Wednesday, November 30, 2011


up all night
the mocking bird
and me

Sunday, July 31, 2011

a river of stones #31 End of July


a bright sunny day
might have a huge cloud
hanging over it
but
it's still
a bright sunny day


Thank you Fiona and Kaspa for another insightful, inspiring month!

Saturday, July 30, 2011

a river of stones #30


we need
to get our ducks
all in a row

Friday, July 29, 2011

a river of stones #29



..and then
there are other
beautiful things
so small
that we
barely
even
notice
them


Thursday, July 28, 2011

a river of stones #28



sometimes I think
they're just showing off
blue jays

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

a river of stones #27



even
in a nursing home
bullies




Tuesday, July 26, 2011

a river of stones #26


wheel chairs, walkers
oxygen tanks, penny slots
tuesdays at the casino


Monday, July 25, 2011

a river of stones #25


Today, I gathered all my worries
put them in a jar and threw them
into the sunset
I watched as they melted
then disappeared
out of reach
far beyond the horizon



Sunday, July 24, 2011

a river of stones #24


sunday afternoon
watching pelicans go back
and forth
watching
me


Saturday, July 23, 2011

a river of stones #23


only a second
away from death
we breath in
we breath out
all facing
the same
direction


RIP Amy





Friday, July 22, 2011

a river of stones #22


I didn’t go anywhere today, again

I was here in the garden, thinking about you

And me and how long the nights used to be

As we danced and drank and made love

Without a care or want for anything more

Than the space we shared between us



Thursday, July 21, 2011

a river of stones #21


I am not a political person and certainly do not want to step on anyone's toes but feel I must say something in response to the apocalyptic fear that has been recently fed to The People from our government.

If I was 14 trillion dollars in debt and unable to pay my bills, wouldn't I pretty much be on my way to jail?

Book 'em.


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

a river of stones #20


sunset over Catalina
tomorrow, I think I'll paint something

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

a river of stones #19


Think about it.


and the sign says
long hair freaky people
need not apply


Monday, July 18, 2011

a river of stones #18


I have a feeling my husband gives my dog lots of treats when I'm not there.



Sunday, July 17, 2011

a river of stones #17

sometimes I get so deep into my thoughts
I get so deep into my thoughts
deep into my thoughts
into my thoughts
sometimes
so deep



Saturday, July 16, 2011

a river of stones #16



today I had an appointment
to do the unthinkable
but, I couldn't
so I didn't

meow

Friday, July 15, 2011

a river of stones #15

full moon
sometimes just thinking about it
is overwhelming


Thursday, July 14, 2011

a river of stones #14

today my mind is blank






Wednesday, July 13, 2011

a river of stones #13

always on the edge
forgiving, forgetting
trying to get ahead
to the front of the class
ahead of the BMW
that always has to pass
every car on the freeway
spinning wooden wheels
deep into muddied holes
splashing, trashing
when steel rims are required
faking it, making it, not
one inch closer
to the truth...not
one inch ahead
of anything


Tuesday, July 12, 2011

a river of stones #11, 12

#12

please don't ever
call me
your significant other
I am no one's
significant anything
much less
an 'other'

#11

It's midnight, all the doors are locked, everyone's asleep, and still, the moonlight is coming through the upstairs window.


Sunday, July 10, 2011

a river of stones #10

Let’s say you needed ten thousand dollars. Which would be easier, faster, and more practical? Selling ten items for a thousand dollars apiece? Selling a thousand items for ten dollars apiece? Or, selling ten thousand items for one dollar each?

Go for it.



Saturday, July 09, 2011

a river of stones #8, 9

in dreams I fly through the fog on the wings of a bird


#8

I taught Olivia how to play a song on the piano today
then listened to it in my head
...all night long.


Thursday, July 07, 2011

a river of stones #7

I saw four birds today
all were singing
none were complaining


Wednesday, July 06, 2011

a river of stones #6


Mr. B

It's been five years
Since you've been gone
I still smell the scent
Of your aftershave
I feel the strength of your smile
I see the look in your eyes
As the side of the hospital bed
Clanks you safely into place
I remember that moment when
Your heart and mine knew
There was no turning back
And now, all I can say is
I miss you terribly and, like you,
I do not care for hospital beds




a river of stones 3,4,5

July 5

trash day
just wondering
if the those guys
ever get tired
of picking up
the trash
just wondering

July 4

sometimes
I can't believe
how wonderful it is
to not have a schedule
and be alone with one's self
with the world

July 3

grandchildren are here
to remind us of our childhoods
what went wrong
what went right

Saturday, July 02, 2011

a river of stones 1,2 July 2011

July 2

no matter how early I rise
in the morning
the birds and my grandchildren
are already up

July 1

already
the year is
half over with
six months closer
to the end
of our lives




Sunday, June 19, 2011


I felt safe
even with the doors unlocked
now you're gone
and I wonder



Sunday, April 10, 2011


forsaking all deadlines
I find it overwhelming
taking care of mom


I love you, mom

Thursday, March 24, 2011



I love it when I'm driving somewhere
it's getting dark and gray
and the clouds decide to entertain me


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Sending Love and Strength

christchurch earthquake
even the dandelions
quiver


Monday, January 31, 2011

a river of stones #31


the end
only
the beginning

1/31/2011 Stevie



Sunday, January 30, 2011

a river of stones #30


As we were leaving, a cold fog rolled in and a fresh layer of snow clung to the warm timbers, gracefully lacing green pines with ice and frost, composing a monochromatic landscape that was very hard to leave behind.

winter wonderland
the fog in between the trees
where gnomes and fairies live

1/30/2011 Stevie



Saturday, January 29, 2011

a river of stones #29





halfway through winter
every single oak leaf
now in my garden

1/29/2011 Stevie


Friday, January 28, 2011

a river of stones #28

CAREGIVING

Trying to remember what it's like to worry about nothing more important than which team will win the Superbowl.


mother
still not not happy
living at the Ritz


http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_elderly.htm

1/28/2011 Stevie


Thursday, January 27, 2011

a river of stones #27

I spent the whole day without electricity because I forgot to mark on my computer calendar a planned ten-hour maintenance outage in my neighborhood that was to start at seven in the morning. Totally unprepared with a full days work ahead of me, I was left with a half-charged cell phone and a set of car keys to get through the busy day. The partial to-do list I made the night before was as follows; pay bills, wash all sheets, work on taxes, clean master closets, catch up on emails, catch up on writing deadlines, send e-cards out for Mom...all to do with using electricity.

I didn't realize how dark the inside of closets were or how many times a day I actually turned on a light, or, how dependent I was on the coffee maker. It was frustrating at first but I opted to turn the phone off, hang the car keys up on the hook, and see if I could manage a productive day without any modern day conveniences...save the porcelain goddess. I was lucky that the weather was unseasonably warm.

By the end of the day I found that I rather enjoyed the surprising change in my schedule and wrote down a revised list of to-dos; garden, read, sit on the swing and write with pen and paper, garden some more, watch a spider work its web, take pictures of the spider working its web, learn how to make a pot of coffee on the bar-b-que, start enjoying the outdoors like I used to.

I learned a few things things that surprised me and thought a lot about how frustrating it must have been for all those who have gone before me.

electricity
wondering what in the world
they did without it

1/27/2011 Stevie




Wednesday, January 26, 2011

a river of stones #26


mid-winter
the hills so green
you'd think it was spring

1/26/2011 Stevie

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

a river of stones #25

At sixty miles an hour it takes ten minutes, three oldies but goodies, and hundreds of memories to drive the ten mile stretch of freeway from one end of San Clemente to the other.

some velvet morning
I remember you
in dreams

1/25/2011 Stevie

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood 1967
Frank Ifield 1962
Roy Orbison 1963

Monday, January 24, 2011

a river of stones #24

ASSISTED LIVING, the Golden Years

I watched from the doorway as the nurse pushed Mom in her wheelchair, through the hallway towards the dining room. Then I noticed him, again. The tall dapper old gentleman with the gold knobbed cane. He paused and watched Mom until she was seated in her chair at the ladies round table, then gave a big smile, tipped his hat and walked on to the elevator.

bird of paradise
how clever
is his dance

1/24/2011 Stevie



Sunday, January 23, 2011

a river of stones #23


This morning I got lost in a an autostereogram and didn't get back until dinner.

the things
you really want to do
daydreams

1/23/2011 Stevie
.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

a river of stones #22



Sending congratulations and condolences to two friends in one day. Only the waning moon holds the secrets to our earthly emotions.

a rose bud
blossoms
then dies

1/22/2011 Stevie


Friday, January 21, 2011

a river of stones #21

In a rare moment of boredom, I tried to see if I could hide from my dog. She found me all twenty-seven times.

unconditional
the way you are always happy
when you see me


1/21/2011 Stevie



Thursday, January 20, 2011

a river of stones #20

Today, I learned how easy it was to press the 'off' button on my cell phone, house phone, Blackberry, iTouch, fax machine, computer...

peace and quiet
letting all the air out
when you exhale
1/20/2011 Stevie



Wednesday, January 19, 2011

a river of stones #19

The last love poem I wrote was about a homemade apple pie.

40 years later
he still serves me
the bigger slice of pie

1/19/2011 Stevie

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

a river of stones #18

Today on the freeway, I decided to give Patience a try, and found the situation easier to handle when she was driving instead of me.

1/18/2011 Stevie

Monday, January 17, 2011

a river of stones #17

The day before your birthday, all day long, you are a year younger than you are when you wake up the next morning.

1/17/2011 Stevie


Sunday, January 16, 2011

a river of stones #16

I felt like doing nothing today and nothing consensually obliged, without complaint.

1/16/2011 Stevie

Saturday, January 15, 2011

a river of stones #15

My white Go-Go boots still fit so I wore them as I sipped on an old bottle of Red Mountain wine and danced to forty Beatle songs in front of a mirror that revealed my true age.

1/15/2011 Stevie


Friday, January 14, 2011

a river of stones #14

How wonderful it is, the first day of an illness that you actually start to feel better.

1/14/2011 Stevie


Thursday, January 13, 2011

a river of stones #13

Working late at my desk, I hear the echoing whistle of a train in the distance. I close my eyes and slip into the caboose. A porter brings me a hot cup of Earl Grey as I lie on a red velvet lounge next to a picture window and watch green pastures go by.

1/13/2011 Stevie

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

a river of stones #12

How quickly my lawyer whittles down sentences and paragraphs when it comes to discussions. A talent I feel most barristers obviously possess. During the break I asked her if she had ever been interested in or tried writing haiku or short poems?

"No." she simply responded.
1/12/2011 Stevie

down the mountain
through the clouds
back to reality


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

a river of stones #11

Tonight
driving up the coast
I was in the middle lane
of a five lane hiway
going the speed limit
plus eight
and noticed
all of the egos
that passed me on the right
at 85 miles an hour
were BMWs

1/11/2011 Stevie


Monday, January 10, 2011

a river of stones #10

I clearly see his round baby face as he blows out forty-two candles...happy birthday, son.

1/10/2011 Stevie

Sunday, January 09, 2011

a river of stones #9

Wasting time has no sound or energy, it just stares back at you with a blank face.

1/9/2011 Stevie

Saturday, January 08, 2011

a river of stones #8

A hummingbird whizzed by so close to my face, I smelled its honeysuckle breath and thought I heard it whisper my name.

1/8/2011 Stevie

Friday, January 07, 2011

a river of stones #7

Even frowns turned to smiles as we watched the sun set at Salt Creek.

1/7/2011 Stevie

Thursday, January 06, 2011

a river of stones #6

Today, your shirt was the same blue colour of the sky and for a moment I saw you fade into the clouds.
1/6/2011 Stevie


a river of stones #2

I noticed her big blues eyes
slightly shift to the right
when I told her
that little white lie

even though she's only six
I knew
that she knew
I was lying

Then her eyes pierced mine
looking deep into my soul
and I was forced
to tell her the truth

Yes, Olivia
there really is
a Santa Claus
1/2/2011 Stevie


a river of stones #1

On my way home
an old 60s song
comes on the radio
I'm sixteen again
this time
I'm driving a Benz convertible
with the top down
I have money in my pocket
and
I do not
have to be home
by eleven
1/1/2011 Stevie