Naked soul

Is it regret, shame, dashed hopes

unfulfilled dreams

yearning for ever more

w h y i f e e l s o N A K E D and B A R E t o d a y

But shame...regret...for what

For believing that I should have done more

should have achieved more

should have done more for others

should have made better choices

should have...should have...could have

There are hedgehogs burrowing in the garden

b e t w i x t t h e C O L O R F U L i n n o c e n c e o f t h e f l o w e r s

a windy laugh prevails within their lovely blooms...do they mock me

as their petals worshipfully reach for the rising sun

There are birds singing on rooftops and in trees

t w e e t i n g m e r r i l y w i t h o u t a c a r e

do they chirp and sing for me

thinking me forlorn

I arise to the most gorgeous purple/amber of the rising sun

peeking over yon horizon

i t i s m o s t u n u s u a l t o b a s k i n s u c h a w o n d e r o u s g l o w

to glory in awaking to such magnificence

it all but took my breath away

is it trying to cheer me

Does it somehow know

that i arose feeling Q U I T E N A K E D A N D A L O N E

though not alone

t h o u g h adequately c l a d

A FRAGILE MOMENT OF INADEQUACY AND VULNERABILITY

p r e v a i l ...a s

My thoughts wander beyond the glorious morn

t o h a p p i e r t i m e s

and back again

I hear the household awakening

kids balking at rousing from slumber to face the day

t h o u g h they refuse to seek e a r l y s l e e p

the dog barks

the cat hisses, flexes her claws

somewhere a radio plays and a clock chimes

A fat rat dug a hole under the fence...hungry

A car horn honks...rudely awakening my senses

I r e t u r n t o...m y s e l f

And somehow, in the midst of it all

t h e b i c k e r i n g

t h e h e d g e h o g s

t h e b i r d s

the rat

t h e m e m o r i e s

T HE S E L F P I T Y

The self reflection...

the sun bursts

through the clouds

a n d

I remember why we

GIVE THANKS FOR IT ALL!