transitioning among years

he is a man of the past
no matter how beautiful this past was
is just was
there is nothing left anyway
for today
the man whom he has become
is different now
so do not search in vain
to find again in him
who he was
only the mandolin
can sing the same song twice
while the voice of the singer
changes and roughens
a bit every winter
he still comes to sing
at my door his carols;
the eyes of the mind search
through the misty air
for the truth and the value;
i know his wishes are true
so I give him my coin,
he moves on to a different home
followed by a cheerful crowd
of young carolers

spring

they spring back to life
from brown bulbs
buried under the ground
the first shoots are well and alive!

the crocuses dance
dressed in purple and yellow
on the river banks
and the meadow

the daffodils shake
their heads gently
if the wind dares to raid their hills
once more with a breath-full of winter

the best

some of the best things in Durham:

- for the mind: the Durham County Library (a citizen's treasure)
- for the kids: Museum of Life and Science (inexhaustible source of activities, people might get exhausted though. Then you know it is time to go home, rest and come again another day)
- for the tummy: Taqueria La Vaquita (either of the two will provide simple, reliably filling food)
- for the community feel: the farmer's market
- for walking the dog and its persons : the duke forest, can't decide which entrance
- for your pocket: a vegetable garden
- overall: the neighbors. A secret resource for the town. what am I saying? they are the town!

this list supports additions and may be modified with a further notice from readers

simple

Aim to make things simple. It is not necessarily easy but it is gratifying. It makes ones brain think cleanly and better. One strategy is to divide a problem in subproblems and then conquer the understanding of all. Another strategy is to try to explain it to somebody else. Your dog can be a good adviser. Your grandma is of course much better. If you are a parent then kids might be open to this. If you are a kid try your parents, you may be pleasantly surprised.
A simple life is a good life, ask Zorba too.

new star, new stories

my child you have grown now so big
the bed time stories I used to tell you
you can retell now;
in fact some of the early ones
must have reached the ladybugs
who live among the stars ;
and from their laughter a new star
was born with a desire of sending its light
into the upper left corner of your window;
from now on you should never be lonely
scared and afraid of the dark;
your star will bath you
with sparks of bright light;
your childhood stories should lull you
to warm sleep under your blanket;
while your dreams navigate
learning to know that
it is almost time to make your own
so much and so big you have grown.

order and organization

"Order and organization" are my two words of the day. Without them we would need to reinvent the wheel on a daily basis. Save yourself some time and a large part of your sanity with "order and organization".

beautiful

the most beautiful men on earth
are beautiful on the inside;
the skin of truly beautiful women
radiates kindness, and their eyes
glow with hope and candor,
but most of all they impress
when frail as they seem they can raise
you up - their friends -
with their hands and their words;
they can put laughter on your lips
just by showing up on your doorsteps
or with a mere suggestion.
sometimes they gravely shake
their friend as if they were trees
to remind them where their roots
are, into the ground
of the same reality we should share.
they are rare but a few of them
have the power in spring
to plant fertile seeds of dreams
and nurse then to be
the healthy shoots of tomorrow,
tall and beautiful
nothing can touch them
our youth

wine day

today we are the wine that we drink
we are the songs that we sing
and the dreams that we dream;
today we come out from within.

let us share ourselves this moment
with friends, let us live the present;
let the memories drop to the bottom
let peace reign as they settle

let ourselves be the inspiration
that we usually seek from others
let all the flavors come out
from this simple bottles

the road paved with gravel
I feel, and the sweetness of cherries
atop of a tree in the garden of Eden
mixing with the wildness of berries

let us have the courage
to say good bye in the harbor
to those who decide to be sailors
and wish them good winds

let us have the heart to welcome
back those who decided to stay
home without armor
and work with a shovel

let us share ourselves
but refrain from imposing our ways
with newcomers from countries afar
where the making of wine was unknown

at the end of the party
let us be free to choose our path
and stick to the track
towards where good grapes can be grown.

muse (to amuse)

the muse of poetry came last night
for a late cup of tea
and to share inspiration with me;
but the kettle was dusty and cold,
the ink in the pen was too old;
so we just chatted and laughed,
and she sung me a song
then she wrapped herself in her veil
and vanished from sight
leaving me with my memory, only.

life

when does life happen?
when we are active
when we are passive
when we are pensive?

there are days when
there is so much light
that I feel blind;
can't see what happens
but I can hear
the flapping of wings
the shadows they cast
on the ground
on which I think
I firmly stand;
the hours pass
violently pushing
against each other
and when the storm
has passed
I wonder why
I have nor grabbed
the wing of chance
whatever chance
had come my way
to fly free
away from all fear
and its demons

and there are days
when gentle light
pushes you out
from undercover
when you feel strong
enough to blow the wind
that takes you where
you want to go;
when you take steps
without sparing
the effort to cut out a path
if it was not
already made;
and you don't care
if there is no path
to fit your foot;
you have to go
with forehead up
wherever future calls
with its strong voice
from far aback
the workshop
of your dreams
that it recalls

snow bunny - for its friend J

snow bunny
gray and furry
cheeks are red
on its blond mommy

snow bunny out at play
on a sled
from the shed
in the cold;

with its friend
slides down the hill
speedy fast
it is a blast

wonder bunny
puts its paw in the snow
does not run
if she let go

snow bunny
come get warm
in my arms
say its mommy;

go inside
bunny now
mommy too
say good night