Swing In A Tree

Saturday, February 4, 2012

"To Keats"

With pen touching paper,

I watch the gray shadow float.

What mystery is this—

This writing?

Thoughts of Keats’s imagery

flow through my crowded Mind.

How could he write with such

tingling beauty?

Each metaphor stings with perfection.

Every allusion, Spring water clear—

Fresh, sweet air,

almost the bitter sweetness

of a deep Red Wine.

Can our vineyards produce such a tasteful red?

Could I, or any other wondering

Bard of this century—

Ever create such subtle horizons—

such mystic hues?

No, Romantic as I may be,

there will be no more virile

poesy such as Keats’s

No Grecisms forever alive.

I found this piece tucked into my freshman composition journal from my first semester at Texas A&M. I'm presently skimming this spiral, rediscovering the unpolished, enthusiastic writing I composed.

Friday, February 3, 2012

“Insomnia”

He inters uninvited, a shadow cast across my bed

He lurks just beyond my vision

His onion breath jars me to alertness, yanking me out of sleep

He lays heavy-limbed next to me

He pins me under his arm, making it impossible to breathe

His bristled beard rubs my shoulder raw

In panic, I pull away

I kick my feet free of the binding blankets

I elbow him in the chest, desperate for escape

Heart racing, I bolt from the bed to see him sneer in pleasure

His victory rests in my wakefulness

He silently slips from my bed when I turn on the light

In triumph, he vanishes, a shadow in the night

Thursday, February 2, 2012

"Hand and Foot"

From the first morning bell, I am your hands and feet.

Fatigue may dog my steps, but I don’t miss a beat.

Rigid routine protects you through the endless day.

Boredom entices you to see another way.

On long days I cringe to hear one more request.

My poor hands ache and sore feet scream, “Give me a rest!”

Good days mean we venture out to eat or to shop.

An hour’s your limit before you droop and drop.

I wait on you hand and foot out of love and care.

I treasure all these special days that we now share.

For those of us who provide care for family members, the job is hard and yet rewarding. For me, it started with Mom having her own apartment here in San Antonio. We hung out together as she didn't need any help except with driving. As her needs changed, so did our roles. When Mom moved in with us in November 2010, I didn't realize her condition would worsen rapidly. We definitely try to focus on the good days!

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

“The Aging of Love”

At first

its warmth penetrated

cascading over me like sunshine

murmuring to me with the rhythm of soft rain

cleansing my spirit—

cool, sweet, crystalline

Pure

swaying in the breeze

Then came

sparking eyes

a trickle of laughter

following me forever

Gummy Bears

Silky baby powder

the earthy scent of youth

rippling and dancing

Finally,

the yellowing lace and wrinkling skin

a soft sigh of summer’s end

Autumn’s whispering

bittersweet kisses

rounded

padded

soft pats of affection

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

“Gonzales, Texas”

Gonzales County Courthouse (1894-1896)
www.usda.gove

For years, we drove from our home in San Antonio to my sister’s home in Bay City, passing through the quaint town square of Gonzales. Every time we slowed through this small town’s streets, we promised ourselves that we’d stop and check out the shops and historical sites. Once the trip to Bay City became too long for Mom, we started using Gonzales as a midway meeting point. My sister, mother and I decided after one rendezvous that we really needed to spend an entire weekend there.

Carriage House Belle Oaks Inn Bed and Breakfast
www.belleoaksionn..com

A little research led us to the Belle Oaks Inn Bed and Breakfast. This splendid home, converted into a B & B by some Aggie alumni, offered a carriage house remodeled into living room, small kitchen, and two bedrooms and bathrooms weekend paradise. A mother-daughter weekend rarely happened for the three of us, so this memory remains one that I enjoy pulling out and reliving.

Mom could still walk at this point, but she used a walker for longer distances. She could manage going from the carriage house to the main house for breakfast every morning, and the beautiful pool, gardens, and patios didn’t challenge her too much. I think we visited every store along the square, and we discovered a few local restaurants with fantastic food. However, at the end of each day we pulled into the Dairy Queen near our B & B to order a chocolate milkshake for Mom and MooLattes for Paula and me. The locals greeted us as though we’d lived in the area our entire lives.

The respite from this brief visit lingered in my mind, and every time I started feeling grumpy or stressed, I’d remember the lazy days in the pool and the genteel grandeur of this wonderful place. It didn’t take long before I convinced David to take me back to Belle Oaks, and Gonzales, for a much needed anniversary escape.

With our stay, we booked the Riata room in the main house instead of the Carriage House. We spent idle hours during the first evening lounging on the upstairs balcony and playing in the pool. The next morning, we donned our running shoes and took off on the “driving tour” on foot! We walked up and down streets carefully marked by the town to view splendid homes built in the late 1800's and early 1900's. With camera in hand, we snapped shots of the County Courthouse and local churches as we strolled along.

www.belleoaksinn.com

We haven’t managed to return to Gonzales, but I think fondly of this oasis of rest situated just a short drive from home. I believe I’ve begun to think of it as an emergency haven, like our cabin in Leakey, that I can travel to when I need to recharge.