To be sure

The story of the Garden of Eden

Illustrates that faithfulness to the Law

Will provide a simply beautiful place to live

However for those of us less fortunate mortals

“The Garden of Eden” remains a story

Unable to be fulfilled

Toil as we might

Weeds creep throughout our gardens

Strangling our hyacinths

Choking our Day lilies

Even causing blight on our roses

Furthermore there is no demarcation

For the laborers of the ‘Garden of Eden’

Or more to the point no separation of responsibilities

For those of us trying to emulate the laborers

The division of labor in a Garden

Is decided by the one most likely to have a vision

Of what a heavenly garden should look like

That individual must also have a lackey to implement said plan

And then the instructions begin:

Weed, cut grass, trim, sweep up, plant grass, lay mulch

It’s a bit much for someone who knew they were always

Going to be the odd man out

When it was discovered the apple was missing

FXC 7/10/19

Copyright

Thunder & Lightning

The beauty of aging

Resides in the fading memory

Of time passed

There are moments

Not to be remembered

Other moments

Become immortalized

Like playing in the rain

Dark, ominous skies

Strong winds swirling billowing clouds

At 8, 9 or 10 probably barefoot

Just the exquisite pleasure

Of youth uninhibited by fear

Oblivious to nature’s wrath

Dancing in puddles

Parents watching from windows

Yes, yes I remember

But now on a walk

Getting ‘steps’

Forecast of rain

Umbrella clutched tightly

The sky begins its slow dance of breathing

In then out slowly

Revealing its intent

When white tentacles

Spread across the darkened sky

Providing seconds of perfect light

But remember now

Remember to wait for the thunder

The time between lightning and thunder

Will reveal how soon the rain will fall

Gosh, gosh please remember

How long do I have

I can’t remember

I really do wish I could remember

Not that I could walk faster

It would just be nice to remember

As the first drops begin to fall

FXC 7/10/19

Copyright

Thunder & Lightning

The beauty of aging

Resides in the fading memory

Of time passed

There are moments

Not to be remembered

Other moments

Become immortalized

Like playing in the rain

Dark, ominous skies

Strong winds swirling billowing clouds

At 8, 9 or 10 probably barefoot

Just the exquisite pleasure

Of youth uninhibited by fear

Oblivious to nature’s wrath

Dancing in puddles

Parents watching from windows

Yes, yes I remember

But now on a walk

Getting ‘steps’

Forecast of rain

Umbrella clutched tightly

The sky begins its slow dance of breathing

In then out slowly

Revealing its intent

When white tentacles

Spread across the darkened sky

Providing seconds of perfect light

But remember now

Remember to wait for the thunder

The time between lightning and thunder

Will reveal how soon the rain will fall

Gosh, gosh please remember

How long do I have

I can’t remember

I really do wish I could remember

Not that I could walk faster

It would just be nice to remember

As the first drops begin to fall

FXC 7/10/19

Copyright

In the back of my mind

Which is not a desirable location to be

There are vague, hazy images

Of a young robust man

Lifting heavy objects at will

Seemingly impervious

To any consequences

Fast forward 30 years

The old images still not erased nor tested

The task which would highlight a faulty memory

Putting up two fence posts

My son went with me to Home Depot

Soon we had the posts loaded

On to the concrete ailse

Bent down to get a good grip, 60 pounds

Been awhile since I’ve lifted one of those

Bag wouldn’t budge

The old faulty image of previous lifting disapated

My 35 year old son leaned

Over gently and gracefully

Placed 4 bags of 60 pound concrete on to the cart

All my illusions of muscle mass escaped my old addled brain

Another excellent reason for a fourth child

FXC 7/1/19

Copyright

300 miles away

Heard of your acrobatic display

Reaching, reaching

On tippy toes

Over overflowing gutters

For leaves

From a bygone winter

While using a long rested ladder

No recorded evidence

Of this feat

Cell phone cameras all around

But not for this remarkable

Event

By an individual not far removed

From my years

I envy you as my children

Have removed all my ladders

Hope this note

Does not alert yours

And your days of senior aerobics

Come crashing to an end

Before you do

FXC 4/25/19

Copyright

Life events

Change one’s direction continually

Births, deaths,

Annotated by birthdays, graduations, marriages, divorces

The playing cards we our all dealt

Seem to have been distributed so haphazardly

You and I are no exception

“In good times and bad, in sickness and health”

Has always applied

Those times and days will not end till we do

But today we again contemplate

US

Too many times we have listened as loved ones

In their waning moments have spoken

Of ones they have missed and miss

And now we miss them

It has to be today my sweet love

That we make our lives

As we want them to be

That we commit to each other

As we did so many years ago

Let’s not let another day go by

We might regret

Let This Day be Our Day

FXC 6/23/19

Copyright

So today Sunday June 23rd

Is the longest day

4:30 AM eyelids opened

At least inside my head

Then realized my day has started

Just the way it is

Delicious hot coffee

No one interrupting my thoughts

Seemingly endless time

To over plan the day

With activities that can’t possibly be completed

Or afforded

Have no desire to share this time

Know of people

Actually in close proximity

Whose longest day does not start till 10

At least that is AM

Often wondered if a longer day

Would allow more work or even more fun

It is nice if the weather cooperates

Creating the possibility of a well lit morning walk

Nonetheless it does seem as if extra effort is required

To squeeze just a little bit more

Alas the template of a day that begins at 4:30

Will return a body to that same position

At 8:30 PM

Making for a regular day

If the blinds are pulled

Trying to fool Mother Nature!

As the eyes slowly close and

Put an end to the Longest Day

FXC 6/23/19

Copyright

You would think

That tears would dry up

When understanding

You had to go

And yet

My heart is still entwined

With your smile

Your voice

Your sweetly wrinkled face

I know too well

This had to be

That the gift of you

Would be unwrapped

On your final day

Mostly through wet eyes

Gratitude flows

And happiness

That your beautiful

Beautiful journey

Begins another

And yes, yes

I will always love you

Mary Becker!

FXC 6/17/19

Copyright

Wandered into the splash park at the zoo

Grandchild in toe

Or maybe it was the reverse

Beautiful summer like day

When my name was vigorously called

And then called again

My eyes quickly located you

You who I immediately recognized

Despite not haven seen you in 27 years

Hugs yes more than one

Golly you bring back such joy and happiness

You were always like that

A flat out good person

Caring for others

Thinking of others first

My vision of what a human should be

There are those who think only of themselves

Disregard others

You define the good in life

Thank the Lord for you

FXC 6/7/19

Copyright

There is a class of people

Never are alone

Always have someone to talk to

Basically a built in best friend

TWINS

A marvel of creation

A matched set of these

Live kitty corner to me

Young, yes 6 is really young

Riding bikes up and down the cul-de-sac

Jumping into the mud puddles in torrential rain

And inevitably curious

Questioning as if with my age I had inherited wisdom

For instance one afternoon

One of the twins

Okay, okay so I can’t tell them apart

Asked me if I thought he was a blur when he rode by

I assured him he did indeed look like a blur

But when I started my daily walk

Questioned him if he thought I might be a blur

To which he replied

“I don’t think so”

Probably good thing

I don’t know which one said that to me

FXC 5/28/19

Copyright