As I enter my sixty-third year, Fall leaves grace the path I love, With hues of red, Gold and orange.

Looking at my journal’s Blank page While geese fly by and honk A greeting. The red cardinals

In the dead Of Winter, I long for Spring. In the rains Of Spring,

Time passing by now In a blink of the eye, In the clap of a hand, In the chirp of a bird, In a flash of light

To open and risk hurt... Or stay closed but Never really live. Pain can reveal... A connection to

On the brink of leaving, To go beyond These borders And say good-bye, To all you know,

The white snow lay gently on the ground in a swirl pattern. The sky, a slab of smooth grey stone.

Pale blue moon Of August, Peeking behind The clouds, Luminous,

Dark bulk of a single bird, With red puffed up chest, As winter’s breeze sways his perch…

Unable to be all things For all people, Perhaps at one time, I tried. Those days are

One year since I traveled to paradise. One year since I laughed and danced with friends. One year since I watched

What is the happiest moment of the… When I make someone laugh When I am of use for the good When I show kindness When I hold a hand

Brown hawk with spotted tail, soaring on the wind, balancing like a sail. Your piercing cry

There is my shadow, A dark outline of this body And yet, it also holds, The hidden imperfections Of my existence.

Red and gold leaves Falling, Sing to me Of the season of change, Before the snow,