Natures Masterpiece

Nature’s eloquence carries notes of perfume
The finches’ song has taken flight in mind
Intoxicating scent of lilac brings even man to knees
A tree stretches grabbing birds by their wings
Did you often wonder why trees grow heaven bound?

Beauty grows and prospers beneath
Some are gifted to see nature in all its glory

Feel the splendor of wet grass growing under
Wind brushing cheeks
The splendor of the rose
Each petal winding to perfection
There is wondrous photography everywhere
Grace and gratitude through eyes of man
Forlorn those who do not see

We are Man

Pain and sorrow engraved upon canvases
The unknown keeps people in limbo
Ghosts of ancestors linger
Past experiences perpetually remain in tears
There is a longing to let go
Nature fights against the wind
Days of beauty with buffalo appear in thoughts

Ghosts of white still haunt our man
Will they ever look back and weep
Children know suicide all too well
Alcoholism is our compadre

We are man of the first kingdom
Children of the Gods
Hear cries weeping in wind
Awareness is education for our man

Upon the doors, allow perfection to flow
To listen to wind carrying silence
But sitting silent brings lessons to learn
Life is easy for the rich, yet path is to return
Road for poor is hard, but a better warrior molded

We are man
We are nature
We are the wind that blows
We are The Sioux tribe and speak Lakȟóta,
We are The Lakota Indians
We will always remain proud

Pumpkin Pick-in

At 54 years old I still get excited seeking the most desirable orange,  global beauty.
I am taking about pumpkin!

My dad and I had a tradition when it came to this sport.  We spent the day picking and choosing the most rounded perfect pumpkin nature produced that season. That evening dad took out his magical oil crayons drawing the most beautiful face on our pumpkin.  The day arrived I so dreaded it was time for my dad, Matty Boy, to go back home. Not only will I miss our pumpkin hunting, but the world will be minus one good human being. Now our ritual is handed down to my daughter and I.   Dad may not be here physically  but I drag his spiritual body to the patch!

One day in particular brings such warm and fuzzy thoughts.   My daughter Denyce, now an adult, decided to go hunting for pumpkins at a farm.  This was the first time I experienced picking lovely gourds directly from the vine.  You would have thought I was in heaven.  My face was hurting from smiling so much.
There was Denyce and I in the middle of this, acre upon acre, heaven on earth.  I was becoming exasperated
because we could not find the beauty contest winner we were out seeking.  Just then I decided to call upon
Matty Boy.  "Dad, find for us a beauty queen winner".  I went one step further and asked the impossible.
"Dad, Denyce loves the color pink.  "Can you find a pink pumpkin"?
As fast as I said this, my eyes suddenly became  heat seeking missiles as they zoned in.
The suns rays pouring down from the heavens illuminating a pink pumpkin. Trumpets from angels could be heard! There it was like a Cecil B. DeMilles movie.  Yeah, you heard me right, a pink pumpkin!

Every time we go pumpkin pick-in, I call my dad to stand besides me.  In a sense our father-daughter bonding still stands.
So Matty Boy, do your thing, because today, I am going pick-in.  Get your walking shoes on and some fairy dust, for I am seeking a purple pumpkin.  Are you up for the challenge?

The Heeblas

Mother and father are divorcing and the family would never be the same.  Summer of 1998 is the last time I would ever see my friends and school.  Not that I loved school, but I will miss this school.  It’s the only one I knew since kindergarten.

The comfort of all my friends and routine of life would surely be missed.

Dad was moving to Chicago not only because of the split, but because of his new job.  This was one of the huge reasons for their departure.  My brother Joseph and I will be moving to Colorado living with mom.  No more beach, no more Jack’s Shack were we would all meet after the beach, and no more seeing my father on a daily basis.  We were lucky if we would see him twice a year.  I do not even want to think about Christmas.

Summer in Colorado seem to fly by faster than a witch on a broom.  We did manage to meet some nice friends, and we had a new hang out at the local pizza place in town.

My new friend Donna, my brother Joseph, and I walked home together from school every day, but this time, we decided to take a different route.  Donna said this way was quicker.  Before heading home, we decided to stop for some ice cream.

Half way home, I could not finish my ice cream, so a few feet up was a drainage ditch under the curb were I decided to ditch the rest of my ice cream.  Running ahead I bent down saying farewell to my treat listening for the splash of water.  This time no sound was heard.  Were those hundreds of the tiny glowing eyes staring back at me?   I thought I would piss my pants running to catch up with my brother and Donna. “Donna, you are going to think I’m crazy, but I swore I saw tiny glowing eyes”.

I was already contemplating losing my new friend.  She would think I was crazy, but what followed was, not what I expected.  “They’re called Heeblas; they live down there”. Donna said.  
 I walked the rest of the way home in a fog.  It felt like my body was going one way and my head was going the other .  What I wanted to say was, “what are you talking about”.  Being the new kid in town, I dare not say a word.

Donna insisted we walk home the same as yesterday.

I was so scared, but I didn’t want to admit my fear.  Passing the drainage ditch, Donna stopped and seemed to be talking into the ditch.  All of a sudden she was no longer there and hundreds of red glowing eyes with big claws trying to grab us to their world of darkness.  Joseph kicked one of them and we managed to get away.

The next day in class Donna was absent, and that concerned me. Getting ready to ask Donnas’ friend Joyce if she spoke to Donna today,  but the last I remember was my head feeling heavy. I was very tired!  Sleeping well that night didn't t exist!

The screaming sound of a hawk flying by startled me.  As I lifted my head back from my nap, my classmate’s eyes were glowing, and the last thing I heard was the sickening sound of claws opening and closing like a lobster as they all closed in on me!