“Re” – reflection

Retro parade

Of life’s

Black white

Reel to reel

Left me

Breathless

Bursting with

Would be

Could be

Should be

Only if, then(s)

Sighs replete

There is

No retake

No prefix to fix, once

Seconds minutes hours

Thunder under

Time’s bridge

Whistling shuffling

That was it

Scrambling

At the edge

Facing destiny’s

Thrown gauntlet

Shaken not beaten

Best NOT

To retrace, instead

Take a leap forward

With implicit faith

RE in regrets

Are futile at best

To get on in life

With time in hand

On own terms is best

Obliterating the rest

Life‘s lesson number one

Destiny’s dealt

Hand thus finally won

**picture is from internet:getnidoskidos.com

Journey for Solace

Heart in mouth

Crossed hairpin

Mountain bends

Drove beyond

Dipping valleys

Up steep passes

Grief’s shadows dissipated

As thinned air gave pause

Jumpstarted paused heart

Weighted soul burst into song

Blood gushed to gaping holes

Pock marking traumatized heart

Quilted nature’s green patches

Sustenance starved swatches

Reaffirmed destiny’s universality

Hugging descended calm walled

In by succor gained from sight

Of nestled sacred grove therein

I was ready to tackle world again

Look fate in the eye and if necessary

Unsheathe hibernating gumption to defy

Thought steeds towards

Internal sanctuary

Few avow soul is pure

Fraud, a slot machine

A disconnect from reality

Everyday, I stitch mouths of grief

With laughter cross stitches

Planting rows of smiling beds

Undertow of sadness

Is strong but my will tough

Enough to overcome it

Eyes anointed with holy water

Sight of ecstatic prayer flags against

Distant peaks, chiming monastic bells

All exude strange bliss within me

Reinforcing walls of inner sconce

Receptacle for my soul’s lit flame

As my feet hit ground every morning

I am thankful for his continued grace

Even as I long to opt out of life’s rat race

Happier slants

To – old rankles

Coming together

Across the globe

e-pal potpourri

peeling vegetables

did away old mental presets

exposed mind’s new flash drive

Take for granted

Investments here

Garner poor returns

Ties that occur freely

Are at their resilient best

Untainted by expectations

Showering joy unexpectedly

Ties often bind

Beyond rhyme, reason

Rendering time space

As meaningless seasons

Time and tide wait for none

Ebb and flow flotsam jetsam are our

Realities yet those who stay moored

To inner self, straddle all successfully

silver toys

doting nanny

childhood’s decoy

exotic orchid

blue veined

hothouse life

rosy panes

unworldly perspective

imperfect warped

conditioned doll

primed for a fall

red carpeted debutante ball

Daddy’s gal went for a fall

landing in arms of stranger tall

a charming rake on the make

storybook defiance

foolish alliance, severed kin

inheritance as she faced, bereft

love’s downfall when rake up n left

reality’s cold water douche

broke sleeping beauty’s thrall

gathering somnolent wits, decided

To show world, make own destiny

Taking stock of own true worth

Beauty, brains, slim wherewithal

pawned valuable baubles to finance

Own upper drawer finishing school

Chance encounter with an old friend

rescued from last straw, broken back

couple of rough diamonds came inside

determined beauty optimistically  began

molding shaping chiding cajoling

scolding then weepy in arms folding

gradually rough diamonds took shape

their shiny patinas readied for display

Her witty creative mind scripted

A topical socio-comical stage play

To showcase finished “products”

In best possible flattering way

Carefully cultivated, chosen guests

Trooped in for an eclectic evening

Choice hors d’oeuvres and wine

Prepping for unusual evening fine

Graceful moves perfect pirouettes

Honed mannerisms voice delivery

Comical timing and witty repartee

Had audience frequently in stitches

Play was a hit as was finishing school

The privileged fallen from grace lady

Had arrived by dint of own grit, pride

Showing fate she could call own shots

Grieving parents aging grandparents

Finally came around and bore her home

She basked in their love revisiting past

Then left for home n bed of own making

My thoughts take a tumble

To the could’ve should’ve been

An ache in the heart percolates

That no chocolate can supplicate

I open my memory’s floodgates

Pressed bud hugging pages sepia

Tangible proof of fragrance once held

Silent tears stream from scars still fresh

Should I mourn could’ve should’ve been

or just visit past like one does old friends

then shut the gates, celebrate what is, can be

My thoughts take a tumble

To the could’ve should’ve been

An ache in the heart percolates

That no chocolate can supplicate

I open my memory’s floodgates

Pressed bud hugging pages sepia

Tangible proof of fragrance once held

Silent tears stream from scars still fresh

Should I mourn could’ve should’ve been

or just visit past like one does old friends

then shut the gates n celebrate what is n can be

Reinvented

Aired out

Tinted

Tippled

Dimpled

Wrinkled

Glossed

Unvarnished

Life’s ravages

Proudly

Bearing

Steady ready

For New

Experiences

Heady

&

Above all

Determined

To BE HAPPY