week 581 ~ optimism

optimism
chases its tail
watch the schism
optimism
indecision
lets plans derail
optimism
chases its tail

week 391 ~ happiness hovers near the horizon

happiness hovers near the horizon
drawing us onward it floats a languid
lover unconscious of navigation
blissfully unaware day has landed
blind to misspent youth or ships or sudden
squalls upsetting equilibrium no
it’s laughing at a whispered joke open
to ebb and flow while savoring the slow
sly mirth of its wingman optimism
no fear as sharks circle it knows it’s the
object of all desire we await
the inevitable cataclysm
squinting ahead where we can almost see
the moment our pursuit arrives too late

week 308 ~ inspecting the boundaries

inspecting the boundaries
of a life reconsidered
in a forest without trees

you can’t count what no one sees
and so much time’s been frittered
inspecting the boundaries

gathering lost memories
if one falls will it be heard
in a forest without trees

hostile winds blow cold dreams freeze
battered by each unkind word
inspecting the boundaries

of love bring us to our knees
is optimism absurd
in a forest without trees

all tangents go where they please
hope progresses undeterred
inspecting the boundaries
in a forest without trees

week 266 ~ if you color outside the lines

if you color outside the lines
everything hasn’t happened yet
and life’s not as good as you get
maybe tomorrow the sun shines
brighter any number of signs
could appear overnight blue sky
isn’t out of the question try
to make the plan you’d like to see
come true for optimism’s free
and the dream waits in your mind’s eye

week 222 ~ we are all looking for rapture

we are all looking for rapture
that split second when joy is pure
and despite doubt we’re very sure
this is it though we can’t capture
light disappearing in a flur-
ry of conversation we start
again without a map for part
of the brilliance lodges within
giving us the strength to begin
mining an optimistic heart

week 188 ~ this wandering mystery

this wandering mystery
to the path of the future
and as far as we can see
all’s possible nothing’s sure

to the path of the future
then let us raise our glasses
all’s possible nothing’s sure
for optimists that passes

then let us raise our glasses
to celebrate this new day
for optimists that passes
for faith or hope anyway

to celebrate this new day
suspending conclusions drawn
for faith or hope anyway
promises to lead us on

suspending conclusions drawn
nothing rings true yet but light
promises to lead us on
smiles as time begins to write

nothing rings true yet but light
and as far as we can see
smiles as time begins to write
this wandering mystery

for my graduating students

week 89 ~ I want to feel like there’s a smile

I want to feel like there’s a smile
in my shirt pocket happiness
in the five day forecast no guess
work about it when I speed dial
hope I want it to answer trial
and error won’t do any more
this time when I walk out my door
I want the full optimistic
package with me so I can pick
living happily evermore