When Outcome Doesn’t Match Expectation from Natural Beauty and Other Poems, p.39
“Supposedly are paths are not that unique. Nature and nurture combine to produce predictability amidst the maddening horde. Every result makes perfect sense when looking back over time.
And yet, let us …
Set some goals, do some tasks, hopefully do good along the way, hopefully better if not perfect, hopefully friendship if not results, we will acknowledge on our final day.”
“When we struggle for words to truly describe the beauty of a peaceful moon;
when were mesmerized by sunset or sunrise, with no verbal way to express;
when joy warms our heart or a breeze flows through us cooling our skin to the touch;
no notions are needed, our body understands: we are one with this time and this place.”
Natural Beauty and Other Poems, p.1
“Every day there’s a miracle of beauty somewhere …. if you look
Big bright moon in the morning sky, dew of the morning grass, running water in the faucet, warm air from a heating vent.” from Natural Beauty and Other Poems; Life Isn’t Always Pretty, p.7
So much beauty to see and feel if we have eyes that can see, so it is said.
I am especially conscious of the refugees across the world today. May they receive their “daily bread” and know that we are working toward their further comfort. And may those inflicting the harm see the errors of their ways and the karma they are creating for themselves and their descendants.
Are you a tree hugger? Here’s today’s poem from p.10 of NATURAL BEAUTY AND OTHER POEMS.
TREE HUGGER?
Advocate for the protection of woodlands or a fool trying to save the world? A crunchy, natural deodorant, faux hippie or deep ecologist respecting all life? Somewhere along this spectrum, do you find yourself somedays?
Perhaps when “visiting Nature” or walking a sandy beach picking up litter like you were taught by some conservation speech.
Or one more new green deal; can we connect while grieving as our life slowly goes extinct?
Will we someday find ourselves leaving, hugging a tree with our last breath or volunteer our organs to a research body farm?
What will it take to realize we are born and die in Mother Earth’s arms?
Today is April 2nd. Twenty days from now is Earth Day. Let us prepare for this event by being more mindful of our planet which gives us life.
Today’s poem is Free Ride from p.15 of my latest book NATURAL BEAUTY AND OTHER POEMS:
“So far, breathing is free; I can inhale and exhale at ease. No oxygen mask needed, I can breathe as long as I please.
Without air, I would die quickly, maybe fifteen minutes at most. For many, it would be ten or less; without air …. we’re a gasping ghost.
From our first to our last breath we live as beneficiaries of Mother Earth. Her atmosphere provides us lung power to enjoy with mirth.
I’m grateful for my life on this planet and the free oxygen it provides; to live and grow and someday complete this adventurous free ride.”
Today, April 1st, begins National Poetry Month. Here’s a poem from my latest book Natural Beauty and Other Poems (p.31)
Poets As Lovers of Truth
There are certainly times for pleasant sweet nothings, cooing and wooing and sweet ear candies; love poetry, word music, is easily accompanied on guitar strings or bright piano keys.
“I love you. Do you love me? Oh, who cares? You’re beautiful and the world seems perfect in your company. Nothing else is as important to me than our hearts beating happily.”
But, let’s get real. Life’s not always a picnic and even picnics have their share of troubles. There are ants and rain and forgotten items and singles wishing to be doubles. More seriously still, there’s challenges a many: no peace or justice and real-life oppression.
So, poets take note – there’s work to be done; let truth ring out on the page. If we have an ear, let’s speak the whole truth: poets as prophets can remake this age.
I am grateful to Tricycle magazine for their monthly Haiku challenge. See https://tricycle.org/haiku/
Last month, February, the prompt provided was “sleeping Buddha”. There were surely many great offerings submitted and Tricycle magazine will reveal the top three soon.
If you’re curious, check out the website and consider offering your own submissions for their next prompt this month.
And BTW, here are my submissions for last month:
Big Brother watches, the Way is beyond language, sleeping Buddha dreams.
Full Snow Moon watches, while the sleeping Buddha rests, wake up Spring is near!
Merrily we row, sleeping Buddha simply smiles, life is but a dream.
Happy to report my third book of poetry is now available at iUniverse and Amazon. Check it out!
https://www.iuniverse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/827315-natural-beauty
This is Eve; another sweetheart at the stray rescue kennel. Eve is a 9-yr old, 46-pound, female Terrier, American Staffordshire mix who has mellowed a lot over the years but is still described as “high energy”. Compared to the other dogs I normally walk, Eve is much easier to hold on to and she evens lollygags at times because she’s not in that much of hurry to return to her apartment once she’s outside.
Take today, for example, we were walking toward a major street and it was apparent that we would not make the green crosswalk light in time. I nodded to Eve and acknowledged, “we’re not going to make it in time so we’ll just take our time getting there.” Suddenly, I had a flash of insight. Once again a dog was teaching me the dharma. “No need to hurry, let’s just enjoy the present moment together.”
I smiled and Eve broke eye contact to sniff the base of another tree on our route. Must be some pee-mail to “read” from a previous dog who passed by this way before us. Yes, even urine has its messages to offer but I will leave the decoding to Eve and keep my eye on traffic.
Thank you Eve for a very pleasant walk this morning.
This is Wayne. Standing up and looking out his apartment door window. He is VERY eager to come out! He desperately wants some fresh air, a chance to defecate outdoors and receive whatever reward treats you might want to give him for good behavior. He will also appreciate his apartment being cleaned, fresh water provided, and a welcome home treat on his pillow when he returns. Would you like to give him, and his apartment cleaner, 30 minutes of “free time”?
Wayne is a nearly 5-yr old, 48-pound Terrier Mix, who can jump at least another 18 inches higher than this picture shows when he thinks you will open the door for him to leave. He’s a sweetheart who shows his appreciation vigorously when you accept his invitation for love.
Fortunately, he’s big enough that you cannot see the fecal matter and urine behind him that needs cleaning up. But don’t worry, there’s more of that he would love to leave outside on his walk around the city neighborhood that surrounds this stray rescue kennel.
When I entered his apartment this morning, like I have the three previous Wednesday mornings before this, he delightfully jumps and circles and tries his darnedest to stay still for a second so I can put on the two leads needed to walk him. One lead around his neck and chest as a harness to hold and guide him safely and another longer lead loosely around his neck as a back-up security leash if needed.
Once he is “secured” he quickly confirms that I have treats in my pocket and lets me know he’s ready when I am to taste-test them for me. He doesn’t get a treat now; that will come later when he pees or poops outside. He knows that too. We both know the routine or basis of our relationship and yet he just loves to nuzzle me and I love to scratch his ears and pet him vigorously before we leave his apartment.
Thirty minutes of walking joy ahead of us and today is especially nice because the sky is blue, the morning temps are in the 40s and climbing and there’s plenty of sunshine ahead. Look out world, or at least downtown St. Louis, Wayne and his walker are coming out!
Life Matters 
