Santa's Helpers

Santa is the big kahuna
The one who makes Christmas roll.
And elves keep all the orders straight
And update the “Naughty” scroll.

But who are all those other guys
Dressed up in stores and plazas?
Are they also working for the boss,
Are they subordinate clauses?

Empty Nest

The old bird sits
Surveying nest and tree,
Mama flits and flies about
An hundred errands left.

His memories are a thousand scenes,
Bereft of ordered source.
Not random, but in retrograde
Recap a season’s end

     Materials gathered 
     Woven tight 
     Feathered, warm with down

     Hatchlings screaming
     Growth and learning
     Fledglings flap and gone

The old bird sees an empty nest
While mama flits and flies
A season closed, a longing pride
Begins to fill his breast.

Autumn Reverie

An ample log burns softly on the fire

Where I’ve curled up to read a favorite book.

Hot cocoa in a steaming mug helps me retire

To the fantasy of painted woods and brook.

The road to now is one I’m glad I took!

Summer

Egrets wade a pool

Lazy summer pollywogs

Wriggle to get free

Winter Magic

Old man winter, with his broad brush of white,

Blew in last evening and stayed up all night.

He painted the mountains in spectral degrees,

He whitewashed the houses and flocked all the trees.

For all of his huffing and puffing I’d say,

He’s out-done himself on this beautiful day!

Sharing the Load

Some till the soil,
Some plant the seed,
Each with his toil
Fulfilling a need.

Some nurture seedlings,
As summer grows hotter,
I’ll pull the weedlings,
You tend the water.

Each has a role.
All do their best
To harvest the goal.
Then we can rest!

Irony in the Sky

White chevron squadrons usher in spring
With squawking and honking and flapping of wings.
Their return brings a weekend to revel in fun.
The locals all love it, and hundreds more come!
But the poor migrant snow goose must be sorely perplexed;
Revered on one weekend, then slaughtered the next!

Meadow Lark

Piercing frosty morn
Larksong fills my soul with hope;
Harbinger of spring


Written for our dear friend, Patriarch Young. He loved meadowlarks!

November

Have you ever eaten turkey, and a great big pumpkin pie with cranberries, candied yams and potatoes piled high? Have you ever worn a downy coat or pajamas soft and warm? Can you remember Daddy’s soft embrace protecting you from harm? We have so much to be thankful for, like family, kind and dear. November helps us all reflect, and makes this fact so clear. This month when you head off to bed but find it hard to sleep, Count your blessings, one-by-one, instead of counting sheep! 

Happy Easter

It’s Easter Time! And Spring is here; a special time of year!
When plants come out of tough old seeds; new life is everywhere!
Baby chicks break out of eggs, a hard ol’ crackly shell.
New animals are born each day, and that’s how we can tell
That Jesus loves us, every one, His heart is full of room!
‘Cause on that very first Easter morn, He broke forth from His tomb
And saved us all from being scared of death and pain and strife
So we could then return to God and live a happy life!

To my grandchildren at Easter 2009