For the Love of Everything

Music on the radio

Colors in the sky

I know I'll really miss it all

If and when I die.

Yes, I could live forever on

Just honey-butter bread, but

I'll miss the bees and butterflies

When I am finally dead.

The flowers and majestic trees

And sweets that make me choke

Old movies that can make me cry

I'll miss them when I croak.

The smell of toast and bacon

Or warm cinnamon buns

But all these things are left behind

The minute I'm all done.

To laugh out loud, to sing a song

A satisfying yawn

Refreshing swim, the smell of rain

They're history when I'm gone.

A garden full of radishes

The beauty of a rose

Perhaps they'd truly benefit

If I quickly decompose.

Releasing all my nutrients

I'd help the grass to grow

To feed a herd of mustangs

As I moulder down below.

Wild dogs could come and sniff me

The birds may drop some seed

The whales might sing or whistle

As my bones disperse like weeds.

It doesn't pay to whimper

I don't wish to complain

But I shall miss so many things

It causes me great pain.

So serve me tea and biscuits

I'll have that glass of wine

And give up everything I own

If I could turn back time.

Long Gone

Poppies - tjb

The coral-colored poppies

with their feathery fern-like leaves

are long gone

So are the purple coneflowers

that grew by the white picket fence

along with a black raspberry bush

where mockingbirds used to nest

The tall evergreen tree near the house

with its twin trunks

where I would hang the bird feeders

Trees - tjb

is now a vine-covered stump

And the row of slender maples

have been reduced to decaying piles of pulp

Gone, too, are the three giant pines 

that used to whisper in the wind

Even the little stream is clogged

and choked with weeds

The yarrow I planted has disappeared

No more morning glories

Good-bye, butterfly bush and flame lilies

Gone, all gone

because of men who arrive

armed with weed-whackers and lawnmowers

and ear-deafening leaf-blowers

and mechanical trimmers

The only thing left are lop-sided bushes

and a copse of tangled trees in the back

in the corner

and a few thrusting tulips

and some daring daffodils

and one little conifer who stands alone 

Miniature daffodils - tjb

not much taller than I am

The bittersweet is still there

and my comfrey, and sweet mugwort

It makes me mad

but mostly I'm sad

because I do not feel protected any more

No longer safe within the circle of life

that used to surround me

It's cold and it's bare

and I no longer care

to be here, living where

there is so little regard for the natural world

Nothing stays the same, nothing lasts forever...

only my memories

Bittersweet - tjb

 

Nearly an entire year has passed me by and I haven't felt compelled to write a single blog... until now

Can my life really be so uneventful? Do I truly have nothing to say? Maybe, maybe not 

My sweet male cat died in October (I am heartbroken)... my brother came to visit me (I hadn't seen him in two years)... my employers are only scheduling me to work one day a week (with no explanation)... a long-time friend abruptly ended our friendship without warning (it was upsetting at the time, but now I'm grateful and I wish her well)... there is so much hostility in the world (people are dying)... 

But all is not lost -- well, except for a few pounds, which is a good thing -- and I am hoping to sell some jewelry or some possessions I no longer need (but that won't pay the bills)... I'm still trying to work on my stories, hoping to get something published...

And I am slowly getting organized (too slow, I'm afraid), trying to detach and get rid of some "stuff" I've "collected" over the years...there's too much and it's stressing me out...

I'm actually ashamed that I haven't done more with my life -- written a book, or a song, or created a unique work of art -- and yet...

I've helped friends in their time of need... I've given support to those who were sad or troubled... I've made someone laugh when they needed a lift... These are all things I want to do, and am always willing and able to do, without compensation... but mostly I want to leave a little something behind when it's time for me to go, and now that I'm older I realize I am literally running out of time... so here's a little rhyme about time... and space... and the meaning of Life

There isn't a tried-and-true road map for Life

The paths are all rocky and steep

But I will keep going, through trauma and strife

'Til the Cosmos sings me to sleep 

Oh, there's always something -- a means to an end --  

That we believe we're meant to do

Meaningful mysteries, mistakes to mend  

Life offers us puzzles, not clues

So raise up your glasses and sing me a song

Keep looking for your heart's desire

If I see you've fallen, I'll help you along

We'll all find a place by the fire

Peace Love Light 

Dedicated to my sweet boy, my dearest love, Copper...

My Life In A Nutshell

 

I used to be beautiful

Although I never thought of myself that way

I was tall and slender

With flawless skin and long dark hair

Born with a strong heart that murmurs

And no visible scars

I used to close my eyes and dream

About my fulfilling future life

But I often strayed from my intended path

Following every rocky road

Hoping to reach success

Only to stumble and fall

And crawl towards every detour

I was an actress

Then I was a writer and an artist

I was in love seven times

One is still my friend

Two have passed away

The last one is now my husband

I do not think too much about the others

I am much older and a little wiser now

Not as tall, with short rainbow hair 

Now my skin is scarred, my strong heart still murmurs

If I listen, what will I learn?

How to be truly happy...

How to heal my scars...

How to make the most of my life

Until it's time to move on

To become part of the earth and moss 

And hope the trees and stones will remember

How deeply I loved it all and how much I will miss this place

Unity (All You Need Is Love)

 

Graffiti - TJBuckley - 2021

When will we learn?

People are grieving

People are angry

People are numb

How do we fix this?

Sharing is caring

We can be the change

Give peace a chance

Imagine there's no conflict

I wonder if you can

Let your conscience be your guide

Never give up

Never surrender

All you need is love

But the reality is

We are all mad here...

Yay - it's May!

 

Today I chose three cards from this oracle deck... Suffering, Peace and Grace.

Suffering: The cause of all suffering is craving. Desire things that you do not have, and suffering will follow. Realize this and peace will be yours. Suffering will disappear and contentment will reign.

Peace: To create peace in the world, you must be unruffled within. Become tranquil. Walk in stillness, and act in harmony. The serenity that radiates from you will create peace.

Grace: The beauty of grace is that you receive blessings for no reason. As above, so below. Practice random acts of grace. Give to others for no reason. Offer kindness to those who are undeserving. Love those who no one else loves. Practice grace.

My moment of Zen.

A Day In May (The Force Is With Us)

 

I sit outside today, seeking an epiphany,

Letting the sun bathe my skin with warmth and UV rays.

Eyes closed, I see a sea of pinkish orange 

As the golden beams pass through red blood cells in my eyelids.

Sometimes I notice strange symbols floating before me, 

Like a secret message I'm unable to decipher, but not today.

Everything around me is green and yellow, pink and gold,

And the heat feels good after the long cold winter.

One large black ant keeps trying to run up my leg

But I shoo him away, telling him not to be too reckless.

Photo by Karen Marks

The moments pass and I am ready to go inside,

Having shed not one drop of sweat nor wept a single tear.

My epiphany will come another day.