Most every work day for more than 11 years, I wrote a love note, poem or other inspirational thought, on a napkin – and tucked it in my husband, Marshal’s, lunch – a ritual of the heart. At the beginning of 2009, Marshal started typing them up. It became OUR ritual of the heart to share the Daily Napkin as a blog. Then, in October 2015, Marshal retired, so the whole dynamic changed. I took several months to re-evaluate and decide what I was going to do. The poetry of the napkin is now joined with my art and/or photography images. May you enjoy them. May they feed your spirit.
Mud
In the mudtoes oozing with gobs of itthey sat encased in itAll about the serious BUSINESSof caking it and making itinto pies and mad makeupOr doing scientific experimentson the ooze factorCool mud...hot daysAaaahhh!
Challenges
Birth
I dreamed I was giving birththis ancient body fecundWith possibilities and galaxiesendless in their beautyAnd here in this instantstars and moonslovely planets escaped my wombAnd the cry of infinite lifepierced the wind-screamingA call of blessing
Silence
Sailing through silent watersbreezes tickling haircaressing face gentlyExhultant musicrising from the chestbursting with joy---------------------------Gliding through silent blue skystillness and magicenvelops the moment---------------------------Riding softly through...
Outside Looking In
I could see the spotsthrough the stripesThe stripes of visibilitythrough the fencingCurious face with blue tongueturning to look at meHidden behind the fencehovering way overheadspots of Life"Hello there", we said...
Go Home
Walking down the streetin a cement cityno trees in sightOnly a three foot squareof shaved grassthe greening part----------------------------Crow dive bombs my headscreeching with aplomb----------------------------Go back.. Go back home!
Fluttering…
Stepping off the ledgethe fledgling flutteredAnd sputtered and flewinto his new lifeOf soaring on the breezesin joy
Morning for a Change
Oblique light of dawnSpotlightsTulip festooned branchesbejeweled with sparkling dew----------------------------------Birds have been awakefor hoursTwittering and whistlingmaking their remarks---------------------------------Still, my mind...Full, my heart...
Rhythm of the Day
Fully in syncwith the rhythm of the dayHe flowed through the activitieson a joyous cloud of excitementRiding the thrill that used to be called fear
The Story
The story goes without movingtakes us on a journeythrough time and spacewithout ever leaving our seatAnd when it is completeour bodies believe we've beenin spite of the cricks and stiffnessdue to lack of actual movementTime to step out of the storyand go for a walk
Story
How is what I say any differentfrom what you say or she says or he says?It is but thought describedin word or deed or imagea photograph, if you willof a moment in timeand by the time it is expressedit is a solid bit of evidenceno longer in the now momentexcept as this...
Mad Dog
Mad dog barkingat the gateReady to burst freerush past implements of reasonEnter the wilderness in feral abandonSink toes in mudand staunch the wild stormrunning with the wind...So, where's your mad dog at the moment?