Lately, a sadness pervades, I mourn for youth, perhaps passion of younger days. With age, some of that passion

Old friends walking on the beach, the waves bring in, memories, of carefree days;

Just a small part of me wants strife to go away, to return to a kinder time. Am I just losing courage? Life is draining me,

Grateful for: Sunrise of pink and gold Showing the way, Lighting the sky, To another blessed day.

This is the America I know: A sea of white, black, red, yellow And brown faces, Strong minds and voices Raised to the sun,

Dark bulk of a single bird, With red puffed up chest, As winter’s breeze sways his perch…

Itchy eyes scaly feet achy joints and bad teeth hair so fine

Yellow finches Line the bird feeder Against Spring’ s canopy Of green and purple tapestry. Back and forth they go

The dance of fear, Of not being enough, Stops and starts. The unknown, an Uncharted sea,

In the dead Of Winter, I long for Spring. In the rains Of Spring,

Sitting on the lake shore, Which made my heart soar, The water rippled at times, Swirled into beautiful lines, Clouds reflected in it’s mirror,

Driving through the small towns of America, children of all colors playing in the streets, some with tattered clothes

Remember goodness in the fire of e… Remember joy in the center of sorr… Remember love in the flood of hate… Remember courage in the pit of fea… It’s never too late.

White heron skidding the blue, grey water, of the bay. How free and easy you make it look,