For Your 39th: Solitude

celebrating us
 with a long walk in the woods
 (away from it all)
 


silence is golden
 when resting feet at sunset
 (your birthday present)
 


the breeze reminds me:
 i drove twenty-one hours
 to find this beauty
 


better than the beach:
 that grin on your face; these views;
 hard-earned sore muscles
 


thank you for crazy–
 (the long drive, the longer walk,
 another “us” year)

Day Twenty-Eight, Road Trip 2016

waffles fuel our view
 to ride into the sunset
 finding our way home
 
 

Day Twenty-Seven, Road Trip 2016

road trip starts to end
 with wide open river views,
 bridges to cross them
 
 


Kentucky burns bright
 holds together rebel groups
 and holds our heart tight

Day Twenty-Six, Road Trip 2016

Kentucky wins me
 with giant bookstores; ice cream;
 and sweet niece faces
 

 each night a red sun
 to lull us to country sleep
 on our road trip dream
 

Day Twenty-Five, Road Trip 2016

cousin love beats all:
 it spans a small continent
 and breaks the divide
 

Day Twenty-Three, Road Trip 2016

three-storied row homes,
 a riverfront fountain park,
 DC’s a winner
 
 

Day Twenty-Two, Road Trip 2016

our cycle closes

 with a capital bike ride

and a pointed view


with paths everywhere 

this city has won my heart

even in the heat


where honor presides

through a symmetrical stroll

of fallen soldiers


DC mixes all:

museums, monuments, paths

marking past; future.


we find ourselves here

remembering our lost dreams

in these reflections

Day Twenty-One, Road Trip 2016

a cultural mix
 in language, architecture
 (our country’s center)
 


library of all
 holds too many gems to count
 a sight for sore eyes


best of both worlds:
 fusbol, patatas bravas
 right here in DC
 


best of all worlds:
 my family together, here,
 discovering this.
 

Day Nineteen, Road Trip 2016

Pappy and grandkids
 as we begin the last leg
 of this journey: life
 

Day Eighteen, Road Trip 2016

his hometown forest
 waits for us with him in it:
 the perfect campsite