Four Poems

No Way

No matter the words

My feelings for you are too great

To express on paper

Or with sounds.

While I am myself

I am also a part of you

And you of me.

Who knew, that fateful day

When our paths crossed

So long ago

That our lives would be so changed,

So intertwined,

So uplifted,

So focused,

So filled,

So amazing?

Who knew?

Old Friends

Wooden music on the back porch,

Around a smoky fire,

In the dimly lit garage –

Surrounded by night,

Or children

Or wives

Or just the dog

Who raises her ears and eyes

At the sounds of us.

Old songs,

Often repeated,

Melodies, harmonies,

Finger picking, rhythms

And rhymes.

Old beat up guitars,

Then new ones.

Guitars better than us.

Something to strive for

Something to deserve.

Maybe we would, someday.

Someday.

Laughter and sweat

Stories and tears

Anger and faith

And politics.

There was nothing unimportant

From our days to our families

Both near and far.

Childhood stories and the

Death of loved ones.

Accomplishments and setbacks.

It was all fair game.

Whoever we were

Was laid out plain.

Our successes and faults

Our bruises and scores.

Nothing was held back-

We were unguarded

Unfiltered, honest.

In some ways

I am who I am

Because

Of

You.

Indiana Winter

Dark crusty snow

Cinders at the side of the road

Bare trees with

Skeletal fingers

Reaching upward

Almost touching

The low cloudy sky

Overcast

Gray

Winter

Fireflies

Fireflies

lightning bugs

flickering

twinkling

humid night

dark, dark woods

flashing

on and off

off and on

yellow

golden

line segments

crawling across the sky

weaving their

magic paths

searching

looking

signaling

desperately

wanting a mate