How many children

will no longer laugh and play

due to adult inaction?

~

One is to many…

and their hollow thoughts and prayers

will not expiate their guilt!

Lunch with an old friend.

Felt young, although neither of

us are spring chickens.

~

Any pleasant meal

enjoyed in good company

is a true, ageless treasure.

Caught up on the winds,

tossed about indifferently,

terrorized by tyranny.

~

May the winds of change

cast out tyranny, leave care

and compassion in their wake.

Do you remember

when school safety had to do

with crossing the street?

~

In virtual school,

students remain safe, except

from “Battlefront Two” shooters.

A monochrome sky

uniform yet dazzling

in its overcast brilliance.

~

My monochrome mood

uniform and quite boring

leaves me yearning for contrast.

All the thirsty plants

are thrilled the sky relented

and released its hold on rain.

~

Now the sodden ground,

achieving saturation,

loosens grasp on those plant‘s roots.

Tiny raindrops fall,

collecting on summer leaves,

before thumping wetly down.

~

Lawns, fields, and flowers

gratefully receive raindrop

offerings from every source.

Sometimes our bodies

slam on the brakes when our minds

won’t stop pushing us forward.

~

People are driven,

often to their detriment,

by their bodies and their minds.

Disappointment’s born

when expectations exceed

every probable outcome.

~

When we don’t factor

in limitations, we’re left

with high hopes but low results.

Feeding the birds less

has led to a bird protest –

Avians Unite !

~

Give a bird some seed,

you will feed him for a day:

teach a bird agriculture…

Bold as brass that squirrel!

In the house, on the table,

snacking on my blue corn chips!

~

I bet he surveyed

the neighborhood first, in search

of the best chip provider.

The sun kissed the trees

teaching us all about warmth,

light, and the birds and the bees.

~

Seems like trees do it

communally, yards apart,

without passion, unlike us.

Friendly fellowship

can exist even among

those who disagree.

~

Differences can add

flavor and zest to the mix

which might expand our palate.

More green leaves appear

on the dying tree, inspired

perhaps, by their forerunners.

~

Trees, much like people,

bud, leaf, blossom, and bloom

on their own schedule.

A washed out eclipse,

none the less, provides a chance

to capture dynamic clouds.

~

Even though you did

not get what you were looking

for, look what you got!

Toward the end of day,

the sun briefly waved hello

then hurriedly disappeared.

~

Apollo’s stately

pace across the firmament

hid by Aeolian’s shrouds.

It has been so long

since we’ve dined without children,

I nearly called you to task!

~

I thought I noticed

a stern look on your face that

reminded me of my dad.

Knox cautions me not

to let the slow drizzle

dampen my mood, stop our walk.

~

My dogs had a ball

running in the dog park mist

but their owners missed the joy.

What tangled chaos

arises from deception

even with best intentions.

~

To avoid tangles

and chaos, try an honest,

creative approach.

They say they care for

the unborn, but once born they

and their moms are on their own.

~

What they care about

is a shrinking labor force

and shrinking majority.

A tank full of gas

and nothing to do but drive!

Behold the freedom of youth!

~

Such freedom comes with

youth and retirement. Ah,

how I long for the latter!

When Knox is asked, “What

is your shtick, he picks one up,

but indicates they’re all his.

~

It’s unique to him,

at least in our family,

his shtick with any he finds.

Sodden spring leaves

can not dampen the joyous

celebration of mothers.

~

Good mothering is

something we all need and it

can come from many sources.

The rain fails to wash

away Knox’ and my pleasure

in our evening walk.

~

Cold spring rain hardly

seems conducive to pleasure

for walking dogs or owners.

Rollercoaster rides.

Really only fun and games

in Amusement parks.

~

It is no fun when

thoughts, emotions, and events

take us for unwelcome rides.

Today I longed to

be shiftless, but I couldn’t

make the necessary shifts.

~

You really must stop

making any kind of shift

if you want to be shiftless!

In how many ways

can our faith in government

and our leaders be betrayed?

~

We the people must

be faithful in holding them

and ourselves accountable.

Tonight’s crescent moon

held its full self in its arms

as the clouds whispered goodnight.

~

When our shadow basks

in our own reflected glow,

we remember we exist.

With the coming Spring,

dormant bodies awaken

shedding death-like patinas

~

May we remember

Spring’s eternal renewal

when our day darkens.