His gruff voice and grumpy exterior belie the man he really is. Inside all that is a gentle giant, an honorable man. He is the man our daughters’ children call Paw-Paw, GrrAMpa and Gramps. He has changed bums, wiped noses, dangled babies on his knees. He has loved and he has disciplined. But mostly he has loved. 44 years a Dad and 22 of those he has been a grand-dad. If a ride is needed, he is first in line to offer. If a paddling is required he is first to encourage another avenue of correction. He is love personified.
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written for Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge: GRUFF
August 18th, 2014 / Categories: Alaska, I wanna go home!, poetry, Velvet Verbosity, words /
3 Comments »
Come down to the water
My true love sang to me
Come see the sailing ships
And watch the tide with me
Come down to the water
I called back to my love
Let’s seek shells and toss
Pebbles, and rescue starfish
Come down to the water
Let’s watch the sun sink
‘neath waves turned golden
With its waning light
Let’s sit together at the wharf
Dangling our feet and laugh
As waves tickle our toes
And crust them with salt
Oh, do come down
To the water with me
It is there life begins and
Where our love remains
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written for Velvet Verbosity’s 100 word challenge WHARF. Photo is from a day trip my love and I took to Homer over the weekend. I belong in Homer – someday – someday I shall live there.
July 29th, 2014 / Categories: Moose Nuggets /
1 Comment »
Beauty in my town is apparent in summer. Blossoms and berries; salmon smoking on grills, halibut filling the freezer; sun browned babies playing in the surf.
Beauty in my town is apparent in the winter. Pure snowfalls, sledding, snowball fights; bundled up babies playing in snow forts.
Beauty in my hometown is apparent in its people. They complain about summer road whales and “idiot†drivers sliding on iced over roads. Yet they give and give again whenever there is a need.
Finding the beauty in my place is as easy as looking out my window or talking to my neighbor.
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Written for Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge: FINDING
July 25th, 2014 / Categories: Moose Nuggets /
2 Comments »
Wrinkled skin
Eyes once brilliant blue now faded and time-worn
Liver spotted hands, veined with lines of blue
Aging well?
Or simply aging
Each day brings another strand
Of gray in once blond tresses
Another line
Another wrinkle
Another sag and bag
We’re sliding down the hill of
Growing older
Laughing at youth long gone
Wishing for less painful
Reminders
Of misspent youth
Or a well lived life
Soft in the middle
Paunchy where once muscled
Do I regret my years?
How could I?
Without the years there would
Be no you
No daughters
No grandchildren
No life
No love
written with LOVE for VV’s 100 Word Challenge: FADED.
July 14th, 2014 / Categories: Moose Nuggets /
7 Comments »
It’s late summer and I
Sit on my stoop watching as
In the lane an old man weaves
Tales of magic from side to side
Or maybe he is just walking
Magic is strange that way
What to me is weaving tales
To you is an old man’s pride
Whimsy, I cry spellbound
Foolish you repeat shaking
Your head in disapproval
Play with me I beg
Not today – too busy you say
So I sit on the stoop
And listen for the whistling
Announcing magical lore
As the old man slowly
Makes his way toward
Me
Waiting
Watching
Whistling along
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written for Velvet Verbosity’s 100 Word Challenge: WHISTLING
