No matter how far you travel
No matter where you go
The world she travels with you
And teaches lessons you need to know.
Some days are grey and cloudy,
others sunny with skies full of blue;
For along with joys and pleasure,
No matter if you are due,
The world she brews trouble,
And not a few heavy woes for you.
So when you hit the road
Have friends at the ready
To lighten up your load,
And bring you close together
To share the love of living
And keep you steady as you go.
THH
9/23/24
A gentle shower begins to play.
Raindrops snap and pop
on my tin roof;
Adventuring sounds,
Fading in and out,
Rushing tempos,
Slowing down,
Searching for chords,
A warm up set.
Accompanied by a breezy horn,
Blowing jazz notes for emphasis,
Finger my skin,
Lay underneath the rain
A refrain that works with emotion.
The breeze and rain play counterpoint.
An ensemble of enchantment,
soothes aging ears
with a syncopated sounds.
A rhythmic salve to thoughts pestering my brain, releasing the demons of what was and what might have been,
From another round of reasoning.
Tree frogs provide accompaniment,
As tears from father sky
bath bird and beast and
Quench the thirst of Mother Earth.
The land is a sponge.
And the tinkle of water
performs its rooftop tunes,
Until the jazz fades,
Leaving nothing but rest.
THH
9/14/24
Today full of grace
Friends with ears open
A will to listen
A lesson in divine touch
Awakens ears
Opens hearts
Yearning to speak
THH
9/8/24
Be still
Really still, I’m told.
Sit alone
Do nothing
Slip off the engagement ring
of speaking and directing,
Seek a space for listening.
Don’t think of what’s coming,
Plan nothing,
Sit back,
Stop scrolling,
Make no sound,
Forget proposing.
Stay with silence,
Empty as a chilled house
So still I hear my heart beat
Feel air blanket my aging skin
Breathe life’s time in.
In this silence, I know so well,
my senses quiver,
bleed and blend, with
Shouts at blameless walls
Hear the echoes of sobs
welling from within
Mocking my demands for
a magical accounting.
I tremble and crumble
sling words at the page,
Know they fail to touch
the depth of this reckoning.
Forget expectations,
Make no explanations,
Create holy space to dwell
In between past directions
and important questions.
Being still
Really still
In anticipation of some recognition,
A fool’s salvation,
As afternoon sunlight slides
along the floor
Leaving me to wonder
Is there anything more
To search for?
THH
9/9/24
Take time
She’s all you’ve got
Make believe she’s yours
Even though she surely is not.
Use her while you can
Get to know her moves
Always forward,
Never back.
Take time with her,
For she gives what she will,
And never rests.
But if you fail to take her to dance
You commit a crime against chance.
Time gives nothing away.
She is never free;
She owes no debts,
But steals you blind,
Day after day,
Expects you to follow her lead,
And yet for her we continue to pray.
Time never asks to dance
Time’s a bitch if you fail to use her,
She’s all you have
You never want to lose her.
Time is a queen.
She reigns with authority,
Gives no thought to justice,
Refuses to number days,
She moves to a subtle beat,
Then turns all you know to dust.
And leaves you behind.
Take time now
While she will play with you
Dance with her all you can,
Swing her around,
Smile at her while at play,
For sooner or later
No longer will you sway her.
Take time now while still able.
She is no clock to wind
Over and over,
And where you begin is not
where on the dance floor
you will end.
You do not own her.
You cannot control her.
She can’t be bought.
Time sings one mysterious song,
Writes her perfect bridge
Invites you over.
Time offers no wisdom traveling east
She follows no star.
She cares nothing for the past,
or who you are,
But always has the last laugh.
So play along as long as she’s willing,
Hold her loosely
Follow her lead,
Always remember
When you hold her close
It is certain one day
She will leave.
Time is a witches brew
Serving potions of hope and despair,
Love and pain,
Open to the spice of life,
Showering senses with fire and ice.
Take time while you may
She’s all you’ve got.
Time never lingers,
And no promises does she make.
Learn time’s siren song,
And sing along wisely.
For when her music ends
No goodbye will be proffered.
For time gives away nothing,
Remains coldly independent,
And at the bitter end
When your time comes to an end,
And she slips soundlessly out the door
She leaves nothing
But your dust on the floor.
THH
9/2/24
Thoughts Have Hands 