Brave Intimacy

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Mystique: Fary-tale

An ordinary
Character becomes a grown
Up version of self

Adventure ensues
Hard choices have to be made
Things end happily

Wiser and sobered
By the lessons afforded
Him or her in quest

There is never a
Better telling of fulfilled dreams
Than a fairy tale

Impact: A Series of Haikus

Making a statement
With one's choices of mainstays
Or accessories

Dress to impress, don
Our gay apparel, put on
A power suit now

Everybody
Will want one if just the right
Person represents

Fads begin with a
Sense of confidence and sheer
Enthusiasm

New and trendy styles--
Quickly captured, repeated,
And enjoyed awhile

Something surprising,

Not fitting everyday

"Plain" parameters

In a Box

If you were handed a box
With a sandwich in there
Accompanied by
A fresh juicy pear...
And it wasn't your lunch,
Would you eat it?

If you got a package
In the daily post
With no indication
Of its intended host...
And your name wasn't on it,
Would you open it?

If a box was left, stealthily,
On your front mat
With a note saying "thank you"
And nothing but that...
And a baby was inside,
Would you raise it?

The circle--unbroken--united for life
Beginning, in love, with a husband and wife
Continuing on, through the years, steadily
Through mutual support, offered readily
Two parents, believing that "love never fails,"
Committed to family--and all that entails
Their children, through each stage--as moments unfold--
Grow up, knowing love that's abundant and bold
And through their upbringing, with bumps 'long the way,
Unconditional love is imprinted to stay
It's part of their souls, not a vague obligation--
A legacy passed to the next generation

A Quiet Life

A life of eternal pursuits,

Giving way to a meek disposition—

Not taking on more than is needed;

Avoiding all selfish ambition.

A healthily balanced existence—

Not seeking out drama or strife.

These are the characteristics

Of leading a quiet life.

A quiet life need not be lonely,

For love, aptly given, rings loud.

But "the one" remains most important,

Not the thund'rous, impersonal crowd.

This quietness doesn't mean "hiding,"

Nor trading grand prospects for fears.

It means speaking calmly, with impact,

So the message won't fall on deaf ears.

A quiet life isn't reclusive,

Not lived out by one who's unknown.

It's earmarked by pause and discretion

And words which, with wisdom, entone.

A life not of empty endeavors

Or thoughtlessly parlayed about—

It's a life that makes others take notice

With a whisper instead of a shout.

Feel the Groovy Beat

Hey, can you feel that beat--
That thumping 'neath your feet?
Do you feel it in your soul?
Are you 'bout to lose control?
It's a beat demanding dance,
So why not take a chance?
Shake your booty all around
To the rhythm of the sound.
Get folks boppin' 'cross the floor
In groups of two or three or four!
Feel the tempo in your brain.
It's not crazy...it's insane!
And it cannot be contained
Once it truly gets ingrained.
Your whole body boogies free
To this growng rhapsody.
As you rock with all you've got,
You just can't stay in one spot.
Take it out into the street;
Come on, feel the groovy beat!

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Laundry Secrets

Use dish soap to remove grease--
In particular, the Dawn brand.
And blood stains are not tragic
if you have peroxide on hand.
When drying puffy comforters,
After twenty minutes, fluff;
Then return them to the dryer--
That should keep them fluffy enough.
Clean your dryer vent every time--
And yearly, the entire vent.
Add white vinegar to the wash;
It boosts the soap power spent.
For stains, soak in cold water,
Even overnight for the worst.
Apply stain remover, rub together;
Wash, cold or warm--but treat FIRST.
The more stubborn a stain is,
The longer the soak before.
It's amazing what can come clean
Without a long-lasting chore.
Wash your towels only in cold;
Hot water will make them scratch.
Fabric softeners do the opposite
When towels are in the batch.
Laundry detergent sheets
Are better than chemical soaps.
They're also very effective
And bound to meet your hopes.
Natural cleaners like vinegar,
Baking soda, and lime
Will take out many stains
And save you fruitless time.
Essential oils extend freshness
And are also antiseptic,
They kill off bacterial nasties
And make washing clothes less hectic.
Vinegar and club soda
Will even take out poop.
Soak, rinse, wring, and scrub--
By now, you've got the scoop.
Simple folding--nothing fancy--
Will help put away laundry faster.
Then clean items won't pile into
A mountain too big to master.
Thus ends the sharing of secrets
For those who must do laundry.
They just might come in handy
If you find yourself in a quandary.

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Total Sliders...Yum

Almost anything goes on a slider
You can shred beef or chicken or pork
If a slider becomes extra messy
You can always resort to a fork
Put on pineapple, peppers, or onions
To add to the overall taste
Then savor the rich, tasty goodness
Do not eat a slider in haste
The really great thing about sliders--
You're encouraged to eat more than one!
Adobo, ranch, pesto, aeoli
The saucing is part of the fun
Each morsel should feel like a party,
A true total slider feed-fest
Dill pickles, fried egg, avocado
The epicure chooses what's best
No matter what combo of contents
Or toppings complete the display,
Be careful to not heap too thickly
So the contents will not slide away!

Saturday, January 11, 2025

This is Good Stuff

Introvert

Thoughtful, observant

Reasoning, composing, perfecting

Unwinder, decompressor, talker, initiator

Sharing, socializing, risk-taking

Friendly, approachable

Extrovert

How it Can Be

"You'll never know until you try"
Is what my mother said,
Along with other phrases
Like "Remember--use your head."
"Take a chance" but "Watch your step"
And "Look before you leap."
"Cross that bridge when you come to it"
And "Don't get in too deep."
"Don't take any wooden nickels"
And "Keep your eyes peeled."
The caution, "Don't get your hopes up"
Or the vow, "My lips are sealed."
See, some business is too risky,
But courage sets one free.
Use wisdom to assess the two,
And find out how it can be.