The Retail Warrior

She stalks the mall days before

Mapping, planning, prioritizing

Should she go or should she stay

The Ritual for years unbroken

Springing into action at the break of dawn
He has five words for her -

"Don't hurt anybody out there."

Onward in the wake of Christmas ditties

Quietly, stealthily, she weaves in and out of the crowd

Armed and dangerous, she brings no one
Two hunks of a man take one look at the lines
Tails tucked in, turn away
This is not for the faint of hearts!

Stashing the spoils in her four-wheeled blood-red warship
( So it's a mini-van. Is that a problem?)

Seemingly, extremely out of practice

Apparently she has not lost her touch

Surrendering her yen

She kept her Zen

Giving Thanks

For waking up in the morning
And the chance to start anew
Four wheels to go places
And a job to do

The simple pleasures of watching leaves fall
Steaming hot coffee
Perhaps time to wander inside the mall
While the boys are in P.E.

Time to practice Tai Chi
Time to drink Chai tea
Time to do nothing
Just time being

Families to help you when times are tough
Friends that make you laugh
A husband who still loves even when the going gets rough
Happy, healthy boys are more than enough

Stretch my spirit with yoga
Fold  love into freshly-laundered clothes
Listen to the boys speak Yoda
Before go to sleep they must

For the nighttime to gather my day's gratitude
Homeworks done, spelling words spelled right
Recharge this positive attitude
While I sleep overnight

The Great Seduction

She comes ready to strip off  her gown of gold

Hues of cinnabar, titian too

Glorious and resplendent with

The sun still warm, remnants of summer's caress

Almost late for their rendezvous
As avian witnesses head south
Still rooted to her mother

She lays down for old man winter

Never forgetting the one

Who shows up with the April showers

Waiting again another year

For old man winter

Stung

And this comes a day late

To pay tribute to you

Angel of mine by fate

Sister Scorpio - that's you

I kiss you once

I kiss you twice
I kiss you once again
God blessed me with two sisters

So grateful one of them is you

Live each day as though it were your first

See old things like new

And never forget

To make time for you