THE HEREAFTER

In gazing on our newly-minted progeny,
He sheathed in pink and glowing skin,
Unmarked and unmarred
By life's cuts and bruises,
I cannot help but wonder,
Now that you've slipped life's earthly bonds,
If you have, as he has, silky skin,
A healthy heart and robust lungs,
A whole new set of tomorrows
With their infinite possibilities.

Or, was your destiny fulfilled,
Once and evermore,
When you fled the blight of age and infirmity?

By: Gigi

PRIORITY

Take time to smell the lilacs
And feel the warm bright sun
Take time to look at rainbows
Don't wait 'til work is done.
There'll always be a cobweb
Some fingermarks or rust
Weeds to pull, a lawn to mow
And something gathering dust.
We must remember lilacs
Bloom just once a year
And you can see a rainbow
Only when it's here.

By: Shirley Harvey
Submitted by: Sam

ENDINGS

I remember too well, and sadly,
As the end drew near and nearer
That reading was an effort
And television tiresome,
Phone calls were an intrusion
And doctor visits frustrating,
That all your favorite dishes
Were ashes in your mouth
And your many interests
Were beyond your energy reaches.

But still, you loved,
Unwavering and without reservation,
You loved.

By: Gigi

POEMS

Sometimes poems come so effortlessly
An easy flow of thoughts to words.
Sometimes your ideas hasten your writing
Lest you forget the order of your thoughts.

Then there are times it is tedious at best,
Trying so hard to create a worthwhile passage,
Attempting to transpose your feeling to paper,
Getting tangled in the process of choosing meaningful words.

By: Lu-Ann

GREEN EYED MONSTER

My green-eyed monster emerges, venomous,
bristling with bitterness, quivering in melancholy,
When, in my dark dreams, two lovers embrace,
hold hands, or simply smile their secret smile.
Old or young, they, it matters not.
I envy and I weep, understanding.
There are no tomorrows for us,
nor todays.
only yesterdays, our own sweet yesterdays,
when so many suns dawned on so many adventures.
Yet, never, never, never was it enough.

SEEKING...

The group of all groups!
Made of mature women
With a touch of youth.
Each seeking to find her own truth.

GINNY, the east coast gal.
Extensive vocabulary, a way with words.
Sensitive and grounded.
SEEKING to find her truth.

SAM, the consummate artist.
Perceives design and beauty in the ordinary.
Enjoys people.
SEEKING to find her truth.

LINDA, the scientist.
Intelligent and diverse.
A smile that starts at her heart.
SEEKING to find her truth.

HETTY, a loving person.
A passion for animals.
Understanding and tender.
SEEKING to find her truth.

WILLY, the humble healer.
Valued for her advice.
Loved for her compassion.
SEEKING to find her truth.

LU-ANN, loved teaching children.
Now learning from each of you.
Cherishes your friendship.
SEEKING to find her truth.

As a group, we have our differences.
As a group, we are the same.
As a group, we constantly wonder.
As a group, we'll FIND our truths.

Lu-Ann

Age-Related

On this day as I turn fifty-eight,
Some think I'm the young one,
Others think it's a prehistoric date!

I look in the mirror, and what do I see?
Is that my mother looking back at me??!!

I'm young, I'm old,
Depending on what I'm told.

Is it deception?
Or simply perception?

I guess on any given day, it just depends.
Right now, I'm just a person
Surrounded by good friends.

Sam

For My Lover

Such chill and blustering night was that
You whispered I love you
And Winter smiled; she sighed and swept
The chords of life and love.

This moment I have stored within
The grotto of my heart
I've locked inside an age, a day,
An instant of delight.

Forever forth these words exalt
From wedded souls of ours,
Where faith and hope and lasting love
In warmth and sunshine dwell.

--gigi

The Air Is Like a Butterfly

The air is like a butterfly
With frail blue and marmalade wings
The happy earth looks at the sky
and sings.

Don't grieve for me, for now I am free
I follow the plan God laid for me.
I saw his face, I heard his call
I took his hand and left it all.
And if my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.

Do not be burdened with tears of sorrow
Enjoy the sunshine of the morrow.
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,
Just around the corner
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting
When we meet again.

-- Author unknown, submitted by Willy

Retirement

There once was a teacher named Paul
Four decades he gave it his all
Both baseball and Lit
Lent force to his wit
Now’s time to hear praise and stand tall

[For Paul McGeehan on his retirement, 03/09]

--gigi

Old Age

Old age, they say, is a state of mind.
I am in that state, trying to resist.
Exercising my body, sweating and straining
To stay lithe and lean.
Always stepping on the scale of truth.
Willing the pounds away.

Burning calories, exhaustion creeps in.
Quicker now than in past years.
Will my body know when to stop?
When will it know it’s okay?

It’s okay to witness change.
It’s okay to feel love handles
In place of a slender waist.
It’s okay to relax.
To live a sedentary life.

But is it really?
Should a person surrender to time?

Give in to an age where life is good,
No matter the size.

I don’t feel old in my bootcut jeans.
Confidently continuing to wear such things.
But noticeable my hands are wrinkling with age.
My skin revealing a map of my past.
With its crevasses and lines.
Worry and guilt busily partner
Sculpturing my face.
Carving their signature on my image.

But again, is it okay to accept age and its consequences?
I think not.

They say old age is a state of mind.
I prefer to attain an altered state.

--Lu-Ann

A Tribute to Friendship

Sometimes...
WHEN
nights are dark
and days darker still

WHEN
a heart keens
and a soul laments

WHEN
lips quiver
and tears flow,

IF
the heart hears a tender word
and the soul feels a warm embrace,

THEN
out of the shadows of grief and anguish
lips will smile
and tears will dry
and there will be light anew
in the realm of the brokenhearted.

Such is the healing beauty of friendship.

--gigi

REFLECTIONS

In the great question of Snow White's queen,
consuming desire for beauty is seen,
"Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who's the fairest of them all?"

My friend Hetty,
lean and elegant, leopard and pearl,
the flow of compassion lighting her face,
bubbling laughter and warm comfort,
We share nurturing natures.

My friend Ginny,
greenest emerald with sparkling facets,
of mischievous grins and pixie charm,
of fiery spirit and flashing eyes, of wealthy dignity,
We share betrayal by a beloved religion.

My friend Sam,
quick smile and honest tongue,
lioness courage and terrier determination,
exquisitely talented painter (you are, too)
We share a love of seashells.

My friend Lu-Ann,
delicate, sylphine beauty,
razor wit, supportive empathy, swan constancy,
bright, loving fawn eyes,
We share worry.

My friend Willy,
open smile and a fine sense of irony,
keen, practical mind,
gracious and winsome, lily heart,
We share a passion for justice.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall,
Who's the fairest of them all?"
My loved ones.

by: Linda

ODE TO MY GIRLFRIENDS

So, my friends,
Our Bubbly Poetry group begins.

I'm going to give this a shot, after all what's the harm?
You guys might even say it has a sense of charm.

She's overly optimistic, is that what you thought?
Well, girlfriends, maybe not.

With any amount of luck, and if I know my girls,
With enough Bubbly my words may just become pearls!

Okay, poetry is obviously not my forte,
But, thank you, Ginny, for inviting me to play.

Author known, but won't come forward.
(HINT: could it be Sam?)