What is more soothing

to a stiff, aching body,

than a calm day in the sun?

~

Immersion in light

 and warmth can help ease aches of

mind, body, and soul.

When the music stops

and we have all gone home, what

will we take with us?

~

Resonating beats,

lyrics that speak to our heart,

and lifetimes of memories.

Not all tsunami

come from undersea earthquakes;

some rise from deeper waters.

~

And not all fires

can be put out with watered

down attempts at empathy.

What do you think? Are

the fireworks over or

have they just begun?

~

When everyone’s guns

are locked, loaded, and ready,

more fireworks are certain.

Is there any peace

from the unceasing chaos

of a home with teenagers.

~

Peace with teenagers –

as unlikely as chaos

without Donald Trump.

Today I declare

my independence from all

presidential tweets.

~

And from servitude

to the casual whimsy

of all mean spirited men.

When barbecue smoke

rises into summer skies,

is this true independence?

~

Smoke signals galore

mark our independence from

ye old kitchen stove.

Have you ever tried

to tiptoe through the tulips?

And if you did, why?

~

I’d more likely trip

the light fantastic since I

tiptoe like an Angus Bull.

Will a brand new month

bring a fresher perspective

to this same old tired crap?

~

The new month won’t, but

perhaps a slight attitude

adjustment will do the trick.

When Virginia has

sunlit, humidity-free

days, let’s stop and play.

~

Because there’s no chance

that this stellar weather will

wait for us to get off work.

With time this short,

and endless tasks a’looming,

can we hope to catch our breath?

~

Especially when 

time is short and endless tasks

are looming, we must pause, breathe.

Speaking of mettle,

when did we switch from playing

the game to gaming the play?

~

Every casino

owner knows about gaming

the odds for fun and profit.

Just facing long odds,

those impossible hurdles,

proves our mettle, win or lose.

~

When facing the odds

our mettle is forged by the

way we choose to play the game.

Let’s find joy even 

when things don’t go our way. Let’s

try what seems impossible.

~

Impossible tasks

can become a source of joy,

but only when completed.

When he can’t be sure,

at least he cultivates an

appearance of certainty.

~

When appearance is

everything certain truths are

no longer self-evident.

When the golden rule

has been replaced by the rule

of gold, what have we become?

~

That golden luster

seduces both hearts and minds

and thus, tarnishes the soul.

Again, mean spirits

may yet be the salvation

of the hungry, poor, and meek.

~

Didn’t we learn that in  

two Corinthians touted

by Trump and his ilk?

When all is said and

nothing consecutive is done,

could it be Trump is tweeting?

~

All bark and no bite

is a common hallmark of

yapping dogs with tiny paws.

Does retirement

seem to loom, large and dreadful,

or seem a friend, come to stay?

~

It all depends on

who you ask – the one who is

retiring or the spouse.

What can we do when

 storms rage around us and our

 president tweets and twitters?

~

Reaping the whirlwind

takes on a fresher meaning

when he sows discordant seeds.

Wouldn’t it be great

if life came with a laugh track

to tell us when to smile?

~

Not really – I don’t

want to laugh or smile by

 suggestion or on command.

How many roads must

a dog owner walk before

his dog takes a dump?

~

The answer, my friend,

will be hiding in the leaves

before your long walk is through.

Going off half cocked

rarely solves any problems

but it makes life interesting.

~

Half-cocked solutions

lose their appeal unless your

name is Donald Trump.

What if we brought the

refreshing rain of reason

to our national discourse?

~

Those able to think

will rise above the muddy

flood of hostile rhetoric.

Dare we close our eyes

lest violent hatered becomes

the new American pass time?

~

Let’s dare to use the

disarming practice of love

and sensible gun control.

If you voted in 

 the primaries, you could have 

a chance to second your choice.

~

Always choose to vote

even if there is no chance

your choice will be seconded.

Do you feel the Pulse,

echoing within your soul,

fresh, now, as a year ago?

~

Last year’s Orlando

tragedy still echoes strong, 

unfixed by presidential tweets.

Whistle while you work

and your bored coworkers can

either rage or sing along.

~

When the song is done

and your coworkers still sing,

how can we regain silence?

When apathy strikes,

is it just a passing fad

or a taste of entropy

~

Individual

indifference can lead to

systemic breakdown.

When life tosses us

a sailing frisbee of joy,

let’s catch it and pass it on.

~

And when life hurls us

huge steaming piles of dung,

dodge it like a congressmen.