Fighter

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On Friday, I rode in with jokes and prayers,
Cause he enjoys both,
cancer is the worst, and somehow the
newest and the best still isn’t enough.
Three steps forward, two steps back,
when do we call it, when is it just too tough?
He told us today if only I was 20 years younger,
yet for us, he is.
He will always be one tough cowboy.
Encourage. Encouraged. Encouraging,
this is the season of life we battle – willingly.
Time time time – we need more.
Cook food, drink water, sing a tune
Never ending shuffle of what are we to do.
His fight is stronger than ours,
a blessing –
funny how it is.
Today it appears we are offered another day,  a week, month or years. 
Either way,
God, oh how we love him.

Persuasion

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Happy New Year!

Flooded with photos of the East Coast
My adult children living their dreams,
Momma watching from afar. Left smiling.
Changes in 2026 appear wrapped, for me, waiting for them to reveal themselves quietly.
Pleasant little gifts,
Sat in a corner by the Christmas tree.
Which one will she chose first,
The green one, his.
Thoughts settle on you,
Remember when I told you –
I believe we were meant to be?
Seems silly. Writing into the air.
My heart knows and has succumbed
To wait, what will be isn’t for me to chase.
I decided this time, men do the choosing,
The wise mystics of days gone by say,
You’ll know when you feel it.
I fear, maybe my life is supposed to be this way. Alone, yet, I desire for so much more. May it be so.

After years in Children’s Ministry I retired a few months ago. Life has been weird, and very busy. Dreams of what’s next fill my eyes, yet, I spin with what ifs. I passed an incredibly hard test two days ago. Proving I can do hard things, and win.  The world is my oyster, they say, but simple girls want simple things. Hoping more time for writing and poetry to sit strongly in my lap once again. Maybe my favorite book, by Jane Austen, needs re-reading.

Photo is from the day of my test. The sunset was a gift. God will always be with me. I hope I’ve made you proud. I pray you’re all happy.

Sending my love.
Yours,

Aud

Somewhere Beyond Serene

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if the water could have sung,
I’d have heard it calling me,
drawn to its movement,
slow and consistent, I felt seen.
Instead of the arc of a rainbow in view,
colors swirled around twilight
as if they knew circles were
my favorite, and curves the most fun.
Nature’s beauty  spoke in only whispers,
requiring my heart to listen.
Rumi, INSPIRE – the ancients would plea,
but a woman like me,
lost between hope and regret,
will watch for you as the boats drift. Listening.
Waiting on timing, once again,
knowing somewhere beyond serene, you exist and I’m ready.

The Beauty

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The vastness of interpretation reveals beauty,
seen by your eyes, and mine.
Whether the sky,
cerulean blue, creates feelings of cool,
or weathered wood, offers
time, precious to me and to you.
Or even better, the opportunity,
to express ourselves honestly,
and witness dreams coming true.
Regardless of the outcome, the vision
is clear, no matter our distance,
you’re wished for here.

Search Me

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I’ve been taught to listen to your voice. Your very presence surrounding. With guidance, truth will set me free. Impossibilities become belief, and fear – a season left behind me.

So shall joy find me in the morning dew, while visions shine across the cerulean sky, there’s no fleeing. Only a welcoming off the wings of dawn and it is precious, search me.

Today, be a guest, nature – object of The Creator – sit closer than ever before, logic can’t touch this, and its within Him we all find rest.

Aurora

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Inside me lives a little girl:
giggly,
impatient and giddy,
over new.
New experiences, lit brilliantly across northern trails.
She, wide eyed, and with extreme expression,
has wished on every star,
counting them, 1, 2, 3,
will he find me?
Her neck exposed, eyes full of wonder,
up, up, and away.
The sky breaks, she no longer feels alone
color washes over her face,
darkness fades,
as night mirrors grace,
and light begins to dance.
Life comes alive, and her squeal echoes,
through the woods.
Look! Fingers pointing with urgency,
I see what she sees, and tears fall –
yet, fully aware of her inner whisper,
“Come with me…”
I sense my obligations.
Haunting.

Simplified

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Funny thing about history,
what it is depends on the county, country and the weight of its gravity.
Feelings collide, as they
present themselves,
usually contrary to another –
and another’s, yet again: Tell me, are you family or friend.
Reaction brings emotion to life,
as news provides.
Hands clap with smiles smiling, tears fall or steam rolls,
hearts break while minds run wild
holding on to hope – like a child.


The past is full of firsts,
today we wonder are there any left?
Celebrate the ordinary, and be considered a fool. We should be forcing the extreme and the new! As the Preacher says, “Don’t look back. Keep moving forward.”
Watch me pitch a fit,
and shake my finger …
100 years ago – This pig, THIS pig….
he was a winner.
And Colorado had never looked better.

***

Haiku:

Yesterday’s Newspaper

What matters is all around

Life Simplified

***

Yours,

Audrey

Expose

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An exposition in the heat of the day.
Toned, an arched formation,
and positioned at summer’s mercy,
smitten is her coloring.
Appearing freckled and sunkissed as the day peaks, and the dew fades,
she’ll sway confidently with adoration.
Clothed in rose hues, and on display – welcome to her vulnerability,
perfected in creation,
and encouraged to stay.

Breathe

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“Grass looks good.”
even when the state of the other side
of the yard is on his mind,
his kindness shines through.
“Maple trees aren’t worth the work.”
and another hundred helicopters
fall down, as the wind shifts,
he ignores that, too.
Focused on the positives, as another day
slowly drifts away,
I listen to the birds calling each other
back to the nest.
“Don’t forget to fill their feeder.”
is whispered, and I smile.
Chair feels comfortable for now,
three sit quietly vacant,
as the neighbors drive by.
Settled, the evening breeze soothes me,
I hear, “Good enough,”
and before I’m ready
dogs bark a good evening to one another.
a subtle goodbye felt within,
auburn hair brushes my cheek,
like vapor, his voice will leave,
as today sets behind the trees.

Sunset’s Manifest

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Monochrome sets the scene
sneak away for a peek out West of town.
Creation mellows at about sunset,
and the prairie soothes a concerning brow.
Technology, news,  just one more issue,
back then, we’ll agree, was priceless compared to now.

Tailgate down, jump up  – have a seat
snuggle in close, let’s dream.
No snow to speak of is cause for concern,
forgo the complaints, smile, then breathe in deep.
There’s water in the Platte, plenty of
hay stacked up, and dry boots still warming our feet.

Giggles cause chuckles
and life begins to make sense.
A porch about here would work out nice,
a tire swing for the grandkids with no need for a fence.
Leaning into twilight , she’ll manifest –

Waving goodbye to choas – and life a little less tense.

I’m Her. She’s Me.

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When I close my eyes,
a smile appears on my lips
I watch visions of a woman thriving, and I’m her. She’s me, and it’s soothing.
She’s scurrying from one task to the next,
I giggle because ten years ago, she’d never –
Clean corrosion off a battery,
while bread rises and raking leaves
in-between.

Sunday morning hair and makeup still sits where it was placed, dress hung back up and worship was great, closed up the church, now a warm sweatshirt hugs my skin,
boots on,
and my wranglers secured – I remember when…

Weatherproof the outdoor water spouts, and add additive to the leaf blower while squealing over spiders and a baby possum getting too close.
Where does time go?

Windows open allow the air to clean, the house has been awake for hours, the joys of November’s sixty degrees.

Bills are paid , money left over – room to breathe – who do I bless or what’s the need?

I hear a Blue jay trying to prove a point in the tree to the south. Memories are sweet, and I pray you’re proud.

Yet, the mower sits and I think of him – countless ways he offered to help. Seasons of growth and pain. Funny how life gives and takes away.

Life seems simpler now, even on days when struggle hits.
I keep praying God reveals what’s next, as I putter along, enjoying every breath.

Oracle

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They’re drawn to her inner sanctuary
a place not many have seen,
like rivers feed the ocean,
they travel miles, even upstream.

Large numbers greet her encouragingly,
sensing beauty when she sings,
yet, sitting closer teaches
her quiet and hidden screams.

Many refuse to listen,
carrying burdens of their own,
her voice a weighed reminder, many
bereft of home.

Her light – illuminated
she’s beautiful, protective, and serene,
fear not the angel greeting, she
seeks to comfort those in need.

Summer Fruits

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Early summer grounds keeping…
We’ll bale hay another day,
there’s fish biting, and the sky’s blue,
I hear a voice inside me say.
Grass is still short over here, let’s sit and tell each other stories.
A cardinal calls from over yonder
seems simple, but they bring me to you.
Verdant pops over azure brilliantly as I lay down to stretch my back.
Wind will catch a branch, rhythmic in its timing, and life’s hectic pace slows, my breath less demanding.
Nourishment calms a craving, yet this fruit is barely listening.
And nothing, no, nothing is ever just perfect.
Who would want to exist that way…

Executive Residence

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Unfortunate circumstances surround,
the joy attached to the idea
of visiting this house.
As a child, I felt protected,
now my children wonder, to whom
the blame is set?

Money shouldn’t control,
yet,
it does, leaving behind
a steadfast belief in unity and solidarity, wrapped in parental tough love.

This passion for leadership should exist,
personal preference –
grounded in faith from above, and rooms for existentialists.
Young minds dream, set goals,
similar sentiments can be traced back
to years ago.

– Tous pour un, un pour tous. –

Experience, a must, most would agree,
understanding war,  law, nations, the humble, complex ideologies, and to whom we place our trust.


Room for change is generally in need,
a strict warning against swift technology.
Ha, just admit it,
the brilliantly rich know more than we do, and we’re terrified of AI absurdity.

The manifestos of ancestors impressive,
progression for many requires time, 
generations of wisdom holding value, as
this country mingles in crime.

A home base with decades of failure, take heed –
these seasons,
they reek of power and greed.
Souls weep,
all for one and one for all, a dream
profoundly exhausted, hearts broken,
Let us breathe!

Society divided, but love surely shows,
costs substantial, life unrecognizable.
What, pray tell, shall we do? Executive branches wither as fighting ensues.

Young keen voices abundant, AHH!
A servant life, not many are called to,
let the anointed through.

Spoiled attention seekers have stolen the show,
now, money decides
who stays and who will go.


– Learning –  

a collection of photos and poems.

Anthropology

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Haibun

The counting was straightforward,
repetitive in its style – for learning.
Outer galaxy creatures taught many about rhythm and dancing- rhythmic movement.
There was a grouchy soul nobody wanted to humor, sadly his was lost on most.
Silliness welcomed within the kitchen, safety and danger overlooked.
Cultures encouraged by a tall yellow fowl, a friend to all.
A pair of besties, a relationship generally overlooked and undervalued.
A monster with a sweet tooth, lack of cleanliness, not one for culinary fortitude.
Someone to teach distance, often running about – investing in measurement.
And a couple striving to get their relationship right – work in progress. One loved too deeply and the other more private.

A society, in order to expand, must accept change, as creating works this way. No two people were born alike, all with different visions, fingerprints, and no two goals the same. Accepting and tolerating are worlds apart, yet both require grace. Both deserving civil conversation and an ability to live, yet neither earn an absolute. Judgement comes but by the same boat each time, and no one is safe, He decides. Love is required, love will always win, love is instant and sometimes earned – but remember it was freely given.

Anthropology
Disfunction senerios
Puppets to Muppets

– Learning –  

a collection of photos and poems.