SLEEPLESS

Those long, dark nights when sleep comes not
In truth, I am content.
If tomorrow never dawns
There's no yesterday to lament.

CHRONICLES OF MY HEART

I love to stretch awake each morning, especially when the sun is streaming through my windowpane.
I love to remember my childhood, blessed by caring parents, grandparents, 4 brothers, 3 uncles, 5 aunts and 13 cousins.
I love the bar my parents set for living happily and harmoniously.
I love the innocent adolescent fun I had with "my crowd."
I love that "my crowd" plays together to this very day.
I love re-living the moment Jim and I pledged to love each other forever.
I love that we loved each other forever.
I love remembering the day each of our 4 children was born.
I love those children; they make me proud, happy and humble.
I love the 5 grandchildren my children and their mates have given me; they delight my heart.
I love to recall travels to wondrous destinations.
I love the heady places I've lived: legendary Philadelphia, vibrant Harrisburg, historic Washington, pretty Camarillo and idyllic Cambria.
I love my little blue bungalow on New Jersey's tranquil seashore.
I love my sprawling silver home on California's craggy coast.
I love the roar of the ocean, the wind in the pines, the magic of fog, the twinkle of stars.
I love flowers, hummingbirds, spindly-legged deer, Monarch butterflies.
I love my morning newspaper, a good novel, poetry.
I love words.
I love a flute of sparkling champagne.
I love a cuppa...that's Irish shorthand for "hot tea."
I love the precious friends I've made at each stop along my joyous journey.
I love to stretch awake each morning,
even when the sun isn't streaming through my windowpane,
because it's shining in my heart.

By: Gigi

ONE DAY

ONE DAY
I will not judge
Nor give heed to being judged.

ONE DAY
I will listen
And respond where I used to react.
With only love I will
Say what I mean
And mean what I say
Hopefully without an attack.

ONE DAY
I will view all experiences
Even those negative
As an opportunity to improve and learn
Thus turning it all into the positive.

ONE DAY
I will not worry
Not to say I won't care
I will have learned
That worry gets me absolutely nowhere.

ONE DAY
I will have learned
To take the spotlight off the rotten apple
Which is only in the minority
The focus will be on the orchard in its entirety
And the beautiful crop that lies ahead of me.

ONE DAY
No! DAY ONE.

by: SAM

HOME SWEET SEA ISLE


Rocking gently on white wicker
Worry-free on the porch of my pretty blue bungalow,
Facing north, toward Great Egg Harbor and Ocean City,
With the Atlantic's roar in my right ear
And Ludlum Bay's gentle lap in my left,
Memories of every sort course through me,
A swirling nor'easter or a roiling hurricane.

I recall days long past in this magical place by the sea
Weekends 100 miles from parents and professors
Deep bronze suntans, too soon to be regretted
Pillow fights in ratty rented rooms
Sandwiches buttered up for muscled-up lifeguards
Frankie Avalon yet undiscovered
Chubby Checker twisting
Lingo largely limited to "cool" "sharp" and "copacetic"
Our style the very best of Main Line preppy.

Today, reminding myself these are the good old days,
I smile, because my kinfolk, each and every one,
Have, over the weeks, dropped by
For a gin and tonic, a cold Schmidts, a warm Guinness,
Crabcakes. Cheesesteaks. Tastykakes.
Soft pretzels with mustard. Hoagies.
A dip in the sea and a sit on the sand
A stroll along the sun-baked boardwalk
A walk to the pub, where Irish music speaks to our roots.

Quirky, but endlessly endearing, I love
That the waitress calls me "hon"
And the maitre d' calls me "sweetheart"
In that unique, unlovely Philly accent
Kindled, according to local lore,
By the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers
I am definitely home
Where it still feels cool to be a hon and a sweetheart.

by: Gigi

DUTCH WATERS


In the lowlands
Where the fingered channels of ebony waters flow
Two sisters of Delft, wind-buffeted,
With braided flaxen hair,
Know where they want to go...
Over the stone and metal bridge to the canal wall.
They will sit and angle their toes
An inch or two from the water's edge,
Leaning forward, glimpsing their faces
In the quivering mirror of the turbid stream.

What demons, sea devils, unworldly creatures
Dwell in the dark and ominous labyrinth?
"Jump" snapped the older one,
"I dare you, I double dare you"
she persisted with a slight shove.

The younger sister, goaded by a dare
She could not ignore
With one deep breath, her heart pounding,
Slipped blissfully into the murky, foreboding water.

The bobbing head and soiled body soon emerged
With closed eyes and a bright smile
Conqueror of the canal, an idol to the darer
A terrified knuckle-biting sister.

On the march home thoughts of the canal
In wintertime covered with thick ice
Shiny and sleek,
Skaters with tassels, festive scarves and mittens
Gliding merrily above the glory she had won.

by: Willy

The Waters of Life

Life first stirs in the hush of amniotic waters...
Such tranquility sometimes simulated, rarely replicated.

Just the gentlest of dewdrops trickle on placid infancy
When time tiptoes by in wonder and delight.

Clouds gather capriciously through the growing years
Tumbling raindrops and dampening edgy enthusiasm,
But largely youth savors its sunny moments and its triumphs.

Only later do storms rumble as life takes fateful turns,
When the angst of finances, children, illness and death
Frequently drench and engulf tattering dreams.

But, often and mercifully, rainbors dapple waning years,
As an ocean of understanding overtakes the tides of unrest
In a final wash of insight and tolerance.

by: Gigi

Water

Water:
Its worth cannot be measured.

It gently and softly bathes a newborn
Teasingly plays with children
Frolicking through sprinklers.

Water caresses you into sleep
As you idly drift on a rubber raft.

It quenches your thirst
Bringing relief from the heat.

Water can relax and rejuvenate
Healing injuries and soothing pain
Making weak muscles once again strong
Solicitously contributing to good health.

Water:
Its wrath cannot be measured.

It can tantalize the young into its depths
In minutes a child can be gone forever.
Water can be relentless and cruel.

An unforeseen storm can take the lives of people at sea
Hurriedly crushing their vessel and robbing them of breath.

Water takes the lives of so many
A tsunami washes over the shore,
Angry waves enveloping all in it's path
Consuming life and destroying property.

Water:
Its worth cannot be measured.
Nor can its wrath.

by: Lu-Ann

WATER

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink
There's a lot more to water than most people think.

Imagine a world devoid of our precious H20
All the wonderous flowers would sadly cease to grow.

Holy water no longer would anoint a newborn baby's head
Quite possibly pink champagne could be substituted instead.

Oh, how I would miss my morning shower as I begin each day
And my cup of hot coffee, too, would be missed along my way.

Forest fires and house fires would be a constant fear
People the world over would sense a disaster near.

Can you imagine the difficulties facing every culinary group
Having no water to add to their minestrone soup?

And what would Michael Phelps do for his Olympic event
Could he win a medal by running in the 500-yard spring?

So, there really is a lot of water and I think we should all
take care
Or we'll not have any water and the earth will forever be
bare.

by: Lu-Ann

Ode to the Ocean



You beautiful ocean

You powerful beast

You uncontrollable masses

To watch you is a feast.



Your delicate features

You're twinkling in the sun

The moonlight reflecting

You are so much fun.



The horizon disappearing

The clouds coming in

Your roaring sounds

Being overwhelmed is no sin.



The next day so calm

And an ocean so blue

Could this be the same ocean?

I don't have a clue.



Your personality changes

From one day to the next

Yet your core stays the same

And that is a fact.



by: Hetty

HAPPINESS IS IN THE SIMPLE THINGS

Is happiness an illusion
when there is no one to share it?

Once a hint of harmony is plumbed from deep within,
I can tempt myself to mirror hope
and, perchance, discover life is worth living.

My demons still and my heart quiets
If...
Spring daffodils nod me their sunny greeting
Or warm summer sun kisses my bare arms
Or a rainbow paints its twin on my uplifted face
Or skies full of stars wink devilishly in an inky night.
When...
Wee baby fingers grasp my hand and grip my heart
While sturdy toddlers hopscotch on a grey sidewalk.
When...
A snowy meadow flings glazing beauty to infinity
As windswept seas pound a riotous tattoo in my ear.
If...
A noble hawk soars into the blue yonder
Or a ladybug flashes her coat of red and black
While a butterfly flutters by.
After...
A friend calls to say "thinking 'boutcha."
Friends call to say "let's go have some fun."
Anyone calls to say "I love you."

So, while worries abound
and death tears a ragged hole in the heart
Life is meant to be lived with conviction.
Happiness begets happiness.

By: Gigi

HAPPINESS

Happiness is fleeting...
which is a good thing
otherwise, we would not experience it at all.

Happiness is seeing
the early morning sun or fog
the birds and the trees
on a walk
watching dogs romp and play
without a care in the world.

Happiness is a plane landing
and being home again.

Happiness is being myself
open and honest with the ones I cherish.

By: Willy

HAPPINESS

Happiness is something we earn
and is not to be taken for granted.
It appears at unexpected times
brought on by others or by yourself.

AS A CHILD
Happiness is seeing your parents hug
Finding your favorite stuffed animal
Having spaghetti for dinner
Getting a valentine from your best friend
Not wetting the bed!

AS A TEENAGER
Happiness is being accepted by your peers
Having a date for the prom
Getting a license to drive
Experiencing your first love
Not having a pimple on your nose!

AS A YOUNG WOMAN
Happiness is having a career you love
Being independent
Finding the right guy...or gal
Having your own checkbook
Decorating your first home!

AS A MOM
Happiness is breathing in the smell of your just-bathed baby
Watching your mate play with the kids
Tucking your children in bed at night
Seeing little faces light up at Disneyland
Having your child tell you they love you.

AS A WOMAN IN HER SIXTIES
Happiness is having friends who care
Reading a good book
Sleeping all night without nightsweats
Getting hugs from grandkids
Having a day without worry.

AS AN OLD WOMAN
Happiness is visits from family
Having a good bowel movement
Remembering good times in your life
Feeling safe and breathing easily
Not wetting the bed!

By: Lu-Ann

IN DEFENSE OF JOYCE KILMER

"I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree."

Who wrote those silly, silly lines
A silly man, one might opine.

A Poem, a Tree, how to compare
One you see, the other hear.

But, wait, the poet had much success
And he thought "green" before the rest.

His heart, his mind, and, yes, his soul
Were minted out of 10k gold.

A hero, too, in World War I
His body rests 'neath France's sun.

Hence, now I long to shine a light
Upon my co-New Jerseyite.

by: Gigi

ME TIME

Where did all my ME time go?
I used to have my life just so.

Now it revolves completely around others
My family, a puppy. my sister and brother.
Spending more time with one who is now retired
Dealing with the mess left behind when another expired.

Too bad there are only 24 hours in a day
Alas, if there were more, I'd be too tired anyway!

by: Sam

PARTNERS

Two mourning doves murmured
Each daybreak in my pin oak tree
Their plaintive purr belied
By their tender unity
Their touching fidelity
Their lifetime bond.

A lone dove mourned
This dawn in my pin oak tree.

I grieve in solidarity.

by: Gigi

IF CANCER COULD TALK

Who will be next?
Whose lives should I destroy?
I do not discriminate.
Male or female
Rich or poor
Young or old
Black or white
Good or evil
I have no preference.
Ravage their bodies.
Destroy their souls.
Dole out pain and discomfort.
Burden loved ones with worry.
Replace joy with sadness.
This is my mission.

My work is done.
Who will be next?

by: Lu-Ann

FOR SAM, AT HER MOTHER'S PASSING

When a world-weary soul snaps its fetters
On its unique and final passage
Seeking enduring peace
Seeking eternal rest
Recalling the joys, surely,
Recalling the trials, perhaps,
A gentle shadow cast by that sweet soul,
Already at rest and at peace
In the unknowable afterworld,
Will bestow tender consolation
On loved ones left behind
To mourn and to celebrate.

by: Gigi

The Gift of Friends

There are days when
bubbling from us comes
the innocent child within,
who giggles at the little things
and wears a silly grin.

There are days when
melancholy comes to
visit for awhile;
the mind feels tired,
the body weak,
who have no strength to smile.

There are days when
joy abundant
grabs ahold of you and me;
wraps us up in all it's splendor,
lifts us up and sets us free.

There are days when
sorrow wraps us
in its cloak of grief and fear,
'til our hearts ache to the breaking,
'til our eyes can't shed a tear.

There are days when
love bestows us
with its wonderment and light,
with its beauty and its mystery,
its power and its might.

And there are days when
life rewards us
and seems to make amends
by granting us a marvelous gift,
the precious gift of friends.

by: Karin Schaefer

submitted by: Willy