HAIKU

Music to my ears

Sang through the telephone line:

“You are a grandma.”

THE MEANING OF TOMORROW

"There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great,
and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow"
~Orison Swett Marsden

Tomorrow.
The promise of a new day,
wrapped in a verdant wish.
A day to which we look forward,
with the anticipation of a child
on Christmas Day. To say
tomorrow is only a day away,
is to say our future is limited.
Given the depth of the cycle of life,
we look at every new day as a tomorrow.
Expand your horizon; seize this day
and every day here after. Lace it
with laughter and joy, for tomorrow
holds life in its hands gently.
The promise.
Tomorrow.

Walt

TORNADO AND TEMBLOR (A Kelly Lune)

a tornado here

a quake there

it’s all quite Erie

Marie Elena

WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' GOIN' ON

The talk of the town.
               "Did you feel it?"
                              Carole King felt it.
                                                                                    The earth moved.
               Desk accessories  m    i g   r   a  te  d.
Family pets went berserk.
       I was at work;                                  metal shelves
                            made a din. Vibration and rattle
                                                             a Teutonic battle Cali style
in Western New York.

The epicenter was in Quebec,

but what the heck, we felt it here.
                                                                                    "Did you feel it?"

 

 

Walt 

GIVING LIFE MEANING

It's how they raised me;
my background; genetics.
A frenetic romp through
those formative years,
a shyness relegating me
to a tool lacking function,
but with a passion to learn.
Lessons of knowledge,
lessons of compassion,
lessons of ability.
Honing the skills that
took me years to realize I had.
A way with music; a way with words,
saying what I mean; meaning what I say.
Far and away the sole purpose
of my art is to start expressing
all my heart had been silent to speak.
In each golden moment, a new reason,
a change of season to carry the year,
and it is here that I belong.
Poetic poser full of song, a head
full of ideas and pleas to the Power
that is, that what I feel is real,
and every life I touch is accepting.
A cleansing of all misdeeds,
and a need to make a difference.
Having been given the gift of life,
it is up to us to give it meaning. 

Walt

AMAZED

The way you looked at me at first,

you look at me, still.

Those tender eyes that warmed my heart,

stir and warm me, still.

The way your soul would speak to me,

speaks so sweetly, still.

The patience you displayed to me,

endures with me, still.

And after nineteen years with you,

you amaze me, still.

Marie Elena

IN MY FATHER'S HANDS

Life.

Held in the balance,
held in high regard,
held in my Father's hands.

Held within my heart,
held in respect,
held in my Father's hands.

Held in loving embrace,
held with reverence,
held in my Father's hands.

Held for a lifetime,
held in fervent memory,
my Father, the hands that held.

Life.


Walt

HAIKU

Happy Father's Day
to my respected mentor
Across Lake Erie.

Marie Elena

JUST BECAUSE (A Father's Day Tribute to My Dad)

Because you love and respect,

I love and respect.

Because you are content with modest means,

I am content with modest means.

Because you cherish simple pleasures,

I cherish simple pleasures.

Because you value my mother,

I married a man who values me.

Because you are loving and just,

I easily see my Heavenly Father as loving and just.

And so, Dad, I love you

just because.

Marie Elena

HAIKU

He’s not their father --

He is the one who chose to

father my children.

Marie Elena

HAIKU

Indecisiveness.
The art of making the choice
not to make a choice


Walt

HAIKU

One sock is wet, and
one sock is off. Talk about
indecisiveness.

Caught between the wave
of indecision and doubt
my feet get so wet


Walt

LAKE CHILL

Summer approaches.
Spring offers a last reminder
of her temperament. A cold
wind blows across the Great Lake,
wafting through the lowlands,
bringing with it a last gasp of winter
breath. The skies are painted,
in tones of muted gray, and today
holds little promise but this:
tomorrow will be another day;
another chance to get it right.
Hold hope for tomorrow.


Walt

TAKING TURNS (A Shadorma)

That was us.
Not that long ago,
That was us.
Now that’s them –
Sitting at the kids’ table;
Loving the closeness.

Now that’s them –
Naively playing.
Not a care.
Smiles, laughter.
Growing up all together.
A lifetime ahead.

Marie Elena

HAIKU

I will not risk all

to gain for myself what is

already in hand

Marie Elena

STORMY WEATHER

Violence in electric downpour
trying to snore as the thunder rolls,
my tired soul yearns for some quiet
while this riot is incited. Lightning
dances and is excited. Waiting for the
tympani of noise to recoil. All toil
in a late Spring storm.

Walt

HE WHO HOLDS OUR TOMORROWS (A Kelly Lune)

Lest we soon forget

at day's end

Who holds tomorrow

Marie Elena

Toledo sunset, photo by Adam Lambert

NATURE OF DESTRUCTION

Deep in the night
Before morning’s light
Copious flashing and c
                                       r
                                           a
                                               s
                                                  h
                                                      i
                                                          n
                                                               g

            Sirens, incessant
            And lightning, fluorescent
            Buildings now taking a th
                                                                         r        a
                                   sh
                                                                                               ing

                        Satellite image
                        Suggestions of scrimmage
                        It’s nature against all mankind

                                                          Clodhopper grace
                                                                 Leaving much to replace
                                                                       And the turmoil of lives redefined

Marie Elena

Top photo:  Lake High School

Bottom photo:  Lake Township neighborhood where my cousin-in-law's twin brother lives.  Such devastation.

Photos copied from Facebook.

WINDS OF CHANGE

Thermal inversion run amok
just your luck to be caught
in the cross hairs of a violent assault.
Not the fault of any one,
just nature's way of reminding us
that someone else is in control.
Every soul held in the balance
in the hands of One all knowing.
Showing that protection is only
a prayer away. The winds of change
come at a cost. But never due
to lost faith. Giving us all we can handle.


Walt

HAIKU

Our Mother Nature
isn't always motherly.
Thankful for safety.

Marie Elena

TOLEDO BLADE COVERAGE:  http://www.toledoblade.com/