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.
The Pond
By the edge of the pondthe little deck extendsas if a launch pointfor travel into the depthsinner landscape awaitsThe buzzing and plopping,gurgling and flappingprovide a peaceful silence of the Soulon any day's reflection
Integrity of Moment
Singular integritycombined with more of the samethe center of greatnessthe heart of goodnessthe decisionborne of this momentnowalways
Spring Garden
In the garden, early springon a mound of rich soilsat a little plant-------------------------------------------From delicate tendril greento bushy and strongthe heart of the garden growsin cadence of heartbeatbees buzz and birdsdance on happy wingsbeauty and...
Dandelions
The roar of the dandy liona mighty fairy windtiny parachutes loosedpersistent warriorscausing bile to risefrom buried strongholdsLife's tonics arisecheerful yellow disguisebefore deploymentwe cursed China's alliesyet they guard our fortressequally vigilant
Spacers
In retrospectthe wild momentslined up in memoryas beads on a stringheld space in my lifewith sparkle and shine,allowed those huesof a more subtle natureisolation necessaryto hold their ownto treasure-------------------------------------------------Jolly spacers
Sneeze Light
Like fairy dustspread wide in a windstormepiphanies sparkledin spurts and spotsinspiration markeda seemingly random coursetesting faith with ordered judgements"Ah," she said, "Ah-ha!""Ah choooo!"And off we went again...
Ravens
Real rainbows raceacross the sky etherealRaucous ravens raisethe sky roof on wingsand peck throughillusion with beaksof gold
Buzzbees
BzzzzyBuzzing in the fieldsThey dance from bloomto bloom to bloomMother's helpersproviding connectionproviding assistanceproviding our food
Juicy Moon
EnlivenedEnlightenedAliveJuicy juicy life--------------------The peachy orb roseat dusk, held tenderby intimate breezeskept aloft and risingby simply beingI breathed in the texture of itand the scent of blooming trees
Joy Moment
In the fullness of the day,no props -- just sun and warmthlight and light-heartednesssprawled out on a lawnnew mown, smelling like watermelonheart beat evidentto awakened consciousnessIs there any joy greaterin this moment?
coyote moon
The girls were laughingoutside my doorlate last nighta wild partywhooping and yelpingon the prowl for preyin the yowl momentanswering owl's question-----------------------------------------Coyote moonthe smile askance
Full Voice
The body loves to sing full voiceas the lion, the song birdthe frog upon his lily pad...-------- ------------- ----------- -------------Every fibreresonatesthe truththe joyno matterwhat the wordsAll is permeatedsound embodied