in the meantime

our whiner in chief

to heal what he has broken

bit so many harmed

somber to sparkle

flat, somber cloud field settled

over the upper valley drizzling rain

onto our evergreens and meadow

early this morning

finally, the sun broke through gray

to sparkle small drops clinging

to tallish grass

not warming the chill but lending

hope for joy to spread into the day

water’s give and take

tiny waves sweep outward

crisscrossing intricate competing circles

between rows of feathered carrot tops

as each dense raindrop plummets

from the toolshed’s melodious

metal roof splashing, heavy,

into shallow brown ditch water

or trickle into rivulets gurgling

to caress the lowest points

of Mama’s garden

I scour her fine furrows

with the blunt end of a stick

trying to drain this overabundant

life-sustaining gift of water to keep

it from drowning her days

of planting, hoeing and

humming in hope

gold-orange slithers

golden orange slithers

between pine needles

creating a bold lace

sunrise finds glorious

myriad ways

to awaken us

to possibilities

to try again

celebration, even in pain

celebration, even in pain

warms the soul, gives hope

opens the heart to the love

and comfort others would give

reader’s comment

 Reader's comment on May mjNewsletter:

Wow! Amazing your ability to capture so many elements of human experience in your monthly newsletters. Joy, love, companionship, longing, heartache, ageing, life, death, deep appreciation of nature, awe and sometimes puzzlement over human behavior and Divine creative design. This newsletter includes them all. So much to contemplate ... a feast for mind, heart, spirit, and soul!

Thank you,

S                                  

warm day finally

a warm day, finally

even my light sweater shed

as we walked by the little shops

in old town McMinnville

delighting that spring gives

promise that hard winter

is at last letting go

rich holidays

such rich holidays

for so many people

in the world

a time we could share

our peace and hope

for life’s renewal of joy

if only we will

grateful

pictures from their wedding

enclosed in a thank you card

when it is i who was given

the privilege of being part

of their joy in celebrating

the hope, love and devotion

i, too, have cherished