LIVING OUR CHOICES

These poems came as I reflected on the choices I make every day: How I spend my time, what I read and listen to, and consequently what I think about.
A theme is that it is easy to get caught in a virtual world of electrons - but Nature is all around us offering beauty and joy.

Transcript

FINDING MY WAY

There is a time in life

to say good bye to strife

To be grateful and content

knowing everything we have is lent

we own nothing really

if we understand clearly

why we are here

and who we are.

There are realities we cannot ignore

like the destructiveness of war

There are realities we can celebrate

good souls feeding and clothing those in need

scientists discovering cures for diseases

Keep doing your part to uplift

using your talents as a gift.

I search for ways I can contribute

without wearing a tie and suit.

So here I am writing away

then photographing birds at play

Then sharing all this with you

hoping these bring a smile 

And a fresh view of our world

And spark a new idea.

Electrons

Electrons scare me

that temptation to block out

the natural world

to binge watch and veg out

get trapped in the never ending

misinformation news cycles

while the sun shines 

and the moon rises

while all around us

we can miss natures gifts

Amazing acts of survival

and propagation

The bees burying themselves 

deep inside the water lilies

emerging covered in pollen.

Butterflies unfolding

from their chrysalis

with fluttering wings

dazzlingly colorful

Loud pig frogs 

finding their mates

Then jelly eggs, tadpoles

becoming new members

for their chorus

Get off your couches

go to the parks and forests

lakes and rivers

crouch down low

be still, listen and look

your heart will sing

with natures gifts

waiting just for you,

and you and you.

THE A/C BROKE

What we take for granted!

Now it is eighty plus in our house

The fans are going full blast

we are reminded of the past

Our  first year together in India 

Then there were storms in Weston

trees down and no power to pump

No running water from the well

Now we have cooling showers

ice in the freezer and tea water boiling

Clean water to drink

toilets to flush

food we can buy

We take this all for granted.

Soon we leave for a journey

taking a case of clothes

and the odds and ends 

that make traveling easeful.

That is all we will need,

to be simple nomads for a while.

Then we will return

to A/C, clean water

our comfortable bed

Our washer and dryer

Clean clothes

and everything else we take for granted.

©MartinStrasmore2022