PEACE WITH MY FATHER

I never made peace with my father

Though we were never at war.

Mostly between us, silence and space.

I wish I had admired him more.

At sixteen he joined the army

Trained to be in World War I

Too young, he never saw action

I wish I were an admiring son.

He moved east to New York City,

Young, handsome and slim,

Worked hard and courted my mother.

So why didn’t I admire him.

Mom saved his old love letters

He had won her by making a vow,

Promised to love her forever.

Too late.  I admire him now.


SEA GLASS PEOPLE - Portraits in Words and Watercolors   (available on Amazon.com)

BOOKS

I study the covers

Of the books on the shelf,

Thin, thick, red, yellow

They call out:

Read me,     

Love me,

Learn from me.

Their pleas ring

Like a school bell

In my head.

Choosing one

Feels like a marriage.

What if a book

With a clever title

And colorful cover

Has less meaning

Than one with no name,

But life changing content.

I search for such

A selfless book.

Unable to restrain myself,             

My collection multiplies

Undisciplined.

I read, resolve, return

Them to the shelf.

When I’m done with one,

I go to bed with another.

My eyelids grow heavy

As I get involved

Book,

By beautiful book.