Grandma came to visit
She never looks the same
She lives far away
So on the plane she came
I drew her a special picture
And wrote her some words so dear
She loves these things I know
Because she always smiles with a tear
I showed her my best cartwheel
My sister played her song
My brother did his yoyo tricks
Then we giggled and hugged the night long
Grandma says we’ve grown too much
And she thinks we are all so pretty
But it is difficult to understand us
When our voices blend completely
I find it easy to initiate
Obligate
Then procrastinate
When the task I cannot eliminate
Friends assimilate
For my stress to alleviate
As they reiterate
My promises to deviate
They collaborate
To communicate
Attempts on me to illuminate
But instead all exasperate
When I separate
I vacuously circumnavigate
Eventually to instigate
Yet another similar journey to irritate
Mom showed us how to see
The beauty and mystery of the clouds
We learned to explore their magical shapes
Which ignited our imaginations
And infused us with infinite fun and adventure
She pointed out the marvel
Of the ever-changing sky
Exhibiting its powerful pallet of color
That splashes splendor to the horizons
Appreciation ignited her emotions
Spilling over into our consciousness
Forever honing our awareness
To the amazing world around us
By teaching us to see the majestic beauty
Barely comprehended and fully digested
Before morphing into another beautiful display
She instilled enduring values deep within our souls
Excitement remained firm throughout her life
As she frequently ushered us
To the edge of her driveway
For a clearer view of a cloud or sunset
Today mom looks from heaven
Peaking through the clouds
She still guides our eyes
To the exhilarating beauty above
When I look up high
I can see her sky blue eyes among the clouds
Enjoying a new perspective of beauty
As she smiles comfort down to me
The sea gulls soar and squawk loudly in the air
As they dart and dive
Between the coming and going of the ocean waves
Fish smells cling to each moisture particle
Hanging heavy in the air
Undeniably branding the sea breeze
A distant tugboat hidden deep in the heavy morning mist
Slowly sounds its foghorn
And teams with the splashing surf
To create the unique misty circumstance of the harbor ambiance
The wind plays its rhythmic song against the bows of the moored sailboats
Creating a constant clanging as the boats rock in unison
In protest of their captivity by the docks
The dark silhouettes of regal ancient buildings
Stand calmly on the harbor edge
Undisturbed by the water, air, sound, and smells
The waiting flagpole joins in the clanging song of the sailboats
As the pristine sailors launch their flag slowly in robotic unison
Respectfully hoisting it to the pole’s top
An eerie yet peaceful feeling of history and mystery
Fills every space between the fog
And seeps deep into ones very soul
It is a beautiful beginning everyday that sets a most appropriate stage
For great world leaders to teach, study, train, and plan
World strategies for freedom and peace
A favorite place for both seagulls and I
Forever alive and savored in my memories eye
The routine morning salute and presenting of the United States flag
At Newport Naval Station, Rhode Island
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White cold fog swallowed all shapes and colors
Wrapping suffocating arms around images
Rendering them unrecognizable
Light magnified the white
Forcing eyelids shut
In a futile effort to squint out the bright sheet
That blanketed all understanding
Adrenalin released by fear of injury
Became a constant companion
In the navigating struggle
Of simple daily existence
The face that once stared from the mirror
Was now erased along with the large green highway signs
Meant to guide one to a destination
Hopelessness was knocking at the door
But I never saw his face
For the surgeon miraculously locked it
Using his quick nimble hands
A clear blue sky replaced the fog
While confidence and gratitude nudged away fear
The surgeon’s face became beautifully visible
But two very thoughtful cornea donors
Had faces that only God would see
The calm early morning breeze
Blew across my face and past my ears
While vigorously I pedaled my bicycle
Down a quiet paved country road in Texas
A dove singing a welcoming song
To greet the emerging sun
Was enjoying the prospects of the newly born day
Power lines invading the natural terrain
Teamed with the wind
To sing their songs
In harmony with the dove
And the sound of a distant cow
The tall grass beside the road rustled
With the scurrying of unseen creatures
Disturbed by the approaching spinning wheels
That announced my invading presence
As I struggled up a slight incline
My speed became slower
And my efforts more intense
I was distracted for a moment with the arduous chore
Of conquering the hill
Beside the road
Surrounded by the weeds
Stood a misplaced garlic plant
Proudly exhibiting its sphere-shaped blooms
The soothing moos of the cows became closer
Each utterance different from the other
Some higher in tone, some lower,
Some shorter in duration, some longer,
Some calmer, and some quite excited
Their language had become easy to decipher
One cow had shared the news of my intrusion
The others turned their piercing eyes in unison
To stare with interest and curiosity
As I approached a bend in the road,
The trees held hands above my head
And the foliage grew deep on each side
A beautiful creek ran fast over the rocks
Where the cows and creatures
Waited to drink and cool themselves
Many times I had traveled this road by automobile
But I never saw or heard these morning treasures
The creek had been a quick glittering flash
All else had simply been unheard,
Unseen, and un-noticed
Sadness overcame me as I realized
That many others had also
Zipped by such abundant beauty
Without seeing or hearing it
My peaceful journey had awakened my attention
To a refreshing perspective and sense of discovery
I became irrepressibly compelled to share my experience
Of a dawn ride, on a quiet country road, in Texas
When the wind blows as it is today, it reminds me of a day a few years ago when I stood at the edge of the field watching my miniature horses run with the wind. It was that shared feeling that inspired the following poem.
The north winds raced across the field picking up speed
Greeting and pushing the trees aside
And swirling around the corners of the house
In a playful arrogant rush
The horses darted in and around the cooling wind
With equal mischief and excitement
Kicking up their heels in the air
In direct rebellion and competition with the changing elements
The whistling interruption of the hyper air
Synchronized to the exuberant beat of the horses hoofs
And joined hands at the opposite horizons
Partnering with the sky’s stampeding gray clouds
It was an aggressive and expected announcement
Of the arrival of an old and dear friend
An Appropriate and suitable escort for
The welcome introgression of the seasonal change
Carpets are rolled up
Shoes are picked up
Cords are covered up
Anything left is chewed up
He climbs like a cat
He smells like a rat
He found my hat
And chewed it while I sat
His teeth are like pins
When he bites he grins
He plays and wins
And knows he’s guilty of many sins
His energy is abundant
His appetite, rampant
Self-control seems reluctant
His toys are all combatant
He was the cutest puppy
Picked ‘cause he was cuddly
Fur so soft and fluffy
Eyes looking at me sweetly
Governor Casper is his name
Nothing here will ever be the same
Those sweet eyes became
A wild thing deserving much blame
We knew from the start
That very first day
He climbed into our hearts
And with us he will forever stay
I saw someone today
That I never really knew
She was always there
But hello I never said
I was busy with the kids
I was busy preparing meals
I was busy with the house
So hello I never said
I saw her again in a day or two
But excuses were more than a few
She was always there
But still hello was never said
I stayed busy with the kids
And busy preparing meals
Was busy with the house
No time for hello to be said
I did not see her for years
I assumed that she was gone
When I could not find her
Hello could not be said
Soon the kids were grown
I was no longer busy preparing meals
I was no longer busy with the house
Only then did I find the time
To introduce myself to me
The silver morning sky slowly brightens
As the sun’s rays reach
From behind the horizon
To scout the lingering clouds
The trees stand as motionless statues
Waiting for the winds
To move them
To dance through the day
The air thickened by yesterday’s cool rain
Rises to welcome the warm sun
With a ghostly white presence
That blends with the clouds
To erase the horizon’s divide
The void of color is in
Striking contrast to the previous dawn
Yet its statement is equal to the others
It is magnificent to open ones eyes,
Breathe in a subtle grandeur,
And ponder the wonderment
Of infinite uniqueness
I want to be different
Yet the same
Unusual
But normal
Creative
But not weird
I want to be individual
But not alone
Private
But not reclusive
Intellectual
But not pompous
I want to be pretty
But not flamboyant
Outgoing
But with reserve
Admired
Without jealousy
I want to be charitable
Without disturbing dignity
Compassionate
Without suffocating
Religious
Without imposition
I want to be free
But not without boundaries
Fun
But not wild
Me
But not without you Continue reading
I am fun
Not so young
But certainly not done
I am shy
Don’t lie
But can be a bit sly
Many a toy
I enjoy
Spoiled I employ
I cook
Look at a book
And then wade a brook
I sew
Love to mow
And plant vegetables in a row
Horses are cherished
Chickens lavished
And that donkey admonished
I anger quick
Forgive not a lick
Grudges held as easily as a stick
I am sweet
I am neat
And hard to beat
Not speedy
Nor greedy
I know I am needy
Not ugly
Nor bulgy
Just a little pudgy
I am smart
At least part
Just very slow to start
I am complicated
Not premeditated
But completely dedicated
I am lazy
A bit hazy
And a lot crazy
I am tattered
Not at all battered
But a whole lot scattered
I like to be
Under a tree
Just dreaming free
Happy today
I must say
I put all the stresses away
We are all different, yet the same
We travel together the roads of life
Some turning left, hitting strife
Others turning right, claiming fame
But as we walk our paths
Differences blend to similarity
Simplistic conclusions
To life’s questions
Gain clarity
Different and unique we certainly can claim
Yet we still remain the same
Gayle Blancett
Wind lifts a single strand of hair weightlessly
Tickling my nose and teasing my eyes
As I sprinkle water on the patio flowers
The trees bounce and clap their leaves
When a golf cart speeds around the bend
Emitting a sense of urgency
To race the disappearing sun to the next green
Voices carried by the wind
Sift through the privacy hedge
To deliver indirectly to my ears
Distorted unrecognizable mutterings
Serene perfectly manicured green in every direction
Is beautifully accented by meticulously placed plants
And ever changing colors of the vast Texas sky
It is a typical evening in the village
Near the seventeenth green
Where the breeze is always lifting my hair
As I sprinkle water on the patio flowers