Memories of my childhood Visit more and more Each day, As ghosts of past relatives Cast their shadows,

Beneath the bustling, hustling mind, deep inside, there is an oasis of calm.

Embrace that which comes with ease: The twinkling of an eye, The drumbeat of a heart, The blooming of a flower,

The flesh withers as we age But our inner spirit Remains the same. And when the body dies The spirit breaks free

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

Firefly shine your light, Brighten my life, Lead the way, through The meadows, in my mind. Firefly, float so high,

Blue star behind tree branch. White cloud passing half moon. Black space surrounds like a

The birds flock to the bird feeder, some with black, capped heads and others with

On a walk, many Brown-Eye Susan line the border, before the woods. Rain clouds move closer as if to give a hug, while

The misty, night rain, Soaking bare trees, Bringing nourishment. I stand at the window, A steady beat echoes

On a walk this morning, the rocky cliffs that reach the blue-green sea, talk of strength today.

Thoughts flicker like twinkling lights, ride them across the sky. Embrace your dream,

Hello Sunrise, with your red ball of fire, peeking over the horizon, leaving the clouds pink,

My spirit communes with the four directions: To the north are in-laws, our aging mother, her last

As I age this last quarter of my life, I am fading into the background. As I let go of roles,