First Day of Middle School

gone far too quickly
 are my two little chickies
 growing up too fast
 
 

Find the Fleeting Light

scaling these cliff walls
 feels easier than your words
 of guilt and judgment
 

 yet, rivers sparkle;
 ancients thrived here, not survived
 (just like you and me)
 

 too much to take in–
 the beauty of history,
 of sights still unseen,
 

 of children’s faces
 as youth clings as fleetingly
 as the setting sun
 

 we are captive here
 in these soft moments of light
 (help me preserve them)
 

Lost and Found

you couldn’t steal this:
 ancient homes, history learned,
 survivors by cliff
 

 or these sweet faces
 of my three girls, unafraid
 to face your world
 

 no, you can’t take that;
 my identity’s in words
 found here. not with you.
 

Day Twenty-Nine, Road Trip 2016

End of the road, by the numbers:
 
 Four girls, 6059 miles, 19 states, the nation’s capital, 7 state parks, 7 national monuments, 9 nights of camping, 2 hotels, 1 apartment, 1 beach house, 29 days… We are HOME!! Life is an adventure. Be your own driver!!
 
 

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-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.