Trees dressed in finest electric colors

Will soon be bare and offer stark beauty.

From full color to black and white as

Leaves drip from branches like

Water drips from a faucet – slowly and steadily.

Once again time to appreciate the exquisite

Form of each and every branch – the very structure

That makes possible the shape and form

So extolled  and treasured.

Time leads me through life –

meandering as days pass.

Paths lead forward as on

a one way street – yet sometimes

turning me around as if defying

laws of man and nature.

Is this because I yearn for times

past not fully appreciated?

Yet  other times I look forward

to things I have planned, but

still unknown – unexplored –

as if anticipating something

marvelous. However, it is usually

in the humdrum, the everyday, that

I find surprising moments that fill me

with unexpected, startling joy.

Joy lurking in least expected places –

gifts waiting to be unwrapped.

As wind blows

leaves off trees

and swirls them

around me –

nature’s confetti –

I try to take in

the beauty,

the enormity,

the endless

blue of autumn

skies and brilliant

white cotton-like

billowy clouds.

So grateful

for autumn’s

allure and respite

from summer’s heat.

Curvy crescent moon

Lies gently on his back

Swallowing sparkly

Champagne night sky.

You know how you feel all happy inside?

Everything seems right in your world –

When all of a sudden a big place of

sadness opens up in you – you don’t

know where it came from or what

caused it – but, there is no mistaking –

gray clouds have moved in

and stolen your sunshine…

Sometimes I’m fire –

all molten heat and passion.

I can’t escape the burning.

Sometimes I’m  cotton –

soft and tender –

no rough edges.

Sometimes I’m steel –

tough as nails –

don’t mess with me.

Sometimes I’m silk –

smooth, gentle,

soothing to touch.

Sometimes I’m laughter –

clear, bright –

ringing through the air.

Sometimes I’m rain –

tears cut like razors –

washing hurt from my soul.

Sometimes I’m inside –

introspective, searching –

reflecting on life.

Sometimes I’m outside –

gregarious, outgoing –

socializing with all.

Sometimes I’m a mirror –

reflecting, parroting –

echoing all that I see.

Sometimes I’m knowledge –

curious, striving –

educating everyone.

But, seldom am I ice –

cold, hard, and

unyielding to the touch.

I have too much fire for that.

Gracious lady stands roadside –

adorned in elegant leafy green.

Languidly, yet deliberately transforming

until she’s clothed in  finest

fall foliage – shades of coppery flame.

Savored briefly – then in time

she proudly displays her lanky

leafless, barren limbs,

until spring endows her once

again with fresh budding green.

(Every year I think this about a tree on Island Ford Road-just trying to pay homage.)

Music is not music until it’s released from the page –

It’s merely notes on a sheet – longing to be set free –

Perched on paper – black on white – waiting…

Waiting for wings – from brass,  piano, banjo,  guitar, voice…

Waiting to soar to the rafters – rising, growing …

leaving in its wake – cold chills, laughter, tears –

clapping, foot stomping, singing along.

Creating connections, memories, feelings of nostalgia.

Free to truly exist – not on paper,

but in hearts, minds, and souls – alive and liberated.

No longer rooted to paper – lifeless…

No longer merely notes on a page.

You know how when you see something beautiful in nature you  can look past all the things  in your way – the things you don’t want to see – like electric wires, houses, cars, and such. Sometimes I think it’s like that with people too. We look past the parts we don’t want to see and only see what we want. Perhaps we should look at all they show us and really know who we’re looking at, but is that even possible? Do we want to admit that maybe someone isn’t what or who we really thought they were – since then we have to admit our misjudgment?  I’ve had this happen with friends. All of a sudden, you look at them and see what’s really been there all along, but you were too reluctant to acknowledge. For once you admit it, you either have to accept what they’re showing you, or be willing to move on without them. Maybe rather than overlooking so much we need to take time to look over who is really in front of us.