
she knows not what she wants
dares to dream with eyes wide open
curtains pushed aside
making way for the sun
on even the cloudiest days
silver trinkets bulging
from every serendipitous pocket


she knows not what she wants
dares to dream with eyes wide open
curtains pushed aside
making way for the sun
on even the cloudiest days
silver trinkets bulging
from every serendipitous pocket
river abundant in swan-potatoes
towering limestone sentries
host magnificent views,
tunneled visions of moss & columbine
romantic venue, adventurer’s bond
fun, ecstatically pronounceable name
lovely northeast Iowa river


if i could be any color
i’d choose a shade from either end
of the day’s curtain.
those wake-up hues of dawn
the soothing, sometimes fiery
purples, reds, and golds @ dusk.
i’d be infused with the promise
of a new day & the contentment
of twenty-four hours well-lived.

baggage-weary travelers,
fearful of their own ravens
their own telltale-hearts
their own Tamerlanian conquests,
stop for the night.
perhaps just a sip
of Amontillado….
Pensive.
Like steel. Or foam rollers.
Stripped of any
future
or stability
or charismatic wanderings.
Yes. Her life was in a pickle.
She just had to dill deal with it.
Red sun shines dimly on the figure eight of your paratrooper heart.
Orange disc-shaped diamonds sparkle amid your camouflaged Thoughts of Rage.
“A twist, please. And a strawberry cone for my friend here.”
Wander, wander. Speak your truth.
Sing of pomegranates for peace.

rain falls softly
on knightsbridge crossing
printemps joy
on every open bloom,
every ripened bud
the zen of magic
beneath a brilliant crescent moon

Prior to Tuesday’s midterm elections, I was skating on a rink of despair. So much hate, so many lies, so much outright cruelty, especially in the wake of the Paul Pelosi attack. What was this country coming to? My sister-in-law and I half-joked about moving to Portugal if that despicable, orange waste of oxygen were to get himself re-elected back in 2020.
Thankfully, that was not the case. However, the election denialism, the vitriol, the conspiracy theories, the LIES, that led to the horrific, mind-numbing, gut-punching insurrection on January 6th, 2021 and everything that’s followed since then has brought our nation to a very dark place.
And then came Tuesday, November 8th. As of this writing, it is still unclear who will control Congress. I’m paying close attention and hoping the Democrats will prevail, at least in the Senate. Regardless, though, I’m heartened by the turnout – Yay, young people! Props to you!! – and the commitment to all those who voted to help keep our democracy rather than letting those who care ONLY for power to prevail. Hatred, divisiveness and untruths did not get the upper hand on Tuesday. Rational, saner voices demanded to be heard, and they were. Red wave? Not so much. Not. So. Much!!
Country: I am grateful. This is a moment brought to us courtesy of those who care more about the future of our country, of these United States of America not spiraling into the autocratic, pathetically misguided whims of those who care nothing about the people (not really, despite what comes out of their lying mouths). I’m feeling a TON of gratitude for those who cherish the rights of women to make their own decisions about their bodies, their personal lives, their futures, their families’ futures.
All said, despite what is yet to be decided, I remain hopeful.
Chit Chat