Perfect Start from Great Finish

 The coffee machine hums its old refrain,

A comfort in the morning light, and then the pain

Of words I've practiced, quiet, on my tongue,

"It's time for something new," the hopeful song I've sung.

I see their faces, a sudden, softened hue,

A shared goodbye in eyes of brown and blue.

The easy laughter falters, then falls still,

A silent moment on this ordinary hill.

They speak of projects we had yet to start,

Of inside jokes that feel now set apart.

They say my name and linger on the sound,

As if the leaving pulls up sacred ground.

Their hands reach out, a pat upon my back,

A gentle sadness, like a coming lack.

"We'll miss you here," they say with heavy grace,

And "It won't be the same," around this place.

But even as the sorrow hangs so near,

A different feeling conquers every fear.

A new horizon calls, a vibrant, burning gleam,

The final chapter of a waking dream.

I hug them tight, each one, and promise more,

To stay in touch, to knock upon their door.

And though I'm leaving, with a heavy heart,

I know this new beginning is the perfect start.

For Cancer: I Hate You

 The hospital hall, a sterile, hollow hum,

Where time is measured by the falling crumbs

Of shared last meals, and whispers soft and low,

The words we needed but could never know.

We watched you shrink, the vibrant light you were,

As shadows grew and held you in their blur.

The fierce, bright laughter, now a fragile sigh,

A quiet echo underneath the sky.

We held your hand, a map of worn-out years,

And tried to soothe away the rising fears.

We promised stories, futures, moments bright,

To pull you from the slow and creeping night.

But some wars end with silence, not with shouts,

And love becomes a harbor in our doubts.

We close our eyes and see your youthful face,

Before the thief had stolen all your grace.

Now every memory is stained with gray,

The ache of you who had to go away.

A silent phone, a vacant chair you'd keep,

A love so deep it makes the mountains weep.

We live our lives and try to find a way

To honor you in every passing day.

But a part of us is gone, and nothing's quite the same,

Since cancer came and whispered out your name.

Sonnet of Goodbyes

 This last appointment, with its gentle grace,

The charts are closed, the final words are said.

I see the health restored upon each face,

The future bright where once was only dread.

The trust you placed in me, a sacred bond,

I carry with me, sealed within my heart.

And know that when I'm gone and far beyond,

Your care will never falter or depart.

I leave you now with hands both kind and true,

A capable and steady, skillful team.

They'll guide you safely on this journey through,

And make your health their ever-present theme.

So go on now, with strength and peace of mind,

And leave the worries of the past behind.

A Journey Forward

 The boat is tied, a sturdy rope, 

To shores of comfort, a gentle slope. 

The sun is warm, the harbor still, 

A peaceful ache, a whispered thrill. 

My friends all wave, a steady line, 

"Go chase the stars, the sky is thine." 

Their voices strong, a hopeful sound, 

"You'll find your footing on new ground."

But I can feel the current tug, 

A nervous knot, a heavy shrug. 

The water's deep, the sky so wide, 

I've never sailed without a guide. 

The familiar scent of earth and pine, 

A sweet reminder of what's mine. 

The easy laugh, the well-known face, 

A gentle and a slowing pace.

Yet something calls beyond the mist, 

A future only I have kissed. 

A distant gleam, a faint new song, 

A place where I have always belonged. 

I take a breath, I loose the line,

 And turn my back on what was mine. 

The sail unfurls, the journey starts, 

With hopeful yet nervous hearts.

The Weight of Ivy

 The screen glows bright, 

a single word appears, 

And with it, silence, calming all my fears. 

A dream I'd held, a hope both grand and old, 

Now etched in pixels, stories to unfold.

The weight of books, the midnight's whispered plea, 

The burning fire of curiosity. 

The trembling hands, the pounding of the heart, 

All led to this, a brand new, brilliant start.

A world of stone and ivy, green and deep, 

A legacy of promises to keep. 

The long, hard climb, the struggle and the strife, 

Just one small page in a new book of life.

Rapid Response

 

The Call

The pager screams, a sudden, jarring sound, 

Shattering the quiet, where peace was found. 

A rapid response, the message stark and clear, 

Another life hangs, battling with fear.

The Gathering

From different floors, they gather in a sprint, 

The nurse, the doctor, with purpose in their print. 

Respiratory therapist, swift and keen, 

Pharmacist too, a well-oiled machine. 

No wasted motion, no time to delay, 

Each step determined, come what may.

The Scene

Into the room, where silence holds its breath, 

A patient fading, on the edge of death. 

Monitors beeping, a frantic, urgent plea, 

The team descends, a force for life to be. 

Eyes quickly scanning, assessing the scene, 

A silent language, sharp and ever keen.

The Work

"Airway secure!" a voice cuts through the air, 

"IV access!" beyond all earthly care. 

Medications drawn, with precision and speed, 

A dance of knowledge, planting hope's own seed. 

Compressions strong, a rhythm for the heart, 

Each skilled hand playing a crucial, vital part. 

No hesitation, just focus, sharp and deep, 

While fragile life, a silent vigil, keep.

The Turn

Slowly, gently, a flicker takes its hold, 

A pulse returning, a story to unfold. 

The breathing steadies, the color starts to rise, 

A fragile victory, reflected in their eyes. 

The tension eases, a collective, soft release, 

A life pulled back, from the brink of final peace.

The Aftermath

The room grows quiet, the crisis now is past, 

The team disperses, their efforts holding fast. 

They walk away, to duties yet untold, 

But in their hearts, a story bravely sold. 

For in that moment, when shadows loomed so wide, 

A rapid response, where life and hope abide.

Hopeful Beginings

 A fresh page turns, a story starts anew, 

With every face, a hopeful, open view. 

No longer strangers, just a little shy, 

Beneath the vast and ever-watching sky.

A whispered greeting, then a gentle smile, 

Connections forming, lasting for a while. 

Or maybe more, a bond both deep and true, 

A friendship budding, vibrant, fresh, and new.

For in each eye, a world yet to explore, 

New laughter waiting, joys held in store. 

So let us meet, with spirits light and free, 

And hopeful hearts, for what our friends will be.

Park Squirrel Summit

(from perspective of young chocolate lab Murphy) 

Today I saw a squirrel, I SWEAR.

He gave me this defiant stare.
So I leapt up, like six whole feet,
But Mom just yawned and took a seat.

She always says, “Don’t waste your pace.”
But squirrels, Mom. They mock your face.
I chase them just to prove I can,
I’m strong, I’m fast; basically man.

Then Mom said, “Murphy, leash still on.”
And yeah, I realized squirrel was gone.
I wagged and barked, no squirrel fight,
But next time, squirrel. It’s on. Alright?

Morning Near 5th avenue & 110th street

(From Delta's perspective) 

The streets are wet, the sky is gray,

But Murphy’s ready for the day.
He bounds ahead, all tail and bark
I walk behind, the matriarch.

A squirrel dares. He takes the bait.
I sit and stay. I elevate.
Let youth go chase and slip on leaves,
I’ve got no time for squirrelly thieves.

The city’s loud, but I’ve grown wise.
I watch it all with calm brown eyes.
Let sirens wail and buses roar,
I’ve walked these blocks a thousand more.

Two Chocolate Labs in the City

For Delta & Murphy. My two chocolate labs that bring so much joy.

 Leashes taut, tails high with pride,

We march through morning’s traffic tide.
Two chocolate labs, one heart apiece,
A symphony of joy on leash.

Their noses lead through trash and toast,
Through scents the city guards the most.
They greet each hydrant like a friend,
Then tug ahead, around the bend.

Pigeons scatter, squirrels dare,
They lunge with glee, no time to spare.
A doorman laughs, a child squeals,
Their happiness rolls on four heels.

We weave through dogs in sweaters bold,
Through markets, parks, the brisk and cold.
They find the puddles, leap with grace,
And shake the world onto my face.

At red lights, we perform our dance,
Sit. Stay. Sniff. Then sideways glance.
When green, we sail on noisy seas,
A trio chasing small-town peace.

And though the towers scrape the sky,
And sirens wail as people fly,
These dogs, with fur like cocoa deep,
Remind me where my soul can sleep.

For in their steps, I’m pulled back home,
No matter how far out we roam.
Two chocolate labs, a leash, a lane,
And joy that walks me through the strain.

Northbound on the Metro-North

 Click-clack hum on silver track,

The Hudson yawns, the skyline back.
From tunnels deep to rising shore,
The city fades, then roars no more.

A blur of bricks and rusted steel,
Gives way to trees the wind can feel.
The river glides like whispered prose,
While morning sun in silence glows.

Commuters lined in tired grace,
With coffee cups and stubbled face.
Some scroll the news, some close their eyes,
Some chase a dream that never dies.

The whistle cries near Tarrytown,
Where thoughts slow down, and clocks wind down.
A pause between two lives we keep,
The one we chase, the one we sleep.

Past Yonkers, Ossining, and green,
Where mountains watch and skies grow clean.
The train becomes a moving prayer,
For all who seek their why out there.

So let it roll through steel and pine,
A lifeline drawn in rhythmic line.
For every ride, a breath, a span,
Between the rush and who I am.