Boundaries

We live within the boundaries
We’ve established for ourselves,
Which likely do not match
Where any other person delves.

For all of our parameters
Are special and unique
Tailored physically or mentally
To comforts that we seek.

The daring cross the borders
Where adventures may await
While most others rarely plunge
Beyond the confines they create.

It doesn’t pay to envy
Those whose boundaries are immense
For to violate our own might yield
A sorry consequence.

Things We Can't Control

There are things we can’t control
As much as we would like to
Just as there are places
Much too far for us to hike to.

And so we need to take a breath
And change the things we can,
Forgetting all that we cannot;
It seems a simple plan.

Yet often our intentions
Contradict our intuition
And therefore all our efforts
May not come to their fruition.

It’s better, then, to map a route
We’re able to complete
Than to struggle unsuccessfully
And wallow in defeat.

Fall Behind

By now I should be quite resigned
To “spring ahead and fall behind”
But every time we change the clocks
It seems that sheer exhaustion knocks.

I wake up when I think it’s time
Though it no longer is and I’m
Unable to get back to sleep
Since daylight early starts to creep.

And then when it’s still afternoon
I eat my dinner – way too soon.
At 8 p.m., for goodness’ sake,
I’m struggling to stay awake.

Dominoes

When two parts of my life cross paths
I can't resist some smiles
Although they may diverge
By many years and many miles.

My aunt, who just turned 89,
Plays dominoes for fun
And calls to tell me, with a laugh, 
How many times she's won.

Today my grandkids came to play
In our vacation place,
Discovering their dad's old toys,
Soon strewn about the space.

A highlight was the dominoes, 
Placed carefully in line, 
But unlike when my aunt competes,
Just strictly for design.

It warmed my heart to think about
These bookend sets of tiles,
Both much enjoyed by those I love 
In very different styles.

Toddler Gym Redux

The shoes are stashed in cubbies,
The jackets hung on hooks.
The kids are having quite a blast -
At least that's how it looks.

The trampoline is busy
As toddlers bounce and jump
While rubber bumpers ring the gym
So no one gets a bump.

There's music from the speakers,
A breeze from all the fans
And balance beams, all with a part
In Friday morning's plans.

When caring for the grandkids, 
I think of days gone by 
When I would take their father
To the same class at the "Y."

Having a Clew

Within my brain there’s residue
Of many things that I once knew
And on occasion, from the blue,
A word appears, as if on cue.

For on my phone, the word on view
(A daily treat, each morning due)
Was one for which my mem'ry drew
On Theseus, the hero who

Was seeking out an avenue
To leave a maze he’d ventured through
And did so, when he used a clew*
A maiden gave, who loved him true.

I’d read this tale (one of a few)
When I was young; as knowledge grew
I never thought I could construe
The key to “clew” without a clue.

*a ball of thread, yarn or cord

Terror Attack

You’re out to stroll or on a bike,
A lovely day, a sky of blue,
When suddenly, a terror strike
And sadly, that’s the end of you.

We hear the news; we’re stunned and shocked.
The TV shows the blurry tape.
The perpetrator’s plan, half-cocked,
Did not allow him to escape.

Investigations start, but still,
The wounded ache, the dead are gone.
We’re horrified, but know the drill –
We move along and carry on.