MASKING IT--

Did you ever feel that your mask is slipping?

What, didn't know you were wearing one?

Oh, I have a lifetime of them--

Found it difficult to settle 

On just one, but 

 if I were to choose a mask--

just one mask--

I'd like to choose this one--

It's so glamorous--

so RED--

and I feel immediately festive

 and mysterious 

just looking at it!

But what about all those times

when the masks

competed:

"Don't look unhappy=

don't be moody--

Moody was the big sin in my family..

I showed that moody face/mask

to the outside world....

Never, never, never!!!

Must be smiling and cheerful and pleasant..

sort of, "laugh clown laugh"

But then I had such a hard time

finding a laughing clown

who wasn't scary--

Better this safe smiley face--

So when I often stumbled through my life

sort of screaming inside,

I hoped the outside world

only saw this:

Whew!  Made it through another day

in the Sweet Masquerade

that is my life.

My Monday Candle

          It’s a small candle, burning modestly 

on this Monday afternoon,

 not asking much of me

 other than to be considered….. 

perhaps defined…..

and maybe just a little loved. 

 It’s small and lilac-scented

 and remarkable

 in that it’s the first candle

 I’ve burned in years.  

Years! 

 Because I’ve become cautious, 

and much older,

 and less frivolous…..

and maybe not candle-worthy?  

It’s flame is sweetly encouraged 

by my frequent glances, 

and seems to be proudly stretching 

its fiery point

 beyond the confines of the glass. 

It’s not flashy,

 just steady, 

and only modestly hints 

at the lilac-whisper scent 

imbedded in its soul.  

Yet it remains content

 to sit by my side,

 my silent companion

 on this what-shall-I-do-today Monday.

  It promises delights 

that I may yet encounter

 as I let it burn,

 a serene 

and comfortable

 companion.

My Love Affair with Words

          According to my mother, 

I talked before I walked.  

Of course I did! 

           Words are wonderful...words express me--my feelings and observations.... words mirror my life.  

What could be more fascinating?

          It follows that next I would love the words 

on the printed page--

beginning with comic strips.  

There is a precious early photo of me 

before the age of two,

 avidly reading those same comic strips 

from the daily paper...

My favorite Golden Book:  

The Poky Little Puppy...

My favorite Christmas present:

the illustrated edition of Little Women...

HEAVEN!

What a word prodigy I was---

and still am 75 years later.  

When I was a child growing up in Chicago, 

the public library 

allowed us to borrow many books 

over the summer weeks: Vacation Loan! 

        I can still see myself carrying 

those sweet burdens of bound words 

home in my bicycle basket

from the Austin branch library--

           I discovered in college that I also enjoyed

 filling up blank sheets of paper

 with my own lovely words---

in poetry, journals, short stories. 

 I earned some part-time money

 writing how-to articles, humor pieces, 

springing from my Mommy experiences. 

Always I was journaling, 

and I now have innumerable notebooks, 

often only half-filled with my angst 

and yearnings and observations, 

my joys and my anguish, 

my soul's outlet. 

Words as therapy or celebration,

always beautiful words. 

My granddaughter Bella 

has just begun her reading journey, 

and she rhapsodizes, 

"Grandma, it's amazing!"  

It is indeed most wonderfully amazing....

the Kingdom of Words!