the sun is crisp in all its yellow
and warmth today
birds are playing in air wildly, joyfully
chipmunks are vociferously chirping with heraldry
a pileated woodpecker is knocking and knocking
anomalous black and purple iris’ petals on display
on occasion he lifts up and licks my cheek
he knows i love him and that soon we both shall sleep
my girl, jaz, lies curled up at my feet
too many miles away. i’m sure she will want to sit here
with us when she arrives and she will also need gentle strokes
then another post i read is about this young lady relaying her
acceptance to the end of ‘sheloshim (Judaism)…first thirty
days of intense mourning’. lost her husband too young
birds are playing in air wildly, joyfully
chipmunks are vociferously chirping with heraldry
a pileated woodpecker is knocking and knocking
anomalous black and purple iris’ petals on display
i sit outside with my aging boy,
jules, on my lap gently
stroking his brow and with every
stroke his paws curlon occasion he lifts up and licks my cheek
he knows i love him and that soon we both shall sleep
my girl, jaz, lies curled up at my feet
we sit here waiting for my wife to
come back home
she’s been visiting her elderly
parents in total care too many miles away. i’m sure she will want to sit here
with us when she arrives and she will also need gentle strokes
i read today a friend of mine is
lamenting a loss of a buddy
repeatedly he posts…death sucks,
death sucks, it really sucksthen another post i read is about this young lady relaying her
acceptance to the end of ‘sheloshim (Judaism)…first thirty
days of intense mourning’. lost her husband too young
life is about this moment; the here and now
a rabbi’s prayer: “don’t let me die
while I’m still alive”
*for imaginary garden~includes the senses of vision, sound, touch and emotion
our existence can change in an instant. glad you can soak in the moments of peace and companionship.
ReplyDeleteOh that quote at the end, my friend.........this poem, full of the simple joys of being alive, encompassing death, is so beautiful, in all of its caring. "Life is about this moment." Yes. I am breathing it in, deeply. Each day, one more gift.
ReplyDeleteI too have an ageing boy cat; I too lost a friend the other day; I too read the sheloshim story. So this certainly speaks to me! A beautiful poem. I was particularly touched by the lines about your wife needing gentle strokes too.
ReplyDeleteThis poem, though it deals with death and loss and relinquishment, manages to celebrate life, to comfort, and especially in the first stanza, to totally enchant --'chipmunks are vociferously chirping with heraldry.." that is a great line. Love it.
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of live, alive and vociferous, there is comfort companionship, and loss; such a reality check . This poem is sweet in its simplicity and stark in its reality
ReplyDeleteMuch love...
I think we need this moment to live.. this few remaining days of spring, and though the life around us fade, let's stroke the nearest living thing.
ReplyDeleteSuch wisdom in your rabbi's prayer. We are given a limited number of moments to cherish. Thank you so much for taking part in the challenge!
ReplyDeleteDeath brings realities of life into proper perspective! The emptiness brings questions of good relationships to the fore!
ReplyDeleteHank
Beautifully intense..!
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of a flower doesn't last... and we are all destined to perish. Yet, this poem still celebrates life and I like the intimate feel as well. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteLife is to be savored in this moment ~ Thanks for the lovely reminder despite the challenges & death around us, we must enjoy the here and now ~
ReplyDeleteHave a good week ~