The Bubbly Poets' Society

TABLE MANNERS

2011-06-10T11:14:00.000-07:00

When I was three
We got on a tanker and took to sea
Across the ocean blue to the USA
Ready to learn a new and easier way.

It wasn't long before I learned to table that thought
What is the matter with these people,
How many tables have they got?

Dining, kitchen, end, side, conference, chess, card,
Are coffee tables only for coffee?
So, if I want tea, am I not able?

Poker, pool and ping pong tables
That's only the P's
There are more gaming tables!

At school I learned to keep my hands
Folded on the table top
During earthquake drills, under the table I hop.

Water tables, mountain tables, Knights of the Round Table
We studied and explored
I'm not done yet, there is much, much more!

There were multiplication tables, the table of contents
And the Twelve Tables of Roman Law,
Amortization tables, drafting tables, and even a table for a saw.

I learned that Congress may table a motion
And there are chemical tables to create a potion.

To relieve stress, have fun and unwind
Listen to turntable music of any kind.

Now here comes the bride
With the groom at my side
First off to the buffet table
Then on to the banquet table we go

They turned the table on us
When the magician stole the show.
On to a cruise ; we were so delighted
When to the Captain's Table we were invited.

When we measure, we use a tablespoon
To ensure we're precise
And when we set the table
A tablecloth makes it oh so nice.

A computer allows us to create tables
Actors practice at table reads
Hobbyists often use crafting tables
To organize their many beads.

You get my point, I don't want to bore
But this is fun, so indulge me one more:
A table for one, a table for two
A table to infinity
O.K., your table is ready
Now here's the nitty-gritty...

This English language is confusing as hell
You must live here a long time to understand it well.

by: Sam, a spoof on her second language!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
To my hubby, who asked me to create a table on the computer
Then, Lu-Ann,, for whom I created a table that would suit her!

TEMPERANCE

2011-05-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

Again and shamefully
The spectacle of The Ugly American
Has raised its ignorant head,
It's bared its sharpened teeth,
And flicked its fork-ed tongue.

Wake up, America!
Honor tradition.
Stand up, Americans!
Embrace diversity.

Spurn the pit bull
with the shotgun and the lipstick,
Reject the goon,
whose great wealth spawns hideous hair,
Dismiss the obstructionist,
he of strong tea and weak tears.

Purge racism, chauvinism and xenophobia,
Let the rainbow of our veneers
And the sunshine of our values glow,
So we might at last, and at least,
Respect ourselves once more.

by: Gigi

DAY OF RECKONING

2011-04-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Under menacing skies threatening Armageddon,

sea creatures,

trapped in their submarine prison,

scatter in sheer terror,

as birds on the wing, panicked in the wild maelstrom,

fling their fragile bodies into the shadowy unknown.

Do we alpha humans,

who have failed so miserably

to show our delicate environment the tenderness

required for its sustenance and survival,

await similar extinction?

Will veiled waves of radiation

bring the world as we know it

to a grim and lethal standstill?

Or, perhaps, worse

will those toxic waves

visit on us horrors more deadly than death?

Into the hands of whatever higher power we trust

now is the time to commend our restive souls.

by: Gigi

In Honor of Others, Known and Unknown

2011-03-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

The King agonized about speaking
with great frustration.
I speak two languages
with little hesitation.

It dawned on me that even a King
can live a life of fear and fraught.
I realized that ease of speech is another gift
to which I never gave much thought.

It became apparent to me
that others like the King
have such difficult lives and stories.
I started to feel filled with gratitude
that in my lifetime
I have had very few worries.

In the past, I had medical complications
and recurrences, with constant fear.
But how fortunate am I, to have remained healthy
for so many years.

With much ease I am writing this,
with my brain and hands in full cooperation.
For some, this simple act
may cause great frustration.

I often complain and or joke about the antics of my bad ear,
sharing the misinterpretations that abound.
But I can hear the ocean roaring, babies laughing,
and my friends' words of encouragement,
forever thankful for those amazing sounds.

I have a roof over my head,
food to eat and water galore.
If I run out, I can turn on the tap
or just go to the store.

I may need glasses, but my eyes can see.
And, unlike some, my legs still bend at the knee!

Without any thought, I breathe with ease
and my heart beats so naturally.
Many people must struggle,
Their bodies do not respond with such autonomy.

My friend is battling cancer and has no hair.
I look in the mirror, and mine is still there.

Every day I turn on the news
and I see people in distress.
I have at times gotten overwhelmed
just because my house was a mess!

Sans a terrible moment in time,
I have lived a life
where there were no bombers in the sky.
My parents, however, became instant orphans,
and probably spent a lifetime
wondering why.

I will work to change and remember
those in this world with grave limitations.
I would be extremely remiss
if not filled with gratitude and immense appreciation.

by: Sam

For Jimmy Valentine Mallon

2011-02-14T09:36:00.000-08:00

A child born on Valentine's day
Is a special soul, of course,
And if that child's named Valentine
Watch out world, he's a force.

So, when I wed my Valentine
I knew right from the start
He'd be kind and gentle
And take good care of my heart.

NIGHT

2011-02-03T13:12:00.000-08:00

The grip of midnight arrives
I turn off the light.
The drumbeat of the heart
And the restless legs
Begin the drama of the night.

Oh, happy thoughts come to me
Bring back memories of glorious days
Stave off the darkling thoughts
Let them not break the slumber bliss.

The struggle is fierce.
Forces collide...
I drift off to sleep.

The first ray of light creeps in,
Blinds drawn,
A wild and dewy garden greets me
The morning walk restores me.

The changing vegetation
The churning restless sea
The crisp cool air.

I am now at peace and happy.
May the gods grant me
Many more of these mornings.

by: Willy

RHYME AND RHYTHM

2011-02-03T13:05:00.000-08:00

Some experts say poems must have rhyme
But some say merely rhythm
Still others say just let it flow.
There is a major schism.

So getting down to finer points
The most alluring part
And what delights us most of all
Are words that touch the heart.

by: Gigi

2011-01-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Requiem for Three Zebras

Across the glittery green
Of verdant meadows, rain-ripened,
Briny sea scents tang the crystal air
While basking seals bark into the morning hush
And clusters of wildflowers open sleepy eyes.
And on the lush and fertile hillocks
Wildlife laze and graze and roam
In peaceful harmony.

Harmony often evades our social order. Alas.
We, the assigned shepherds of all things earthly,
Too often and selfishly ravage our precious heritage.
And so it is that the deafening blast
From the weapon of an angry rancher
Forever robs us of the slash of black
and the gash of white
Three beautiful zebras who will wander no more
On the wind-swept bluffs of our majestic coast.

by: Gigi

2011-01-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

UNDERSTANDING ALICE'S RABBIT

Monday is already here
Sorry, no poem I fear.
You see, I just got back
Then the rush to catch up
On this and that.

Next thing I know it's Monday,
A quarter to seven,
I need a poem to share
A bit of heaven.

What poem do I choose?
Oh, dear, I barely have time
To grab my shoes!

I'm out of time
Oh, look, this rhymes!
Well, then, never mind!

by: Sam

2011-01-18T17:05:00.000-08:00

Some People Like Poetry

Some people -
that is not everybody
Not even the majority, but the minority.
Not counting the schools where one must,
And the poets themselves,
There will be perhaps two in a thousand.

Like -
but we also like chicken noodle soup,
we like compliments and the color blue,
we like our old scarves,
we like to have our own way,
we like to pet dogs.

Poetry -
but what is poetry?
More than one flimsy answer
has been given to that question.
And I don't know, and don't know, and I
cling to it as to a lifeline.

by: Wislawa Szymborska
submitted by: Willy

SLEEPLESS

2010-11-06T14:49:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-02T13:04:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T11:36:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T11:13:00.000-07:00

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

2010-04-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

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

2010-02-28T13:32:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-28T13:26:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-28T13:10:00.000-08:00

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

2010-02-04T21:25:00.000-08:00

"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

2010-02-04T21:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T13:19:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T13:14:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T13:09:00.000-08:00

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

2010-01-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

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

THE HEREAFTER

2009-11-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

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

2009-10-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

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

2009-10-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-09-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-08-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-06T18:54:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-07T12:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-31T19:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-31T19:00:00.000-07:00

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?)