Month: September 2025

Morning Surprises

Just a few words to start the day,
I started late so I’ve not much to say.
The sun’s rising later and my clock’s askew.
I got up too early but there was nothing to do.
~
So I went back to bed to feel some heat.
I used my cold toes to tickle her feet.
She woke with a shriek from a deep sleep.
She kissed me anyway even though I’m a creep.
~
Our day’s now begun and started with fun.
Although it’s a bit late it’s not yet one.
Now we’ll share our coffee and plan our day.
What happens next I cannot say.

~*~
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Good Morning Sunshine

Good morning sunshine wherever you are.
The sky is gray and the spring is far.
The winter blue’s now in sight,
reminded daily by the length of night.
~
Soon will be snow, slush and rain,
every chore’s a major pain.
Walk’s now unpleasant in my little town.
So we’ll bundle up and hunker down.
~
The calendar I’ll watch and mark each date,
envious of those who hibernate.
To sleep all winter sounds like fun,
then awakened to a warming sun.
~
But I’m just a human, as are you.
We endure the weather, it’s what we do.
But for me the heat’s never too far.
Good morning sunshine there you are.

~*~
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Contrasts

I need a new color or maybe a sound.
I need something to get my head off the ground.
High in the clouds is where I should be.
Soaring with eagles; majestic and free.
~
Exploring a world where peace is the norm.
A place where everyone survives the storm.
A place where kids all laugh and parents sing.
Where old folks still giggle on the backyard swing.
~
We’ve no need for bombs, guns or war.
We’ll all have love, can’t hurt, can cure.
Oh, What a place this world could be.
If only that eagle, were you and me.

~*~
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Longing

A glorious weekend’s yet to begin.
My feelings already stirred within.
I’ve longed to hear your soothing voice.
With a simple hello we will rejoice.

I’ve longed to see your smiling face.
I’ve longed to hold you, feeling no space.
The hours now few, the time is near.
Our weekend’s short but longingly dear.

~*~
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Hourglass

The day’s begun with a kiss on the cheek,
as they should every day of the week.
Whispers and laughter welcome the time.
Our clock ticks softly, no need for a chime.

The hours ahead bring fun in the sun.
Then the sun will set, our day is done.
Moonlight shines on your timeless face.
Heart beats quick with your sparkling gaze.

The stars will dance across the evening sky.
Till again we feel how our time does fly.

~*~
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Sees Brine

The call of the sea is dear to me.
The whisper of the wind reminds.
Briny crust fills every pore.
Seconds savored and moments pure.
~
It is to be a speck in an endless sky
or with blindness to question why.
Life is long when stars shine bright.
Tomorrow’s unsure in the dark of night.
~
But a wind that howls while in my bed
blows the sea from a dreamy head.
Heavy sweat fills an achy brow,
moments to dread, hours to bow.
~
But to be a speck and that is all,
the vision of knowledge is very small.
Life is long when stars shine bright.
A tomorrow unsure when dark is light.
~
In the calm the outside’s clear.
When times are rough it’s the inside we fear.

~*~
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Waves, Hello, Goodbye

Reminiscing of my younger days,
the bad forgotten, the good stays.
The bumps and bruises now long mended.
Lessons learned but youth had ended.
~
Reflecting time the ripples soften.
The pebbles tossed returning often.
The image felt fades with age.
Clarity welcomes another stage.
~
Twilight glistens upon the swells.
The shoreline’s endless bearing shells.
Footsteps crisscross in the sand.
The past and present now hand in hand.
~
Sun’s set and tides rise.
Horizons curve to meet my eyes.
The future’s now a step away.
If a choice would I stay?
~
Yesterday’s echo to the unknowns call.
Adventures await when not to stall.
Tomorrows are whatever I guess.
Live or die, the answer’s yes.

~*~
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Sublime

The burden of youth now lifted,
gears well lubed and automatically shifted.
We’ll coast up life’s many a peak.
And freely glide to wherever we seek.

Our time’s endless and just begun.
In a sea of many we’ll float as one.
Stars will dance in the brightest of skies.
And forever tomorrows await our eyes.

In the clouds we soar, ever nearing heaven’s door.
Our sunsets engulfed on an endless shore,
the sands of time unturned and pure.
And all is perfect with one to adore.

~*~
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Doin’

I feel a storm a brewin’
And thoughts, they are a stewin’
Seems procrastination ain’t so great
Time it seems just won’t wait
~
Youthful dreamin’ put on hold
Earnin’s first, I’ve been told
While the future does still beckon
It’s path though I’ve yet to reckon
~
But my guitar needs a playin’
And my hips need a swayin’
My pencil needs more dancin’
And of course there’s more romancin’
~
So much to do, so little time left to waste
Ponderin’s ahead, no need for haste
I am after all a master procrastinator
So I’ll get old, but just a little bit later

~*~
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Me and My Guitar

A rocky road young love traveled,
she hit the brakes and life unraveled.
The music stopped and she left with my car.
The road now waits for me and my guitar.
~
Playing corner gigs for nickels and dimes,
ain’t got much voice but got good rhymes.
For every heart break there’s a song.
Then another and it don’t take long.
~
The sun’s sinking low and hungers on high,
when the loveliest of ladies caught my eye.
With twenty bucks or so in change,
necessity was now in range.
~
The weight of my wealth couldn’t slow me down.
I chased that lady half way cross town.
We shared a laugh and a quick bite.
I asked if I could crash for the night.
~
Her Benz was parked just around the block.
We both jumped in and started to rock.
Till the music stopped and she left with her car.
The road now waits for me and my guitar.

~*~
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Shine On

Back before sneakers where all the craze

Back in my good ole shoe-shinin’ days

Lugged a box that nearly scraped the ground

At six or seven I roamed all over town

 .

Had a place for quarters one for nickels and dimes

And a pocket for pennies, for change sometimes

So when given a quarter for your ten-cent shines

Make change in pennies, you’ll keep-it most times

 .

Busy summers at the beach and the bars

I had to be careful because of the cars

I drank lots of soda, learned lots of jokes

Once got caught stealin’ a fresh pack of smokes

 .

The bartender yelled “I’ll kick your ass”

I ran out of there really fast

I had to be done by the afternoon

Cuz the big kids would be shinin’ there soon

 .

I charged a dime, the others a quarter

I got the tips and they got the fodder

I once got to shine all afternoon

The big kids had a plan I learned real soon

.

They let me shine just to steal my money

They didn’t think my success was funny

I was on my way home when I saw them comin’

They yelled my name and I went runnin’

 .

With a hand in my pocket to hold up my wealth

Little shiny feet flyin protecting our health

My shine-box banging, bruising knees

So I took a shortcut through the trees

 .

Then I got grabbed tryin’ to climb a wall

They caught up quick cuz they were tall

I only got hit a couple of times

They left the pennies, took the nickels and dimes

 .

It was a fight I couldn’t win, but I didn’t lose

Cuz I limped home – quarters in my shoes

 ~

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Musical Airs

Melodies meld, moments mellowed.
Minnie lulls with many an ode.
Chaka puts me in a loving mode.
Many a sun’s risen on Abbey Road.

Zeppelin gets me high.
Hendrix makes me sigh.
Often pondered is The Great Gig in the Sky.
And for Adele I sometime cry.

Infinite sounds fill our head.
Let’s not forget The Grateful Dead.
Life’s music with or without words said.
Yet none more harmonious than whispers in bed.

~*~
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Shades of Gray

I’ve got birds in my gutters,
bats in my shed,
mice in the basement
and cobwebs in my head.
~
I got up really early,
but I’ve nothing good to do.
I’d like to take a walk,
but I only found one shoe.
~
I’d love a cup of coffee.
But the water I can’t drink.
I turned on the faucet
and sludge filled my sink.
~
But the sun is soon to rise,
I’ll see a brighter day.
Though rain’s in the forecast,
there’s darker shades of gray.

~*~
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Adventure Day

.

There’ll be no time for play today.

Because today’s adventure day.

We’re off to clean grandma’s shed.

Door so low dad bumps his head.

.

Lots of stuff for us to see.

Each thing has its own history.

There’s: rakes, shovels, mowers and pails,

Tires and wheels, old boat sails.

.

A big and rusty nut-less bolt

And a shoe for a shoe-less colt,

Sleds and skis, skates, paddles and oars,

Broken windows and old wood doors.

.

Crates and bins, barrels and jars,

guitar made from box of cigars,

Dad’s reaching for things up high.

Mom thumbs a scrapbook, tear in eye.

.

The treasure’s you find when you look;

cushion for chair and long lost book,

toy box from when dad was a kid

with missing hinge and broken lid.

.

I had to put that one aside.

To fill with treasure that I’ll hide.

And keep it safe for mom and dad

with memories, adventures had.

.

Sheds empty, our jobs half way.

Sifting and sorting all long day.

Next are lunch and maybe a nap.

Then spend some time on grandma’s lap.

.

To the street go things we don’t use;

hand less clock and half pair of shoes.

Forgotten treasures go away.

Some I’ll keep while others will stay.

.

It’s grandma’s play house in the shade.

But in the yard five piles we made.

One to save, two we don’t know,

one’s maybe, the small one can go.

.

So many things for grandma to do,

when our shed adventure is through .

She can paint pictures or pot plants,

maybe yoga – go in a trance.

.

A final sweep and all is clean.

The nicest shed I’ve ever seen.

Now’s time to put back things to keep.

All stacked neat, not too high or deep.

.

The dust is gone that made us sneeze.

But no space left for new hobbies.

Dads hurt his back, moms tummy aches.

From our lunch of burgers and shakes.

.

But grandma’s happy and me too.

We’re all glad the mission is through.

Our adventure had, job well done.

Memories made of having fun.

.

Dad’s old chest safe under my bed.

Memories tucked safe in my head.

And now’s time to say goodnight.

Adventure’s done, out goes the light.

~*~

The End

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Jen and Ben ~ School Starts Soon

Summer’s soon over, vacation’s now past.
The first day of school was coming fast.
The twins: Jen and Ben can’t decide.
Jen wants to go but Ben wants to hide.
~
Jen wants to learn and make new friends.
Ben wishes that the summer never ends.
They both agree they are getting older.
Ben’s a little wiser and Jen a bit bolder.
~
Ben’s gotten bigger, Jen’s starting to read.
They race to the sandbox and Jen’s in the lead.
It’s the last weekend before school starts.
There they’ll learn letters, numbers and art.
~
Ben likes to paint; Jen loves to drum.
She taps on her pail and Ben starts to hum.
Ben uses a stick to draw in the sand.
Jen gets a shovel and gives Ben a hand.
~
Mom brings out lunch for them to share.
She talks about school, but Ben doesn’t care.
Mom says it’s kindergarten, just half a day.
Jen hugs Ben and says there’s time to play.
~
Ben feels better and gets back to eating.
Dad joins in for a Saturday lunch meeting.
They finish their lunch then have dessert.
Jen climbed a tree; Ben played in the dirt.
~
Supper’s soon then bath time and bed.
But first they’ll find dad, he’s in the shed.
The table is set for the twin’s favorite dish.
It’s roasted potatoes, coleslaw and fish.
~
The cat likes fish too and jumps on Ben’s lap.
Jen starts to giggle and gives her a scrap.
Ben gave her another and mom said no more.
Hers comes in a bag we buy at the store.
~
Mom takes a seat and dad serves the slaw.
Jen spills her drink; Ben drops his straw.
The mess cleaned up and the meal enjoyed.
Ben finished first, Jen was annoyed.
~
There’s time for a game then scrub-a-dub.
Jen likes the shower; Ben likes the tub.
He plays with boats and pretends to swim.
Jen’s much quicker, like they are at the gym.
~
Mom reads a book; dad turns out the light.
Kisses all around and then goodnight.
Both quiet and still they stare at the moon.
They drift off thinking of school starting soon.

~*~
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Time Travels

Shuffling through the shifting sands.
Time is written in our hands.
Traversing all; sea and lands.
Around and around for second strands.
~
Looking past our treasured finds,
the future’s seen in our minds.
Collages made of all kinds,
bloods the bond that blurs and binds.
~
Legs propel for fear or fun,
the past remains; we cannot run.
Reality’s ours seek or shun,
the face is yours, the time’s begun.

~*~
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Kick Start

Mornings begin in silence.
The sun is yet to rise.
Sitting in the darkness,
I’ve no need for my disguise.
~
The black fades to purple.
The time comes into view.
Will the focus be clear,
or another shade of blue?
~
Light fills my eyes,
night escapes my head.
Thoughts invade my senses,
grays turn into dread.
~
How will I be seen today?
The mirror reflects my fright.
The clock dictates my future.
Doubts cloud my sight.
~
Daring’s at the ready,
necessity turned up high.
The door cautiously opened.
To fear I welcome good-bye.

~*~
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