In the bright moments My mind is a flame, Melting obstacles, Gaining gifts of wisdom. In the dark moments

The many places I have been And countless faces I have seen, The many tales to be told, Into the universe, they unfold. It’s all a passing show,

The flesh withers as we age But our inner spirit Remains the same. And when the body dies The spirit breaks free

Thoughts flicker like twinkling lights, ride them across the sky. Embrace your dream,

The dance of fear, Of not being enough, Stops and starts. The unknown, an Uncharted sea,

Half a world away, I walk a narrow, stone path. In the rice fields, the Balinese people

Squirrels with bushy orange tails leap about the deck. Crickets hum, confused that it’s not dark yet. The caw of a blue jay

Yellow finches Line the bird feeder Against Spring’ s canopy Of green and purple tapestry. Back and forth they go

I lay still While my loved one, Sleeps. His warm hand In my hand,

Not sure where we are headed, Could be a long ride, Keep your heart steady, Open wide your eyes. There is something to learn

If I could go back in time I would fix my wrongs, I would sing new songs And mend all hate And open the gate

Pink hues from the west Filter through Snow covered boughs Leaving, The evening light

Itchy eyes scaly feet achy joints and bad teeth hair so fine

Beneath the bustling, hustling mind, deep inside, there is an oasis of calm.

Today, I wish the pain to go, the fatigue that I fight so. This process of aging is unkind and yet, the law of nature is a fast lane of change.