just 3 lines: September 2021

354. the game

one never knows

from one day to the next day—

life on a string

(Every day comes and goes. The sun shines hot or cold….the wind blows this way or that way, on and on—that’s how things go.)

353. peaceable kingdom

all together

trees, moss, leaves, stones, and rock

living in peace

(Contemplating peace.)

352. the rock family

rock steady

time softens their rough edges

wave by wave

(When things seem hard just stay together and ride the waves, allow the turmoil to settle down….time softens everything.)

350. me and my shadow

the sky is blue

the ocean is blue, even the sand

me and my shadow

(Some people say that bigger is better. I prefer the little things and simple pleasures. Surprising things can reveal themselves when you slow down, get closer, down to the ground of things.)

351. the sand family

the waves roll in

and the waves roll away

enjoying the day

(Sooner or later everything gets washed away….stay together and find a way to enjoy every day.)

349. waiting

a car speeds by

and the North Star flares—

waiting for daylight

348. morning still life

close together

what good company books are—

missing my brother

(My brother, who was a minimalist before minimalism, once told me….books are nice things to have. Later on at some point he said the same thing about records, vinyl records. My brother loved music and books.)

347. the fun clinic

sometimes

it just takes a little fun

to get back on track

(The Orland Carnival is back in town with smiles, laughter and fun glimmering everywhere. A cue waits outside the Fun Clinic. I was just thinking….wouldn’t it be cool if next door to every urgent care clinic there was a bright and colorful Fun Clinic—and entry was free regardless of affiliation of any kind, just for the asking.)

346. a curiosity

two legs tied with bands

one green, the other orange

an all-white bird

step-by-step, it

pecked right up to our feet….turned

and walked away

(….what in the world?!! Was this rare bird a pigeon or dove or albino falcon? We’ll never know. Only thing certain it was certainly, well, different. A curiosity.)

(here’s an interesting article on the meaning of falcon as an animal totem) https://www.spirit-animals.com/falcon-symbolism/

345. my dream

dreaming of home—

dwelling at last in a world of

unpolluted green

344. coming this week….

hop on board

gals and guys, young and old

carnival’s coming!!

(Time & Place: September 21-25, 2021 - Oreland, PA)

343. surprise!🤩

surprise—

inside this morning’s orange

a baby orange!

(When is an orange more than just another orange? Don’t be fooled by what you think you see. Go a little deeper to get to the heart of things.)

342. the old man

things are tough today—

and the old man replied,

“ah, so”

(This morning for some reason, I was really struggling to create a post, then I remembered this picture and it occurred to me that it’s OK to struggle and that I’m not alone….I can always count on the old man to be there for me.)

341. stargazing

seven years ago

how we roamed the streets, just looking

….taking it all in

(They say that everything changes. This is one thing that hasn’t, and that’s good, and I hope this will always be so.)

340. out for a hike

no king or queen here

just a pack of dogs in the woods

out for a hike

calm and content

and not one word of complaint

just getting along

(She had 10 or more dogs on the trail that day. I asked to take their picture. They all quietly gathered to the side and patiently waited as I took their picture then walked on by. I love dog energy.)

339. five in the morning

nothing stirring, but

crickets…crickets…crickets

first smoke of the day

(I gave up smoking cigarettes nearly 50 years ago….it wasn’t easy. My neighbor wants to give it up….he’s down to five a day. I wonder if he’ll make it.)

338. will it or won’t it….

air conditioner

up on the third floor window

look out below!!

(….hope he doesn’t have to sneeze!!)

337. red lights

stopping

at the red light—

a big fish

(It’s good to keep your eyes open as you go about your day….you never know what you might see. I wasn’t looking for a big fish, it just showed up. Life‘s full of surprises.)

336. september still life

striking a pose—

cat, butterfly, and onion

and a dollar bill

335. origami’s cool

origami’s cool—

whenever I want a boat

i can have one

some boats will float

though they’re made of paper

imagine and dream

far away places

sun on my face and the wind

and gulls overhead

(this may not be high haiku but who cares; i don’t worry about the do’s and don’ts of things or the should’s or shouldn’ts….imagination is one of the higher faculties of the mind)

334. little miracles

early morning:

cup of coffee and a book

quiet now and cool….

occasional drift

of wheels on the road,

hint of incense….

far away

a siren wails six times

soft rain falling….

(Early morning is my favorite time….listening….easing into the day.)

333. songs of myself

how many songs

do we have….just one?

perhaps not

some day maybe

i’ll forget the important things

and just sing

like a child at play

spinning delightful songs

for miles and miles

(How many songs do you have….which song are you singing now? Is it your song?)

332. morning prayers

speak softly

listen deeply

be still

I like to pray. Sometimes I talk….sometimes I listen. Every thought is a prayer, every prayer is heard and answered, only sometimes we don’t like the answer. The three prayers I like are: thank you, thank you, thank you….help me, help me, help me….i’m sorry….i’m sorry….i am sorry.

331. dream house?

sooner or later

even the trendiest ideas

end up in the trash

(You never know what might end up in the trash.)

330. up in the air

close together

so close together, aren’t they,

but are they

(The way things are: no need to leave home, fly to far-off places and faces, just pick up your phone.)

329. feeling at home

slowing down and

caring about one another—

life in a village

(In the woods day by day, making friends with the trees and woodland gnomes, feeling all together and at home.)

328. transitioning

bold or bashful

color, line, texture, feeling—

breaking free

(Making origami is all about exactitude; it feeds my need for control and perfection. And yet another part of me longs to break free, to let go and make friends with the winds of change….to explore something new and strange. Change is not always easy, it sometimes takes daring and courage, even to face a piece of white paper not knowing where it wants to take you. That’s life.)