We Rise

 I hit the gym floor...hard.

My knee burns, my wrist and palm ache

And in a split second, thoughts flash

Argh, it hurts!

Everyone sees me.

Why do I play?

A teammate pulls me up

…. Because I love the game.

Yeah.

        I rise and stand.

The team looks at me, concerned..

My eyes grin. (no mask can hide it)

        They smile back.

All of them know

They sent strength.

Blood pulses

I send them energy

They nod, message received.

To my opponent..

...I wink.

Yeah, I’m still here.

She blinks, confused.

No, girl, I’m not out.

Now, I’m in her head.

I rise stronger.

My head is in the game.

        My hands ready for the ball.

Heart beats fierce.

Connected

Heart of the team gives me power.

I transcend

What’s a bruise?

Nothing but a badge

Effort given.

Toes bounce

Legs move

Passes pop

Ball arcs for a basket

I rise,

because We Rise

and Play.

I Stand Tall

“Bloodied but unbowed"

I stand tall.

Pulling my limbs from the dark tendrils

that unceasingly try to drag me under,

I stand tall.

As Cool Hand Luke, not ready to lose,

I stand tall.

Against the wages of daily stress

With undaunted spirit

Proud of my humanness,

Of spirit,

I stand tall.

With a glint in the eye

And a curl on the lip,

I stand tall.

And, for those in my life,

Or in my memory,

That have shown me how,

I stand tall

Undaunted

His head spun and he fell

Unable to stand, memory lost

Serious injury and hospital

Becomes a reality check

That scares every teammate.

But we shall go forward, undaunted.

“One game at a time,” they say.

Comes with spirited “Good Lucks.”

We nod, smile and say “Thanks”

Yet this game is different

There’s more than a win or loss

But we shall go forward, undaunted.

So, as we ride the bus as a team

We shall joke, chat and strategize.

And our hearts will thrum eagerly.

as we hunger for the field,

Yet, cool, with nonchalance and a grin

We shall go forward, undaunted.

The Sound of Words

The sound of words being made

Started out scratching quill to parchment.

Sharp tip scrapping ink into scrolls

Scratching out the scrawl of ideas,

The scent of poems, the essence of humanity.

Gutenberg, with a pull and a spin

Banged large plates together to sound out

Like a bell the equality of books.

Bringing news to all, sharing knowledge,

And bellowing thoughts of revolution.

The key of a typewriter strikes. Whap!

Slapping metal into ribbon on to the page.

Words tattle and rattle from aching fingers

Cachunking a carriage with a whiz after a bell.

Words soft and hard speak stories of life.

With a whir and a hum, the power excels,

A silver ball bounces and bangs along.

Words form quickly with the dance of thought.

And with a shift of white and a shuffle back,

Words disappear, to be resurrected more clear.

Now, the words wink with the soft clicking

As fingers tap through the digital glow.

Printers whisper quietly, paper hisses into trays.

Though the flow of energy is hushed and subdued,

The sound of making words still thunders on.

May 2002

A Small Town Gathering of Heroes

A dark night, rainy, a hero came home.

A black car, long limo, carried him gently.

A flag of stars and stripes blanketed him.

The street was glossy, tires whispered prayers,

For many heroes preceded and followed.

Lights, red, white and blue, flashing quietly.

Troops ‘Ten-Hut’ as he passed with honor.

EMT, fire, state, and county colors rolled with

Fellowship, pride, and a teary eye.

Many people stand together, close and somber,

Connected in grief, love, and respect, as family,

A community of hugs and remembrance.

All about are sturdy, stoic faces of the men and women

Who protect, stand in harm’s way, go to danger, and serve,

And I say thank you to him, to them, to all.

She has Super Powers!

“She has super powers!”

“No, she don’t!” Hands reject.

“Yes.” Eyes flare. “She does.”

Hands scoff. “Prove it.”

Eyes shine bright. “Easy.”

She came in before school ever started.

Painted the classroom up real nice.

Made it bright. Made it clean and safe.

On the gray, rainy days she smiles and hugs.

We forget about the outside and learn

As she leads us book explorations.

We stood on chairs when we read our poems.

Something about a different way to look at things

And sounding our voice over the roofs.

Plus, this is funny, she and others danced on stage.

It was pretty good for a woman her age

And we laughed together, the whole room.

“She sounds a bit crazy.” Hands taps the table.

Eyes roll with a grin. “Most teachers are.”

“But still no super powers,” Hands, palms out.

Eyes proud. “She changed my world.”

A Dusty Old Valentine

I found a dusty old Valentine
Shoved back into a desk drawer.
It was one I bought for you
Then misplaced sometime of yore.

It had hearts and flowers
And curly letters delicate and red,
“You are my heart and soul,
Be mine, now and forever,” it said.

Fifteen years are only a few years
As husband and wife then family
Add three; meeting, knowing and falling
We have barely scratched at eternity.

The dusty old Valentine and all the yesterdays,
Like today, with tomorrow, holds with a smile
Your blue eyes showing, day after day,
Me with you and your love all the while.