Earthling Love

  I have been driven to poetry to express deep emotions, to honor loved ones, and to express radical aliveness in a fleeting moment. And, I have been called by the poetic arts as a way to share my personal observations, reflections, stories, and decisions.     Now in 2020, I am sharing these poems now because they are part of how I stay sane and happy and in touch with what is beautiful, energizing, and meaningful, as I try to create a better world. May they touch your mind and heart as well.   The poems are arranged in two collections: poems celebrating Earth and humanity; and poems commemorating family and self. The poems celebrating Earth remind us of the vast universe, galaxy, and solar system of which we are part. They celebrate the precious gift of being a member of the Earth community. They call us to care for the Earth as loyal Earthlings. They paint a vision of an exquisite mountain, a mighty river, a blue sky, ducks, and trees. The poems celebrating humanity remind us that there is one human race with a rich diversity of wisdom, behaviors, cultures, and social systems. The poems commemorating family honor a grandparent, wife, children, and grandchildren. They grieve the death of a spouse with sorrow and honesty. They urge onward the young. They express excitement and gratitude for new love. And, the poems commemorating being one small Earthling share some wisdom of letting go, paying attention, kindness, and vowing to be happy.        I wrote the eighty-two poems in this book during fifty-five years, from twenty to seventy-five years of age, 1965 to 2020. Major themes include: wisdom, the ultimate, love of family, death and grief, falling in love, the beauty of the Hudson River, and contemplation of planet Earth. Other themes include: war and peace, mystery, dialogue, life, love, pilgrimages, the cosmos, dance, and social artistry. They were written to be read aloud. I love the sound of the words, the alliterations, the word plays, the repetitions, the surprises, the drama of it all.   May the poems in this book be of service to you  3