In Contemplation

Sitting under a weeping
Willow, she reads
Wind blows softly
Blowing hair
Blowing branches
Blowing leaves on branches
Leaves in book

Her gaze, thwarted
By the wind
Is not on the words
In the book
Not on the letters
Of the page,
But away

In the distance she
Stares, her eyes
Sometimes blue, sometimes
Green, aren’t focused on
Dandelions, or blue birds
Or the wispy way the branches
Of the weeping willow blow
She doesn’t look
In one place
She looks in
All places

Quietly reaching in
Plucking thoughts, like petals
Off a brainflower
She wonders
Everything, and wonders
Nothing
All at once.

For King

I wanted to write a tribute to my family's dog King because he was a part of our family for so long - 15 years! 15 fun-filled years he was our energetic little puppy, white and fluffy and our very loyal friend. He's been getting old, and he's had cancer for many years, but he was always so chipper and still so happy to be our King that we couldn't part with him. He finally fell victim to his sickness and old age, and it is a bittersweet report to say that he is finally in a better place. This poem is especially for my family, dedicated to our sweet puppy Nat King Cole!

For King

A happy bark welcomes me home
A fluffly white ball of fur comes bounding up
Barkbark, jump
Bark, barkjump
He is happy
To see me.

Cheerful King
The King of our backyard
Constant hole-digger
Chewer of anything left outside
But especially shoes
My shoes happily bore the holes
Of our King.

He might not have been
Good at playing fetch
He never really got
The concept of "sit, stay"
But he knew when I was sad
He could feel my tears
And was always at ready
To cuddle with me
when I cried.

I saw him getting old
His gait slower,
Spending a little more time
Laying down in the shade
He got sick and our tears
Fell, for him
But now the pain is gone
He is in a place where dogs
Stay young
And cancer doesn't slow
His happy walk.

Our King
The King in our backyard
King in our hearts.

Journey to Light

Standing in darkness
The darkness of the world
Surrounds me
Lost, I don't know which way
Is north
Which way is up
Which way to Thee
I stumble along
Standing in darkness
The darkness of the world
Holding hope
In my arms, clinging
I pray
I turn, to find light
Where is the light

My thoughts turn inward
Inward, I turn upward
Groping, I grasp Thy hand
I am pulled out
Out of the darkness
The darkness of the world
I see a glimpse of my future
A shimmer, still blurry
But clearer than it was
In the darkness
And I realize
My eyes have been closed
All along