Only a thin veil remains My Love, as the sun brings warmth in the morning,
a curtain of light covering over our summer dreams,
only to reveal yellow roses in the garden,
where you and I are refreshed
by the crisp, cool air.
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2021, rivers renewed
In the quiet I am stronger, my mind wandering in the sunlight dancing, through the leaves
wanting to go deeper, solitude leads me and I am made whole,
by the gentleness and the beauty
of autumn.
The wind sings
in the leaves again.
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2021, rivers renewed
Encouraged by our healing we walk forward, holding our head high, acknowledging who we are now.
Yes, a little different in the shapes of our spirits. An affinity with being human, instead of that wounded animal snarling.
Our minds a little wiser and our hearts more willing to forgive.
In a sense a new creation. A wonder really of survival.
Wholeness, walking on two legs.
Poetry and Image © Copyright 2021, rivers renewed
In the refreshing of autumn’s glory, he found he could write again,
a poem began forming,
turning, quickly blending
with his heartsong.
Poetry and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
After all these years I’m still here blogging! Thank you everyone for reading and for your wonderful comments! I’m truly grateful.
If you’re new here, all are welcome regardless of your background, race, country of origin, your identity, your preferences or your faith. If you have no faith, I hope you will feel welcome here too! We all have a lot in common.
For those of you that are new here, I have just a few notes to share. My wife and I are older. Notice I did not say old! Just older.
As much as I love writing and blogging, the love of my life, the one I call “My Love” is the most amazing person on the planet and she is the one I want to be with. Due to the pandemic we like to go to the park together. And we pick up food and go outside to eat.
And because of our age we unfortunately need to go to the doctor sometimes. For example, I recently took her for her chemo treatment. And I get treatments for chronic pain.
So, I said all this because I do not blog from my phone anymore. I needed to “unhook” that part of technology. And I might be busy at the doctor’s or being in love or both. So please be patient with me in responding to your messages, seeing your posts, and visiting your site you asked me to check out for the first time.
Thank you again for being here!
Peace.
Writing and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
Simple words gently spoken, will begin the wholeness we so desperately need
even those dark passages
we thought would never heal,
will melt away
in the presence
of love.
Poetry and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
Nathan was still pulling on his shirt when his phone buzzed on his nightstand. Ally’s text said, “Can you meet me at the park at 10:00? We need to talk…”
“Sure.”
“Felicia will be joining us later…”
“Cool!”
When he got there Ally was pacing back and forth in front of the fountain, agitated. “What’s up?” He was concerned that he had done something wrong. “So many guys are hitting on me, and quite a few of them are freaks! I hate freaks!” Nathan jumped in, “I get it, do you still have your Instagram and TikTok accounts….?” She cut him off.
“That’s not what we need to talk about…..Nathan, are we dating?” He hesitated. “Well….to be honest at first I just wanted to talk, and then I wanted to be friends. God knows I could use a friend….”
“Ok, good.” She actually looked relieved. She continued with, “Honey I don’t think I can handle a relationship right now, with everything I’m going through.” Nathan shook his head with sympathy saying, “I understand.”
“But if you ever change your mind honey, let me know. You know I trust you. To be honest as I go through the transition….I’m going to change, and well….you know….you might actually like what you see!” She blushed and smiled at the same time. “What??” He was a bit dumbfounded.
“Hey guys!” Felicia walked up, neither of them had seen her coming. She said, “Guess who got promoted to Assistant Manager?” “No!” Both Ally and Nathan said it at the same time.
“Not only were Rick and his girlfriend fired….” Nathan jumped in with, “Wait the nitwit waitress was his girlfriend?” Felicia nodded yes. “Anyway, Mrs. Matthews closed the restaurant temporarily and held a press conference apologizing to the community. Before you two came in that day, Rick’s girlfriend refused to serve an African American couple!
“What?!! Unbelievable!” Both Ally and Nathan said the same thing at the same time. This time they looked at each other. What’s going on here?
With a knowing look on her face Felicia asked Ally if she could talk to Nathan privately. Ally walked a short distance away and sat on a park bench. Felicia leaned in with Nathan and said, “You may want to be just friends now, but one day as she goes through this process, you’re going to fall for her….. big time. Big….time!
Nathan’s eyes grew wide, and he thought…..Oh no!! Felicia continued, “Didn’t you just hear her? She trusts you and she’s waiting…..waiting for you!”
“Oh no!!” This time he said it out loud.
Writing and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
Note: If we see these friends again the title will be, Ally and Friends
Thank you for reading! Peace.
“Dude! You have anger issues!” It was Ally desperately attempting to de-escalate the situation. Nathan and the manager were now face to face in a silent stare off. Nathan had just been told, “Sir you either calm down or you will have to leave!”
Nathan decided to do the unexpected thing and sit back down in his chair, while saying to the manager, “Why don’t you sit down for a minute and let me tell you our story of coming in here today….” When the manager did pull up a chair, the entire restaurant breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God!” someone said.
Ally visibly shifted to relax mode. Other customers were busy sending texts and emails to the restaurant website about the “unhealthy” and often “hostile” environment. One email said, “It was a horrible experience!” The owner of the restaurant, a Mrs. Matthews, began reading these messages at the conference she was attending in Chicago.
It didn’t take long for Rick the manager to understand once Nathan started explaining. Rick started looking down at the table embarrassed, and then turned his head to the side, as if he had expected this to happen.
Abruptly Rick got up and said “I’ll take care of it. I’ll get you another waitress and the food…. is on the house today. Please enjoy your stay….” And just like that he walked away. It wasn’t very genuine, but it was sort of what Nathan and Ally wanted to hear.
“I’m sorry I ruined everything”, Nathan finally said. He didn’t wait for Ally to answer, “I’m so sick and tired of people being mistreated…..I know what it’s like in a way……I was bullied for years. My pain…. was forged into a weapon and used against me. Ridicule was their favorite tactic.”
“Oh, that’s deep honey. I’m so sorry!” Ally covered his hand with hers. She looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I get it now…..I do. And I realize I can trust you. It was a wild ride, but you didn’t ruin it.” They both chuckled. It was the first time he had ever told someone, and Ally could sense that.
A new waitress came out with the food, all smiles and was so happy to meet the two of them. “I’m Felicia! And I’m so glad you complained about that nitwit you had the first time….”
Overall, it was a very good lunch, but was it a date?
The next installment tomorrow.
Writing and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
A softer heart knows the way, believing in peace
and tangible signs
that we really can,
each one
make a difference in this world.
Poetry and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
To overcome the bullies in your life, those who ridicule your trauma…..first you need to survive,
in learning how to heal, holding onto who you are, believing in the unseen
and then moving forward, always forward.
You are always so much more than your circumstances.
Writing and Image Copyright © 2021 rivers renewed
