WOMAN

Watercolor by Pat Morgan

Womb of wisdom,

Birthplace of sympathy,

Teacher of tenacity

And tenderness,

Parent of prudence.

Look with approval -

I feel worthwhile,

Smile. I feel whole.

Your face is

My weathervane.

Man gives muscle

To champion a just cause,

But my real strength,

To act with restraint,

Is Your girding gift.

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

LEARNING ABOUT LIFE AND WAR FROM THE U.S. MARINE CORPS

Life is mostly mental,

Surprisingly, so is war

Train your mind like a Marine

You’ll accomplish so much more.

You’ll never think it can’t be done

Not if you’re a Marine,

Success will surely follow you

If you paint a victory scene.

A good plan now is better than

A great plan arriving later,

Marines refuse to hesitate

For swiftness is a facilitator.

A Marine’s guiding rule in combat:

Assess, adjust and act,

Things change at the speed of sound

Flexibility’s their winning tact.

If you treat life like a Marine

Your credo’s a winning one

Living by “Semper Fi,”

You’re “faithful” ‘til life is done.

(Happy Birthday - U.S. Marine Corps

Born - November 10, 1775)

THE EIGHTH DAY

On the eighth day,

Having rested,

Returning to view

All he created,

The spirit hovered

Over the water

Looking for

What still needed

To be done.

The seas said,

“I am deep,

 I am wide

Mighty and strong

Like the spring tide,”

So he continued on

To the dry land.

“Are you in need?”

He asked.  “No,

I am quite fine,

contoured hills,

A perfect design,”

So he moved on

Until he came

upon a garden,

Lush and green,

Home of man.

 The spirit inquired,

“Adam, are you in need?”

Shivering in the morning chill,

Adam said, “I have no fangs

For defense, nor

Legs fast enough

To run away.

I do not know

If I will last another day.

Am I your mistake?”

The spirit,

Took pity and said,

“You must survive

On your own,

But you are never alone.

An angel will always be

By your side,

To gird you up

Or lengthen your stride.

Rally or run,

It will be your choice,

But if you listen

To that inner voice,

That will be me.”

The evening of the eighth day

The spirit decided he

Had accomplished

All he had set out to do.

ENEMY

                                    Mother said to me, “Lay down your arms.”

Father quickly added, “Wait until they do.”

“Someone must go first.”

Father warned “Make them sign a treaty.”

Mother looked wistful, “Words are only as good

As the honor of the men who say them.”

“Maybe so, always watch your rear.”

“Peace is more than an end to war; it’s a state of mind,

A place where you can live and raise your children.”

Father laughed, “But keep your powder dry.”

In a gentle voice, Mother added,

“It’s really quite simple.  Do not kill your neighbor.”

“Only if he’ll agree not to kill you,” Father snapped.

Her face showed distress.

He touched her cheek.

She smiled, then looked at me.

“Do you understand?”

“Yes. Bless you both.”

“And you.”

“And you.”

BARON OF THE BEACH

Yo!

My name is Sam seagull.

No, I’m not Jewish.

That’s a joke.

Where’s your sense of humor?

It was funny to my bird brain.

Yes, I’m a bird, baron of the beach.

All claims to clams and mussels are mine.

Try to take one and I’ll break your eardrum.

I live high on the hog all summer,

Winter too.

No, I don’t go south.

Miami?

That’s those other Siegel’s.