“Just Thinking” is a book of simple poetry (even I could understand it!) that was published a few years ago. The subjects covered include a dog, volunteerism, troubled relationships, people of the street, and just so many other perspectives on life. Below is the first piece in the book:
A Man, a Dog, and the Sky
Laying on the grass
On a summer afternoon,
And watching clouds caress the blue sky.
Listening to birds, as they sing their songs,
But I’m thinking of… just you and I.
***
Leaves gently dancing
To the tune of the wind,
With their branches swaying in time.
Insects are buzzing their own harmonies,
While I’m thinking of… just you and I.
***
And even at night,
When stars fill the sky,
It’s so easy to lose track of time.
There’s much to see but… so easy to dream
About… just you and I.
***
And on rainy days;
We both look outside,
And wish that the weather was fine.
But soon it will stop and then… we’ll both go
To play in the garden… you and I.
***
You wanted to be friends.
I was rather surprised.
A nose touch… yours to mine
Was all it took to melt my heart.
A nose touch… and a moment of time.
***
Perhaps our souls indeed did touch.
The inner me perhaps was found.
Perhaps it was just your big brown eyes
Saying so much… yet with no sound.
But that’s history… to you and I.
***
So where do we go
From here my dear friend?
Where do we go and why?
To journey together; to laugh and to cry,
And to enjoy every moment of our time.
***
A man and his best friend.
What more could there possibly be?
I ask myself with a sigh.
Such unconditional love… just for me.
I shall never question why.
***
Here we both are anyway,
And on the same road.
Who knows of the reason or rhyme?
But we can love and play; celebrate each day
And enjoy what remains of our time.
***
Who would ever have thought?
Both of us… just laying here,
On the grass. Just you and I.
Just you and I… together… and alone.
A man… a dog… and the sky!
For more information, just click on the “Just Thinking” book cover over in the right column (may have to scroll). Christmas is not that far away …. so treat yourself! If you have a rather poetic friend … gift problem solved!
A Dog's Life ... and mine ... and yours! 
You’re right! This would make a lovely Christmas gift. I have devoured my copy and have enjoyed the poems about the people on the street the most. It makes me LOOK at people and smile as if to say, I “see” you; I care about you. Sometimes their response is a startled one, so many times they are invisible.
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Thanks Rae. That’s all it takes to validate their existence to them. So often they sink into a state of deep despair simply because, on top of all the issues that put them on the street, they are generally ignored. We need to remember that it is nobody’s goal in life to live on the street and scavenge to survive. There had to be a reason (reasons) that put them there , and we need to at least acknowledge that simple fact.
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Our small-town community is doing a pretty good job with the homeless, and even in “Lil ‘Ole Alvin, TX, poeple jump off passing trains here because the word gets out that they can get a meal and a shower. Also a friend’s church, which is located near the post office (where homeless people keep a “box”) does an amazing job of providing food (in the form of “snacks” or rice and beans (if they have cooking facilities) in a “blessings box” in the parking lot; regular meals inside the building on Wednesdays, no questions asked; free coats and blankets and clean clothing. They are looking into a portable shower soon.
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It’s so nice to know that caring communities still exist, and that people still do things for others without expecting anything in return. Our future as a civilized and humane society could well be dependent on such role modeling as that displayed in Alvin TX!
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A simple poem which your love for Ray brightly shines through in! Lying beneath the crystal blue sky and “cloud herding” together. 🙂
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I don’t think Ray understands the concept of cloud herding. He’s no good at it! 🙂
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LOL! Well I guess you just have to explain ti to him then. No problem, right?
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Lovely. 🙂
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Thank you …and a “Woof!” from Ray.
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🙂
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