When drama erupts

into seething misery,

how can we bank the fires?

~

Consoling words and

tears, genuine and deeply

felt, can sometimes help.

With Autumn’s approach

and things kicking into gear

what will help us as we steer?

~

Some would rather sneer

and kick the bloody tires

than drive on into winter.

Cesar Chavez reaps

renown from all the labors

of Dolores Huerta.

~

As the saying goes,

“In front of every great woman

is a man blocking her from view”.

Are we there yet – that

place where we longed to go? Did

it turn out to be right here?

~

Endlessly trekking,

 seeking a greener pasture;

a sure way to miss the truth.

With things spiraling

ever farther from control,

should we name it Hurricane?

~

Better yet, let’s name

it Himicane or even

plain old Raising Cain.

Who is the “real” man;

He who does it all himself?

He who knows to ask for help?

~

A real man asks for

help when he needs it and gives

help when he can.

To freely give and 

fully receive, must not our

hearts and minds be open?

~

Openness is key

to freeing long shackled hearts

and thawing frozen bias.

By any measure,

regardless of the yardstick,

He still comes up… short.

~

By short do you mean

small – in many more ways than

those infamous hands?

How will we explain

to our children’s children the

neglect of our earth mother?

~

Our children’s children

may have much more on their mind

than our lame apologies.

This truth is stranger

than the strangest of fictions;

nothing trumps reality

~

Nothing could very

well be our illustrious

president’s reality.

As Fall approaches

what wise words will carry us

valiantly to Spring?

~

We welcome winter

as more hurricanes approach

and flood waters still subside.

How can we believe

everything is beautiful

as the whole world burns?

~

Exaggerations

leave us a legacy of

ugly, partial truths.

When we consider

the impermanence of things,

do we find hope or despair?

~

Buddha would teach us

to meet each transient grief

with an ephemeral joy.

Can one be depressed,

even on this rainy day,

since it’s dry inside?

~

Singing in the rain,

they know moods aren’t dependent

on weather and place.

Do you think it’s true

we most appreciate light

when it’s the darkest of nights?

~

There is no mistake;

in the deepest, darkest, night

any little light is bright.

He can not reach out,

offers no comforting touch,

a stranger to empathy.

~

Let’s turn from him and

focus on the compassion

each of us can bring.

In adverse times why

is his response petty tweets

and self-congratulation?

~

When you have no soul

but possess a huge ego

you profit from others pain.

These rising waters

and rising anxieties,

also raise iron resolve.

~

Resolve and kindness –

 the bar to which some rise as

others sink to pettiness.

When there’s much to do

and much ado, what then can

one possibly do?

~

There is much to do,

also much ado, that’s true,

but then again, what is new?

When the news is bad

but things aren’t quite as they seem,

how do we discern the truth?

~

To discern the truth

whether the news is good or

bad, check the source and your heart.

In these troubled times

may we not lose sight of small

joys in our surrounds.

~

Gentle cool breezes,

the chirp of falling water,

and pleasant dinner flavors.

Early skeins of geese,

on this, coolish, summer morn,

begin their journey… northward?

~

At least they began

without delay which can’t be said

 for the way this poet flies.

With so much to do

and so little time, it is

easy to forget.

~

Absentmindedness

is a constant affliction

regardless of life’s chaos.

When so much is wrong

where do we start? Could it be

with a look at our own hearts?

~

Some hearts are hollow

and a closer look at one

could reveal just what is wrong.

I have no idea

where my muse retreated to;

perhaps she will return soon?

~

Even muses need

a rest. Until she returns,

carry  on and do you best.

So what did you learn

from your sojourn in the sun

that will help on rainy days?

~

The sun always shines;

even when occluded by

moons, clouds, or monstrous egos.

As the sun descends

upon vacation’s glory,

how do we prepare?

~

No preparation

is needed. Just revert to

quivering lips and pulling hair.

What’s the best way to

handle the darkness hiding

in the cellars of our hearts?

~

Open the bottles

aging and cooling therein

and release their warming glow.

Some people, it seems,

have a style all their own

and, sometimes, it’s overblown.

~

Small hands and ruffled

feathers – signature style

of the overblown.

A true compass does

not conflate; rather, it

differentiates.

~

When one lives without

limits or bounds, it can be 

a chore to compass restraint.