She wonders
why she is
still here,
climbing into bed
exhausted
after a long
dinner with
her kids,
laughing
teasing
full of rancor
and silly puns,
scolding and
yarns about
the past, that
only we know
and understand,
while I tuck
her into bed,
she bemoans the
length of her stay
on this planet,
and why she has
endured so long,
while I smile
and tell her in
a very loud whisper
(she cannot hear
without her aids)
why she is
still here,
climbing into bed
exhausted
after a long
dinner with
her kids,
laughing
teasing
full of rancor
and silly puns,
scolding and
yarns about
the past, that
only we know
and understand,
while I tuck
her into bed,
she bemoans the
length of her stay
on this planet,
and why she has
endured so long,
while I smile
and tell her in
a very loud whisper
(she cannot hear
without her aids)
that she must
accept her life
these days,
given as a gift
because I have
no idea of the
answer: SHE IS
HERE BECAUSE
SHE IS HERE,
only God knows
when that
will end,
so until then,
watch the sunrise
and the moon,
breathe deeply
the flowers
of the garden
lush with summer,
eat with relish
and drink with
joy, and feel
your children
love you,
she nods and
closes her eyes:
She is ninety six!
accept her life
these days,
given as a gift
because I have
no idea of the
answer: SHE IS
HERE BECAUSE
SHE IS HERE,
only God knows
when that
will end,
so until then,
watch the sunrise
and the moon,
breathe deeply
the flowers
of the garden
lush with summer,
eat with relish
and drink with
joy, and feel
your children
love you,
she nods and
closes her eyes:
She is ninety six!
©J.W.WINSLOW 7/1/10
Standing at
the curb
beside my bag
packed up and
ready for the
Big Apple shag,
planning to
Knock ‘em Dead,
but Instead:
NO DEAL –
they screwed me
bigtime,
rolling the wheels
this big fancy
Airline
no flight
to be had
no seats saved,
it was kind of sad
they lost me in
the shuffle,
a last minute
blow off
in quite a tussle,
the only option
was to fly another day,
or more to the point,
DO IT THEIR WAY
whatever that
IS, GEE WHIZ,
it’s pretty lonely
in a taxi at Dawn,
returning to the
house where I belong
secured at any cost,
wondering exactly
what I’ve lost,
but my my
it’s good to be Home,
with the sun blazing
over the hills,
the curb
beside my bag
packed up and
ready for the
Big Apple shag,
planning to
Knock ‘em Dead,
but Instead:
NO DEAL –
they screwed me
bigtime,
rolling the wheels
this big fancy
Airline
no flight
to be had
no seats saved,
it was kind of sad
they lost me in
the shuffle,
a last minute
blow off
in quite a tussle,
the only option
was to fly another day,
or more to the point,
DO IT THEIR WAY
whatever that
IS, GEE WHIZ,
it’s pretty lonely
in a taxi at Dawn,
returning to the
house where I belong
secured at any cost,
wondering exactly
what I’ve lost,
but my my
it’s good to be Home,
with the sun blazing
over the hills,
while a bird sits inside
on the window sill,
he arrived when
I opened the door
ready to swoop
around and explore,
so I sat and watched
this brand new day
come to bloom
in a wonderful
way, and thought
to myself
this is what
I’d have missed,
suffering through
the airport Tryst,
grinding, running,
squeezing into a seat,
trying my best To find
something to eat,
watching the miserable
traveling souls
waiting for something
beyond their control,
So guess what I
did with my
newly found play…
I took it to mean
I was meant to stay
And plant the new bulbs
my mother sent
and walk the Wild Road,
(My magnificent
And splendid
best friend)
you just never
Know how
these things
will end.
on the window sill,
he arrived when
I opened the door
ready to swoop
around and explore,
so I sat and watched
this brand new day
come to bloom
in a wonderful
way, and thought
to myself
this is what
I’d have missed,
suffering through
the airport Tryst,
grinding, running,
squeezing into a seat,
trying my best To find
something to eat,
watching the miserable
traveling souls
waiting for something
beyond their control,
So guess what I
did with my
newly found play…
I took it to mean
I was meant to stay
And plant the new bulbs
my mother sent
and walk the Wild Road,
(My magnificent
And splendid
best friend)
you just never
Know how
these things
will end.
©J.W.WINSLOW 6/1/10