Good things can come from unfortunate circumstances. In the fall of 2009, I was unlucky enough to come down with the swine flu. My daughter brought it home from school and was kind enough to share it with the rest of us. She really is a sweet and giving girl. Thankfully, we all came through it fine but I had no energy and felt like doing nothing for about a month. It was during that time of being “down” that I did the bulk of this writing. A few of the poems were written earlier in the year. I’m excited to have my first book finished, and hope that you find enjoyment in reading it. Oh, and Emma, thank you for sharing. It made me slow down and do something I’ve always wanted! 
Poetry
Spirit, Body, Time, Space
Linear time stretches
Farther than the eye can see
Farther than the spirit can sense
The spirit is outside of time
And feels confined by the line
Of hours and seconds,
Of deadlines –
The resistance
Creates friction within the body
And is eased by body and mind
Acknowledging
The delicate crossing –
Visible, invisible
Tangible, intangible
The click of the clock, the sweep of space
Taking time out of the breakneck race
To expand the mind
To travel in dreams
To float above tedious realities
And to explore the great mysteries
December 2009
Sail with Gilberto
An endless streak of clouds,
Uninterrupted highways in the sky
Smooth, gauzy lines –
Far above the rough bumps
And stubbed toes
Way down here, down below –
Put me on a sailboat with João Gilberto
Unfurl that sail
We’ll catch the glass current that expands
Up there
We really don’t care to where
It’s a peaceful, steady ride
The sun shines in golden rays,
Gleams on our boat and warms our faces
A maiden voyage easing to comfortable places
November, 2009