Beauty All Around

A cycle of seasonal haiku

Stop, look, smell the day
Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
Beauty all around.

Cold, snow day — HORRAY!
Wintry, white, wistful play day
Cuddle up for warmth

Strong rain, pounding hard
Pastel petals in rain’s pool
Waiting for the sun

Strong storms are brewing
Big tree limbs sway to and fro
Kites grounded today

Crunchy, falling leaves
Bright colors cover the ground
Bare limbs tell of fall

Blue skies, fluffy clouds
Lightning shocks, calm day transformed
Raindrops fall — splish, splash

Life in Camouflage

Nature’s secrets hide on the forest floor
With insects to spy if you’ve time to explore
Cascading trees shield the sun from the ground
Wind through branches sings a whistling sound.

A mockingbird hums a glorious song,
A melody woven both soft and strong.
Gentle peeps and squawks, perfectly timed,
Sounding like poets, hauntingly rhymed.

Black snakes wind their way through the grass
Aggressive when caught – just let it pass
Frightened themselves, they’ll slip out of sight
Coiled and waiting until the time is right.

Surface ripples on the pond spread out wide
Fish swim through reeds, a perfect place to hide
Vibrant minnows dash across the pond all day
Forever swimming, guiding the way

Cascading trees join life above the ground
Rhythms changing, sometimes without a sound
Dropping leaves announce a new season is near,
Nature’s life cycle we witness each year.

Food and Memories

Food and memories
are
intertwined

A delicious meal
can speak to
your heart

I have childhood memories
picking up pizza
with my father
and getting
to eat a slice on
the way home

My grandma’s salad
was everyone’s favorite
and more than twenty years
gone, we still
talk about it

I remember waking up
to the scent of
frying bacon and
freshly made toast.
my mother making sure
to start our day
just right

Learning to cook using
butter, onions,
and garlic,
a base for so many
wonderful meals

I take in a deep breath,
filling up my lungs
holding it in
so it stays with
me always

Holidays always
brought special
desserts -pumpkin pie,
cheesecake,
and so many more-
all desserts that bring
you back home

Food and memories
live
side by side
nourishing our body
and caressing our soul


The Sauce on the Stove

Every Sunday of my childhood looked like this.

This poem is a tribute to my grandmother, whose love was stirred into every pot of sauce, sewn into every pair of slippers, and felt in every quiet, chaotic, perfect moment around the table. If you’ve ever had a Sunday that smelled like garlic and felt like home, this one’s for you.



There’s a big pot of sauce on the stove,
In an old worn pot — decades old.
Handed-down recipes, lovingly shared,
Nourished our bodies from a family that cared.

In our house, it’s Grandma who’s boss –
Some might say gravy, but Grandma says sauce.
A loaf of fresh bread sits next to the pot;
Tear off a piece and dip it while hot.

For Grandma, her day had a quiet start,
While Grandpa sat still, doing his part.
A tissue tucked in Grandma’s brassiere,
To dab the sweat that would soon appear.

As morning turned noon and we all arrived,
Silence turned loud, no senses deprived.
Garlic and onion perfumed the air,
While we played outside, staying near.

The table is set with Parmesan cheese,
Ready for soup, salad, pasta – yes, please!
Grandma’s big salad takes center stage,
It’s a family favorite at every age.

Hearty minestrone fills every bowl,
While Grandma stands ready, on food patrol.
Aglio olio chicken joins the parade,
Everything perfect, and all homemade.

The kids get up to clear all the plates,
Dessert is ready – a treat Grandma creates.
Grandpa now sits in his favorite chair,
His dessert delivered – it’s good anywhere.

Our Sunday tradition is always the best,
With bellies full, it’s now time to rest.
My uncle naps in a chair nearby,
While Dad yells at the TV – a play goes awry.

Grandma’s still busy – she’s measuring feet,
Winter is coming, and she won’t miss a beat.
Slippers for everyone, so cozy and warm –
In Grandma’s house, this is the norm.

She works through the day, then crochets at night,
Her hands so skilled, they move by moonlight.
That Sunday sauce, a simple affair,
Speaks of a life spent serving with care.

Zipper In The Sky

There’s a zipper in the sky,
It’s only visible when you fly.
Why not go through it to explore,
It beckons like an open door.

A quick decision must be made,
We’re pulled to go, but we’re afraid
We’re anxious and we want to know,
What will greet us if we go?

We arrive on the other side
Are there rules we must abide?
The sky feels cold, eerily quiet,
A calm that’s bold, and oddly defiant.

What lies ahead in this strange world?
Are things mirrored or maybe swirled?
We hover quietly above the ground,
Here, bright shadows are all around.

Landing here is no small feat,
Awaiting fate, we stay in our seat.
Once we’re settled excitement sinks in,
We know we’re welcomed – we feel our kin.

The colorless sky has truly transformed,
Feeling the colors, we’re thoroughly warmed.
The shadows embrace us, fill us with love.
And each one fits us, like wearing a glove.

A mother’s call, a father’s touch,
A puppy jumping, oh – this is too much!
A sister’s aura, I can feel she’s so close
I feel her memories, I feel her the most.

Our loved ones, so near, were waiting for us,
We’re excited, we’re scared, we’re curious.
On the ground now, the zipper is gone,
We know there’s love here, the feeling’s that strong.

Ripples Erase the Past

The stillness of the pond
paints a picture of calm

Reflections speak to the
magnolia as its branches
hang just out of reach

Silence encourages
life hidden from view
to come enjoy the day

This old park,
recently brought back
to life, tended
by many sets of hands

Uncovering stories once
told, whispers shared,
quick glances that said,
I’ll always be near

Vibrant colors infuse
our moods, awakening
untamed feelings
long buried

The aroma of the
gardenias and jasmine
lingers, reminding you
to close your eyes
and breathe

Birds announce their arrival,
A performance their only plan.
An unexpected concert ensues,
we remain still

Dangling feet in the pond,
the cool water encourages rest
and makes you feel whole

This park is alive – it shares its wonder

As the pond reflects a
time long gone
when ripples
erase the past
and the future
takes its place

Palm Watch

I look out the window,
to the top of a tall palm.

The wind picks up
and whips it across the window.

Within moments, the wind
settles, and the branches
are steady.

Birds land among the branches,
picking at a bun
scavenged from a restaurant.

A few feet from my face,
I witness the beak tearing
pieces of bread from the bun.

Talons grip the branch,
a head darts up,
always vigilant,
always watchful.

Entranced by the colors,
work is forgotten.
The bird gains control,
a life so small
hypnotizes me.

Silence Speaks

Inspired by Van Gogh’s Starry Night, this poem captures the contrast I’ve always felt in the painting, the swirling wind looks wild and intense, yet the scene feels deeply calming to me. In this acrostic reflection, I tried to echo that blend of motion and peace, where silence, wind, and starlight shape a quiet night full of wonder.


Silence speaks from the stars
The town below, a calming night
Active wind starts blowing hard
Reaching across the sky, while
Rows of houses reflect the night
Yellow crescent moon glows bright

Night lends itself to quiet
Insinuating a peaceful town
Glimmering, the stars shine on
Hear the church bell softly chime
Timid glances towards the sky

Ordinary

I live within
the ordinary.

My life
could be a copy
of yours.

Go to work,
go home
eat
sleep.

That is my
ordinary
life.

But –
my job is different from yours,
my family,
my health,
my wants, dreams, needs –
are they different from yours?

But-
we all breathe,
we all need sleep,
warmth,
nourishment,
dreams.

What makes
an unordinary
life?