearly enough

to relieve the western drought.

~

But based on a drought

of knowledge, some snow us with

denials of climate change.

This gray day does fit

December, but what’s with this

more than sixty degrees stuff?

~

Gray December skies

mingle with October balm;

even climates can’t deny.

Doing the right thing,

often contra-logically,

leads to greater suffering.

~

If only it were

otherwise and doing right

always made our burdens light.

Normality, where

are you hiding? If you come

back, we promise we’ll be good.

~

Nobody really

cares about normality;

they’re questing for excellence!

Watching water rise,

this artist must remember

there’s beauty in destruction.

~

Artists see beauty

in unexpected places,

give purpose to life’s messes.

The wind in the trees

disturbs the leaves, but the birds

remain unperturbed.

~

Birds are unperturbed

because they harness the wind

while leaves suffer the whirlwind.

Friend, I wear this mask

because I value your health

more than petty polemics.

~

My son, you’ve taken

to heart the Christmas message

of good will toward men.

The best way not to

get hooked is by not taking

the dangling bait.

~

Irresistible

though that dainty bit might seem

it’s best to leave it alone.

Scoops of Pelicans!

Such a pleasure to behold

after brushing extinction.

~

May such scoops become

the norm as we grow wiser

and take greater care.

Seeds in that hanging

bird feeder were enticing

enough that some birds did the flips.

~

Dining ecstasy

offers a whole new meaning

to the phrase, “flipping the bird”.

Why can’t people read

what is written on the wall

in ten foot tall flaming script?

~

If it means wearing

a mask, the writing becomes

invisible to many.

The day grew colder,

but playing with Knox kept me

smiling and toasty warm.

~

Dashing through the woods

and across the bay, we go,

for a Christmas Beach Vacay.

Tuxedo to suit

to jeans and a polo shirt:

it’s been a day for changing.

~

Seems like you’re in sync

with this December’s daily,

quick changing weather.

Need an up-lift? Try

picking up a pen and put

away your worries.

~

Or scribble worries

randomly across the page,

making room for worthy thoughts.

Why should we rely

on soulless apparatchiks

to gatekeep basic health care?

~

Unhealthy choices,

not care-filled ones, were made at

some ballot boxes.

Riding the seesaw

of this December’s changing

weather is no child’s play.

~

Climate’s spinning ‘round

mostly what we lose is ground

gone to rising seas and storms.

Profiles in hate

writ large on pick-up bumpers

clad in patriotism.

~

With no shame they do

proclaim their right to reveal

rather than conceal.

Sometimes we just need

a little break before we

can resume our lead.

~

Disquiet malaise

sometimes takes the upper hand

resulting in lethargy.

Seldom do we see

as clearly as they would like

when we’re sure we’re right.

~

Blinding convictions,

those cornerstones of dogma,

keep them safe in their own mind.

One person’s drama

is someone else’s manna,

family holidays proclaim.

~

There’s no holiday

from the desire to help

in the face of suffering.

Chores done, I take time

to simply sit and listen

to both bird and human song.

~

The geese and starlings

exercise their counterpoint

from the trees and sky.

Fast and furious,

holiday celebrations

they come, as year’s end draws nigh.

~

I would celebrate

a slow and gentle approach

to this holiday season.

Is honor lessened

if mispronunciation

clouds who is being honored?

~

The cloud hangs over

the speaker’s head rather than

the head of the honoree.

There’s enough time to

come up with a rhyme. All that’s

lacking is inspiration.

~

Traveling about

provides much inspiration

but at the expense of time.

When your car presents

with erratic behaviors,

does it need a therapist?

~

This is no surface

matter. It will require

someone skilled at inner work.

Unexpected cards,

delivered without preface,

totally brightens the day.

~

Our hearts beam when we

find that someone took the time

to let us know we matter.

I light a candle

in gratitude for the chance

to be here right now.

~

Dwelling in the now

tends to incline open minds

to gamble on gratitude.

It’s all Greek to me;

endless talk of omicron

as if it were omega.

~

Don’t want a repeat

of willful ignorance that

turned into a disaster.