Another Person's Mind

You never really know what’s in
Another person’s mind.
If you could look, who knows
The kind of secrets you would find.

Though face and body language
May give off a subtle clue,
It’s not enough to figure out
Or maybe misconstrue.

So you can guess, though there’s a chance
That what you had assumed
Is far from the reality
Mistakenly presumed.

The only way to know, then,
Is to come right out and ask;
Then ascertaining honesty
Becomes another task.

The Nest

With beaks wide open,
There they wait.
Maybe mom 
Or dad is late.

Here I have a
Birds' eye view.
Watching them
Is what I do.

Suddenly,
The mom alights
To feed her babes
With bird-sized bites.

Or possibly
It was the dad.
In either case, 
The chicks were glad.

And so was I
To witness this,
A treat, back home,
That I would miss.

Upon the Windowsill

My plants upon the windowsill
Start dancing in delight
When I open up the windows,
Even if the breeze is slight.

In summertime, quite often,
I must keep those casements closed
So to outside air their leaves and buds
Are sometimes not exposed.

If it’s not too hot, I much prefer
A fan to the A/C;
Judging from my plants’ reactions,
I think they agree with me.

Other People's Problems

Self-pity has a likely cure;
Just do a little sharing.
Then you will find, I'm pretty sure,
When you are done comparing...

That other people's problems 
May be even worse than yours.
It puts things in perspective 
When you peek in other doors.

It doesn't pay to wallow
In the negatives you claim.
Comparisons ring hollow
When you play the one-up game.

For there always will be others 
Who, in life, fare so much worse. 
That's at least until it's time
To trade an Uber for a hearse.

Wild Things

Classic children's books are such
For reasons very clear.
Their plots or pictures are unique
And beautifully cohere.

The Sendak stories, which, to some,
Are really quite bizarre, 
Have always brought us pleasure,
E.g. "Where the Wild Things Are."

It's new to Henry yet it drew
Him deep inside the tale,
A feat that Maurice Sendak books
Do always, without fail.

So Max and all the Wild Things,
Which my grandson liked a lot, 
Now will join his favorites in a place
Where supper's always hot.

Unwanted Company

Through a crack in the wall he did peep,
Though in daytime he should be asleep.
All at once he did scurry
As if in a hurry,
Aversion in me running deep.

My brief sojourn outside was cut short
For such company I can’t support.
Any mouse running near
Makes me want to stay clear
Since with others he’s sure to cavort!

Coming First

They tell you in an airplane
If you see the dangling masks,
Place one on your own face first;
Yet somebody always asks,

“Well, then, what about my children
Or my spouse, who’s old and frail?
Shouldn’t I take care of them before
My own needs should prevail?”

Yet the answer is consistent –
We must place ourselves ahead
For we cannot care for others
If our strength seeps out instead.

Such a lesson should be taken
To all aspects of our lives:
Those who sacrifice too much may find
The soul no longer thrives.

So no matter who may need us,
Though our love may be dispersed,
We'll have so much more for giving
If we tend to ourselves first.