leave messages
What message have you left for others?
letting out
a sigh after
a long day’s work
…
at the tone
seems pretty clear
and yet while
we may have the time
to say something
we may not know exactly
what we’re trying to say
a cheat sheet
What experience must be lived through for you?
traveling to
the forest park
to see a giant
…
may have
all the bullets
and takeaways
for us to keep in mind
but nothing can
ever replace
lived experience
dirty dishes
When do you clean?
move aside
the leftovers placed
into containers
…
may not have
started this way
but it is up to us
to soak, scrub, rinse
and dry them
for tomorrow will always
need clean plates
talk to ourselves
When do you listen to yourself?
whoosh
the leaves carry
mother’s warning
…
whether it’s
speaking in our heads
or even
speaking out loud
we must always
be able to find
the time and space
to listen to ourselves
swing and miss
Did you take action today?
sunday night
the umpire calls
for one more play
…
or we could
swing and hit
the chances
we hit a home run
will only happen
if we are willing
to take some swings
either way
How did you choose what to do today?
opening
the freeway lights
lead us to snow
…
we can only
do so much
in the day
and yet the point
of it all isn’t to do everything
but know what’s our one thing
we want to do
notice this
Do you like to stand out or be part of the crowd?
silence
only to be heard
after rainfall
…
in every
moment of silence
there will always be
those who keep the peace
and those who seek
to be heard
and remembered
the tree in the yard
Do you care for your surroundings?
mid-autumn ring
the sound of leaf blowers
fill the street
…
over time
knows how much
care and attention
we place in
making an effort
in keeping it
and the yard alive
in our cart
What’s in your shopping cart?
discount sticker
a loaf of sour dough
rests on the shelf
…
we all know
what we put into it
and what we consume
but often times
we have trouble knowing
or figuring out what’s in other’s
other than that they have a cart
left under the couch
What have you lost recently?
dusty
newspapers
seen better days
…
sometimes
misplacing things
is not our fault
but in fact
a simple act of something
that slips between the cracks
and falls to the floor
highlighter
What tools do you use for help?
looking for mounds
the matsutake remain
hidden from sight
…
when in search
for finding answers
to our questions
it always helps
to have a quick tool
or tip that guides us
to where we want to go
rain in the gutter
What is guiding you?
in another minute
a puddle becomes
a lake with streams
…
does not know
where it will go
it only follows gravity
and where the gutter
will guide it from
the top of the roof
to the street
time to fun
What experiences get you excited?
music box
the last time
starry night played
…
the length of time it takes
for us to get excited
and energized
over an experience
to do more
of something
is worth measuring
have's and want's
Are you balanced?
on the counter
ripped wrapping paper
is all that remains
…
go hand in hand
and when feelings
are attached to each side
they can either
hold us up
or pull us down
until we strike a balance
same old story
How do you tell stories?
on the road
a pinecone rolls
past pine trees
…
the words
the lyrics
the script
may be the same
but we as story tellers
may give different
interpretations
peer to peer
Who are you connecting with?
handshake
a connection worth
more than words
…
friend to friend
person to person
at the end
of the day
we are all
just people
trying to connect