in search of assistance
with a rigid mirror
showing signs of
wear and tear
aging proceeds
without permission
bringing the gift of
squeaky knees
the fog on the glass
reflecting the youth
images showing
distant beauty
shattering bang!
the mirror in pieces
each one of them
the hologram of life
re-lived
day like another
knock on the door
come in she uttered
there he entered
being the director
of a student agency
people came daily
asking her for help
his task was different
he brought her the mail
and then stayed longer
than was expected
without her awareness
his persistence and loyalty
soft demeanor green eyes
that mail changed their lives
his daily visits on his way home
became part of the routine
they would meet there
until he asked her out
walk along the coast
through a cemetery
marked the beginning
of a lifelong bond
ten years into it
they tied the knot
in their living room
committed for real
skip 22 years
their journey has not
been an easy ride
though well worth it
every day can bring
challenges and drawbacks
yet they have one another
to overcome them together
to be continued…
gallop through a prairie
horse white mane
soft morning light
the sun rose up again
without a saddle
free as a bird
bolting wildly
away from the herd
where is he running
what awaits there
devoid of direction
he may not care
joyous movement
through time and space
on his own terms
far from the race
never mind the trophies
now all given up
new sense of freedom
forget Melbourne cup
soft humming of the ceiling fan
for some mysterious reason
brings up memories of my grandmother
her kitchen always smelled of food
while the pantry hid some treasures
delicious translucent cheese
the kind that contains zero fat
the smell grows stronger
with more time in the open
there were healing herbs
collected in pristine meadows
dried on trays in the shade
used to heal ailments
we collected more herbs
than all of us could utilize
during the year so the rest
was obtained by a health store
in the pantry were also treats
one particular comes to mind
it was a juicy pink chewing gum
that did the biggest bubbles
it was right on the top shelf
so that we kids would not reach
we had to ask for it to get one
a measure to protect our teeth
my granny had some tricks
down her apron ‘sleeve’
she knew how to stop cough
with a help of a fatty onion
another delicatessen from
the seasonal kitchen of my nan
yellow apples from the garden
fermented in a sauerkraut crockpot
they still had a nice crunch
yet were full of the kraut juice
so sweet and sour flavored
perfect to bite into for a snack
granny also made her own pasta
dough rolled by hand
the sheets then dried
on tea towels on a sofa
when we came for xmas
the special folklore cookies
many shapes forms and tastes
all perfectly decorated to savor
xmas at nana also meant
there were mandarins
the fruit signaling arrival
of the winter season
and as the ceiling fan
now blows away the heat
these dusted memories
fly back to their former
location
