Category Archives: serious stuff

Zen Garden

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afloat

Tall vertical stones
with their leaning rock consorts
float within a sea of
white sand and gravel
raked to perfection into
rippling waves in
a contrastingly
calm, even plane.

This little garden,
an oasis of zen energy,
unassuming and nonsanctimonious,
helps keep me afloat
when I find myself
tossed by waves of
undisciplined thought,

reminding me that I - 
like the garden -
am an amalgam,
not of sand and gravel and rock,
but of body, mind and spirit;
and that I, too,
am perfectly patterned
for my own even plane of
unassuming and nonsanctimonious
existence.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Afloat

Daily Triumph

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Triumph - noun
1. the act, fact, or condition of being 
   victorious or triumphant; victory; conquest.
2. a significant success or noteworthy achievement; 
   instance or occasion of victory.
Sometimes a triumph is feted with 
a fanfare of blaring trumpets, 
a clamorous parade, and perhaps 
even a flaunting display of 
the coveted “spoils of war.” 

And sometimes...
it is met with a soft sigh
as the coolness of evening settles in,
and one can rest in the knowing
that they have survived -
nay, triumphed over - 
yet another day.

asphalt

Photo #20 for Blogging U’s Photography 101 course. Subject: triumph.

Young Minds

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young minds

What do you see when you 
gaze at me with those 
trusting new eyes?
Who do you believe me to be?
Who do you believe you are to me? 
Or does it even matter?
Perhaps we are both the same entity. 

You have so much to explore 
and discover and learn.
I have so much to share and recount
and unlearn.
We can teach one another 
life lessons
along the way.

We will both grow older
but there is no rush.
You’ll learn to walk, then to run,
then to soar.
I’ll learn to slow down,
and to breathe more deeply.
I’ll learn to notice more details
and to be more appreciative, 
even of the little things.

When you close those 
curious new eyes at night,
where do you think I have gone?
Where do you go 
in that fresh young mind? 
Maybe you are already 
walking, running and soaring.
I’m already slowing down 
and breathing more deeply,
and appreciating life more.
Especially the little things…
like you.

Photo #10 for Blogging U’s Photography 101 course. Subject: mystery.

Accompanied

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Often alone, seldom lonely.
My thoughts are with me wherever I go.
They bring creativity, wonder, awe,
memories and wisdom.
And sometimes they bring pain,
sorrow, guilt and fear.
I accept them all, they are what they are.
After all, one can't always be good company.

solitude

Photo #5 for Blogging U’s Photography 101 course. Subject: solitude.

Sacrifice

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sacrifice

The sun eases into the molten lava of the evening sea,
a willing sacrifice to the gods of time.
The glorious sky imprints its beauty on my eyes and in my mind,
branding its memory as a tribute to this time, this place,
even though it will eventually fade to a translucent wisp.

This evening’s fog bank advances toward shore,
emboldened by the cover of darkness as the sea
cools back to a rolling field of blue.
Feeling the dampness on my skin,
I am reminded of a parallel fog whose ghostly folds
enwrap my brain, hiding memories,
while day by day, sunset by sunset,
my sentience becomes
a sacrifice to the gods of time.

It’s comforting in a way,
how life’s pains soften and worries ebb.
But it’s also sad as I lose my past,
and forget how to do even the simplest of things.
And forget the names
and faces
of my children.

As the sun rests on the ocean floor
awaiting its turn to emerge into tomorrow’s dawn,
I wonder if it, too, feels comforted,
by the cool serenity of the water’s depths.
I wonder when I will emerge again,
and in what form.

But for now, I turn my back to the sea
and retreat to firmer ground
knowing that the fog is not far behind.

In memory of my father (1922-2012)Scan0001 (2)