diminishing

alone, i’ve seldom been lonely

yet cut off from family

and friends for fear

of infecting them

has changed the feeling

of belonging even

when not together

to a near abandonment

of the joy of surety

of love

                  

goochy undone

serious, intent, giving away nothing

with poker face, the six-month-old

stares at women goochying

and grinning trying to tempt

him into a smile

only later will he find them ridiculous

for now, they are mildly interesting

but he soon turns away

to watch a gentleman

hurry by, oblivious

a gentle push

a gentle push

in the direction of love

a compliment on the blouse

of a harried woman

“Hi, good-looking!”

to an awkward young man

“Thank you, kind sir”

to the old man who

lets you go before him

extra birdseed on the tray

so there is spillage

for tiny wrens to salvage

a teddy bear companion

in his lonely stall

for abandoned foal

a moment of being seen

that renews belief and hope

in self, and the world

ah, family!

birthday celebration

for my youngest but one

grandson, now a slender

young man with huge

melted-dark chocolate eyes

above the mask

and a gentle laugh

with the old lady

who has adored him

all his life

and in their place…

the california quail gave up on me

while i enjoyed the sun for two weeks

with brother and sister-in-law

now that they no longer mass

on the seed tray on my porch

far smaller birds come singly

and in droves to peck and gorge

and return, hoping i’ve been out

to resupply their wants

befriend us

rare the times when we

are gentle with ourselves

seeing each other as worthy

or respect and forgiveness

we seldom admit

we, too, may be given

the honor of being seen

for who we are

when, what

when

soldiers are tools

not persons

when

civilians are enemies

what

hope is there for peace?

                       

gnat v rat

we downtrod the wrong people

as it seems safer to step on

those weaker than ourselves

but it is not those beneath

who are feeding us lies

about who are our enemies

it is not the gnats who destroy

our foundations

but the rats and vermin

unknowing

ache of knowing

something is wrong

that can change my world

ache of not knowing

what is wrong

or how to deal with it

          

‘splanation

a gentleness

of persons who hear

see and understand

the courage

behind what is happening

who respond

with loving support

and kind encouragement

that is what i have been trying

to collect and build on

that is why i stay