My Children

1988


My children bring me joy
When they giggle, when they're silly
Or they tell a funny story

My children make me proud
When they work together, solve a problem
Mind their manners, act like friends

My children give me love
And I love them in return

A Woman Without a Past

November 1991


I just want to be
A woman without a past.
I don't want my new loves
To know why old loves didn't last.
I don't want them to know
How others hurt me so.
I don't want them to see
My vulnerabilities.
I just want to be
A woman without a past.

Always Word Wishes

October 1990


Words children's ears should never lack
Are, "I am always coming back."

And everybody needs to hear,
"I will always be here, dear."

The most important words are, though,
"I will always love you so."

The Peacefulness of Faith

10/27/98


How wonderful is the peacefulness of faith!
How great to know the neverending joy
Of centeredness,
Of purpose,
Of abounding love
That the Spirit gives us each to enjoy.

Embrace His love
Set worries free
Let not a grudge you keep.
Be open to God's blessings
Be grateful when you seek.

Be cheery in your thoughts and deeds,
Upbeat in what you say.
Stive for joy and you will find
The peacefulness of faith.

What Jesus Taught

Virginia and Arthur: Bernalillo, NM

With Death there is a New Beginning

With Hope there is Salvation

With Love humanity can live Together

With Faith we are never Alone

1995

Wind

Last of the 5th grade haikus, c. 1968


The wind is playing
A game with the leaves
Who will win?

Hungry

Haiku #3 c. 1968


The little ant was struggling
To bring a piece of bread
To his home

Waves

Haiku #2 c. 1968

The waves went bubbling

To cover up

The sleepy sand.

Young Love

November 1976

Barefoot on the beach

With you by my side

Your pants are rolled up to mid-calf;

We talk of the future.

Sitting on a log

To watch the sun set

You hold me close

As a seagull flies by.

Nothin' Special

This is a song.
November 1990

He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special
But he sure is good to me

He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special to anyone but me

He doesn't drive a fancy car
He probably won't get too far
He doesn't wear diamond rings
But he is fun, and gives me little things

He'll never have a star
On Hollywood Boulevard
He'll never win the Nobel Prize
But there is kindness in his eyes

He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special
But he sure is good to me

He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special to anyone but me

He doesn't have American Express
But I don't love him any less
He doesn't have a Bachelor's degree
But that's all right with me

He's nothin' special
He's nothin' special
But he sure is good to me

He's nothing special
He's nothing special
He's nothin' special to anyone but me

Limerick

For Ed and Donna


There once was a Wiener Mobile
That looked so incredible real
Then a giant caught sight
And ate it all in one bite
Except that he spit out the wheels

Sonnet # 2

1976 Poetry Class extra credit


I stand alone surrounded by the sand
I see there are three paths awaiting me.
In front of me are endless miles of land
On one side of the desert is the sea.
The third path is a city fortified
My future's destiny lies in my choice.
My mind is telling me I must decide
I yell for help, but no one hears my voice.
Upon the ocean sits a waiting ship
With tall strong masts and white & flowing sails.
The waiting vessel finds me in its grip
The other paths to me are no avail.
Like many things that must be done alone
My course decided, now I must be gone.

Disappearing Magic

circa 1984

Being a mother
Is a magical time
When you learn about love
And wipe away grime

A kiss is the most
Special magic of all
It can take all the pain
Away from a fall

My child wants to know about everything
But I teach him at some cost
For when he sees what I don't know
My powers will be lost

Diamante

September 1990

Hectic

Kids, Me

Work, School, Church

Home, Fun

Life

What If

June 1990


What if I let the walls down
And let my feelings show
Will you hold me through the crying,
Or would you be afraid and go?

What if the curtain fell down
And you saw my naked soul
Would you stay until tomorrow,
Or say you'll call me as you go?

What if I let you touch me
In your honest, open way
Would you hurt me like the others,
Turn around and walk away?

What if our lives were different
And we never suffered pain,
Would I have ever built a wall
To save myself from shame?

My curtain is a sacred mask
To hide myself from me
I stand behind it safely
And pretend no one can see

Deep inside I want to break out
And be more like a kid -
Curious, trusting, loving
What if I really did?

On Being a Single Mother

February 1991


Wonder what all those other struggling mothers do
When they're alone with a child or two.

Do they feel the same despair when the bills aren't met
And worry about the future 'cause there's no savings yet?

Do they hope and pray Prince Charming will come and save their neck?
More likely he will come and put them deeper into debt.

One day I'll be past the point of struggling to survive,
But now I'm just a single mother trying to get by.

The Sea

5th grade Haiku #1, 1968


The storming sea
was talking angrily
to the sky

College Is

Freshman Year UCSB, 1975

College is:

A spiral notebook
A highlighter pen
A short romance
A newfound friend

The rain on the window
The thunder, a rainbow
Letters from home - from anyone
Dances, movies, having fun

Midterms and finals
Waiting in line
Emotions and feelings
Too hard to define

Boys

From high school, circa 1973.

You see them at movies
You see them at games
They look at you closely
And ask for your names.

They check you again -
To make sure that you'll do.
Then, maybe, they'll ask
For your phone number too.