Celebrity of Spring

The tree stood before the stormy sky

Dressed in vivid green lace

The spotlight of setting sun

Lighting her with orange and gold

Like a celebrity of spring

A hostess of those who migrate and sing.

-Kelly Voelker

Old Cement Sidewalk

An old cement sidewalk

Narrow and rough

Leads me between flowers

I've planted and loved.

-Kelly Voelker

This Quiet Moment's Bliss

When I was entirely full of life

I could entirely occupy large spaces

Large spans of time 

From theirs up to mine

Improving the wear 

Embellishing with joy and vitality

Creating depth in my reality

Now I occupy the smaller and simple

Cleaning the past out

Who shall no more ripple

Through my present time tense

During this quiet moment's bliss.

-Kelly Voelker

My Spirit Trespasses

So familiar yet not mine

Like someone else's Valentine

A memory I didn't have with a

Place I could have made my stand

A place which isn't tame or nice

But beautiful and rugged rough

Only hooves and paws are meant to tread

Let my spirit trespass in awe instead.

Kelly Voelker

Who asks the question?

Who asks the question of "Why can't I feel?"

Who has vacated perception's tether

Is life just a breeze and a turn of the page

Outcomes indifferent; my wisdom from age

Distanced from hurting; a hand in my fate

A confident reading of my current state.

-Kelly Write Away

Escort the Morning

I'll escort the morning

Before nighttime ends

As seamless as the soul

Breathes through the mind

Existing long after

We run out of time

Dreaming and wondering

It's way even now

Obeying routines

While it seeks the profound.

-Kelly Voelker

Reassured with Memories

We reassure each other by recalling shared memories.

Wild Caught

 I boarded lone and unadorned

The moistened air as heat

Subsided under the boat's canvas

Visiting with Al the captain

As bait I sat awaiting

Any who were taking

This trip into the Peace River

Four others in a named group

Ladies friendly and varied

Boarded and into the harbor

We pushed quickly out and

Under bridges loaded with cars

With conversations out and back

These wild caught friends of mine 

And I were back

Lunching together as friends forever

I opted not to take their names

A catch and release event I claimed

As many as fish in the sea

I'll not foul the new connections

Simply say goodbye and

Defy conventions.

-Kelly Voelker

convention - a way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity.

Time to Detach

 As nightfall came into bed I slipped

My shadow stepped into my inner cathedral

Announcing it wanted an audience to quibble

Why didn't I say what I really meant?

Why didn't I go where I wish I had went?

It gave me examples for next time around

I dismissed it at some point taking flight into sleep

I awakened more slowly than normal it seemed

Slowly recovering I walked through the house

Sitting in my lanai I could see squirrels and sunshine

Surrounded by doves gently cooing away

I said "Oh how beautiful it is this new day!"

I will wait and do nothing, just watch it unfold

Waiting with patience in my safe nest

Progress will happen, now it's time to detach.

Kelly Voelker

Selective Gatekeeper

As I lay in bed

I fantasized about honesty

What if I could give feedback

True and concise

Ending the offerings

Which missed more than hit

My sensitive feelers

Both defensive and hid

Waiting for meaning or

Connections of fate

Revealing the purpose

This new phase creates.

-Kelly Voelker

No Egos

I sought out warm pools

To warm my bones

To sooth away tension

Amid geezers and crones

I shed preconceptions

I welcomed the greetings

Of how are ya's and hi's

I floated and dreamed

While the others conversed

Surrounded by calmness

No egos were nursed

-Kelly Voelker

Welcome

In a moment I could see

What was all a lie

Had been telling me

To fear that which was true

That which was true 

Said nothing except

Welcome me and

Introduce itself. 

-Kelly Voelker