Evolution of the Mind

Walking forward

Looking back

Reflections of the past 

Heeding lessons learned 

Along the way

Help create our paths

Memories are

The building blocks

Of how we view the world

Treated with

Respect and love

The mind becomes a pearl

Tiny little fingers

Wrapped up in daddy’s hand

A bond is just beginning 

That only they will understand

Someday he’ll grip a baseball

Or throw the winning touchdown

Or maybe paint a masterpiece 

That soon is world renown!

Will those fingers play guitar 

Or dance on piano keys

Or step up to a golf tee

And swing a club with ease

Whatever he chooses to do in life

His dad will be cheering him on

Offering the utmost support and love

The father phenomenon 

And one day he will be the one

To hold the hand of the next generation 

When the circle of life comes around once again 

He will continue the family tradition 

Since America's beginnings

Deep loyalty has kept her free

 Much is owed to the many

Who have shown such bravery

Semper Fi, Semper Fortis

Always faithful, always strong

Semper Paratus, always ready

And willing to right the wrong

Uno ab alto

One from on high

Leave no one behind

Though danger is nigh

All have one goal

To serve and defend

And do what is needed

To the absolute end

Of whatever they face

No matter how dire

The job will be done

Before they retire

Those who've worn a uniform

Should never be forgotten

And should always be respected

Especially those who have fallen

Countless lives have been lost

So many more could live

There's no perceptible limit

To what they are willing to give

Unmasked

At last!

Free to roam

Outside of my home!

Biking and

Smiling

Escaping

And playing

The city 

Behind me

Exploring

And restoring

For what life will bring next

Standing innocently in the sun 

Just before the day is done

In the childhood joy of summertime 

One pure moment in his lifetime

Is captured in a silhouette  

In the beauty of nature’s habitat

Few times in life are so sublime

After the years of nursery rhymes

So let him feel this kind of peace

Enjoying the splendor of God’s masterpiece

And may the colors fill his soul

With brilliance and light as life unfolds

Sometimes you may wonder

What is it that I see...

What if what you’re looking at 

Simply cannot be!

Your mind may not interpret 

What your eyes bring into focus 

And then you start to wonder

Is this some kind of hocus pocus?

But when you look much closer

And ignore your first summation 

You might see something different 

And thus see the realization 

When my mom went to heaven

And my dad shortly after

There were so many months

Without any laughter

Given no time to heal

My grandmothers followed

Within only two years 

My family was hollowed

I made my first comeback

Having a little girl

Now I had three children

And my life began to whirl

For the next twenty years

Our family thrived

Even adding a child

To our blessed tribe

But once again tragedy

Pierced everyone’s hearts

God called my husband home

And my life fell apart

My soul spiraled down

To an indescribable depth

Tears flowed like a river

With this heartbreaking death

My children lost their father

And I couldn’t tell them why

For that was my biggest question 

As we all said our goodbyes 

It took many years

To start a new life

I tried to move on

Though I still felt the knife 

Slowly and sorely

I emerged from the slaughter

Struggling each day

To hold my head above water

Then to my amazement

My heart opened up again

So the second comeback in my life

Had a chance to begin

I never thought it possible

To find love a second time

But life has its surprises

And I’m thankful this was mine