what they can afford

a gentleness not seen in

those who feel they are large

too large to need to take turn

but able simply to bully

to get what they want

where those who are big

inside as well as out

can afford empathy

message

the crumbling wood barn

warped boards garbling the message

“God bless America”

still speaking of our country’s love

of our Creator

gracious response

quietly proud

of those who can

return graciousness

for devastating lies

making dignity

great again

capacity sanctuary

a sanctuary filled to capacity

to celebrate the life and laughter

of a man given to caring

eases his widow’s pain of loss

when all we can do to truly tell her

that their lives have touched us

is to be there in his honor

dave

 a giving person

tall, masculine but warm

thoughtful and caring about kids

how they feel, how they grow

to see the good in life

and learn to laugh in love and faith

whispered hope

whispered hope

in a world of shouted promises

worth every penny of neon

they are written on

narrowing down

the problem with near constant

hurt is distraction of attention

to the rest of the world as though

only i were important

response

your call is important to us

text to us that you fear going to school

not for bullying or humiliation

but for the close sound of gunfire

whimper that you and small siblings

huddle to sleep in your car and have no

access to running water, let alone

shower or clean clothes

cry out in the night that the adults

around you are stoned, drunk

or threatening to desire you

our next available representative

will be with you shortly

your call is important to us

gambol v gamble

whatever i give her

she gives back more

i give because i want her to have

what she needs to secure her future

she gives to tell she loves

her generosity is making sure you know you are cared about and for

while my concern is with far-off time

she gambols in the immediate present

DW

 on the outside

a little mite of a guy

within

his warmth and caring are huge

he listens

he considers

he does all he can to help heal

Ed

a gentleman

having carried two wives

through prolonged and painful

dying, is now quietly succumbing

to infirm age while retaining

his straight back, gentle smile

and stubborn spirit of strength

and giving

it is time for him to move to live nearer

beloved daughter and extended family

but how dearly we will miss him

laughing family

laughter of cousins now distant

in location but close in caring

the warmth of siblings’ support

and knowing each other’s strength

and pain

a lunch together, rare

a sharing of love, thankfully, joyous

person to person

sweet laughter, throaty chuckle, lingering smile

nothing tells more of human warmth

he’s all talk

 senryu

his gutter, moral

he loathes poverty’s milieu

cheats you with his words

self hope

 haiku

 warm laughter’s promise

heals, transmits love, care, support

gives basis of self

the bond of touch

the bond of touch

after seeing a black and white photo by William Wood

hair tumbling to her waist she sits straight-backed but not resisting

his hand gathering that silken hair to rest on her shoulder

expressing hope, care and tenderness in his touch

awakening in youth

what will bond and succor each

through pains and triumphs

of human life

                                    mjNordgren 5/31/2022  N

tarnished rules

rules are sometimes stupid, like the old one where, if two

drivers came to a four-way stop at the same time,

each must wait until the other had gone

but rules are attempts to prevent chaos, to lessen anarchy

so we can live at peace

thus, we are upset and discouraged by trending attitudes of

“I can do whatever I want”

a recent clothes shopping trip where several women before me

left the clothes they didn’t want in heaps around the dressing room

or vacationers who littered and damaged their rented spot

or anger in traffic escalating into gun violence

or, at our local school, a pair of youngsters planning to beat up

a fellow student, but when a teacher intervened, beat and hurt her, too

perhaps we need to simplify and turn again

to the Golden Rule