But Not for Me

the wind is moving sweetly
from a tree here then over
there dropping a whisper

here then over there but
not for me like the song
of the same name

even so a gentle breeze
touched me to remind me
that hope is never lost

only momentarily forgotten
but always within reach of
a believing heart and mind

there was a time when I
thought that hope was for
everyone else but not for me

To Be or Not To Be

as soon as I sat down in my chair on the
patio it started to rain again

I had to wear a light vest and as I lit a late
afternoon cigar I listened to

what seemed to be a host of kettle drums
sitting on the metal roof that would fade

in and out

then it slowed down to the sound of big
drops running off the roof to the worn

grass below that looked like a giant sheet
on a player piano rolling down

now that reminded me of the Steinway
that sat in our living room and

my piano teacher who quit

sometimes kids can’t be forced to be who
their parents wanted to be or want them to be

this can set the stage for a life of failure upon
failure upon failure

to this day I can sing some say as sweetly as
Nancy Wilson but I can’t play a thing

or read music yet there has been a choir or
two here and there

and that nervous but fine solo on Danny Boy

but my folks spent a lifetime discouraging me
from doing anything that I wanted to do

so acting and singing among other things
simply faded away like most of my dreams

much like the rain falling off the roof to
the ground

One Thing

Darkness descended midmorning
with a major storm hanging in
the air.

Distant thunder is no longer
distant squeezing us from
all sides.

Well call me Noah!

It is a torrential downpour
with no end in sight. I must
turn on a light in here.

I got a severe thunderstorm
watch then a flash flood warning
and a special weather statement.

My phone is ringing off the hook!
Well, dinging like crazy. I know.
Phones don’t do that anymore.

I always wanted to say that;
because my phone didn’t ring
then and rarely rings now.

You try not to worry but these
are the things you worry about
with loved ones on the road.

My wife drove her sister for a
scheduled surgery before this
storm hit.

Her drive back will be a tough
one. It goes without saying but
it is out of my hands.

Storms like this are subtle red
flags to remind us that we are
not in control. God is.

It just happens that way and
there is nothing one can
do about it.

Well there is one thing. Prayer.
Pray to God for their safety.
And pray some more.