In the tender gentle heart

a space is held which holds each part

of life revealed each and every day

All that passes through will also stay

Ever present voices echo things

from past beliefs like hidden strings

Heartfelt joys of passions real

Echo on in time’s chambers to reveal

The souls flow by in the river of life

Tiny dreams in a steady stream, without strife

Propel each one to a place uncertain

In the early morn, behind the dreamer’s curtain

Not forming thoughts full enough to grasp

Holding out some hope of all that lasts 

To each life both then and now belonging

Brought forth in hope and renewed longing

In the tender gentle heart

><><>< 09/17/22

From the depths of sadness
Memory brings forth
Moments of tenderness
In dreams
Realization
In the moment
That it is a dream
Thus comfort becomes
The knowledge that past tenderness
Resides in the heart
And wanders around the inner mind’s realm
Memories of comfort
Near the depths of the soul
Touching
<><><><><><><><><><> 12/07/14

With goodness in our hearts
and sadness in our eyes
we said goodbye

We had felt the depths
and seen too much
when we said goodbye

Strength can hold the heart aloft
though tears in trials flow
as we said goodbye

Time is healer of the heart
Mind’s eye throws us back
to when we said goodbye

Many hearts through fits and starts
Have seen some better things
as we said goodbye

Time does not erase our feelings
and silent tears return sometimes
to when we said goodbye

Holding goodness in our hearts
as we gaze beyond
when we said goodbye

<><><><><><><><><><> 09/17/17

Smiles and kisses

Dreams and schemes

Plans and hopes

Made up this thing

Random lucky breaks

And hard work and sweat

Smiles and kisses

Dreams and schemes

Happy children

Long days and sleepy nights

Words and looks

Things from books

Smiles and kisses

Dreams and schemes

Days of caring

Days of sharing

Lifetime legacy

After all this

Smiles and kisses

Dreams and schemes

Hopes and visions

Small changes

Big changes

Major setbacks

Lived through with grace and stamina

Smiles and kisses

Dreams

Dreams foregone and fulfilled

Schemes aplenty

But mostly simply

Being

Being together

Through all this

Smiles and kisses

Simple joys

Happy dinners

Sons all grown

All of them sharing

Smiles and kisses

Smiles and kisses

<><><><><><><><><><><><> 9/11/13

“It’s not about fighting. It’s about being.”  Therese

<><><><><><><><><><><><> 9/11/13

Precious time

With hope in mind

Of love that never dies

Light of days

will always stay

in hearts and minds they say

when we were young

and nights were long

joy was born through you

Precious time

With hope in mind

Of love that never dies

As time went by

Our children’s lives

Filled days and nights, we two

Joy in learning

Ever burning

And toys and laughter too

Precious time

With hope in mind

Of love that never dies

Growing together all our days

adversities intruded

But never once in all that time

Was discouragement included

Precious time

With hope in mind

Of love that never dies

Fidelity through thick and thin

Was all we ever needed

And better or worse

As wedding verse

Was lived as days

Moved past unheeded

Precious time

With hope in mind

Of love that never dies

As fate had its say

In final days

And strength gives way

In struggles

We’ll always know

Wherever we go that

Precious time

With hope in mind

gives life, not death,

its beauty. 

<><><><><><><><><><><><> 9/11/13