Marching Clouds


Pewter clouds grow and stretch
With unexpected
And uninvited suddenness
Forming blots against
A white washed sky
Acting like war weary soldiers
Trampling through a bluebonnet field
They don’t belong
And they know it


Slowly they scoot past
With their iron colored
Brothers in tow
Imprisoning the sunset beyond
Their random puffiness
These haughty clouds
March slowly out to sea
As twilight slowly drops its veil
To darkness

Freedom Wheels


I fly better into the rising sun
Faster at dawn’s arrival
A muted whirring of rubberized plastic
Spinning and turning
The grey-black asphalt outstretched before me
Winds and curves, then disappears
For miles ahead
It’s me and the breeze;
Me and my wheels
Four in a row
Beneath each foot
In perfect succession
Giving me freedom
To breathe the sea-scented air
To soar like the herons
As a slalom skier around the bends
One foot ahead of the other
Onward and forward
Palm fronds rustling overhead
Squirrels and raccoons
Making a beeline to avoid my oncoming rush
A reflective time just for me
I let my random thoughts overtake
And mentally drift unbridled
I’ve seen it all on my skating adventures
A spoonbill quintet overhead
Cruise ships maneuvering out of port
Walkers, runners, bikers,
Wind-boarders, birdwatchers, picnickers
Everyone and anyone, tall and small
I pass them in a whiz
Kayakers, fishermen, kite flyers
My sweat soaked limbs
Cooled by a late summer wind
Just me and my skates
Celebrating exhilarating freedom

Beach Unleashed



The bossy sea
Shoves its grouchy surf
Half way up my suntanned calves;
I catch my balance
And amble along
Through the foamy edges
Watching marine life remains
And tossed about shell bits
Somersault one above the other;
A partial sand dollar
Skids across the drenched beachy grit
As the magnetic tide
Tugs it thoughtlessly
Back to its watery home;
White water breaking
Far from shore
Startles the diamond studded turquoise;
Brilliant sun bakes my bare shoulders
As I shield my eyes
From the coppery glare;
I study the ankle deep sea foam
As the swirling remains
Of once upon a time shells
Nibble at my toes
And grumbling waves grow raucous
Slamming against the semi-deserted shoreline;
Even the spindly-legged sandpipers
Toddle uncertainly along
The bubbly tide line;
An unexpected gust
Urges my steps forward
As the demanding water ebbs
Affirming Nature’s solitary strength

Lost and Gone



You sped through my life

Like a fiery comet

In the lonely night sky

Brilliant, dazzling, quiet

I blinked, spun around to look

And only saw the stars winking

Back at me – mocking me

As if to say, oh fool

Another one got away

Too late now, you had the chance



You flew by on golden wings

Through shimmering daylight

Tinged the azure limitless sky

Giving gentle caresses, open kisses

You stole my soul without warning

I never knew it left me

So I swept you aside like snowflakes

Trying to melt through my heart

Flung you aloft back to where

Only memories make their home

Beach Days


Tilted umbrellas line the sandy shore
Billowing in the lazy breeze
Gentle pint-sized waves
Repeat their journey ashore
Washing away the footprints
Of travelers and dreamers
I barefoot my way along the watery edge
Out-stepping the foamy surrender
Of saltwater retreat
It reaches for my feet
Trying to cover my painted toes
The incessant tumbling rush
Of surf over surf
Lulls me into a timeless place
Where only the slowly moving sun keeps pace
I extend my gaze afar
Where sky meets water
In a horizontal ribbon of limitless blue
Where high masted ash-white sailboats
Float in tranquility
And shades of turquoise green water
Blend and diffuse light to dark
I watch as hungry gulls
Swoop and dive for fishy food
And terns chatter among themselves
Arguing over seashell remains
I watch the languid bodies
Plastered against color-striped towels
And smile as hand-in-hand sweeties
Amble past stride for stride
I sidestep little ones
With plastic buckets and Frisbees
Squealing with delight
The salty air, summery sun,
Champagne sand with its
Buried seashell treasures
Beckon my return
To dream another day