Picking Berries In The Wild

The absolute height of summer vacation as kids

Was the two weeks of berry season by my house

Our parents would take me and my sister around the yard

And up and down the gravel road, but not into anyone else's yard

The berries were planted there long ago by someone

At least, that's what dad always said

Ripe berries were easy to spot, they were full black with no red spots

Green usually meant the season hadn't started yet

It was easy to pick all the berries that were low and in the front

But most of them were at the top or on the underside of the bush

And this meant prickers had to be handled very carefully

Or you'd get cut up pretty bad, especially if you traveled to the center of a bush

We'd pick just enough to eat that day

Sometimes we'd freeze a bag for later

Or give some to gramma to make a pie

Her pies were the sweetest summer treat!

Just A Small Church Street

Stuffed full of joy

Glowing at the seams

Absolutely spirited and content

At the crack of dawn

Wisped away in the blistering cold

The most important thing to remember

Is to take action

Get wrapped up and roll around on the ground in good cheer

Tomorrow can wait

Dishes, laundry, dusting, even the trash

Today we need to be present

And enjoy every moment to the fullest

Laugh and sing and sip a hot drink

Tomorrow comes soon enough

Just like it does every year

It lets you drive straight from one end of town to the other

Without going through the hassle of the center of town

It's paved the whole way, but none of the side roads are

And only a few of the driveways are

From the beating core

To the tingling finger tips

From the loose and falling hair

To the tight legs and center

Life is an odyssey

Sometimes strange sometimes lost

Boring

True strength completes me

It has the determination

Slow starts

And long-winded finishes

We have the screeching focus

And silent meditation

What it takes to succeed

Lessons to survive

Waiting for some rest

Always ready

For the end

There are plenty of sharp twists and turns and a pretty steep hill

Some cars race through pretty quick,

But most take their time and watch out for anyone on foot or bike

It starts out going over active train tracks, and ends up at a rather large church

It's cold, wet, and dirty

The walk is littered with sand and pebbles from the city cleaning up the last snow or ice storm

A heavy dew or mist or fog hangs in the air

It's still cold enough to bite

Dark and dreary

And it still feels good

Exercising outside

In the open air and freedom

Winning a battle with the elements

Even rain

Just one more obstacle to overcome

One more puddle to keep away from

One more dry sock

On this windy, rainy, day

Bills

I have to pay attention

And stay on top of things

I have bills to pay

It doesn't give me great joy

Or a sense of satisfaction

Doing what I have to do

It's easy to fall behind

Or forget about what you're supposed to do

Fall into the trap

But I want the good things

I want to live a happy life

And there are consequences

Expectations and goals to meet

Chores to do and tasks to complete

It's not just work and fun

There's a lot to being good

There's more to be said

Today I'm going to pay my bills

Or maybe tomorrow

I'm late for work

Practice

The weak and needy body

Needs practice to feel whole

It needs to work and sweat

It needs to burn and grow

The mind is always alert

Ready to go and show and

Compete without learning

First and foremost what's needed

Waiting to brag and boast

For a time that's appropriate

When we've had our fill

Of building up and growing

Our time will come someday

Just not quite yet, not today

Today we need our practice

Tomorrow will be our day of greatness

The Gazebo Out Front

This morning

After driving to work

I had to check to make sure I still had the gas cap for my car

I could have forgotten it at the gas station last night

But I did not

I could have forgotten

I'm glad I know

The small, dirty white gazebo out front

Is actually a bus stop for the handicapped and elderly

With slightly peeling paint and small pumpkins on the rails

That some local children left there for the holiday season

I've finished

With what I have to do

I made the decision, put in the work, and completed my tasks

What's left now it waiting

Enjoyment

Knowing that I will have to hold on

I may be asked to prove myself

To back it up

At some point

Once or twice

But through strength and determination I shall prevail

I am good with what I have done

And where I currently stand

The future will be amazing and wonderful

My choices will make this so

My deeds and actions will show

Through goodness

And grandiose of action

I stand proud

It's under the shade of a boisterous spruce tree

In the middle of a green triangle in the front of town hall

Both sides of the street and a nearby shop's lot are full of cars

The office is bustling with people carrying important documents into and out of

It takes time to get what you need

Not just living in the here and now

But planning for those small moments in the not too distant future

Calculations of small choices that may never happen

But are accounted for

Just in case

Together these pieces form a more complete picture

That's not too busy

To meet basic needs

Thoughts

Ancient words, ever true

Changing me, changing you

There is a place where mercy reigns

Ever true, never surrendering

This is the bread the came down

Whoever feeds on it will live forever

One day in heaven, when praises were sung

One day in darkness, when sin was ever present

Living he loved me

Dying he saved me

Do not grumble among yourselves

Whoever has faith has eternal life

I believe

I believe

I believe

We must trust in what we believe in

Being dissatisfied and offended by the things placed in our lives

Of course rumors would circulate

They haven't been drawn by the father

From weakness to fullness

He doesn't relent, he doesn't retreat

You have no life

It's a relationship, a connection that's in us permanently

Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

All of these things, may their aroma be pleasing

Doing The Right Thing

I have nothing to say

Except that

I did it

The right thing

I considered all my options

I didn't wanna seem desperate or too bold

I could have thought longer

Proud and stoic

I could have sprung into action

At first notice

To the sons and daughters, patiently waiting with arms open

The moms and dads, worried back at home

Friends and family near and far, just know

I tried my best

That's really what I did

No foolin

Sometimes you're famous, with your name aglow in lights

And sometimes your hands get dirty, digging in the dirt

I like to think I did good in the world

Brought happiness with me and spread it around

Was an extra link in t he chain, holding together someone's hard day

Now before I get ahead of myself and make something into what it is not

Let me tell you

Nobody owes you nothin

We'd all like to win the crown jewels

Or inherit a treasure chest

But most of us will not

We will be satisfied with what we do get

Whatever and whenever that may be

The prize is magnificent

Translucent joy

With and aroma of victory and contentment

The kind of glory that lasts only a few seconds and a hundred years

Mauve and maroon and olive green

Sparkling hope drenched in the fever of tomorrow

Yesterday was right

And today was right

And tomorrow will be right again

Some say that makes a left

I say it's straight ahead

A complete journey to the horizon

Satisfied and fulfilled