Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Eleven

enchanted lava 
creates unique swimming pools
otherworldly

infinity pools
so twenty-first century 
simply don’t compare

Silver Anniversary Trip, Day Ten

an intense hike day
with a mid-Atlantic dip
in the midst of love

a cafe awaits
in the midst of all trails here
Tarta de Nata!!

afternoon beach time
cheap to rent umbrella, chairs
on Moroccan sand

stressful travel day 
of planes, trains, automobiles, 
worrisome charges

Madeira calms us 
with its volcanic beauty,
nice people, great fish

everyone loves pies
especially my “sailor”
sailing in England

his dream, to be here
honoring Admiral Nelson
at pub built for him

the travel bug bites
a little later for some 
(i’m glad it but him)

sometimes all you need
is a dish you’ve never tried 
to spice up the bed

Nelson rests his soul
at London’s tourist heart
in Trafalgar Square

unobstructed views
of the man, the miracle 
he finally saw it

he finally sees
his HMS Victory
in her dry dock bed

how victorious 
twenty-five years we’ve waited
to take this long trip

always toting kids
or visiting our family
never alone time

the fish and chips speak 
whispers of a turquoise sea
beckoning us: more

monumental start
to a pretty walking trip 
of a London day

Tower Bridge tour
with views of the mighty Thames
where they built this town

an historic bar
rebuilt four centuries back
for beers in cellars

jet-lagged beginning 
for a slow and easy day
goals: tea, nature, food

the Thames is perfect,
Chelsea is as sweet as pie, 
London has orchids

with perfect planning 
(cutting onions with bad knives)
we’ll eat cheap; sweet prize