I had fun printing out poems and snippets of thoughts about my Blue dog last night. This morning I put them in a 3-ring binder for my Grandpa with a pic on the cover and the title, “The Blue Collection.” A belated gift for my poet, story telling, fiddlin’ Grandpa.
I’m taking the last last jar of Alien Goo to him too, a.k.a. Green Tomato Pickles. I found ‘em hiding in the back of the pantry. Here I thought I’d delivered that last jar in November, when I made a trip via southbound train, the day before his 97th birthday.
Turns out I have a thing for packin’ pickles on the train. For I’m ridin’ the rails again today, but not alone, for my magical sister is sittin’ alongside me. We are not talkin’ as much as I expected. Just sorta chillin’ and enjoyin’ sittin’ quietly, playin’ on our idevices.
It is a beautiful day. A blue sky one, without any clouds in it. Oh, so lovely.

January 16, 2013

in the dark

awake at 4:00am
well, before that really
with my coughing boy
snuggling in bed wasn’t helping
so we headed downstairs together
me carrying his pillow
and favorite blanket
him with his glasses
and a Calvin and Hobbes book
he sent me ahead of him
to chase away the dark
thankfully my baby boy
now nine and a half
fell back to sleep
in his favorite love seat spot
while I tucked him in, I spied her
through the glass doors to the back
the elusive moon from last night
a crooked crescent grin
Blue dog is worried about his boy
assured him with extra ear rubs
“It’ll all be OK. No matter what.”

January 7, 2013

a winter’s night

darkness arrives early
and settles all around
the stars are out tonight
I smile up at them
they twinkle back at me
there is Orion
the mighty hunter
with three diagonal stars
the moon is missing
out of view
‘twas less than half size
last time I spied her
in the light of morning
a few days past
when the moon lingered
visible a little longer
shining at the same time
as the sun
in a sky of pale blue

January 6, 2013

shhh q-u-i-e-t

it’s a quiet sunrise today
peach gold at the horizon
fading to pale yellow
then brightens and glows
turning the palest of blue
the sky is lightening
beyond that though
the heaven is still
and dark as night

I’m just in from an early walk
across icy driveways and snow packed sidewalks
in the brisk morning air
with my big sweet dog, Blue
now I sit at the kitchen table
a solid oak circle
gazing out the glass doors
to the backyard beyond
and watch the color show
along the horizon
houses and bare trees abound
yet colors come
and hit their crescendo so bright
then gradually they fade to normal
a blue sky and white cloud scene
I don’t move to take a picture
just watch it all unfold
the clock is ticking
puppy napping
one boy awake playing
the other still sleeping
and here I sit
sunrise daydreaming
it’s a quiet sunrise today

December 23, 2012