His Eyes Were the Color of Ice

He seemed like an overgrown teddy bear
clumsy and often apologetic
for stepping on feet
or knocking over
glasses on table tops
and when my frustration

started to rise
impatient with his antics
he looked up at me with
his turquoise eyes,
the color found in glaciers,
a deep cold
too many years old
and in that instant

I forgave him
and let him know
that he was welcome
to move around
without apology

I watched him
and his
blue green eyes,
not icy but deep,
reflecting time
for all
eternity.

Brushes and Dabs of Paint

Sable brushes dipped
in dabs of paint
arranged in a rainbow palette

diluted with water or turpentine
to promote an even flow
across the canvas
juxtaposed in contrasting colors

shapes take form
landscapes appear
abstract dollops purposefully placed
to create flowers, fawna and trees

hours slip by
lost in the zone

of quiet reverie
observing the world
frozen in time
and then setting it free
with the energy
of pigment, stroke
lines and shapes
awash in perfect ecstasy

and so,
day after day
while others toil
at tasks that stifle creativity
I sit at my easel and
paint
happy and free.

A Honey Bee Faces Extinction

Beware of the little honey bee

flitting from flower to flower
if captured bare handed

it will release its stinger
causing pain with some swelling.

A little saliva and mud
will ease the hurt

and the honey bee
will lose its life

in his effort to protect
the hive from intruders

but left unmolested the bee
and his crew serve their queen.

Some attend the larva
while others go out

gather the nectar
to make into honey

deep inside the hive.

Look Familar?

When I was taking a drawing class I kept trying to draw a face that resembled the person I was drawing. This was the first one that people could recognize.

Fighting For My Life

In the night,
after the first sleep,
ruffians emerged
and challenged me to fight
for my life

the little boys
with tussled hair,
and broken teeth,

thieves,
hell bent on taking
my will to live
so we locked in battle.

I fought hard
but they were tricky
coming in for the attack
at my ankles

their youth
gave them speed
but my desire
overcame their advantage

and in the morning,
though exhausted,
I was ready
to live
again.

Life is Game of Chance

The game of life
like a midnight
game of poker
with cards dealt
bets made
so much depends on luck
if it is with you
you win the pot
and if  it's not
you’re fate is sealed
and you lose it all.

Life and Death

Stomach cramps
that wouldn't relax

action required ...
emergency surgery

after the euphoric
injection of drugs

the quiet sleep
until recovery

I made it through the wormhole
of death to live another day

My younger brother
crossed similar thresholds

but took a different route
and went away.

Prayers to him
on angel's wings

lifted from his
life of misery.