car ride

Driving my high school son
and his friends home,
metal, heavy on the volume,
I listened.
"Why believe? Don't you know
God abandoned
us long ago…"
I couldn't understand
the rest,
but the boys?
They talked of how
much they love
the song and a band
who tells it like it is
to the world.
It made me remember
my rebellious days,
my days of disbelief.
when we knew it all,
had faith only in ourselves.
nobody could tell us
differently,
so I don't try to tell him.
I was once much like them-
the boys
in my car.

Thank you!

I had a few minutes and logged on just in case....and yowza! new writings! What a thrill to read your new words and thoughts. xxoox

teacher

in the stores,
the smells of
newly boxed
crayons and
Elmer's glue
beckon-
a new school year
begins

the kids as yet
unknown to me
say my name
while I sleep
and we wonder
about the other

for me it's always
love
at first sight
as I watch them
tiptoe into
carefully planned
lessons and
walk confidently
out

they teach me
more than I
could ever teach
them
yet they call
me
teacher

and when the year
closes,
I send them off,
hoping I've done
my part
and missing them
before they're
out of sight.

Freewrite of Writer's Group Night

We hide from
the not knowing,
hoping this time
will be
different.
He'll take us to a
movie
or
the playground.

Still,
we hide from
the possibility
of his anger,
that oozes
like red
Georgia
mud,

sparked by
something,
anything,
someone,
anyone-
as he makes his way
home.

So, we hide under
the covers
feigning sleep,
or in the closet
holding hands,
fingers clenched
together.

Don't breathe.
Don't sigh.
Not a whisper.
hearts tense
with the
not knowing.

Leaving on a jet car

Tonight is the last night at home for two weeks. Today was one of those days packed tight as a suitcase for an international flight. The dryer that was delivered last week, the one that the technician said he'd never seen one like and couldn't fix, was picked up. I paid JJ to clean the house and apartment--I, who never pay for cleaning service. My house sparkles, the apartment smells like cleaning stuff. I had my hair done, product applied, my toes and fingers painted as close to autumn orange as I could find in a bottle. And the highlight of the day was writing group, always is! I will pack my underwear and iPod and jewelry and clothes, hoping to run into cooler weather along the way, hoping to be overwhelmed, as I always am, by the colors of true autumn, wishing I could take you all with me.

When I came inside, my Buddha APP (can you believe there's an app for that?) told me this: Three things cannot hide for long: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

How wonderful it is to have friends who tell their truths and make mine bigger! I love you all!

Sacred Space

built by wind
and sun
and rain
wildflowers
blue sky
trees
lakes
and streams
god's architects
lend us
this earth
for
awhile

Back Door

silence, you
tiptoe
through the
back door.
our secret
keeps
if
they don't
see you
coming
-or
going.
we're
invisible.
ssshhhh,
don't tell.