Rhythms of Nature
The waves
roll in and out.
On quiet days
they soothe.
Yet miles away,
a Nor’easter terrifies.
The lowly coconut
floats for miles
and rolls on to the sand.
The constant pull
of receding waters
tries to reclaim its prize.
The little Sanderling dashes
back and forth
avoiding the drowning torrent
as it devours the food
left in the sand.
A baptismal welcome
into the world brings
families together in celebration.
Later, young girls
learn to dance their heritage.
But far too soon,
all learn that this life
is never forever.
Waves
roll in and out–
with them our lives.
Comment: Walks along the ocean always inspire me and create a sense of awe. To enjoy this poem to the maximum, I suggest you click on this link.
Worship at Keawala’i’ Congregational Church–March, 2014
Outside the rain pours
nourishing the flora and fauna.
But the sun shines
inside the sanctuary.
Music to the most high
raises the roof.
Happy Birthday! resounds
for a youth of twenty-one.
Kahu’s gentle words
counsel that love transforms,
as he narrates the story of a member
who understood this truth
by adopting six foster children.
Like her,
the metamorphic power of love
is offered to each
who walk this journey.
This same transforming spirit
from the Creator
envelops the souls
present this day.
Comment: Many of my poems speak on spiritual issues. They tend to be neutral on specific faiths. However, when on Maui we regularly attend this church where services are in Hawaiian and English. The music never fails to touch me. Pastor Alika, a gentle soul, delivers messages of love tied with a call for compassionate service to all of humankind.
Taking to the Hawaiian Waters
The warm Pacific
rushes over me.
How far has
that wave traveled?
And that one?
They soothe my aching body.
Think,
these waters are almost
as old as Time.
What epics they have seen?
The dinosaurs’ emerge from the sea
and in a blip cease.
The Polynesians’ outriggers
touch these shores
then the whalers and missionaries.
They saw the bombs drop
drawing a nation into war.
Decades later
they wash away
all the meaningless thoughts,
cleaning my soul.
Comment: As mentioned earlier the ocean has a mystical impact on me, hence this poem.
A Walk in Upcountry
We drive the lonely back road
winding, climbing
past the sugarcane fields
toward the clouds.
Haleakala, the God of Maui,
stands in magnificence.
The cloud catcher
begins its daily gathering.
A jacaranda tree
waves as we drive by.
Onward we climb.
A brief stop at Grandma’s
energizes for the day.
We begin our walk
along the one-lane road.
Butterflies flit
from one leaf
to another.
The warm winds blow,
keeping us cool.
Horses graze
and flightless birds of paradise
tantalize the eyes.
The resorts lie far below.
It is as if we traveled
to another island
Onward we meander,
an occasional pilgrim passes.
We greet them with a warm “Aloha.”
The clouds slowly drift downward
adding a sense of mystery.
Perhaps, we have arrived
in Paradise.
Comment: This poem along with the video generated many wonder comments on Face Book. Click here to watch and listen.
Maui Emergency Room
White walls with green
surround me.
In the next room
a young man lies dying,
gunshot wound–
a police officer relays the news.
Another moans
with an obvious dislocated shoulder.
Across the the hall
a heart patient is hooked up.
In another,
the doctor stitches a head laceration.
Four hours later
and many unknown patients,
my diagnosis, "I will live."
Comment: All the events listened were observed during my short stint in the emergency room. Luckily, my issues were relatively minor.
