Brave Intimacy

Friday, June 6, 2025

Driving Big Trucks

You like driving big trucks? So do I.
Long hours versus wide open sky.
Sunrises and sunsets ingrained,
With HOS schedules maintained.
Long-distance hauls have their appeal
Seated high, open road--steer the wheel.
Many OTR's, loads, cafes, stations.
My kin have been driving for generations.
Bobtail, Cash boxes, and big slabs--
With snacks stashed away in the cab.
Hard-pressed to get sleep, but I rest
As much as I can on this quest.
Truckstop coffee's an added punch
To reach the next checkpoint by lunch.
Alert, hauling butt, watching out--
Logs, hazmats, and reefers all stout.
Skins pumped to pressure, engine serviced,
Rig in gear--there's no need to be nervous.
I count off the miles left to burn,
While loved ones wait for my return.

Keeping Up

Trends, styles, the perfect vibe
"The look" for your age, fashion-hip
Mindfulness, self-awareness
"The moves" -- shuffle, wool tang, whip
Mental-emotional health
Mood balance strong, on point
Past traumas dived in, dealt with
Working each muscle and joint
Advancing in the workplace
Certifications, degrees
Relationship-savvy, likeable
Aiming, as always, to please
So many standards, demands
Too much to attain them all
Life itself is an intricate process
Not a target that's hit by a ball
It's not ladder or catwalk or sport
Nor a double elimination
It's not formulas or tonics
Or based on any equation
There's so much to "keep up with,"
The mass can weigh you down
But only one thing is required--
It is simple yet profound
To choose a part that is good,
According to God's own plan
We're told to act justly, love mercy;
Walk humbly while holding his hand
You don't have to keep up appearance
Or bite and claw up to the peak
For unless God meets you there,
It's not the high mountain you seek
Don't try to keep up with the world
Or meet others' wild demands
The only list to keep up with
Is what you have placed in God's hands

Thursday, May 29, 2025

You Are a Legend

Your talent is unparalleled
In many art avenues,
And everyone's amazed
By the detail that you use.
But aside from artist stylings,
You're quite the contemplator,
With many ideas and plans
Inside that formulator.
An engineer and teacher
Are all wrapped up in you.
You're even a bit zoologist
And a budding botanist too.
With all your many aptitudes,
Could there be room for one more?
You're witty and hilarious,
And you make folks roll on the floor.
What's more, you're kind and thoughtful
And love to give great gifts;
And every time I receive one,
My spirit naturally lifts.
I can't fathom my life without you.
I miss you when we are apart.
Kalina, you are a legend--
And I love you with all of my heart.

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Feed Your Artistic Need

Conditions an artistic endeavor requires
Add fuel to the flame that ignites and inspires:
Peace of mind, joyful thoughts, a good night’s sleep;
Random illuminations that spark creative leaps;
Getting out in nature, by beauty surrounded.
Exposure to others’ art keeps one well-rounded.
A clean and organized, spacious workspace
That is unshared—just yours—to find your best pace;
To know your work won’t be disturbed or moved
Helps one to get into an artistic groove.
A positive head space, good music, great snacks
Can feed imagination by oiling the tracks;

And color can add a new vibe, a bright spark
To bring dormant passions back out of the dark,
Instilling new hope in the art life you lead--
All because you have fed your artistic need.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Extra Pillowy

Extra pillowy
Well-whipped, creamy, nutty fudge
Heaven on a plate

Extra pillowy
A bed of cushioned comfort
Fluffed, with fresh linens

Extra pillowy
Mashed potatoes, whipped with loads
Of butter, cream cheese

Extra pillowy
My favorite stuffed plushie
To cuddle and love

Family Breakfast

The family all together
Passing plates around
"Mmm" and "yumm" arise
In strong euphoric sound
Syrup being poured
Forks at sausage stabbing
Melting pats of butter
Bouts of whipped cream-grabbing
The bacon's smoky scent
Eyes lit up and gleaming
Berries of such size
The children think they're dreaming
This isn't a holiday meal
Or even a special event
It's simply family breakfast
Made with love--with loved ones spent

Saturday, May 10, 2025

Imagine It is Possible to Be Content Offline

There are many things on which I’d bet,

But could I live without internet?

I’m not sure how well that would set

In fact, I would not take that bet

Now, for just a time it’d be fine,

But after a while I would pine

Not simply because “techno-stuff”

But ‘cause keeping in touch would be tough

All my people—I really like them!

And it’s easy to post or PM

What’s more, streaming flicks with the fam

(Watching movies is kind of my jam)

Then there’s video calls for the win,

So my grandkids can fill me in

And they still can see my face

While I’m home, in my own space—

It’s really a marvel of tech,

So I figure…what the heck?

I’ll enjoy this intricate plat

That allows me to blog, shop, and chat

Sometimes, yes, it is fun to look back

To when life was not at risk of “hack,”

And it’s good to keep things in check,

Especially regarding tech

To remember, it’s simply a tool—

And not meant to control us or rule

So, it’s good now and then to unhook—

Do some art, see the beach, read a book;

To remind ourselves of the simple—

Before reels of popping a pimple

For as we put first that which matters,

Our dependence on media shatters

And it’s easier to be content

When time is not wasted but spent

On the people we love—bearing fruits—

Outside of cyber pursuits

Book Collection, Anyone?

What do you fancy most in a book?
What intrigues or piques for a second look?
Autobiographical, allegorical?
Fantasy-based? Historical?
Books with lessons, books with humor?
Medical texts--from angina to tumor?
Mystery, adventure, fables, folklore?
What kinds of books do you adore?
Would you say you're a children's book buff,
Or in favor of more grown-up stuff?
Perhaps, like most folks, it's a mix,
(Paddington, Jane Austen, Garth Nix),
An eclectic combo of reads--
Dependent on your whims and needs
Whether reading for fun or for learning,
Book-collecting's an "anyone" yearning

Dream Everywhere

Dream when you're at home
Or when you're at school
Dream on the swingset
Dream in the pool

Imagine what's possible--
What's miraculous too
With God, there's no limit
To what you can do

So dream up the life
You are meant to pursue
It's okay if your dreams
Are bigger than you

So, dream in a coffee shop
Dream riding in a car
Dream everywhere--don't stop!
Dream wherever you are

Cozy and Friendly

May our home ba a place
Where folks can relax
And feel a warmth inside
A cozy and friendly space
Where cares are set aside

May our home be a solace
Where friends can just rest
And have their cups refilled
A cozy and friendly foundation
Upon which we can build

And as we share life's trials,
And its joyful parts,
May God's strong love be known
And in our cozy, friendly acts
Of love, may it be shown