Caged or Free

Caged or Free

We are all caged
visible or not
no one totally free
each has restrictions
necessary chains
borders that must not be crossed
rules and laws
for the good of all
all have limits
lest chaos reign.

This is written for Sumana's prompt
at Midweek Motif..."Two Souls:  Caged
and Free."

Also shared with Poetry Pantry,
as I posted late in Midweek Motif.
and several who I commented on 
didn't comment on this....so I decided
to give it another go.

Reflection

Reflection

This is the day today
this is the moment now
give something
learn something
do something
take something
to remember
or it will pass
and you will have
nothing except regret
for the passing of time.


For Poets United Poetry Pantry

Autumn

Autumn 

It is that time of year again when days are shortening and moods are darkening.  Soggy rains dampen spirits, and it seems more work to go out into the world than to stay in and look at life from behind the rain-misted glass.  All has been harvested, the trees are beginning to color, and now we wait for the blanket of white.  This is always a reflective time of year, a time of reflecting on the loss of what was once green, a time of missing the joys of youth, a time of wondering how many more summers lie ahead, a time of appreciating life just as it is with gifts, pleasures, and beautiful hues.  The calendar moves forever forward.  Our summer has now changed to fall.  We must always hold the memories of summer, but not fear the future.  There is more life.  There is tomorrow and beautiful colorful autumn on the horizon. The calendar moves on, and we must too.

As the days shorten
autumn makes its appearance
colors are its gift.

This haibun is written for Susan's Midweek Motif at Poets United.  The theme is "equinox."

I will also share this with Kanzensakura's Haibun Monday - where I will return comments to anyone who comments on mine.

I Regret

I Regret

I didn't notice
didn't thank
didn't praise

didn't pay attention
spoke too soon
spoke at all

didn't hold a hand
didn't befriend
didn't speak

didn't volunteer
didn't befriend.
looked the other way

I regret that
I cannot say
it won't happen again

Shared with Poetry Pantry.

I am sharing a poem from 2009.
Still relevant today.
I wonder what your regrets are.

Appreciation

Appreciation

Let's start with  sunrise
as we have to start somewhere
friends and family
poetry and supportive poets
and we can't forget life itself
yes life where would we be
without life itself and family
friends and  poetry and sunrise
to appreciate.

For Sumana's prompt for Poets United  Midweek Motif:
"Appreciation."

A Few "Small Stones"

A Few "Small Stones"

Cool September day
harbinger of autumn
summer gone too soon

Fifteen years since 9 / 11
I wonder what the world
has learned since that day

No more encyclopedias
only search engines
will all books disappear

Fifteen years since 9 / 11
so many alive now
were not yet born

During contentious elections
is there still reason
for writing poetry

Fifteen years since 9 / 11
First responders still
today bear the pain

Why does it seem
like my dogs really
understand my words

Fifteen years since 9 / 11
we were all unified for a time
red white and blue

Football on television
Americans cheer and jeer
eat pizza and drink beer

Fifteen years since 9 / 11
One World Trade Center
replaces the Twin Towers

Back to school
one more year
I remember their births

Fifteen years since 9 / 11
Let us never forget
Let us never forget.


A few "small stones" written for / shared with Poets United Poetry Pantry.

Bloom

Bloom

As the blooms of summer fade away
I await the bloom of hope
to dispel feelings approaching doom
these early September days

the climate is on the cusp of change
anxiety hovers wearily in the air
future lurks heavy beyond the horizon
I wring hands and wonder

what will November bring.

This is written for Susan's prompt "Blooms" at Poets United Midweek Motif.

Return

Return

I visited this place in another lifetime
not all that many years ago
but it was in another chapter
now closed that I walked here
      until again I found my way.

The beauty is the same
and the ocean sunsets
and the pink umbrellas
at the beach with the
view of Diamond Head
are as I remembered
    but it is a new chapter.

The Thai restaurant has closed
but the udon restaurant opened
the local marketplace replaced
by Saks Fifth Avenue but the
proud banyan still stands strong
fish caught and served fresh each day

the sandy beach still invites

   ocean waves still warm.
 

The flag still flies above the Arizona
the dead remain dead beneath the sea
bright shirts and flip flops and hula
palm trees wave in the wind
papayas still so sweet
   some things never change.

ABC stores still in every block
Aloha instead of hello
surrounded by characteristic tunes
I visited this place in another lifetime
not all that many years ago
but I found my way back again
   and it felt like going home.


This is written for Poets United Poetry Pantry.  I wasn't around home last week.
I was in Hawaii (Waikiki), which is reflected in this poem.  I did visit ALL of 
the poems of those who visited MY last week's poem in the Pantry though (and
I think those of you who DID make that first visit) -- however, quite
late because I believe strongly in return visits.  Smiles.