leaves of winters past

8/14/2019 Leaves of Winters Past

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/leaves-of-winters-past 1/108

LEAVES OF WINTERS PAST

A Literary Quintet

Tennyson Penn



LEAVES OF WINTERS PAST

Copyright © 2009 by Tennyson Penn

Printed in the United States of America



Contents

Rhyming with ABCs 3

A Day in the Life of a Cajun Cat 19

Beyond the Pane 27

Thoughts for a Rainy Day 57

Every Quatrain Paints a Picture 69



One

Rhyming with ABCs



3

“A” is for apple,

Red or a green.

Before you eat one,

Make sure it is clean.

“B” is for baby,

Shiny and new.

Blink your eyes twice,She’s going on two.



4

“C” is for cat,

A sweet pet indeed,

Purrs and take naps,

No matter what breed.

“D” is for dog,

Loyal and true,

Always seems happy

To spend time with you.



5

“E” is for egg,

Scrambled or fried,

Tasty with bacon

Or toast on the side.

“F” is for flower,

Rose or a lily,

Grows in the spring

When air is not chilly.



6

“G” is for goose,

A bird that is white.

Its neck is quite long,

Its beak strong and bright.

“H” is for home,

The place I like best.

When I am there,

I take time to rest.



7

“I” is for ice,

Cold in my mouth,

More on the ground

Up north than down south.

“J” is for juice,

Orange or grape.

A glass each morning

Keeps me in shape.



8

“K” is for kite,

Light in the sky,

Wind on its tail

Makes it fly high.

“L” is for lion,

Beast with a mane.

Hear how he roars

In sunshine and rain.



9

“M” is for mother,

A woman I love.

She must have been sent

From God up above.

“N” is for nest,

Bed in a tree,

Where bluebirds are fed

Until they’re set free.



10

“O” is for owl,

Hoots and is wise,

Has fluffy, brown feathers

And big, yellow eyes.

“P” is for parrot,

A bird that can talk.

He chatters for hours

When you he does mock.



11

“Q” is for quilt,

Spread on my bed,

Patches all colors,

My favorite is red.

“R” is for rabbit,

Soft with long ears,

Brought me a basket

On Easter for years.



12

“S” is for sky,

Cloudy or blue,

Starry at night,

The moon in full view.

“T” is for tree,

Its summer leaves green.

In winter it sheds.

Its limbs become lean.



13

“U” is for uncle.

My aunt is his wife.

His kids are my cousins

And will be for life.

“V” is for vine,

Grows up my tree.

Please don’t get near it.

It’s poison ivy.



14

“W” is for wagon,

Fire engine red.

Sometimes I keep mine

Inside the shed.

“X” is for X-ray

The doctor gives me.

This one’s a picture

Of my injured knee.



15

“Y” is for yarn,

Like thread on a spool,

Used to knit sweaters,

A needle its tool.

“Z” is for zebra,

Stripes black and white,

Looks like a horse

When day becomes night.



16

So there you have it,

A rhyme for each letter,

With sounds that you need

To help you read better.

The End



Two

A Day in the Life of a Cajun Cat



19

There is a competitive hiss in the air on thisbreezy February morning in south Louisiana. ACajun cat by the name of Cousteau awakens after a peaceful night’s rest. As he peers sleepy-eyedout the bedroom window, he catches a brief glimpse of sunlight peeking through a few patchesof puffy, white clouds. With a lazy yawn, he thinks

to himself, “just another day.”

His owner is busy in the kitchen frying baconand eggs on this chilly Tuesday. She is alsobaking a big batch of sweet-smelling croissants onthis wintry morning. When she spots Cousteauand his sister, Clotilde, sprawled on the cypresswood floor, their pink noses sniffing in her direction, she bids the two cats a pleasant goodmorning.

The savory scent of bacon sizzling in the fryingpan, along with the delightful aroma of hismother’s pastries floating through the air, awakensthe Cajun cat’s taste buds and whets his heartyappetite.

Cousteau meows loudly and rubs against hisowner’s legs, as he impatiently waits for hisbreakfast to be served. After a few minutes, shesets down two bowls of food ~ one for him andone for Clotilde.

The Cajun cat is very hungry on this blusteryday, and he rushes past his sister to get to thebowl that looks like it has the most food in it first.Clotilde steps aside and allows him to do so, for she is beginning to get used to her brother’sselfish ways and is learning to accept him the wayhe is.



20

The portly cat polishes off his meal in a hurry andthen jumps up into the best seat in the house, a big

easy chair right in front of the fireplace, to watchtelevision. He doesn’t realize this isn’t just anyordinary day. No indeed. This is Fat Tuesday, MardiGras in Louisiana.

Cousteau watches a parade on TV with littleinterest. He sees some important-looking peopleriding by on floats. They smile and wave as they

toss strings of beads and make-believe coins tohundreds of children and adults who line the busystreets screaming, “Throw me something, Mister!”

The bright beads and ‘doubloons’ catch theCajun cat’s eyes, as they fly through the air on thescreen and into the hands of excited spectators. Hesenses an overwhelming feeling of anticipation in

the festive atmosphere. The green-eyed cat'scuriosity is mildly roused.

Just seeing and hearing all of the fun ontelevision makes Cousteau feel drowsy. Thetrinkets have a hypnotic effect and lull him into whatturns out to be a most memorable morning nap. Hisdroopy eyelids start to flicker and flutter as he

becomes more and more sleepy and, within a fewseconds, he drifts off into never, never land.

Only moments after he begins to doze, the mostincredible dream he has ever had in his life starts tounravel. It is dream that the Cajun cat, without adoubt, will remember for the rest of his days.

He is there at the parade with his paws stretchedhigh meowing, “Throw me something, Mister!” Inthe streets are hundreds of other cats begging for beads and doubloons.



21

The floats are filled with felines of quiet dignity,including a queen that looks stunning in her white

Mardi Gras costume. A rhinestone-studded tiarasits atop her furry head. Her maids are likewisedressed in elegant attire. Cousteau has to admit thequeen and her court look mighty impressive on thismagical day.

As the Cajun cat catches more and more colorfulnecklaces, he becomes so weighed down that he

can barely move. He doesn’t want to put anybeads on his tail or paws for fear he might losethem, so he continues to wrap one string after thenext around his neck, which is beginning to acheunder the weight of its heavy load.

Cousteau continues to beg for beads andscurries to pick up those that no one has spotted onthe street and sidewalk. Before long, he gets so

caught up in the action that he pushes in front of other cats and inconsiderately brushes againstseveral of their huddled bodies.

In his quest to collect as many trinkets as hepossibly can, he even steps on the toes of a fewfelines whose paws are stubbornly planted onbeads and doubloons that have that have fallen to

the ground.

The Cajun cat’s already bright green eyes turn ashade greener with envy now, as he feels slightlyupset that others have gotten to some of the shinytreasures before he has had his chance.

He doesn’t know why he feels this way, though,

because he is extremely uncomfortable under theweight of the beads he already has. ~ Cousteaucan barely walk now.



22

When he notices a cream-colored Persian on one of the floats that reminds him of his sister, Cousteau thinksof Clotilde back at home missing out on all of the fun. He

decides to wrap the prettiest string of pearls he hascaught so far around his paw, especially for her. Thevery idea makes him feel all warm and tingly inside.

Now the Cajun cat is overcome not only by hispresent feeling of generosity but also by the heavy loadwhich, minute by minute, is becoming increasinglyburdensome around his neck. He sits on the groundbehind the parade route, wraps a few strands of beads

around his throbbing head and frets for a while.Cousteau knows not what to do.

Suddenly, he has an idea that surprises even him.And the more he thinks about it, the more intrigued hebecomes with the prospect of actually carrying it out.Without further ado, he decides to put his plan intoaction.

When he spots a low-lying platform at the back of oneof the floats that has made a brief pit stop, he clumsilywaddles towards it. With all the strength he can muster,in his cumbersome state, he lunges as high as he canand climbs on board.

He is glad that he hasn’t wrapped any beads aroundhis tail and only one strand around his paw, for he issure they would weigh him down to the point that he

wouldn’t be able to move, much less jump that high.

Cousteau watches as the queen and her maids tosstheir beads to the common cats below. In similar fashion, he takes off his own necklaces, one by one, andthrows them to the crowds that line the heavilycongested streets.



23

He chooses his targets wisely because some of the cats,like him, have so many beads that their bodies seem to sag

under the heavy weight. These competitive felines are notonly highly spirited but also rather greedy, as they try tocatch as many trinkets as they possibly can in their anxious

jaws and outstretched paws.

From the corner of his eye, he notices a few maskedadult cats engage in tugs of war with young kittens whosetender paws are not yet strong enough to win the struggle.He watches with dismay as some of the big cats refuse totake their firmly embedded claws off beads that have fallento the ground.

In the distance, he is alarmed to see a skinny, black catsparring with a fat, white one whose tightly clenched jawsstubbornly cling to a lackluster string of dusty pearls. TheCajun cat is ashamed when he recalls the way he behaved

just moments ago.

Cousteau carefully throws or hands his beads to the

young cats and to the older ones who have none at all. Itmakes him feel good inside to see bright smiles on thefaces of excited kittens when they catch the shiny treasuresin their tiny paws.

And some of the older cats, whose necks were previouslybare, really seem to appreciate it when he purposely tossesa sparkling string or two in their direction.

As he continues to take more and more beads off hisneck and throw them to others, the Cajun cat begins to feelsomething he has never in all his years experienced ~ the

joy of giving.



24

For, while he found it thrilling to catch and keepas many beads as he could for himself, it was hisbody that felt full rather than his heart. Now hisheart feels so full and his body so light that he canhardly stand the pleasure.

It is with this warm feeling of giving thatCousteau awakens from his amazing dream andunforgettable journey. He purrs loud and proud

and feels like a brand new cat on this eye-opening day.

And when his owner treats Clotilde and him totwo bowls of seafood gumbo that evening, in amanner befitting a gentleman, he not onlypatiently waits to be served but also stands backand allows his sister to have the biggest helping.

For the Cajun cat has learned a valuablelesson on this Mardi Gras day. He nowunderstands the true meaning of the old saying,“Tis better to give than to receive.”

The End



ThreeBeyond the Pane



27

Tree of Pride

Oh little tree with dignity

Alone up on a hill.

Your tiny leaves make shiny sleeves

To take away the chill.

Although you’re small, your pride is tall.

Your might, it will endure.

Despite your size, you symbolize

A spirit quite secure.



28

The Echo of You

Wedged in pages

Worn with creases.

Over the wires

In bits and pieces.

Through the years,

It never ceases.

The echo of you,

With time, increases.



29

Greater Than That

Peering through the drape

Of my synthetic cell,

How I long to escape

This barricaded hell.Like a bruised, little bird

Too confused to fly,

I’m trapped, in a word,

So confined am I.

A captive, collared lion

Alone in its pen,

I’m pacin’ and dyin’

In a manmade den.

For an eagle was not meant

To be locked in a cage,

Its life to be spent

Like a picture on a page.

And when a mighty lion,

In truth, is but a cat,

It will spend its time tryin’

To be greater than that.



30

Global Warming

A world of peace is what we need

To make our planet whole.

Each nation’s land to understand

Should be our common goal.

Please God above, send down Your love.

Our spirits are so blue.Erase the hate; it’s not too late

To make this dream come true.

Oh Lord above, please shine Your love

On each and every soul.

No time to wait; don’t hesitate.

Help make our planet whole.



31

Shades of Hope

Snowflakes floating aimlessly.

Boats bobbing without sails.

Raindrops drifting idly.

Brides shifting behind veils.

Clouds with bright rays fading.

Shrouds swaying in mid-air.

Shades of hope cascading.

Faith wavers everywhere.



32

White Lies High

White lies high on snowy hills,

An Easter bunny’s tail,

On frosty panes and windowsills,

A billowing, bright sail.

Some things you taught me don’t ring true,

And even though you’re gone,

Contradictions, white lies too,

Still linger on and on.

Like fish fly high and birds swim deep.

Icebergs fry in deserts steep.Rosebuds drift and snowflakes bloom.

Storms uplift while smiles mean gloom.


An Easter bunny’s tail,

On swirling waves, a gown with frills,

A silky, milky veil.

While certain rhymes might not be true,

All tall tales, yes indeed,

These opposites, called white lies too,

Are fun to sing and read.



33

2

Like night cats bark, dog days meow.Now is then and then is now.

Rain is sunny, clouds sky blue,

Frowns quite funny, white lies too.


A billowing, bright sail,

On frozen ponds and feathered quills,An Easter bunny’s tail.

Some rhymes you taught me weren’t quite true,

But now that you are gone,

These writing tools, while white lies too,

Will linger on and on.



34

A Good Bach

Strauss enjoys the finer things in life,

Like lounging on a lush settee,

Dabbling in delectable cuisine

And listening to classical music.

Sometimes he sings along with Pavarotti,

But his voice gets a bit husky.

So he sits back, kicks up his paws

And settles for a good Bach.



35

Crosswind

Two ships at sea, you and me,

Independent, born to be free.

Not a couple, a pair called we,

But unique entities, he and she.

Looking at life through four different eyes,

Instead of making a compromise.

Afraid of binding, confining ties,

Without commitments, there are no why’s.

Cruising together for part of the day,

But fleeing alone, at dusk, we stray.

On separate shores, we bow to pray.

In solitude, at night, we stay.

Plotting a course, divided in two,

We forge ahead, in search of a clue.Spirits drifting, battered and blue.

Caught in a crosswind, me and you.



36

Sleeveless

Three heaping stacks beneath a tree

That’s shed its only sleeves.

It’s lonely now on every bough.

All limbs have lost their leaves.

When spring is here, green will appear,

Each branch to dress in style.

New shiny growth will clothe the oak

And make the old girl smile.



37

Class

Whether class describes a room at school

Or a special style one’s own,

It’s a word that, as a rule,

Has a worldly, winning tone.

For the term is one of pride,

Whose bells ring loud and clear,

And in places far and wide,

Its echoes persevere.



38

Headlines

Twin towers topple in terrorist attack.

Columbia’s seven won’t be back.

Stock market numbers veer sharply off track.

Brave soldiers engage in war with Iraq.

Inclement weather headed our way.

Economy getting weaker each day.

Al Qaeda conspiring, ripe for prey.

Times like these, frightfully grey.



39

Mirrors to Dust

It was when first she saw the fragile layer

Of flakes freshly fallen

Atop peppered leaves brown and brittle

Still visible in spots intermittent~ And too detecting, perched high upon

An oak spindly and snow crested

Three birds of amazing color,

Two of blue frolicking

And one of crimson red

Nestled in a bed of straw unfettered

Gently flapping wings unwavering…

That the old woman, with a sudden tremor,

Turned inward and saw herself in the scene,

Her sparse crop of white locks wispy,

Hands, arms thin-skinned, gnarled, charred

Mimicking the snow, leaves, branches respectively

~ And eyes like sapphire seas, playfully coy

Yet reflective mirrors bright

Of a heart fiery and unflappable still,

Tucked inside a frame

Faltering, fading, diminished now…

Weathered and tarnished

With traces of dust on rust intermittent.



40

Mood Swings

Manic and morose

Are names apropos

For tides high and low,

Depending on the flow.

But the sea I like best

Is Shore Stability

‘Cuz its waves tend to crest

With no polarity.



41

Winter

The cold, barren groundLay still beneath the coal, black sky.

It seemed to beg for some warmth

From the wintry night.

The wind howled viciously

Through towering treetops

Sprinkling the shivering soilWith peppered leaves and frosty air.

Then ~ suddenly ~ a soft, white mist

Descended from the heavens

To provide a blanket of lace

For the wistful earth.



42

Give and Take

As that blessed day draws near

To break bread with my maker,

I pray I’ll be revered

A giver more than taker.

But, if I’m deemed a taker,

That’s okay with me,

For many things I’ve taken

Have freely come from Thee.



43

Dane

Dane was a dog

Like no other.

I’ve heard about him

From my mother.

She said he was handsome,Black as the night.

I never met him,

But his reflection shines bright.



44

Amber

There once was a cat

I’ve heard of a lot.

Her name was Amber.

I knew her not.

But she must have been special

For, though she is gone,

In the hearts of her loved ones

Her memory lives on.



45

Opposites

If it’s truly a fact

That opposites attract,

Then the tortoise and hare

Make a well-matched pair.

While one is sedate, sluggish and slow,

The other is always on the go.

And, if speed is relatively perceived,

A perfect balance can be achieved.



46

Reflections of Catherine

I remember you, Nana, when I was a child.

You were always special, the way that you smiled.

I remember the piano and hearing you play

And gazing out the window at the marshes and bay.

I remember you, Nana, and your Boston cream pies

And many a happy birthday surprise.

I remember how you worried when I was ill.

Your homemade soup helped more than a pill.

I remember you, Nana, and all of your birds.

And how could I forget your way with words?

I wonder how many other little girls

Had a grandmother who told them to brush their pearls.

I’ll remember you, Nana, for the rest of my days,And now that you’ve sailed, I’m offering this praise

To say thanks for all of the love that you gave.

Your reflection is etched on each sparkling wave.



47

Battle of the Cats

If cats of the world

Waged a war all their own,

I wonder what it would be like.

Would Persians from Iran

Blame Siamese of Siam,

If Himalayans staged a strike?



49

The Clock in the Hallway

Blankets and pillows thrown on the floor.

A faceless shadow raced toward the door.

A hand grabbed her body, swung her around.

Inside the room, there wasn’t a sound.

The clock in the hallway kept ticking away.

The children outside continued to play.The birds in the trees created a song,

As the day in May proceeded along.

The sun’s golden rays showered o’er the town.

No one today was wearing a frown.

A laugh, a shout, a wave, a smile.

Everyone combined to enhance the style.

And a house on the street added to the picture.

It perfectly blended with the rest of the mixture.

A green, velvet lawn, a white picket fence,

But the interior of the house didn’t make sense.

For a forgotten spirit, inside, lay dead.Reality’s victim sprawled on the bed.

No laugh, no shout, no smile, no sun.

A new world for her had just begun.

And the clock in the hallway kept ticking away.

The children outside continued to play.

The birds in the trees created a song,As the day in May proceeded along.



50

Without You

A midnight moon without a star.

A tree that’s lost its limb.

One tiny step that seems too far.A her without a him.

A valentine without a heart.

The lock without the key.

A stubborn mule behind a cart.

A you without a me.

A broken soldier miles from home.

Blue skies without the blue.

Unspoken lines inside a poem.

A me without a you.

A brand new kite without a tail.

The sun without the sky.A stranded ship that’s shed its

sail.

Adrift without you I.



51

Equality

Angelic features,

Innocent and sweet.

Of God’s many creatures

A cat can’t be beat.

But animals are equal,

All shades green to grey,

With secrets that reveal

And tall tails to convey.



52

Reunion

A tortoise traveled a winding road

To find a friend he’d made.

His pal had built a new abode

In a distant cave of shade.

When the turtle saw his furry friend

Forging a trail of sand,

He waddled ’round the rocky bend

And extended a helping hand.



54

Beyond the PaneWhen my cat peers out the window,

I wonder what she sees.

Does she mirror shades of sorrow,

As she stares at tearful trees?

Or does she picture tiny flowersIn shiny beads of rain

And light right through the showers,

Bright skies beyond the pane?

The End



Four Thoughts for a Rainy Day



57

A single drop of rain

can make a big splash

on an impressionable puddle.

God put creatures on earth

to teach humans

how to merely be.

Strength lies in numbers,

especially in those that are whole.

Attitude is to altitude

as soul is to depth.



58

Rather than complain

about what’s wrong with what isn’t,

celebrate what’s right with what is.

If your mind takes a leeward turn,

windwardly shift its sails.

Glaze is to haze

as shimmer is to glimmer.

Only when one’s mind is still

can the echoes of his soul be heard.



59

Fog is to sunshine

as excessive thinking

is to awareness.

Don’t get so caught up

in your thoughts

that you lose sight

of what inspired

them in the first place.

If Steven is even,

must Rod then be odd?

Finding beauty

in life’s simplest treasures

is as easy as opening your eyes

to the possibility.



60

If it weren’t for an occasional shadow,,

the sun’s light might not

appear as bright.

When you look within,

even the muddiest

of waters become clear.

Mind is to soul

as knowledge is to wisdom.

Freeing oneself from time

is as liberating

as is the very idea itself.



61

’Tis better to spend a moment

accepting what is

than to waste a lifetime

wondering what might have been.

Just as your desk

must be cleared

from time to time

so, too, must your mind

routinely be freed of clutter.

If you spill a little “t” and graciously add

an introductory blend, your attitude

will happily steep itself into gratitude.

The most precious gems are those

that not only can be touched

but are also felt.



62

Rather than merely focusingon reaching the highest level,

pay attention to all

of the meaningful, little steps

along the way. If you don’t,

you will miss out

on the very journey itself.

Even the ripest fruits of wisdom

often cling to their vines

until they are picked.

Like October leaves and March winds,

your thoughts, moods and emotions

change color and direction.

The real you remains the same, however,

regardless of the season or conditions.

Blossoms are to flowers

as open-mindedness

is to enlightenment.



63

When you look at something

from a state of presence,

even the smallest creation

takes on a life all its own.

The roots of spirit spring everlasting.

As is the case in math,

everything in life is relative

~ equal to, greater than

or less than.

The ability to stay centered

amid the masses

is the greatest display of confidence,

the truest testament of balance

and the ultimate source of strength.



64

A curious sparrow

can soar as high

as an arrogant eagle,

if it knows how

to spread its inner wings.

Keeping things simple

only becomes a burdensome task

when we allow complications

to seep into the mix.

Attempting to run from oneself

is as futile as the setting sun

trying to deny itself the promise of a new day.

When it comes to resistance,

less is often best.



65

Go with the flow ~

be it fast, be it slow.

Like apples on a tree,

egotists too shall fall.

Now is all we have,

not the future or the past,

so embrace every moment,

as if it were your last.

The End



69

AnalogyA pachyderm is to the scholar

As an elephant is to one smaller.

Regardless of its name or label,

The beast is sturdy, staunch and stable.

Autumn

Outside the city,

The leaves are pretty,

Fall trees all shades,Tall sleeved cascades.



70

A Bark after Dark

He’s happy as a lark

When he walks in the park

And has the freedom to bark

At fast cars after dark.

A Better World

High on a hill of billowy delight,

I envision a better world,

A world where peace most matters,A place where dreams come true.



71

Bright Ideas

Words that flow like mountain streams,

Birds glowing bright as kites,

And fountains filled with shiny dreams,

All shimmering delights.

Center Stage

A brilliant, sapphire sea

Sprinkled with a host of boats,

Dotted by one winged wonder Proudly setting the stage.



72

Chapel of Grace

Sacred and pure,

Serene and secure,

A welcoming place,

White chapel of grace.

A Classy Lass

Her clear as glass eyes

Are mirrors of class,

And she’s met with sighsFrom people who pass.



73

Clearing

A scenic sky,

Trees lean and green,

A stream nearby,

Its sheer sheen keen.

The Colors of Blue

Clear skies and deep seas,

Bright birds in tall trees,

Reflective eyes true,The colors of blue.



74

Crimson Pride

A quaint hillside

Where thistles of musk

Reign crimson pride

From daybreak ’til dusk.

Deep Sleep

While sketching sheep

Near pastures steep,

Into a sleep,I lapsed quite deep.



75

Detention

What seems to be the matter?

I’m hearing idle chatter.

“Get back to your seats right now,” I say,

“Or stay after school another day!”

A Different Light

Gazing at my little friend,

I wonder if she thinks and feels as I do,

Or if she sees the world

In a different light.



76

Dotted Eyes

Liquid arrows clear and black,

Slits narrow or spheres round,

Piercing pupils of my cat,

Beads in mirrors that astound.

Eternity

High and free,

We strive to be.

Sky and sea,Eternity.



77

Eyes to the SkyBalloons bold and bright

Of orange and blue,

A white dove in flight

Adorns the fine view.

Feline Fine

Frolicking like a kitten at play,

His confining cage fades away.

A giddy, lovesick teen in May,He’s feelin’ fine on a sunny day.



78

Food for Thought

Dealing with nuts gets old sometimes,

So I’m baking some bread instead.

It helps me churn out rhymes

That burn inside my head.

Forest Song

Deep in the forest,

Immersed in a tree,

Three birds in a nestConverse wordlessly.



79

FreedomWhenever I see

A creature that’s trapped,

I’m glad to be free,

My journey unmapped.

Freezer Burn

A bowl fire and ice

Of piping chili hot

Melting slowly nowFrozen, burning thoughts.



81

Guiding LightBright beacon on shore

Lights up the bay.

Beams glow from the moor

To show him the way.

Happy

He’s a brimming, orange blossom

Who’s grinning like a possum

’Cuz his purr-fect habitatMakes him a happy cat.



82

HeronsProud and attentive,

Alert and pensive,

Poised for flight,

Pilots of white.

Hope

I wonder if there will be any good news today,

Something to warm my heart,

To let me know there is hope in this worldAnd that life can be good for a little guy like me.



83

ImaginationAfter a long day on remote

In seas far away from shore,

I dream I’m on a float

High above the ocean floor.

The Independent Cat

I don’t do tricks upon command.

I get my kicks without a hand.

And I won’t raise my paw, unless I’m inclined,’Cuz it isn’t a flaw to have my own mind.



84

Lazy Day

Slept, ate, purred.

Stared at a bird.

Gazed at the bay.

Another lazy day.

The Less of More

A tree-lined shore

With pines galore,

Whose less is moreRests in its core.



85

Light in Motion

If you’ve ever seen a flower bloom

Or heard the wind’s soft whir,

Then you’ve sparked a fire within your womb

And felt your spirit stir.

A Little Cat Nap

Purring ball of fur

Curled up on my lap.

Still so she won’t stir.Nellie needs her nap.



86

Lost

Sailboat drifting in the ocean,

Whitecaps swishing in slow motion,

Gull ignored can’t find her flock

Soars o’er shore and pine boardwalk.

The Masterful Sky

A stately mountain is my soul,

Its placid lake my eye.

Still the master of the wholeIs rightly so the sky.



87

Melt DownAn Easter egg sky,

Black licorice shore,

Mid-April tide high

Laps light at my door.

Memories

As leaves fall like snowflakes

In ripples to the ground,

Suddenly my heart achesAnd memories abound.



88

Mental Block

Flow disrupted,

Frozen in time,

Mind obstructed,

Cycle sublime.

Mountain Laurel

Purple petals lush,

A perfect bush pristine.

No need to hush or rushIn this wooded nook serene.



89

Night Flight

Running fast

From her past,

Fleeing she

To the sea.

9/11

Symbolic projections

On this a sad day,

Twin towers’ reflectionsAre lost in the bay.



90

Parrot Parody He’s a proud macaw with just one flaw,

The oddest claw you ever saw.

When he tries to gnaw a stick or straw,

His flesh-like paw looks downright raw.

Pastoral Utterances

Beneath a forest hill

Where air is chilly still,

A jersey black and white

Moos softly in sunlight.



91

A Picture of KittyLight blue, gold, pink and white,

Quite the mixture pretty.

Pity this picture bold and bright

Depicts a hissing kitty.

Play Time

Two pampered pups just scampered up

A winding stair to find their bear.

Now the can do boys have a brand new toy

To bite and chew the night right through.



92

Plea for PeaceHarmony is what I love.

War is what I hate.

Please someone from up above

Come steer this country’s fate.

Presence

When your mind can’t grasp

The future or the past,

Seek the now and discover A unique place to hover.



94

The Right Direction

Sometimes when I get lost in life’s colossal shuffle,

I just want to slip into cyberspace and disappear.

But then I change gears and face reality,

A switch in the right direction.

Sage

I am Sage,

Wise and true,

Coat of beige,Eyes of blue.



95

SerenityNights are sultry, days serene

In this tropical haven of peace,

Where senses become keen

And worldly troubles cease.

Shades for all Seasons

From autumn to spring

And all through the ages,

Trees have gleaned meaningIn seasonal stages.



96

Sizzle to SootheCrackling logs in embers of ash,

Whistling kettles with tea freshly brewed,

And glistening bubbles in a warm, sudsy bath,

Things that sizzle, simmer, soothe.

Snowbird

Lacy and light,

Graceful in flight,

Snowy and bright,

Blossom of white.



97

Solo

A solo tern is sign foreboding

Our southern gulf coast is fast eroding.

Hold on to shore while there still is time,

Or be swallowed up in thoughts sublime.

Spring to Fall

Stepping stones

Spanning the seasons,

Warm, cool tones

Contrast the reasons.



98

Still LightA golden light

Shines on the hill.

The sun is bright,

The air quite still.

Subtlety

In modern designs

And old-fashioned art,

Light shades and soft linesDefine the best part.



99

Temptation of the CatWhen she stumbled upon a little bird

That somehow tumbled from its nest,

Undoubtedly, her taste buds stirred,

But she passed the temptation test.

Thoroughbred

Groomed, watered and fed

With brush, pail and bale,

Thoroughly thoroughbred

From head, hooves to tail.



100

Time LineA place in time

Beyond the mind

Where light sublime

Shines white, divine.

To Have and to Hold

Fine fur soft as fleece,

Shining eyes of gold,

Purr-fectly at peaceTo have and to hold.



101

UmbrellasWhile outer umbrellas

Shield sun and the rain,

Inner ones conceal

Mainly pain and disdain.

Water Lily

If interest at the bank

Kept pace with just one flower,

A lily pad would surely rankAmidst the buds of power.



102

Wave of Obscurity On a distant ocean

Hiding from the light

Lies a foggy notion

Waiting to take flight.

Weather or Not

The weatherman warned it would rain today,

But the sun beamed all day long.

Tomorrow, he said, “Clear skies on the way.”

Will my umbrella tell me he’s wrong?



103

White and Blue

Beautiful bird, alone in a cell.

No suitable word to tell it well.

Should a lock undo, she might be set free,

Poor white cockatoo, as blue as can be.

The Wonder of Clouds

When I gaze up at the sky,

God’s art amazes me,

Shifting waves of white

Like snowflakes drifting free.



Word Choice

Swirling seas likesimiles,

Sky high a metaphor,

Comparative analogies,

Creative, open doors.

The End

leaves of winters past

Documents