Her thoughts – a tangled web weaving through her mind –
Climbing ladders, sliding along invisible rails, leading her to places
She didn’t know existed – exquisite places of great beauty.
She cloaks herself in gossamer raiments for the journey.
Her thoughts – a tangled web weaving through her mind –
Climbing ladders, sliding along invisible rails, leading her to places
She didn’t know existed – exquisite places of great beauty.
She cloaks herself in gossamer raiments for the journey.
When She…
dreams – it’s as one breathes – necessary for her survival
takes a breath – she breathes air so sweet it brings tears to her eyes
exhales – she breathes out flowers and sunbeams
reads – she lives in another world
walks – it’s with tenderness so as to do no harm
touches you – it’s with such warmth that you’ll forever be changed
cries – diamonds strike the floor like shattered glass
writes – her heart spills onto paper
laughs – it’s pure music – elixir for her spirit
But, when she loves – it’s with an intensity you’ll feel all the way to your soul…
Red tomatoes on a yellow plate
remind to see beauty in the ordinary –
drinking coffee out of a beautiful mug
luscious ripe berries begging to be picked
the smiling eyes of a friend
a mist shrouded river
the fresh green of new leaves
the belly laugh of a baby
cold water on a hot day
Everyday, remember to see –
beauty in the ordinary.
Son of my son-
I can’t wait to meet you.
You are already loved beyond measure-
You, a perfect being, one of a kind.
You are blessed with parents who are:
kind, loving, strong, and intelligent.
Your life is one of promise-
A gift to discover as your story unfolds-
As you grow to be a man.
I, your grandmother, love you
unconditionally for ever and always.
(written as I waited for my first grandchild to be born) 4-9-13
Woodrow William Cantrell was born September 5, 2013
Where do I begin?
The years have flown so swiftly past as I have watched you grow from a newborn into a toddler, so beautiful -you took my breath away. You then grew into a little boy so funny and curious – you kept me on my toes. You had a fabulous belly laugh that could make the world laugh with you. We made countless trips to the library to keep you supplied with books pertaining to your current interest. Then you became a middle schooler – unafraid of being intelligent in a world filled with those who were unwilling to do the same. As a high schooler, you were an avid mountain biker, long distance runner, photographer, budding writer and musician. You were a self-motivated learner. You knew your own mind and weren’t afraid to do what you wanted. You traveled by yourself on both short and long trips in cars and on motorcycles. You graduated from high school 6th in your class and did so without effort. College was a bit frustrating for you. You wanted to begin in the middle, but had to begin with things you said you had learned in high school. After much exploration, you finally changed your major to engineering. This is when everything began to fall into place for you. After you graduated, you went to work, getting a job without even applying for it. You finally decided that you couldn’t do exactly as you wanted without a masters degree. A masters degree that someone else would pay for and pay you for working while you finished. Graduating with your masters, TVA offered you a job in their River Forecast Center making considerably more money than you had previously made. As I always told you, God made you smart and your Dad and I made you good looking, however it’s more important for you to be a good person and a good citizen of the planet. You have accomplished all of this. You’re my best contribution to the world and I love you with all my heart.
Some things I just know –
No one tells me,
I just know.
I know what others are thinking and feeling –
sometimes I know what they’re doing –
It’s there in my mind – uninvited.
It’s there for me to know and later
find is true.
Some born in my mind-
Others born of dreams –
elusive, yet present –
there for an audience of one.
Haiku for Autumn Morn
Cool wind through tree tops
As leaves fall like rain on this
Perfect autumn morn.
Haiku for the Crescent Moon
Curvy crescent moon
Shrouded by shredded clouds to
Make it more lovely.
Haiku for the Hand Painted Skies
Everywhere I look –
Hand painted skies surround me
Filling me with awe.
Haiku for the Soft Rain
Sweet, soft summer rain
Steadily dampens the earth –
She gently swallows.
Haiku to Heavenly Sky
Oh heavenly sky
Pacify me with beauty
Soothe my troubled soul.
Haiku for Mist
Dazzling blue sky
With downy clouds above
Mist shrouded river.
Haiku for the Fog
River must be cold –
It’s wearing a fog blanket.
Hope you get warm soon.
Haiku to the River
What mysteries lie
Beneath your surface serene?
You hide them so well.
Haiku for Peaches
Sweet summer peaches
Juice drips down to my elbows
Luscious summer bliss.
Haiku for Queen Anne (and her lace)
Lace adorns the roads
Moving gently in the breeze
Perfect for a queen.
To box turtles everywhere:
Helped a turtle cross the road
Headed I know not where, but
I don’t have to know.
Haiku for the Heron
Rising from the mist
Ephemeral heron is
Almost like a dream.
Haiku for the River
Her warm breath rises
From the cold water beneath-
We know that she lives.
Haiku for the River
The scent, the sound of
The river as it rises
Yes, it is alive.
Haiku for the Hosta
Mysterious bloom
Gently unfolds its petals-
No longer unknown.
Butterfly
Flying flower has
Been grounded- not sure why, but
Moved it to safety.
Soothe Me
Summertime night sounds
Soothe me at end of day with
Their sweet steady beat.
Haiku for Fireworks
Magic lives in the
Artistry and Chemistry
That we call fireworks. 💥
Crescent Moon
Crescent moon in dark
Sky with clouds of pink and gray
Takes my breath away.
Drinking with my Eyes
Drinking with my eyes
All the bounty of the earth-
Thankful for farmers.
Sick at Heart
One bad decision
Leaves an animal in a
Pile of blood and bones.
Nature is alive with all the entertainment I ever need. Sounds, sights, and smells surround me. Scents that can take me back to my childhood in my Grandmother’s garden, playing in the creek behind my house, and then there’s the smell of the river. Complex, yet simple, scents that nourish my soul. Sometimes I need, yes need, to be outside to let nature take me in and heal me.