Old Hat

It was time for the gardening hat 

To die 

It was thrown 

     With regret 

On the campfire 

In the back garden

Last 

Evening 

It had seen many days 

Of enjoyment and sunshine 

And some rain

It had shared the joys of the garden

And 

The pains 

There was more sun getting through

Than shade being provided

The straws in the hat 

Had given their all 

And so like they do 

By the Ganges 

In India -

It went up in flames -

It's form remaining for 

     Quite some time -

Burning 

An old friend 

A companion 

Gone -

It's essence to be scattered 

In the garden it helped 

Water

The Dance

So tired of 

     Relationship

So ready to 

     Leave 

Just want 

     To be 

Done 

I can't become 

The one you want 

I am not her 

Please allow me 

To 

Escape 

To be 

     Free

But now -

What is this ?

Is he learning 

     To turn 

To lead 

     To walk 

     To tango ?

The gods laugh 

     That's what they do 

For now there is 

     No way 

Those tall shoulders 

     Can be left 

To chance 

     Now there is 

No way 

I cannot 

Dance - !

after all

can't force it 
this muse 
where has she gone 
today ?

i guess there's nothing 
she 
wants 
to say - 

these fragile bodies 
we think we're so special . . .
and we are 
I know we are !

just think about it 
won't you?
all this time and space 
exists - 
all these plants and trees 
to make oxygen 
for me ! 

yes, we mess it up 
but 
here we 
     still are 

gravity holds us down -
which is created by 
the earth spinning round
or the fact that it's so big 
to begin with -
either way, 
     it's awesome   

the sun comes up 
the sun goes down 
without that 
where would we be?

who thought this up 
It wasn't me 
It was all built up
for us 

to experience 
these experiences 
of being human 
here and now

someone 
obviously, 
wants us to 

probably would like 
some thanks 
too 

and then there's our 
connection to 

that's the most important 
thing 
it gives us a feeling of being 
and belonging 
and life 
and love
and light 

i guess the muse 
had something she 
wanted to say 

after all   

Rumi

I look around 

And I see no 

Zen flowers 

Anywhere  :-(

This being has not been 

Contacting 

The infinate 

Lately 

This body 

Has been 

Sic

With fever 

For days -

Inspiration 

Has been 

Lacking 

I 

Don't want to 

Be 

This way -

Without the flowers -

The product 

Of contemplation -

The daisys of 

Devotion 

The roses of 

Heart felt 

Connection

The spice 

Of life 

Has been lacking 

What did Rumi do 

When he felt like 

***** ?

Waiting. . .

Waiting -

Waiting for lunch 

     Late lunch 

     U said u'd be here at 2:00

It's two 

And I'm hungry

What to do 

??

How late will u b ? 

Wait 10 min 

Or 15 

What's the rule ?

11 minutes 

Will have to do. 

I'm too hungry to

Wonder anymore

About the etiquette 

Of the situation . . .

And this is why 

A woman must have 

Her own money 

Can't depend 

On some people . . . 

You and your excuses 

I'm sure you'll have one 

I won't ask 

Being with u 

(And eating) 

Will be enough

To calm

The raging beastie

Inside the mind 

- looking for answers 

To Unfathomable 

Subjects 

Embrace

- - -

Global warming . . .

- - -

When I came here 

Thirty odd years ago 

We had summers of 

Fog 

June gloom, 

May grey 

We never saw 

The sun 

It was a local joke 

Want sun? 

Drive to Ojai 

Twenty degrees difference 

Twenty miles away 

Bright sunshine. 

Now 

Something's changed 

It's hot, hot, hot 

And it's only 

May 

We used to go to the beach 

On Christmas Day 

Just because we could 

It was our little ritual 

With family

So far flung 

Warmer then on Christmas 

Than in May 

Now it's just hot 

My garden doesn't know 

What to do 

Spring flowers 

Used to drippy fog 

Are wilting early 

I suppose we'll 

Adjust -

The outdoor shower 

Will be used to cool -

Indoors we'll adjust 

Old electrics barely support 

The little window box cooler

But it helps if 

One gets near enough 

Hot flashes have helped 

This one learn to tolerate 

Extremely warm 

Conditions -

Learn to sweat !

Even if genteel women aren't 

Supposed to 

No one told the 

Maker of 

Such a requirement 

But if it gets any hotter 

What then -

If food can't grow? 

Tonight I go 

To dance some tango 

It will be warm 

The doors will be open 

To the street 

Maybe much like 

Buenos Aires 

People walking by 

Look in with curiosity 

What is this foreign 

Scene ?

Americans dancing 

Together 

Just as if 

They knew 

How -

Americans enjoying

Embracing one another 

And moving with grace -

And you will arrive late 

And I anticipate 

Your particular embrace. 

Bar be que

Old friends 

And new ones 

Bar be que ones 

Friend s 

What a special thing 

It is 

To get together 

Around an outdoor 

Fire

And sip wine and 

Talk of things 

-Get to know 

Some people 

From a different 

World 

What do they do 

And how do they

do it?

What do they know 

And 

How do they know it ? 

I get to see 

My life, my time,

My choices 

From some 

Other perspective 

I have chosen 

And life has chosen 

For me 

And I do 

The best 

I can 

Some have energy 

Some don't 

Some have courage and 

The ability 

To cope 

It's good to see -

To get to know 

Others 

And what their minds 

Are made of 

And where their hearts 

Have gotten 

To