Brave Intimacy

Friday, April 4, 2025

Creepy

Strangely-shaped mushrooms and odd ocean creatures
Misshapen forms with unsettling features
Nocturnal goblins and dark things with wings
These are a few of the creepiest things

Innovative Beyond the Ordinary

Every newfangled invention
That makes its way into our hands
Helps make daily life smoother
And meet the public's demands:
Exercise, sleep, mattress comfort--
Each day more needs are addressed;
Kitchen tools, weight loss, storage--
Solutions that leave us impressed.
But every new innovation
Or discovery that sets the pace
Was extraordinary at first,
Before it became commonplace.

To, From

To my daughter, my niece, my aunt,
My love, my son, cousin, and bro;
My co-worker, counselor, colleague,
My pastor, a friend that I know,
My sister, my nephew, my grams,
My uncle, my gramps, aesthetician,
Granddaughter, grandson, or boss,
My coach, my penpal, beautician,
My nail salon tech, my instructor,
My mentor, my sponsor, my pet,
My Amazon driver, my mailman,
The cashier I will not forget,
My food delivery person,
My Uber driver, my plumber,
My HVAC guy, my housekeeper,
The guy who sold me my Hummer,
My neighbor, my make-up supplier,
My publisher, manager, agent,
And even to Jake from State Farm--
And the doctor, when I am a patient:
I appreciate you wholeheartedly;
Just making sure you are aware.
From me to you, let it be known--
You're important; I see you; I care.

Your Home, Your Garden

Sometimes a home or garden
So exemplifies a look
That it winds up being featured
In a magazine or book.
But I've found what really matters
In such considerations
Is what truly makes you happy,
Whether rocks or pink impatiens
Or succulents 'round yard ponds
Or bushes sculpted prim,
A wishing well or birdbath--
Whatever strikes your whim.
A home can also spotlight
One's personality
In color or in content
Or both, as it may be.
Are tribal masks your thing
Or floral prints and hues
Or are hand-crafted woodworks
The elements you'd use?
Do you lean into boho
Or maybe minimalistic?
Perhaps you favor coastal
Or veer more realistic,
With traditional rich textures,
Damask, and even lines--
Or maybe gardenista
With lots of hanging vines.
The point is: what you choose
Is completely up to you,
Whether it be old-fashioned
Or a style that's completely new.
It is your home, your garden;
So remember, in your quest--
If you do you, the outcome
Will always suit you best.

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Mom: Force of Nature

My mom was a force of nature--
Like a thunderstorm when mad,
But she'd always make me laugh
If I was feeling sad.
She was my greatest champion,
Even when I'd erred.
She loved without condition.
Her actions showed she cared.
She wanted to protect me
From hurts that she'd lived through;
To spare me pain and sorrow,
She'd do all she could do

My mom was a force of nature.
Her laughter filled a space.
And when she sang, her joy was like
The sunshine on her face.
She liked to act "tough" sometimes;
And tough she was, for sure--
For she'd suffered things that no one
Should ever have to endure.
Yet her generosity flourished;

Her heart was as big as the sky,
And she'd give you the shirt off her back
Without a mere blink of an eye.

My mom was a force of nature--
A lightning bolt of spunk--
Not clouded by others' opinions;
She'd chalk them up as bunk.
She wasn't an intellectual
And didn’t like watching the news;
And when politics came up,
Her "discussion" was to refuse.
She possessed a deeper wisdom
And a faith like a mighty tree.
Yes, Mom was a force of nature,
And that nature lives in me.

Friday, March 21, 2025

Buddy

"Buddy" is a term I use

To show that you are mine
Not everyone's my buddy
Not all receive my time
But you, my darling grandson,
Mean more than average folks
You are immensely treasured
And you smile at Grandma's jokes

I'm glad you are my buddy.
You make my life the best
I'll always love you, Buddy,
And count myself as blessed.

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Fire in My Heart

It ignites unexpectedly,
Calls to the mind
To pull words together,
New meaning to find.
To pull from a challenge,
From whimsy, background--
Incorporate new words
I've randomly found.
To bring new perspective,
Give others delight--
Each phrase from the heart,
Through a fire that burns bright.

Your Own Food

Plant cabbage, onions,
Carrots, broccoli, garlic
To harvest at home

To have a garden
Is to grow satisfaction
And flavor from seeds

Weed, water, nurture
With enthusiasm and
Garden green craving

Best Snacks

At the movies, smuggling in purse;
While writing, verse after verse;
A road trip with friends or with kids.
Fruits, veggies in dishes with lids--
And dips with those for taste.
Snacks can't be packed in haste.
Pretzels, Cheez-its, jerky,
Curds, diced ham or turkey.
And cookies can't be overlooked,
Especially when tickets are booked
On a plane, a train, or a ship--
Oatmeal-raisin or chocolate chip.
And there's always crackers and cheese
To pull off a journey with ease,
Or popcorn if you'd prefer.
Perhaps yogurt--just give it a stir.
Mixed nuts, rice cakes, pub mix,
Or even dry cereal like Trix.
A trip to the zoo, Zip-locs loaded
With things that are candy-coated.
An afternoon swim would fall flat
Without a beef stick or Kit-Kat.
Bananas can be appealing
On a fishing trip, after reeling.
And soccer games, baseball, track
All demand the perfect snack.
So, bring the best snacks--don't forget--
It's a choice you won't regret.

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

95%

You might be a brain
Or have a keen mind
You might be a wiz at all things
You might be a genius
A prodigy marked
By the joy that an A+ mark brings
Or maybe you keep your books open
And stay in a studious state
Achievement most often takes work
To make GPAs elevate
So whether it's smarts or a combo--
Academics and intellect--
95% or above
Is the logical grade to expect