Thought for The Day - (Sharing) In This Cocoon

Study for Predawn Light - 18 x 24 Charcoal

Here

In this place

Darkness seems to rule

Shadows

From occasional flashes of insight

Place memory

And cognition

On high alert

I’m here

Developing

Alone

Then there are two

Not certain the roles 

Or the script to follow

Adlibbing

Improvising

To a beat

Rhythm and Blues

Jazz

And Hip Hop

Dictate the dance

And song

In this place

Two jab

And dodge

Not as foes

But sparring

Refining one another’s weapons

We’re together

But not really

Growing

Though never sure

Where we grow toward

Luminous

This safe haven

But form remains unformed

We learn

That a heart is not a solo act

And even when your step is out of sync with mine

And my drumming doesn’t match yours

We move

Strangely closer

At times

A Third party

Not a fifth wheel

But a companion

Unseen

But a presence as dense as the cloud, lights and uncertainty

Looms above

Below

Around

Bringing the beat

The lyrics

Together over time

A strange place

This soft and safe place

This place where not many find solace

They would

If they could pay the price for entry

Set up a chair in the corner

Lie in the bed

But this space is made for two

Slowly

Moving

Closer

The rhythm sounding

Concerto

And Symphonic

Moving

Closer

Thought for The Day - Disillusionment and Cocoons

Fall for Francene (in progress) - 12 x 18 water color and pastel

Fall, then Winter. In the Midwest, in Chicago I have long felt like this is a period where I could curl up in a ball and disappear. Oh, I'll get out, go to work and church, run errands and work around the yard, preparing for the eventual Spring, but mentally, feels like I'm shriveling up like a leaf. Not so much depression, but as the Brazilians call it Saudade (pronounced Sa-da-gee) or "happy sadness." There is a joy in this season of bowls of homemade chili and football watched from the comfort of my kitchen television (13 inch older than my children!). When the snow fall gets to "shovel depth" - about three inches - yeah, I will dread getting out clearing my driveway and walk, my parents and the church, but it's physical labor and "in moderation," it's enjoyable. Trouble is, you can't control the weather so I might get more physical labor than I want!

There are moments, from day to day, when I could easily imagine myself in warmer climates. I'm no spring chicken and the work of getting up leaves and shoveling snow wears on you. But as I learned the other day, cutting limbs from the "junk trees" growing from my neighbors yard, take your time; the work will be completed, just not as quickly as you like. Yeah, age instructs, you don't have much time, but use it wisely.