More Less

I need to write more poems again.
I miss the way my brain worked then.
I also need to play more songs,
design more websites, right more wrongs,
find more clients, make more cash,
do more with my craft-stuff stash,
speak more Spanish, read more books,
spend time proving I can cook,
make more friends, call friends more,
do more with my Etsy store,
give my toddler more of me,
be the best that I can be,
yes, the very, very best–
okay, so what should I do less?

Your Day

Your grandparents are in town
Your hoping gravity will pull down
all the wrinkles from your graduation gown
in time for your speech tonight.

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

All your friends are here
and your mom can't hold her tears.
The ceremony is drawing near
and you wonder what your love is thinking now.

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

Some might call this pressure, but it's pain.
You rock back and forth like you're insane
and your husband says the doctor's on his way
and that you're doing great.

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

Months of pain up to your chest.
You know you've given it your best.
And you're sure it's time to rest,
but what will it feel like?

And regardless of how long you've known this day was on its way,
you still cannot believe that its today.
Your heart is beating harder than it has in a long time
and you know today is your day to shine.

Surprise

When you wake up in the morning with a list of things to do,
and a sleepy-headed husband says that there's a gift for you,
and that it's bigger than a breadbox and that it is upstairs,
and you look but cannot find an item waiting anywhere,
but you go outside to check if he forgot it in the car,
and you find a different car where you thought that you had parked…
well then jump up and down and turn around and quick run back inside
and run to the guest room and find your sleeping sister! That's a great surprise!

Pleasantly Surprised

Pleasantly surprised to find
that you turned out to be someone
that I could agree to disagree with,
and that we could agree to disagree together.
What are the chances that
the tornado of life that came
between childhood and now
would pick us both up and set us both down
in the same different place,
sitting across the table from each other,
sipping coffee and talking on the level.

Nice Things

Would you rather have nice things or good days?
Would you rather get along or get a raise?
I look around and I'm always amazed
how our lives pass so fast. When they end the stuff stays.

Seven Eleven

There are no Seven Elevens
in this vicinity
and so to use our gift card,
we have some friends to see.

Nice Enough

People at church are nice enough.
They shake your hand and such and such,
they ask you, nicely, how you've been
and are so very thankful when
you sign up to help with something.
Plus sometimes there are cookies for munching.
But if I were looking for a group of friends
this is really not where my search would end.
But at church, God's word hits close to home,
and that is why we go to Shalom.

How do You Imagine Heaven?

How do you imagine heaven?
A desert nomad imagines green
and water flowing all around.
A relocated businessman imagines
a family reunion in a small town.
And I imagine something like
the big kitchen in the hostel in Lisboa,
where we're all laughing and talking and cooking together.

Ode to Kitchens

A place to heat, a place to cool,
a place for goose or greens or gruel,
a place for kindness and for kin,
a place to start each day again
with coffee from the coffeepot.
A kitchen is a lovely spot.

Australia

We always wanted to visit Australia,
and now you're going to be living there.
That exotic land of kangaroos,
and dingos, and koala bears.
But as you know, Australia is normal,
and though it's on the other side of earth,
you'll always feel right side up,
yes, even at first.

Secret

Who do you love?
Some you seem to love
because you yourself
love to laugh,
love to feel good,
love to feel loved.
Think of the person
for whom
you could always keep a secret.

Make Amends

A storm can break a tree,
a chipper can tear it apart,
leaving you with plenty of room
to make amends.
Ask and you shall receive,
pressed down and running over,
and you'll be forced (forced!)
to share it with friends.

Friends

Friends will call and help you know
that rain will fall and grass will show
and spring will come and poems will flow.

Why Live Anywhere

We want to know where you will live
but you have no reply to give.
You could settle here or there.
You could live just anywhere.

Why live, why live,
why live anywhere?
We seem to land just where we fall.
It matters a lot, but hardly at all.
We go on living wherever we are,
so settle near or settle far.

Just have a reason to be there--
but why live anywhere?

And here we are in this here town

that is, for now, our stomping grounds,

but we could move a hundred miles

to the same stores, and streets and styles.

But here we have family and friends,

some roots, some length, and some split ends.

If those things are what life's about

we'll find them within and we'll find them without.

So why live, why live,
why live anywhere?
We seem to land just where we fall.
It matters a lot, but hardly at all.
We go on living wherever we are,
so settle near or settle far.

Just have a reason to be there--
but why live anywhere?

If you ask this question too,
let's move together to a big commune,
and find life's meaning and relocation's end
but even there, we'd miss our friends.


So why live, why live,
why live anywhere?
We seem to land just where we fall.
It matters a lot, but hardly at all.
We go on living wherever we are,
so settle near or settle far.

Just have a reason to be there--
but why live anywhere?

Human Hearts

Human hearts can be so gross
and yet it's human hearts I treasure most.
This Christmas, I just want to hold you close.
All I want to do is hold you close.

Catching Up

Just catching up on each other's lives.

It's so easy to get behind.

A little travel, a little time,

and we wonder where we are.

We find so much is still the same,

like growing up and constant change.

We've caught up for a few days

but keeping up is hard.

As My Friend is Here

This poem will be short,
as my friend is here.
Just a few days,
but oh so dear.

My Own Harmony

We turned scraps of trash into
works of art.
We took turns singing
the second part.

That sister way our voices blend–
you're my best friend, and that won't end.
But now that you are far from me,
I must sing my own harmony.

My voice is too loud
for this house,
whether I sing or
whether I shout.

Friends is something I should
get around to,
knowing that no one
will be like you.

     Come for a visit.
     Sing and I'll sing with it.

That sister way our voices blend–
you're my best friend, and that won't end.
But now that you are far from me,
I must sing my own harmony.

Country Block

There is a country block
with a city on one corner
and my friends live on one mile
and my family on another.
Each day we do our best work,
working side by side.
We have each other over
for a meal most every night.
And on weekends we go swimming
in the ocean 'cross the road
or go hiking on the mountain
on this country block I know.

Not a Given

The love of a family
is not a given
and a big extended family
is not a given
and a circle of friends
is not a given.

Acceptance and understanding
from those who talk and listen–
I listen to others and notice,
these things are not a given.

And now I have a debt, a bank
of thanks not given.
Stacks of notes of thanks to send,
for tomorrow's not a given.