NOT EASY

Getting through 50 years
has not been easy...
my marriage is far from perfect.
That word on the wedding shirt,
tenacity, seems to fit.
We hung together by threads
while living apart so much-
he out in the truckers world,
me home teaching school.
Tom did his job.
I did mine.
He was surley.
I was stubborn.
We both allowed space.
Tom was telling Mala
that he didn't want a
bunch of PEOPLE to a party.
She snapped, "You're the one
that hung around for 50 years,
SO SUFFER! I laughed.
Ours is a not so easy marriage,
apt to boil at the edges
but there are points of respect
mutual consideration
mutual love
where we meet and agree.
50 years and we are only
beginning to know what the
other is really all about.
Always there are new things
to consider...

50 YEARS

We have 50 years together
and had a great party.
Our Grandson Drew has been
dubbed 'the golden child'
being the only Reynolds born
to carry on this line's name.
He's also our last grandchild,
tended by us while little,
so is more spoiled? Couldn't be.
Not any lesser loved,
here to celebrate with us
are six more grandchildren.
Only two are missing,
They are still in school in
the state of Washington,
and we wished they were here
to party.

Addison

Addison would have had a quilt
whether she graduated
sixth grade or not, but
it was finished just at that
time.
She and I crocheted
the blocks through the
winter, then we put
the quilt together.
We loved it, until
an edge went on the floor
and Lola peed on it.
Dogs!

Deer

Deer
among the leafless quakies
on top of Boulder Mountain.
First trip, snow melted
the deer already there
enjoying early spring
grass and flowers.
The wind is sharp.
The birds chatter.
I heard a woodpecker
among the tall trees.
Ducks float on the pond,
and the old leaves rustle
as life renews.

Grace

Grace.
Odd name for a pistol-pack'en mama.
But she was both...
Left home at age 14
to make money and support herself.
Married young and had five kids.
Divorced her husband for
'tippen' and 'rov'en'
came home and took care of
her parents until they died,
her mom in a wheelchair for years
and her dad not much better off.
She stayed home with her kids
and raised them right.
lost her only daughter in a car wreck.
Now at 98, she lives at the care center
seems strong...she may live awhile
longer.

Dog Fashions

We did a long dress for Lola
then decided Sid and Bruno
should wear a tux
one each. They slip
over the head.
Lola's wagging tail
threw the dress to one side.
Meadow suggest a tail hole,
but I cut it all the way
then realized she was right
to keep the dress on.
Meadow decorated with beads
and lace. It was lovely.
It was funny.
Drew made belts.
He has learned to tie.
The dogs jumped around
and tried to bite off clothes.
The designers took them home
to keep.

Linda Survived Charles Bukowski

My sister Linda, the woman warrior,
survived Charles Bukowski
as he did her, barely I think.
I am glad she she is 71 and still around,
that she loved Jerry and
had a child named Scott,
that she laughed and loved
jokester Leo...and is still writing
poetry, sculpturing and making movie scripts.
Still vibrately alive!
Her script of knowing, loving,
and living with Bukowski is
as accurate as she could write
full of love and passion and finally,
the very clear need for her to move on.
Bukowski's drinking is legendary.
Violence lay beneath passion.
but his talent is above it all.
His poetry will live, and live
and LIVE.
He touches the heart.
She touches the heart.
Linda is still with us, her
talent will shower us all
as her painting, sculpture,
writing creations grow.
I think she found the truth
of herself and Bukowski
in this script.
He and She are themselves
in vibrant color!
They lived poetry.
Linda escaped Bukowski
to laugh once more.
To be known a poet
in her own right.
Linda the psychic,
the comic, the painter,
the sculptress, the poet
and writer of movie
scripts. I love it!