Terminal Sweetness

My daughter Regine suffers

from something many of us

wish we had, but it can

handicap even an ordinary life.

She was born with terminal

sweetness, first noticed even

before her high Apgar score was yelled

out by the stressed out O.R. nurse.

Regine was born smiling,

happy and round.

Her father said she was so perfect that

her smile belonged on the side of a pamper

box.

Now twenty years later her perfection

makes us proud as she sprinkles her love

on those blessed by her presence.

She rejoices when her loved ones are happy

and whimpers when they’re sad

and does anything in her power,

even to her own detriment,

to release the pain in a loved ones’ heart.

Regine doesn’t even eat meat.

That hurts animals.

The Art of Listening

Each morning

when my eyes gently open

with our brilliant sunrise,

I hear the sound

of my 17-year-old dog’s breath beside me—

gentle breaths from a sour mouth

of rotten teeth way too old to clean.

My ears are pulled to my bedroom window

overlooking my yard with pool amidst.

In the distance is a passing jet.

If I push my ears out to focus,

I hear sparrows chirping on a pepper tree,

as if they all arrived for breakfast at the same time.

Who rang the breakfast bell?

and is it audible to every human ear?

It’s summertime, and If I stop for one more moment,

I hear the buzzing of our air conditioner unit

pushing out cool air

on this hot steamy summer morning.

From the next room, a toilet flushes,

and then the sound of my husband

placing his night guard in its plastic container.

These are all morning sounds

that reminds me it’s time to begin a new day

of new ways and new dreams.

It’s a day not to turn back to yesterday,

but a reminder to stay in the moment

And practice the art of listening.

The Spirit of Things

Let’s stop for a minute

to meditate on the awe

around us and feel with it with our heart.

The spirit of all is a pulse,

a vibrational frequency—

some things are like racing hearts

others have the pulse to stop.

A pulse in everything

from the plant in your garden

to the crows on the neighbor’s branches

to the dog who cuddles with you at night

and the buddha on your desk

who scrutinizes all you do.

feel the energy and

you will feel alive

vibrant

yearning to continue

on this life journey, which is

sometimes dull, heavy, and quick.

and occasionally moral.

ABOUT:

Diana Raab, PhD, is an award-winning memoirist, poet, blogger, speaker, and author of 10 books and is a contributor to numerous journals and anthologies. Her two latest books are, "Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life," and "Writing for Bliss: A Companion Journal." Her poetry chapbook, "An Imaginary Affair," was recently published in July 2022 with Finishing Line Press. She blogs for Psychology Today, Thrive Global, Sixty and Me, Good Men Project, and The Wisdom Daily and is a frequent guest blogger for various other sites. Visit: www.dianaraab.com. Follow @dianaraab for updates on her work.

EDITOR'S SONG PAIRING:

Bhudda[P. Mogan's Perspective] by Sonic Pulse