WHAT I NEED

A love for my heart

Good thoughts for my head

Tasks for my hands

Butter for my bread

Sleep for my nights

Work for my days

Courage for trouble

A little bit of praise

A song for my soul

Strength for any test

That's all I ask for

You take the rest

__________________________________________

This poem is a repost from 2006.

The picture was taken last year, a family picture, with my daughter and son and also lovable, sweet Jake!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah

and a wonderful New Year full of love, peace and joy!

____________________________________________

Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.

~Albert Einstein

SOMETIMES, LISTENING ...

Oh, many years were gone

before I understood

prayer is not only asking

for what I think is good

not always agonized appeal

or rapt petitioning

but sometimes silent tuning-in

Quiescent listening ...

__________________________________________

Photo was taken on my recent trip to Nova Scotia.

The lake with the water lilies was so lovely!

I sat quietly with my niece and felt such peace!

___________________________________________

Shall be back to blogging when I feel the heart of it!

Not there right now but hope to be soon.

Will try my best to do some blog visiting, though.

Have missed everyone!

~ Margie xx

SEE YOU IN OCTOBER ... (early October)

Wishing everyone a wonderful rest of the summer!

I'm taking a little break from blogging as in 3 weeks I'll be going on vacation. Heading up to Nova Scotia (one of my favorite places in the world!) to visit my family. I have so much to do before I leave and will have no time to blog.

But, I shall visit your blogs one more time before I take my break.

So, see you in October ... be well, be happy and enjoy life like the heart of a child!

Love and light ...

Margie :-)

A little poem before I leave ...

SUMMERTIME

When velvet bees rove lazily

amid the sunwarmed clovers

and summer hours drift hazily

these are the days for rovers ...

When August holds high fragrancy

and dreams are for the taking

my heart in wanton vagrancy

belies all future aching.

FIRST

Supposedly my dog Patches

never exactly belonged to me

but he was patient and gracious

helping a kid learn to play "go get it"

("fetch" was a foreign word then)

and showing me when enough was enough

("Don't wear him out" dad said

"He gets tired just as you do)

Patches ran the trails with dad

and peacefully tolerated me

as I learned that dogs need praise

and water and love.

He didn't deserve that painful death

from distemper.

Gentle little dog

wherever you wait now

maybe you barely remember me

but I need to send belated thanks

for that long-ago start

towards many years

of incomparable friendships.

_________________________________________

This is not a picture of my Patches but looks very much like him.

Patches was my first dog, my best dog !

SURPRISES

I am surprised at the red of the maples
Amazed at the spriggy young peach tree and plum
the wild berry canes are covered with silver
and here is a hoptoad big as my thumb ...

Astonished am I at the faint of the violet
that flows in among the dawn's softest gray
Delighted with noon so clear in its challenge
and almost amazed at the closing of day ...

But children, the children! Like butterflies flitting
like blooms that burst forth on a stream's
shining brink -
like birds that are spilled hit-a-miss in the
heavens -
so dazzled am I it is futile to think.

__________________________________

(Painting by artist Jack Vettriano)
http://www.heart-break.co.uk

A GALLOPING HORSE IS TODAY ...

Jump on behind, you who would ride with me

or in front for we ride bareback

in closer contact with our mount

the source of energy between our legs ...

No one can hold to slower gait

this golden day that freshened

by two days of resting clouds and showers

on the upturned face of August

leaves the restless river dappled green

with algae through which the ducks

make streaks in patterns along the shore

as they chase each other with ardor

or with punishing intent. Must we remain

static in our watching? The road

along the bank is for our riding

and there will never be an end

to our racing river. We must make

the most of this pungent day, the only one

of its special kind there will ever be.

We who find this so penetratingly sweet

in our loving of the earth and of each other

must not let a moment of this glorious day escape.

_______________________________________________

(The picture was taken by me.)

THE SEASONS

I understand the seasons now

I know their shades are varied
moods and knowing savor
each in turn ...
The lightning, sudden
frightening bolts of brightness ...
let it come ... for this is beauty
deepest mood that complements
the peaceful days ...
Then let it pass, let winds
blow soft and brush my cheek
with moistened lips ...
for this is beauty, deepest calm
that complements the stormy days ...
Let each shade color me
in turn, the red, the blue
the purple days
for I would know the shades of each
yet be the color of the whole.

TO MY HUSBAND ...

Sweetheart, you are more to me than dearness ... more than love
and yet these two are inseparably bound
in every thought and concept
I have of you ...

In your fleeting smile
and in the sweeter sound
of your lyrical voice
in every strand of hair that frames
those calm and ever comprehending eyes
that see within my very soul
and you understand and
empathize ...
________________________________
(Thank you, dearest!)
(I love you!)

LAUGHTER IS A LYRIC THING

Laughter is a lyric thing

with shining wings fluttering

through its echoes joyful notes ring

sweet laughter is a lyric thing

like the song of birds ...

Fragrances and starriness

sudden smiles ... a sweet caress

little ways that cheer and bless

surprisingly ... adventuring

like the song of birds ...

Your laughter is a lyric thing

all your love-thoughts echoing

half-dreamed wishes whispering

your laughter is a lyric thing

like the song of birds ...

____________________________________

Dedicated to my wonderful husband.

I so miss his sweet and lyrical laughter when he's away!

THE ROBIN

A cherry
or berry
has stained up your breast
it is merry
oh! very
to see you so dressed ...
you bring us
and sing us
an old but dear song
of tune-time
and June-time
of love that is strong
you appear
and you cheer
with expressions of pleasure
have brought us
and wrought us
fresh hope set to measure
playfully
gayfully
you fill our life-cup
you greet us
and meet us
with " Cheery - cheer up!"

SMALL SONGS

Some songs are silver cymbals
and some are jeweled lutes
and some are eflins dancing
and some are magic flutes
Bird songs! Fire tipped harmonies
flame across far centuries
some songs are bright wings glancing
by leaf-hid waterfalls
and others eye entrancing
and some are laughing calls
across strange space where starlight
streams-
Go, little songs and bear our dreams
some songs are flame-borne whisperings
poets have spoken of
but all are from the time-harp's strings
that God has struck - for Love.
Such charm and cheer came not by
chance-
God too loves rhythm and romance!
_________________________________________
Photo courtesy of Lorraine at:

http://wordsflowandstuffl.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Lorraine!

MANY A MOON

The tears I shed for lost balloons

and bursting bubbles soon were dried ...

my sobbing pleas for silvery moons

with lesser gifts were satisfied ...

Many a reach has failed its mark

since then and many a moon has waned ...

but love I cried for in the dark

came to bless me and remained.

HEADY DAY ...

The wrestling rain and wind of yesterday

have fought each other to a draw ...

Uncertainty died in the forgetting night

Morning is born anew

with no remembrance

of what went on before ...

The far of mountains laced with snow

are bluer in the sun and nothing stirs ...

Breathlessness becomes the newborn spring ...

The grass pricks up its tiny blades

and near the rocks the heat of sun

brings into early blossoming

flowers that spread their fragrance

over all the plain ...

There is a heady steam

of renewal in the air

as life begins again.
________________________________________
Photo taken by my husband.
He's a great photographer!

IN A VETERINARIAN'S WAITING ROOM

Our emotions are bare

as the walls surround us ...

our feelings exposed

as the pets on our laps ...

We all meet as strangers

but the things we discuss ...

are life ... love ... and death

too revealing perhaps ...

Our sick little creatures

dissolve inhibitions ...

when our names are called

we arise and depart ...

All unaware of our

own frank expositions ...

each leaving behind

a small piece of their heart!

___________________________________________

Picture is of my cat, Smokey.

She has kidney disease and I take her to our vet for IV treatments twice a week.

She is 16 years old and such a sweetheart!

I DID NOT KNOW ...

I did not know that silence

could sound like light ...

I did not know that music

could stretch a landscape into forever ...

so it could blossom into

a million gardens ...

or that my eyes could paint

a cobalt sky ...

I did not know the sight of you

would change my life forever ...

into a daily hourly hosanna

of my love for you ...

I did not know!

_______________________________________

Photo courtesy of Lorraine at:

http://wordsflowandstuffl.blogspot.com

Thanks so much, Lorraine!

THERE SHALL BE ROSES

It rained the day we said good-bye

and I heard someone say ...

"How sad that rain should bring

an added gloom."

They did not know

how much you loved spring rain ...

and what delight was yours

in strolling through your garden

on nature's wash-day ...

Soft spring rain is falling now ...

Remembering ... I pause at the window ...

You are there ... among the growing things ...

your benevolent hands caressing

the newly-washed green ... the bud ...

This spring ... there shall be roses ...

growing ... blooming ... where you sleep.

____________________________________________________________________

In memory of my dear friend, Mary.

She died in the spring of 2006.

A TOAST TO MOTHER'S

Here's to the ones who gave the life

to the souls from the starry skies

here's to the ones that encircle the earth

with the light of their loving eyes.

Here's to the one who never forgets

though I roam the wide world over

whose love can banish all regrets

God's sweetest gift - my mother!

___________________________________________

Mom, this coming Sunday is Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's day to you, in heaven!

You are always in my heart!

BRIGHT NOCTURNE

The full moon hangs on the wearing night

and floods the fields with amber light

golden, haloed, sanctified

slumbers the swimming countryside

the pale road shines like bloodless rust

my feet are swathed in silver dust

and light in which the land is dressed

with that which glorifies my breast

illuminates unbearably

so much too beautiful for me!

____________________________________

Photo taken by my husband!

TWO UNDER AN UMBRELLA

Come laughing with me into the rain

puddle-wet ... knee-high ... slush-mashed

nuzzling rain

turn and laugh

and curl into the world ...

follow the children dancing with spattered feet

or swinging in swings ...

spinning and vanishing over the street ...

Or let's run with the rivers of cats and leaves

away from the showers ...

until both of us drip and fade

like a handful

of paper flowers.

THIS ARCH

Wind, rain, time ... shaped this Arch

as for me, I think it was God.

Sculpting with his finger

this band of sandstone sod.

Leaving behind a blue window

all seeing eye to souls.

No bridge of mortal suspension

priceless treasure to behold.

Forged in the heat of the desert

canyon kiln of stone.

God made this lovely Arch to view

of a certainty ... this I know.

_______________________________________

Photo was taken in Arches National Park on a recent trip.

In the picture with me is my good friend, Melissa

Hello

Dear Friends ...
I've been away from my blog for such a long time but that does not mean I have forgotten all of you!
How could I ever forget you?
Never!
Once in a while I visit my blog and read all of the most kind comments and I smile :)
Thank you all so much for your visits and comments on my last post!
They are so greatly appreciated!
Gosh, is it really almost a year since I posted last?
I am here today to say, "hi" and wish all of you a wonderful 2011!
I hope to actually come back to blogging some time this year but don't know when yet.

It seems like mishaps are a part of my life!
I recently took a fall and badly sprained my ankle ... I'm so thankful it was not broken! 
Never a dull moment when one is a klutz! LOL!

So, till I am back again, may life bless all of you with much joy, love and peace!
Love and light to you and yours ...

Margie :)
___________________________________________
Oh, I have a poem to share ...

LYRICS

A lyric is a lovely thing
with a haunting tune
with a jeweled beauty
scraps of silver moon
flecks of mountain meadows
glints of winding stream
poignant revelations
of a poet's dream ...

Lyrics soar in ecstacy
up to heaven's blue
so my heart goes singing - winging -
straight to you!