Warrior of Smile-caresses...

 I was glad that all of us could be together at the cottage for a few days...then, they 'had to go'. This afternoon Victoria hugged me and asked if I'm sad as I paused at the above photos and I smiled (shakily) and said, 'sorta sad yet so happy' and hugged her....hard;) reminding her (me) things never stay the same for long... (she missed them too). Rob and Emily surprised us last night by driving back up for one more night!!

She masks hunger wildly bleeding

Feels her face to find its smile

This is quite unlike those fleeting

Farewells we suffer a while

Bravely she becomes kind kisses

Love lends to parting’s embrace

Will to whisper warm word-wishes

Through a smile upon her face

Permanence of Past impresses

Compels her to persevere

Warrior of smile-caresses

Watches children disappear

Yet, scattered on paths behind her

Between vapor page preserved

Echoes love’s gentle reminder

Life gave more than she deserved

© Janet Martin

Yet Poor Enough

Rich enough to treasure joy

As hill and hollow spill

Like window-boxes to the world

Wild-flower miracle

Rich enough to feel the rush

Of wordless, wondrous awe

Where Perfect Painter dips his brush

To palettes without flaw

Rich enough to know the Staff

From whence all blessings flow

Where mercy pleads on our behalf

For all we do not know

Rich enough to taste the bread

That rains its crumbs on kings

Yet poor enough to prize the thread

That weaves life’s simple things

© Janet Martin

Often, as I enjoy the beauty of nature I think of the tour guide in mountainous Ecuador who reminded a friend(after he commented that 'at least they live among stunning beauty'),  'it is a great blessing indeed to be well and fed enough to enjoy nature's beauty'.

Dreamer's Summary

 (a sweet view through eyes half-closed this week).

That far-off speck on the skyline

Roars past; we wear its dust

While we toy with time’s inklings

Like maybes before Must

Oh, treasonous vexation

Primed in pittance of youth

Suave, without hesitation

Time wraps us in its truth

Dreamers distort the air

With self-supposed mirage

While breath-by-breath we bear and bare

What none can camouflage

…and all the by-and-bys

That once our minds composed

Are nothing now but wending sighs

Behind our eyes, half-closed

© Janet Martin

Of Endless Letting Go

But then it drifts away

Like ducks, past outstretched piers

A flicker ‘mongst the reeds or waves

Before it disappears

A mourning-tempo bends

The reaches of her soul

She cannot clasp what living lends

And time cannot console

The hour breaks in two

Morning slips into noon

Mist-mantled seas don eyes of blue

Ere evening comes too soon

Still, she craves to endure

This aching ebb and flow

Where life unfolds the sweet allure

Of endless letting go

© Janet Martin

...back home and going through the usual withdrawal symptoms;)

The tenure of this song sort of speaks my mindset right now...coming home to acquaint ourselves with the latest horror-headlines; no one can hide away on an island, completely unscathed and unaccountable, yet the sweetness of those 'get-away' echoes spurs us on.

If You should Happen Past My House...

If you should happen past my house

And you would see it as you go

Would it look like the sort of place

Of someone you would like to know?

And would its lawn and gardens grin

…a rainbow-colored welcome mat

And would they whisper,’ come on in’

To sit a spell for tea and chat?

If you should happen past my house

I’d like to think that it would be

A ‘home-away-from-home-like-hug’

Just to keep you company

Strange, how every now and then

We pass a house that seems to glow

With a sweet sort of ‘welcome-grin’

Of someone we would like to know

© Janet Martin

Don't you find that some houses just have a homey welcome-hug appeal as you pass by? Tomorrow we leave for the cottage and I have a few such houses 'ear-marked' to smile to as we pass...

(so if this porch is a little quiet, I know you will understand,

sometimes we simply have to sit with toes in sea and sand;)

Happy side-note: Changed the spark-plug, added fresh oil; and Br-r-r-m! the tiller started! (frustration mentioned here) The garden hopefully won't be a total jungle when we return.