Fallen leaves cover the lawn,
a funerary sign of near winter
The silent plough of the rake
builds mountains, mostly brown,
resulting from an exotic mélange
of yellow, red, orange, tan; and
before Fall’s harvest, beautifully green
Bare branches like human skeletons
are left waiting for rebirth in Spring
Marks of a
good person:
Kindness and
courage,
usually performed
unconsciously
Revel in
those moments
planted in
the garden of memory
to blossom unexpectedly,
in a welcome
aroma of bliss
Backyard scene
Bird with broken wings,
fluttering awkwardly,
unable to lift into the air
High above hawk notices
the easy meal
Living room scene
Confused old lady
answers her phone
a predator salivates
anticipating the money
in her bank account
an easy score
Selling fool’s
gold
requires a spellbinding
skill
that Trump has
down cold
The buyers see
only the glow,
hypnotized
by the salesman
who could sell
Eskimos snow
They love
listening to his pitch
He’s such a
fascinating
son of a
gun
But sadness
comes in time
when realizing
glitter
does not mean gold
V
The groaning board of life
offers so many experiences
Choosing the right balance
between work and pleasure
is a conscious choice
that will shape a family
coming at the cost of time
once spent, gone forever
Graciousness is an addictive quality,
likely acquired at the kitchen table
where decency, compassion, and love
are shared in family conversations
Graciousness isn’t to be measured
In coin, but in the quality of life
for whoever experiences it
practitioner or witness
Graciousness is an antidote
To mindless belligerence
That pollutes the atmosphere
of a room and the entire world
The hinges of
the legs
linking the
calf to the thigh
Silently carrying
the weight
of the body
up and down
stairs
running and
climbing
Unnoticed
when pain-free
So easily
damaged in sports
Wearing achingly
in old age
