Angels surrounded me

after I broke my femur

in a freak accident at home.

A neighbor who called 911,

the kind, cute EMTs who 

responded and took me

for my  first ambulance ride, 

the x-ray technicians who

encouraged me to curse

when they moved me,

and then asked “Is that all 

you’ve got?,” the operating 

room staff who said 

“We’ll take good care of you.” 

And of course family 

who gathered around,

whose presence helped 

me get through the

difficult days. More angels

came to visit, brought meals,

called, texted, and emailed

and visiting physical therapists

put me through those exercises

that are hard but necessary.

Life is so fragile. One misstep

can throw a wrench into your

life and cause your daily routine

to come to an absolute stop,

make you dependent on others

to eat, dress, and do what most

take for granted. I miss walking 

my dog, driving my car, hiking, 

yoga, pickleball, tai chi and 

gathering  with my women friends. 

But, I will recover.

What about those whose path has

no improvement, who have to put

up with daily frustrations until their

last day. Think about them and the

strength and patience they must

have to make it through each day.

Appreciate what courage and perseverance

it takes for them to live like that.

I am in awe.

scum on the surface

makes the depths

impervious to light

just as hardened hearts

create resistance to

truth and compassion

(Photo taken by me on a walk by neighborhood pond)

my heart swells as if

if it will burst from

my chest, spiraling

upward in the flawless

blue sky where it

will get a bird’s eye

view of the dazzling

redbud and cottony

Bradford pear, the

tiny green puffs on

budding tree limbs,

and the mighty James

as it journeys eastward.

Then it will flutter

down to peek at the 

petite grape hyacinths, 

tulips and daffodils,

the violets hiding in 

grass, and the hot pink 

flocks spilling down

the hill, all the while

accompanied by the

Carolina wren warbling

its “pretty, pretty, pretty.”

On this planet

people

are destroying

each 

other

as well as the 

earth and yet,

and yet,

there is still

such beauty 

and we must

relish it

while there

is time.

What does it mean 

when the Secretary

of Defense proclaims

“It takes money to kill 

bad guys.” Think about 

that. Think about that.

Billions of dollars to 

murder human beings,

sons, daughters, mothers,

fathers, sisters, brothers,

grandparents, friends.

Billions that could be

used to help survivors 

of tornadoes, of floods,

of hurricanes, people who

are hungry, people who

need medical attention,

schools that are falling

apart, the homeless.

“It takes money to kill

bad guys.” Think about

that. Think hard.

What about the greatest

commandment? What

about compassion?

What about kindness?

What about the belief

that each human being

is sacred? Consider that.

All night long tiny creatures

have been busy decorating

bushes, trees, and grass

with intricate designs now

highlighted by shafts of

sunlight for the early

morning walker’s delight.

There’s a stillness in the air

in anticipation of something

big to come. The birds are quiet,

the pond serene. A thin layer 

of ice is creeping across the 

surface of the water and Mr.

and Mrs. Mallard are swimming

to the far bank where the 

heron hangs out, seeking a

safe place to settle. Luna

and I are enjoying our walk 

knowing we may be housebound 

tomorrow if the BIG Storm comes.

icy 

hamlet

close to

pond’s edge

and pine 

needles 

scattered

into

distinct

patterns

May cold hearts

begin to melt

like thin ice

on a pond.

Then all shall

be well, all

shall be well.