Slinky and Me

Out on the porch in the late summer sun,

My Slinky and me have plenty of fun.

His stretches tall; I stretch on my toes

What this linky Slinky does nobody knows 

It's upsy, downsy, woundsy, round

Fun—the best fun that I have found!

Wonderful Silly Me!

This is how I feel today; I just want to act all silly

Run around and ham it up—goofy and willy-nilly

I can google my face from side to side,

Sick out my tongue and cross my eyes. 

My sister poses as sweet as can be, but

The most hilarious one to see—is wonderful silly me!

Curiosity

My eyes dart here and there—I don't miss much

My little nose sniffs every smell—food, flowers and such.

My ears are listening to mix-and-match of mingled voices

Laughing, calling, speaking, singing—happy noises.

My fragile skin feels sunshine and the breeze across my face

My finger's touch the world—testing—learning every space.

I taste my world—taste good and bad—taste sour and sweet

My curiosity's alive. I find my world a wondrous treat!

Unexpected

Crocus arrives smartly in January.

Daffodils dot the hills in February.
Hyacinths struggle through to March.

Tulips pop out of nowhere in April.

Lilacs and azaleas parade gloriously in May.

Roses take their time in June.
Hydrangeas make the scene in July.

Sunflowers decorate August.

Goldenrod joins the party in September.

Sugar maples show their colors in October.

Chrysanthemums reign in November.

Poinsettias brighten December.

Mushrooms sprout overnight. 

Startle us with their appearance

Unexpected—

Unannounced.

Sostenuto

Sostenuto

Synchronous splashing surf

Surging, swelling,

Sweeping sparkling sands,

Setting slippery seaweeds

Stircrazy,

Stenciling smooth 

Silver-spangled shoreline, 

Streaked, striated, stippled.

Symphonic swells

Swirling, swooshing, shouting saltwater;

Strewing strandline with sticks, 

Silt. Stowing sand-dollars, 

Spiny starfish, smoothed stones,

Stranded shell shards; 

Stitching silent shorefront to 

Sapphire sea.

Cyclamen

With leaves like hearts, 
Why are you not hardy?

Your edges are serrated, but you just aren't cut

Out for life in a busy place.

Are you confused? You bloom upside down,

Inside out. You faint like a Victorian lady

Wanting attention—smelling salts.

A sip of cool water revives you,

Too much water and your leaves 

Turn jaundice yellow and fold up. 
You whine too much.

Maybe it's a fragile beauty thing; 
For few summer

Blooms or painted butterfly wings
Can rival you.

Wildflower

On the livingroom table, glass

Canning jars spouted

Lavender and yellow wildflowers

From the south pasture.

She noticed the purple patch from

Her porch door where

They had called for her to come 

Outside and walk—watch

Hawks wheel in the summer sky.

Welcoming Committee

The flowerbed by the front walk

Doesn't need to speak or talk

Waving flowers like flags or pennants

It greets us in the foremost minutes

"Say, I'm glad you're here today. 

Come on in. We hope you'll stay 

 For tea."

Loaves

Staff of life

Yeast and wheat

Crusty and hot

From the oven door

All the world over

Bread—hot with butter,

Honey, fruit jams, cheeses,

Comes to tables

Nourishes life 

Message to Mama

Tell her that I love her;

Whisper that I miss her.

Tell I am praying. 

Tell her she's my friend.

Tell her that I love her; 

Tell her to get well soon.

Whisper that she's special;

Tell her that I care.

Tell her that I love her,

Little vase of roses;

Can you take the message?

Say I'll soon be there.