Purpose

Naked and crying at birth.
Wrinkled like dried fruit at death.

Being cared for with 
baby lotion and
family to love.

To emergency rooms,
Stacks of Medical files.
Xrays and test results.

Therapy notes
Written by someone 
assigned to bring me joy.
and to support me.

Real friends 
who share laughter

Trying to prolong 
Our visit to this world.

In the end
all these important things,
go six feet under.
Why?

JoAnne

As I stumbled blindly down
my troubled path,
reaching for someone to trust,
your gentle, soft perfumed hand
held on to me.
Guiding me.

We shared laughter, emotions,
personal things.
Many years
you helped me survive
and more.
You taught me to enjoy.

I have learned of your recent passing,
I still want to share
If you could see me now,
somehow
I'd give you a holler
"Look at me, JoAnne,
See how far I've come."

Guess Her Diagnosis

Burning purple and red,
Her swollen body
oozing with infection
She stands in their faces,
the doctors and the aides, 
who cannot agree
on the nature of her disease.
Be it depression,
Psychosis or
the dreadful personality disorder.
How do they treat this
swollen purple thing, which
offends everyone with it's odor?
Should they use gentle kindness or
brutal rejection.

How Dare I

How dare I wear
my pretty cloths,
flaunt my thick and wavy hair.
I watch with glaring eyes
as you stumble
in ragged shoes.
your failures
create a begging frown.
Your stare threatens me.
How dare I progress
and leave you like this.

My Icy Shell

In icy snow I stand,
Inside my shell,
Keeping out the arrows.
and the pellets
that bounce and lie dead
around my frozen toes.
I was proud of my shell,
Built for protection,
Until the inside became
very cold, empty, and lonely.
Feeling safe and yet
regretting.
Wishing for some warmth
to free my soul.

I Wanna be a Singer

Our  family of seven huddled around the radio, listening.  TV wasn't available yet in our mountain town in Northern California.  For as long as I can remember, I loved singing along with the radio.  My family encouraged me.  The songs I loved to sing most were, "The Tennessee Waltz," and "Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer."

Mom and Dad thought my singing was cute and had me sing solos in church.  I stood in front of the congregation, wearing my red gingham dress with a white pinafore.  My hair had a permanent.I stood next to the piano, looking at the people smiling up at me, making me feel special.
I sang "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam."  I got confused about the part saying, "A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam."  I kept singing it over and over again.  I could have gone on forever, if someone hadn't stopped me.

During Grade school I continued singing,  I especially enjoyed singing in the restroom, where the hollow sound resonated.  In the ladies room at school, I was alone, singing and singing, really belting it out.  I studied my face in the mirror, trying to capture just the right look.

Suddenly, a little girl entered the room saying, "The teacher said, to tell you your disturbing the class."

I was embarrassed, but when I returned to class the teacher invited me to sing front of the kids,  I was thrilled as I sang,, "The Wayward Wind," and "The Banana Boat Song."  The kids really liked it.  One of the girls told me I was as good as Elvis.

I told mother once, "I want to sing in a choir.  Maybe, even the Tabernacle Choir."

I sang in the choir in high school.  We sang at schools, churches and at Christmas we sang in the mall.
On Easter, after lots of practice our choir performed, "The Messiah."

My sister, Jan also liked to sing.  Being a soprano, she could hit the high notes.  I sang alto and we did duets for family and church activities.  Years later, Jan trained her voice and became a professional opera singer.

My dream is to express joy, passion, and comfort during sad times.  It sometimes brings peace amid chaos.

Popcorn Seed

A popcorn seed I planted,
watered it and watched it grow
It started as a point of a leaf, 
and Grew green and tall.
inside mother's flower bed.
Like the ugly sister
at the princess ball

Conspicuous,
she stretches her leaves,
Reaching for the sun.
My popcorn plant,
the only one.

Mother grumbled,
"It's got to go!"
I pled with tears to spare my plant,
So innocent and wanting to grow.

She yanked it up.
chopped it down.
My popcorn plant, 
Lay dead on the ground.