week 663 ~ in the company

in the company
of those I love well
of my family

I rest happily
for this brief sweet spell
in the company

of laughter silly
games red zinfandel
of my family

I dream most nights see
their faces to dwell
in the company

of those who love me
too a carousel
of my family

that twirls in 3-D
beyond our farewell
in the company
of my family

week 655 ~ the world of tattoos and a pickup truck

the world of tattoos and a pickup truck
American dreams now riddled with rust
someone’s utopia sneer if you must
but where you grew up’s a product of luck
and what you believe shows whose words you read
we all still have parents and families
children we want to be happy one breeze
can knock us into a new path so heed
the little voice of doubt look through someone
else’s glasses squinting into the sun
being kind’s the best choice in the long run
perhaps there’s common ground before you’re done
look truth in the eye our land of the free
demands we all deserve equality

week 454 ~ my heart fell

my heart fell
off my sleeve
you can’t tell
my heart fell
wish me well
as I grieve
my heart fell
off my sleeve

week 453 ~ like an old-fashioned photograph

like an old-fashioned photograph
family faded by sunlight
we gather briefly here despite
distances for a snapshot laugh
-ing hoping to choreograph
the automatic timer on
the camera to capture joy drawn
on our faces salt from the sea
still on our lips reality
fusing us in time passing gone

week 430 ~ we will get through this locally

we will get through this locally
with family and friends we love hold
that thought their hands the laughter bold
action together stand tall we
are smarter and steadfast surely
we can take down the rude pompous
bully who dares rule never us
no sir we’re ready to resist
coercion punch back and insist
on truth so start the wild rumpus

“And now,” cried Max, “let the wild rumpus start!”
― Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are

week 403 ~ family grows in the heart it expands

family grows in the heart it expands
adding those who stake a claim on our love
never stagnant sometimes out of our hands
family grows in the heart it expands
big enough to hold everyone who stands
at the door by choice or luck a sense of
family grows in the heart it expands
adding those who stake a claim on our love

week 378 ~ here together happily

here together happily
we will close this old year down
joyful friends and family
here together happily
misfortune you plainly see
has left us nary a frown
here together happily
we will close this old year down

Happy 2016 to all you readers here as well!

week 350 ~ family

family
for always
we will be
family
glad to see
these sweet days
family
for always

week 320 ~ fleeting moments

fleeting moments
pack them away
experience
fleeting moments
when time relents
lost memories play
fleeting moments
pack them away

week 314 ~ so happy

so happy
this birthday
I’m simply
so happy
with family
talk laugh play
so happy
this birthday