Lori Cole

Young people at a music festival a nation’s grandchildren are never coming home as our bombs rain down     on another side of the world. Is it 45,000 deaths now? According to the UN most of the dead are women and children. Untold numbers are     wounded and orphaned. We weep for the mothers and all of […]

Today an unexpected gift To come upon a grazing deer She looked at us and stood quite still Likewise did we to keep her there. So gaze I did as she returned To munching on the grass nearby The timing gave me such a lift As it was four years since my mother died. I […]

The air is crisp Sunshine streaming through the window With a bite A gentle breeze plays with the curtain. Trees jut up on The horizon, a row of clouds Blanket them Shaded dark as they ready for rain. Two birds, a third Appear in view as they frolic Across the sky A bar of blue […]

A salty mist falls upon my face As I walk beside the sea My mind set loose to wander While the waves churn endlessly. The dogs make circles in the sand Running to and fro, they find A feather, a stone, a crab’s empty shell Once part of the ocean, now lie. A fishing boat […]

How lucky am I To bear witness as I sit Beside the lake, its glass-like waters Mirroring the sky, as the brown pelicans Move like a gang in flight Dwarfing the usual winged inhabitants. A great egret on the south side bank Tips back its head and swallows An edible delight, while the pelicans Now […]

How many mornings did we break fast, together? More than I can count in the rest of my days. And how many lessons did you teach me? More than I can ever realize. How many times did you share your wisdom, Teach me to dance on your feet while holding my hands, Share your adventures […]

A midwinter sun through the clouds doth peek; White egrets decorate a tree, at rest. Shore birds and ducks on the water, seek, Food as they dive and bob in their quest. Buds on a branch portend early spring And give one a sense of hope and gladness. Evoking such a desire to sing, Rather […]

On a socked-in foggy day A group of singers gathered Choosing songs, one by one Voices blending, layered. Celtic, pop, traditional Melodic pleas for peace The fourteenth century’s John Ball Chanted for equality. A masterful guitarist An A cappella song or two Lifting our hearts and spirits As circles are wont to do.

Beautiful walk along Clam Beach shore Scampered over dunes and grass and more Driftwood wet upon the sand Placed there gently by ocean’s hand A misty day, no sun is seen The water a pale metallic green No voices heard, nor others this day Save a man, his daughter, their dog at play The mighty […]

Through Shirley’s eyes the trees displayed Their beauty as the children played And each time that we went anew She’d ask if once again they grew Through Shirley’s ears they spoke to her As if her senses merged with theirs The trees still shelter us from rain  When on this day we came again The […]