Peace Be With You

The Elephant in the Room

2012-01-28T00:01:00.001-05:00

I spin dreams and plans.
The elephant in the room
makes its presence known.

Can and can’t do,
this refrain peals as I dodge
the hulking creature.

There is not much space
open for me to escape
but I keep trying.

A Mentor

2012-01-27T00:01:00.002-05:00

I learned from one who
through gentleness of spirit
embodied power.

With a quiet smile
he calmed the roiling waters
bringing clarity.

Trials never crushed
his gift of humanity
then bestowed on us.

Jacqueline Du Pré 1945-1987

2012-01-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

early genius
her cello’s plaintive chords stirred
a soul’s deep longing

she might have graced us
with a lifetime’s offering
of beauty and skill

in her apogee
MS cut short her promise
in startling free-fall

Or Do I Have It All Wrong?

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Does shocked disbelief
stun us into a blind hope
that ways out exist?

Does tenacity
play a cruel joke on those
hope has abandoned?

Abject surrender,
is that my wiser choice?
I resist that thought.

Self Definition

2012-01-24T00:01:00.001-05:00

Self definition
statute of limitations
it does not exist.

A reappraisal
who I am or want to be
may still be open.

MS cannot rob
all options available,
though it may well try.

Surprise Outcome

2012-01-23T00:01:00.002-05:00

I wish I could write
only about upbeat themes.
It would not be real.

This personal blog
was meant for self expression;
inspiring, a plus.

I am quite surprised
when I do inspire others,
which is a good thing.

Change My Blog's Look?

2012-01-22T00:01:00.000-05:00

I keep meaning to
make changes to my blog’s look.
Then I do nothing.

Maybe I lack time.
More likely I am afraid
to mess with Blogger.

It’s a lot of work.
Ideas too are lacking.
So I just hold off.

My Daily Guide

2012-01-21T00:01:00.003-05:00

Joy, praise, gratitude,
my day starts with this mantra
I intend to keep.

The game-changer words
help me pivot just in time
from stepping on @#!*@.

Sometimes I get caught
unawares and I stumble.
Then I start again.

And Then We Know Them

2012-01-20T00:01:00.002-05:00

We see the results
assume those who venture forth
were brave to start with.

I am good enough.
No I am not good enough.
All that was there first.

At risk of censure,
fearful brave souls will proceed
and then we know them.

Reality Check

2012-01-19T00:01:00.000-05:00

Don’t try telling me
MS is not scary stuff.
I won’t believe you.

That is not to say
things will get bad and ugly
only that they can.

Even if you aim
to beat the odds as I do,
they’re hard to ignore.

I've Changed My Mind About This Saying

2012-01-18T00:01:00.000-05:00

“But you look so good.”
Thank goodness for that at least.
My looks can still lie.

Okay, so I know.
Inside I feel maimed and worn,
hardly spry and fit.

That I look so good
from now on will be worn as
a badge of honor.

Shadowboxing with Treatment Options

2012-01-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

feint left take no meds
MS destruction unchecked
possible doomsday

feint right and find out
no one knows what MS is
or how to fix it

remain still and chance
the silent, relentless scourge
which may knock you out

Single-Mindedness

2012-01-16T00:01:00.001-05:00

Some have a stake in
an indefatigably
optimistic view.

I may be all wrong
for insisting on nuance,
if self-defeating.

In seeking a goal,
blinders might be useful gear
for accomplishment.

If Only ...

2012-01-15T00:01:00.000-05:00

If only I could
join those who dash by me
rushing to something.

If only they knew,
one step seems like a mile
when I start walking.

It is the freedom
whether to run or saunter
I miss most of all.

A Caregiver’s Worry

2012-01-14T00:01:00.005-05:00

Who will take care of
my loved one who has MS
if I am not there?

It might not be death.
Serious illness can end
a caregiver's role.

It is a hard job.
Who will see the benefits
and take up the slack?

On the Verge

2012-01-13T00:01:00.001-05:00

Course corrections come
while swerving from left to right
or forward and back.

The abrupt halt comes
right on the verge of toppling,
a miracle save.

How I do not fall
in my daily near misses
I cannot explain.

A Hushed Murmur

2012-01-12T00:01:00.002-05:00

quiet drift of air
muted human voices
languorous soft breeze

clouds drift overhead
the sun’s face plays hide and seek
then it shines through

hushed in awe I hear
the surf murmuring nearby
and I close my eyes

Fighting

2012-01-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

I refuse to go
quietly into the night.
I’ll fight to the end.

My fight might get weak
on some days nonexistent.
I will not give up.

I will hold on to
any available strength
and inch by inch win.

New Promise

2012-01-10T00:01:00.009-05:00

In this new study,
an MS cure seems closer,
granting new promise.

Older myelin
enjoyed rejuvenation
from the procedure.

If they can reverse
the age-related damage,
function can restore.

The Irony Is ...

2012-01-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Most people will share
really good or really bad
accounts of their lives.

The daily humdrum
muted play of emotions
does not get much play.

The irony is
we mostly dwell, laugh, and cry
in the commonplace.

An Elegant Plan

2012-01-08T00:01:00.007-05:00

I start a project
excited about my work’s
possibilities.

I figure out how
best to get from A to D
an elegant plan.

I fail to include
that C takes me back to B
maybe back to A.

I Don’t Know I Just Ask

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Do I cling to things
because I liked my old life
and fear the future?

Could it be a stretch
for me to embrace something
which I cannot know?

Is it possible
redemption can come from just
my being open?

What Explains It?

2012-01-06T00:01:00.008-05:00

It is so strange when
meanness toward sick people
becomes reflexive.

An easy target?
Suppressed dark fears projected?
Hard to know just why.

The sharp attack is
not always intentional.
It still wounds deeply.

Tai Chi

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

graceful and soothing
tai chi balances the chi
to optimize health

in my prior life
I practiced tai chi in groups
a beautiful sight

my scaled down tai chi
mostly upper body moves
still helps me not fall

Below the Surface

2012-01-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

can you see the pain?
maybe in my furrowed brow
perhaps in my gasp

below the surface
concealed in full camouflage
excited nerves shriek

cries go unanswered
no one sure how to respond
to calm the wailing

Another Set of Tools

2012-01-03T00:01:00.001-05:00

So some of us need
a kick in the butt and more
to get us inspired.

The Self Healing Coach
has a list of varied posts
which may just inspire.

What will work for one
may do squat for someone else,
best to keep trying.

Exhalation

2012-01-02T00:01:00.008-05:00

Here we all are now
caught in the exhalation
of expectations.

The highs and lows of
the long holiday season
ease back to normal.

A new year begins.
New resolutions and goals
restart the process.

It's Official!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.010-05:00

a new year begins
fresh hopes and aspirations
to live life fully

So Long

2011-12-31T00:01:00.004-05:00

almost just about
2011 going
heading for the past

a year’s end evokes
the customary survey
of one's highs and lows

no surprises here
the desired cure did not come
my world still flourished

Surprises

2011-12-30T00:01:00.006-05:00

Surprises will come.
Careful planning is toppled.
Shock and hurt may stun.

That no guarantees
exist for anyone’s life
does not ease the blow.

The unexpected
upends life as one knew it,
leaving one reeling.

Ever Expanding To Do List

2011-12-29T00:01:00.004-05:00

a vanishing act
starting a project with hope
poof! energy fades

unfinished projects
littered across the landscape
of my intentions

I say to myself
just add to the growing list
extend the deadline

A Child's View

2011-12-28T00:01:00.008-05:00

“Let me draw,” he said.
Pencil and paper granted,
he then drew his world.

Flanked by gramp and gram,
he saw clouds through the window
balanced by the sun.

Safe and protected,
he drew smiles and open arms,
certain in his love.

Minding Your Mitochondria by Dr. Terry Wahls

2011-12-27T00:01:00.004-05:00

Challenged by MS,
Dr. Terry Wahls fought hard
to restore her health.

Her walking impaired,
she surveyed MS research
and designed a plan.

She now walks freely
and tests her plan on others.
She found that it works.

The Anvil of Character

2011-12-26T00:01:00.000-05:00

whatever our life
before the illness arrived
we shed known patterns

called to a greatness
of spirit and character
forged through suffering

a better person
may emerge unwittingly
thanks for that at least

Merry Christmas y Feliz Navidad

2011-12-25T00:01:00.009-05:00

A Christmas greeting
to you and your family.
Wishing you much joy.

Holidays

2011-12-24T00:01:00.010-05:00

Holidays, oh yeah.
Some will look forward to them.
Others will dread them.

When I used to work,
holidays were a respite,
a time to renew.

Renewal takes on
a different look these days,
hopefully still fun.

A Welcome Surprise

2011-12-23T00:01:00.012-05:00

the doorbell rings late
what a surprise awaits us
there stands a dear friend

across the country
he flew to come and tell us
his love is steadfast

precious time savored
among friends long true and dear
gratitude expressed

Our Christmas Posse

2011-12-22T00:01:00.007-05:00

the Christmas tree up
festooned with baubles and lights
a lighthouse on top

our Christmas posse
the hand-carved collectibles
spread throughout the house

gazing at the spread
remembering all the years
of shared tradition

Finding the Glory

2011-12-21T00:01:00.007-05:00

With big dreams in flight,
how does one find transcendence
in what is then left?

How can one transmute
the mundane and trivial
into distinction?

Finding the glory
in what small steps one can take
turns into a goal.

Happy Holidays

2011-12-20T00:01:00.011-05:00

Travelers journey.
A migration has started,
many heading home.

High expectations,
even higher hopes abound
for a happy time.

Families gather.
Friends will seek each other out
to celebrate life.

How To Be With A Disabled Person

2011-12-19T00:01:00.012-05:00

Things become awkward.
Friends and family struggle
with how best to act.

Cathy Aten shares
guidelines for how to be with
someone disabled.

Flexibility
mutual respect goes far
acts of kindness too.

Fessing Up

2011-12-18T00:01:00.006-05:00

Can we just admit
how freakin scared we can get
when MS acts up?

I will raise my hand.
It scares the crap out of me,
I don’t mind saying.

Yeah, I am brave, sure.
I do make the best of it,
but it gets scary.

We May Not Always Agree

2011-12-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

We come in all types:
happy, angry, lively, dull.
Well adjusted. Not.

We are humans first
with emotional baggage
predating MS.

Now thrust together,
we may not always agree.
Compassion can rule.

What I Seek

2011-12-16T00:01:00.004-05:00

When I first got ill
I went searching for answers,
found many and none.

A new paradigm
fast unfolded for my life.
Uncertainty ruled.

Finding light and joy
despite unstable MS
I will still seek that.

The Complete Picture

2011-12-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

The good news police
displeased at hearing sad news
will scold and sputter.

I accept the goal
of searching for upbeat news
but spurn denial.

As a whole being,
I embrace the full picture,
joy and sorrow mixed.

This I Can Do Without

2011-12-14T00:01:00.003-05:00

What a way to live,
a mad rush to the bathroom,
trumping everything.

One might be cooking,
eating, dressing or talking.
Urgency cuts in.

Work, play, duty, fun,
colleagues, friends, loved ones all lose
to nature’s grim call.

I Guess I Am A Poet

2011-12-13T00:01:00.008-05:00

What surprising turns
a life can take on the path
of simply living.

The Barefoot Review
chose to publish my poems,
two honored this month.

Poetry tells truths.
Clear notes broadcast to the world
so all understand.

The Hard Fact Is ...

2011-12-12T00:01:00.001-05:00

It hits most of us.
Sooner or later it comes,
some problem walking.

It may start early
or it may wait thirty years.
Mild or strong, it comes.

This unwanted guest
though never welcomed will stay
and stay and stay and ….

The Truth Is ...

2011-12-11T00:01:00.011-05:00

I often resist
a self image embracing
a me who is ill.

Do I think by flight
I outpace cunning MS?
I am not that swift.

Who I used to be
I will never be again.
Who is the new me?

What Stops Me Cold

2011-12-10T00:01:00.004-05:00

I can go along
thinking this is not so bad.
I am used to this.

What will stop me cold.
A new symptom strikes terror.
I am getting worse!

Where is this headed?
Will I end up non compos,
alone, broke, crippled?

Outside My Window

2011-12-09T00:01:00.003-05:00

a sky draped in gray
cloud garlands heavy and dense
equivocal sun

what heaviness reigns
fingers of tenebrous light
filtered and opaque

burden of shadows
freighting spirits and bodies
still seeking the sun

A Permanent Vacation? Not.

2011-12-08T00:01:00.000-05:00

Early retirement,
when it’s not voluntary,
fast loses its charm.

Do I enjoy my
forced permanent "vacation"?
Appearances lie.

Left unfinished were
enough money saved, friendships,
professional goals.

Tested

2011-12-07T00:01:00.007-05:00

I had to find out
how tough my character was
when I felt most weak.

Forced to call on strength,
though feeling vulnerable,
I eked out spirit.

Resolve did falter.
Resilience seemed fleeting.
But I still fought on.

A Journey's Rest Stop

2011-12-06T04:48:00.000-05:00

a journey’s rest stop
the shade of a tree cover
a soft ground beneath

the traveler seeks
on paths both smooth and brambled
a place to take stock

life’s questions pondered
perspective and wisdom gained
courage and will sought

Chronic versus Acute Illness

2011-12-05T00:01:00.002-05:00

They are different,
chronic and acute illness,
which affects treatment.

Modern medicine,
targeting acute treatment,
struggles with chronic.

MS is chronic,
becoming a stiff challenge
despite best efforts.

A Special Role?

2011-12-04T00:01:00.009-05:00

We MS bloggers
though quite vocal comprise a
small minority.

If ten thousand blog,
we're only .4%
of world MSers.

In our special role,
should we be spokespersons for
the ones with no voice?

What I Really Feel

2011-12-03T00:01:00.004-05:00

All over the place,
how I feel about MS,
getting it, that is.

Some days I manage
to come to terms with this change.
I never love it.

Let me be honest.
I still prefer to walk well
without any aides.

When the Brain Shuts Down

2011-12-02T00:01:00.002-05:00

When the brain shuts down,
which happens more than I like,
I cannot do much.

I can’t think things through.
Words get muddled or vanish.
My IQ plummets.

In a waiting game
for clarity to return,
I somehow pull through.

A Great Reward

2011-12-01T00:01:00.001-05:00

What I did last week:
read a Grace Paley story
and admired her skill.

Writing well creates
an author’s own reward but
the reader still reigns.

My poems lift me
but their greatest return is
what others receive.

Indifference

2011-11-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

So life does go on.
The sun rises and it sets
unfazed by my lot.

Nature will survive,
maybe not beneficent
for me or humanity.

The tectonic shifts
redefining my life
are hardly noticed.

I Sometimes Wonder

2011-11-29T00:01:00.004-05:00

What is going on?
Has civility vanished
in public discourse?

Good reasons abound.
Economic woes and more
are testing us all.

But do we have to
bash and call each other names?
No room for kindness?

What Do I See?

2011-11-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Is it gentleness
or woundedness I detect
in MSer eyes?

Or is it just shock
while picking up the pieces
of our former selves?

Sadness and dismay
battle the resilience
sought despite stiff odds.

Give Me Warmth and Sunshine

2011-11-27T00:01:00.004-05:00

This suits me just fine,
a sunny, warm, and breezy
Florida fall day.

The open windows
let in the scents and the sounds
of nature’s glory.

When I lived up north,
I felt mostly much too cold.
I’m a sunshine girl.

Smiling It Away

2011-11-26T00:01:00.001-05:00

Staying positive,
its usefulness is proven
but it is no cure.

If only hardship,
the burden that it places,
could be smiled away.

I would have smiled me
out of my predicament
a long time ago.

She Wants Your Stories

2011-11-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

You have a story
about living with MS?
This writer wants them.

The focus must be
stories of optimism,
a positive slant.

The therapist plans
to gather the stories for
a book collection.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T00:01:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving
to you and your family.
May blessings abound.

To My Anonymous Helpers

2011-11-23T00:01:00.005-05:00

I looked at my meal,
silently thanking all those
who made it happen.

The list is quite long,
farmer, truck driver, and more,
gas company too.

From start to finish,
anonymous workers toiled
to help me eat well.

Mainstream and Complementary Alternative Medicine

2011-11-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

Mainstream and CAM tools
the best of both can be used
to optimize health.

Integration works.
More and more MDs believe
CAM can play a role.

CAM practitioners
must embrace too the value
MDs do provide.

MS Perfect Storm

2011-11-21T00:01:00.003-05:00

MS perfect storm:
health, money, relationship
issues yoked as one.

Though looking for good,
one can bend low and weary
under the burden.

Will there come a time
when it turns unbearable?
What does one do then?

Self-Fulfilling Expectations?

2011-11-20T00:01:00.005-05:00

Have I eased into
a low-expectation groove,
now self-fulfilling?

No longer challenged
by work demands and judgments,
have my standards dropped?

Physical limits,
be they real and restricting,
should they rule my life?

Yearning to Emerge

2011-11-19T00:01:00.003-05:00

Now locked inside me,
the salsa dancer who yearns
to dance up a storm.

Craving freedom too,
the hiker who trekked uphill
beside mountain brooks.

Then there is the me
who meandered in gardens.
She is shackled too.

MS and Unemployment

2011-11-18T00:01:00.004-05:00

MS generates
high rates of unemployment
a big life changer.

Multifaceted
impact on several fronts,
all encompassing.

All are affected:
self-worth and relationships,
finances as well.

New Trajectories

2011-11-17T00:01:00.003-05:00

Humbled by MS,
I head down unexpected
life trajectories.

On my new journeys,
surprising insights unfold,
past beliefs questioned.

My pride took a blow.
I work on my self esteem
to find new meaning.

Montel Williams Speaks His Truth

2011-11-16T00:01:00.004-05:00

I heard Montel speak.
With tearful eyes he explained
how he nearly died.

Wracked by MS pain,
he almost ended his life
despairing and sad.

Though glad to be here,
he still wants the option of
death with dignity.

Learning Bravery - Encore

2011-11-15T00:01:00.007-05:00

If MS brings tears,
it’s okay, not cowardly.
I tell myself this.

Learning bravery.
MS grants many moments
to find it within.

I have those moments
but I am not always brave.
I let myself cry.

Nerve Transmission Speed - Encore

2011-11-14T00:01:00.002-05:00

Myelin cover
affects nerve transmission speed.
It’s why we suffer.

One hundred eighty,
myelinated nerves reach;
mph, that is.

Half mph for
demyelinated nerves.
Quite a contrast.

My Body Can Heal - Encore

2011-11-13T00:01:00.004-05:00

I believe in hope,
in the high idea that
my body can heal.

Brain lesions do mend.
MS autopsies confirm
regeneration.

Dead people can’t talk
to tell me why that happens.
I'm just glad it does.

I Don't Like The Blues - Encore

2011-11-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I am sad,
overwhelmed by this disease.
The blues settle in.

I don’t like that place.
It’s not pleasant being there.
I leave when I can.

Yet it’s also fine
to allow myself to feel.
Numbness is not good.

I Still Want To Shine - Encore

2011-11-11T00:01:00.002-05:00

I remind myself
that apart from my MS
I am still intact.

I still want to shine
with kindness, mercy, and love
to light up the world.

Bruised but not beaten,
I embrace my good person
who now needs a hug.

Keeping It Real - Encore

2011-11-10T00:01:00.002-05:00

Keeping it real means
I recognize my losses
and concede my pain.

Keeping it real means
I acknowledge my limits
while I set new goals.

Keeping it real means
I face what’s ahead of me
clearly, but with hope.

We All Fight Battles – Encore

2011-11-09T00:01:00.004-05:00

No one wants to hear
what is wrong with me today.
We all fight battles.

Mine might seem special.
They are only so to me.
Forgive my weakness.

It’s just that sometimes
MS fear seems to trump joy.
My resolve falters.

What I Really Want

2011-11-08T00:01:00.012-05:00

Why did this occur?
Is it my fault this happened,
Did I do something?

Of course no one knows.
Frankly that is the problem.
I would like answers.

Better than causes,
I hunger for solutions
that restore my health.

Drew a Blank

2011-11-08T00:01:00.011-05:00

Whoa, what has happened?
I don’t like my draft poems.
Be back tomorrow.

When It Only Gets Worse

2011-11-07T00:01:00.002-05:00

It cannot get worse.
Then it relentlessly does,
a bad waking dream.

This is not the news
someone wounded wants to hear,
but it is real news.

The challenge becomes
how to still hold on to hope
when it seems far-fetched.

A New Emergent Me

2011-11-06T00:01:00.005-04:00

Oh, what a surprise,
this new person emerging
adjusting to change.

A reassessment
of my lifetime goals and skills
continues apace.

Where this will take me
I have yet to discover.
It is quite a ride.

Things Learned After Getting MS …

2011-11-05T00:01:00.006-04:00

New doors may open.
MS sucks but I do not.
I can be happy.

Friends are important
companions on this journey
wise and supportive.

This may be the best
day I will ever enjoy.
Best value today.

You Surprise Me

2011-11-04T00:01:00.004-04:00

I have stopped guessing
which poems will resonate.
You will surprise me.

Often I will say,
nah, don’t bother posting that.
Then many comment.

The lesson for me:
post each poem without fear.
Let you surprise me.

I Can't Fight What I Don't Acknowledge

2011-11-03T00:01:00.006-04:00

Some may be puzzled
since I both fight and feel low.
That is my life’s truth.

Not a campaigner
for a particular stance,
I speak from the heart.

I acknowledge lows
even as I battle them.
It gives them less sway.

What Still Works

2011-11-02T00:01:00.001-04:00

The light switch will work.
The sun will rise and then set.
Clean water will flow.

The phones will function.
The internet connects us.
I have enough food.

My home gives shelter.
I have a good family.
What's missing? Good health.

MS – How Do I Hate You?

2011-11-01T00:01:00.006-04:00

Let me count the ways.
You appear unbidden and
in all dimensions.

When I am quiet
or in fury of living,
I will find you there.

Faithful escort on
this misbegotten journey,
you are not my friend.

I Know It's Not Easy

2011-10-31T00:01:00.019-04:00

I do not downplay
how hard this battle can be,
yet I choose to fight.

I am well aware
the odds do not favor me.
I aim to beat them.

A one percent chance
is still better than zero.
I will take those odds.

My Daily Reminder

2011-10-30T00:01:00.011-04:00

To motivate me,
I read my poem daily
so I remember.

Written long ago,
it urges me to stay true
to recovery.

“One thing I do know.
Giving up beforehand means
guaranteed defeat.”

An MS Journey

2011-10-29T00:01:00.004-04:00

First the parking tag
then a cane and rollator
and you shuffle on.

A day may then come.
“I need a wheelchair,” you’ll say.
Your loved ones may gasp.

One last bastion of
pre-MS life falls away.
You’re in a new world.

A Surf-Gentled Shore

2011-10-28T00:01:00.006-04:00

The fisherman casts.
Over and over his line
dances through the air.

No place here for stress.
The salt-laden air cleanses
strife and strains away.

A surf-gentled shore
waves smooth rocks into pebbles
pebbles into sand.

Defiantly Not There Yet

2011-10-27T00:01:00.006-04:00

It may be foolish.
High expectations remain
despite frustration.

Accepting a me
hobbled by circumstances,
I am not there yet.

I may never reach
that final stage of grieving,
an endless cycle.

Why We Are Still Here

2011-10-26T00:01:00.002-04:00

building a new life
amid the rubble of loss
a human feature

financial meltdowns,
tsunamis, earthquakes, and war
people will still thrive

though bruised and battered
resilience will prevail
why we are still here

Worlds Apart, Same Risk

2011-10-25T00:01:00.003-04:00

They are worlds apart
high performing MSers
and those more impaired.

The two MS camps
will share a diagnosis
not the same limits.

Is it just the risk
skewed toward incapacity
that unites us then?

I Want to Believe

2011-10-24T00:01:00.008-04:00

I want to believe
I will always be okay.
MS makes that hard.

The trajectory
this disease normally takes
is not heartening.

No future surfing
may be the only option
to keep fear away.

Having Fun Yet?

2011-10-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

Some days are better.
Others I really struggle.
I cannot predict.

A rollercoaster
but with a whole lot less fun
that sums up MS.

Positive thinking
will help but only so far
if my brain shuts down.

A Joyful Dance

2011-10-22T00:01:00.011-04:00

a bananaquit
golden chested and tiny
flits from branch to branch

a caressing breeze
rustling leaves in joyful dance
a celebration

it is not my dance
but my spirits borne aloft
are thereby lightened