The Essence of Me

The Essence of Me

I’m a free spirit with a bubbly air,
But sometimes I am sad.
I am happy go lucky, and quick to smile,
But stay away from me when I’m mad.
I’m an untrusting soul,
But I’ll say hi to any stranger,
I have many fears
And try avoiding danger.
I am quick to judge,
And I make many errors,
Losing a child
Is my greatest terror.
I let you be you,
Please, let me be me.
We’re really not so different,
We’re all human beings.

And that's the essence of me.

Fireflies, Frogs, and Beavers

The weather was beautiful today! The type of weather I would love to have year round. Mostly sunny, about 70 degrees, with a nice warm breeze. It was perfect for bike riding, which the boys and I did. But it really gave me a severe case of spring fever, in early January! So, in honor of today's weather, my poems will be about fireflies, frogs, and beavers. My poem selections are sort of yin and yang, so let's start with the yang first.

A Fireflies Light

My life is like that of a firefly

stuck on a cold windshield.

I fly through the night touching the sky,

the trees, the wind and the fields.

When from out of nowhere a truck smacks into me,

and within an instant my life is ending.

But for a fleeting moment, my light lives on

with the waning taillights, though, soon it is gone.

Now I'm just a spot at which the driver stares.

He's not really seeing me 'cause he really doesn't care.

And now for the yin.

“Moon Beams and Froggy”

On a hot summer night, beside the water’s edge,

there stands a beaver, his name is Ed.

He stands near the water where the lily flower grows,

and watches the silver moon beams dance to and fro.

In the still of the night, drifting out of the fog

suddenly appears a giant green frog.

He hops along croaking an old Froggy tune of dragonflies,

and lady bugs, and bandit eyed raccoons.

He weaves a tall tale of magic and wonder.

He tells about a pixie parade that ends with a shower of thunder.

He sings through the night about sorrow and joy,

about frolicking in meadows and being chased by boys.

But in the wee morning hours, just before the rise of the sun,

the old frog grows silent, his Froggy tune is done.

And he swims through the dark water to his home hidden away,

leaving Ed, the beaver, to stare in his wake.

Ed gives a big yawn, and then says with a grin,

“I can’t wait till tonight when the old frog comes again.

He is a good storyteller, as you all can see,

so I’ll be sure to bring a friend or two back here with me.”

My thoughts on today.

OK. I have decided that after yesterday's post we needed something a little more upbeat. We must not slip into negativity this early into the new year. So, I am going to share with you two upbeat and positive poems.

The Last of A Dying Breed

I'm the last of a dying breed.

I was born to remain forever free.

I travel the world like a gust of wind;

Always searching in every man for a friend.

I live my life just for me;

Free of envy, hate, and greed.

I know that joy awaits me 'round every bend,

And I will remain true to myself until the end.

I tell you like it is, and I say it from the heart.

I live my life to the fullest, not just in parts.

So give me an inch, I won't take a mile.

I'm always quick to return your smile.

Just let me live; just let me be,

Because I'm the last of a dying breed.

My second poem is just a fun little ditty, where I tried to be witty, and possibly passed, but most likely failed. If it makes you smile, then it was worth the while. Oh rats, rhyming is hard can't you tell.

Poetry

A poem can be written about love or hate;

about where you go or what you just age.

It can be full of rhythm and rhyme.

It can be ranting and ravings in some body's mind.

It can be short and it can be long.

It can be the musical words of a song.

But no matter what your subject may be,

It will always come out as poetry.

I hope you enjoyed them. AND I wish each and every one of you a wonderful new Day.

Moods of Melancholy

I am in a melancholy mood today, with a bit of sadness thrown into the mix. I have been thinking about the passing of my mother-in-law today, and decided to call my own mother. It saddened me almost to the verge of tears. You see, my father is very ill. He is suffering from decreased renal function of only 15%, plus his hear only functions at 30%. He suffers from diabetes type II. He needs a pace maker and dialysis, but refused both. My mother is in the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. And even though I have told her what I got for Christmas, she still asked me several time throughout the conversation. Each time I told her again and her reaction was the same. I was hoping this year would be easier than last year, but today, I was hit by the realization that I would soon lose both of my parents. This made me feel very sad and alone. But, I should be thankful, because I know that I have two wonderful sons that love me, I have a beautiful husband that supports and loves me, and I have the most amazing group of friends to lean on for support. So even though, I am sitting here and reflecting on my sadness and loss, I am rejoicing in the happiness of my life.
All of this reflection made me think of a poem that I wrote several years ago, it goes as follows:

The Aged and the Innocent

With blue-veined hands, she clutches a picture, tarnished yellow from age.
The child she once held so dear to her heart smiles sweetly from the frame.
She closed her eyes and lets her mind travel, back through a millennium of years.
As she slips farther away from reality, slowly her life line drains.
He sits there with her now. The night about them is heavy with death.
She opens her eyes and the light floods through the window.
The light lands upon his Angelical face.
She says,” Come closer dear, chase away the darkness with your smile.”
He says, “Come play with me, Mommy, in the golden fields above.”
Her clutched fingers suddenly relax, as the picture falls to the floor.
They race through the fields white unto harvest.
Mother and Son together, this time for eternity.

So to all of you, even though this world is filled with trials and hardships, please remember the remarkable gifts of life. And although none of us make it out of this life alive, let us hope and pray that there is certainly an afterlife waiting on the other side.

Shoe String Shenanigans

The following story is an original of mine. My son Forrest, pictured to your right, for the first time has a pair of shoes with shoestrings. I have been trying to teach him to tie his own shoes, unfortunately, I am not as patient as the mom in the story. His shoes are untied all of the time. ARRRGH! I hope you enjoy the story.

“Shoe String Shenanigans”

The following is a tale about Boy One and Boy Two,
Who never did learn how to tie their own shoes?
Boy One and Boy Two was a couple of brothers,
And the lack of their learning was the fault of their mother’s.
Their mother was busy with cleaning and chores,
like folding the laundry that reached from ceiling to floor.
So I’m not saying their mother was bad,
‘cause they could have been taught by their good ol’ dad.
But dad was always busy with work and the lawn,
and when he tried to teach them he’d begin to yawn.
So shoes with no shoe strings is what they got.
Yes, shoes with no shoe strings they helped out a lot.
But the problem began when they started to school,
And shoes required shoe strings, yes, that is the rule.
So off to the shoe store went father and mother
to buy shoes with shoe strings for the two brothers.
And they fumbled and bumbled with those nasty long strings.
No, tying their shoes was a terrible thing.
For days and days they tried to teach one another.
Boy One helped Boy Two and Boy two helped his brother.
But since they had never officially been taught,
Well the laces the ended in one giant knot.
The knot was so big that they could not get it untied.
Why, I believe that the knot may have reached the sky.
Finally the laces could be knotted no more.
The knots were so big the shoes would not fit through the door.
And the brothers well, they both began to cry,
“Why Mother, why, why, why.”
“Please take the time to show us how,
to tie our own shoe strings, we must know now.
For we do not like them all tied up in knots.
No, we do not like it, we like it not.
You must teach us, please do not delay.
You must teach us, Mother, it must be today.”
So their mother put aside all of her chores,
She put off doing the laundry galore.
She sat down beside Boy One and Boy Two
and patiently she taught them to tie their own shoes.