October Mourn

October Mourn

By Valerie J Laidlaw

I experience a calm, quiet, windless, cloudy morning.

A plane hums across the Northern horizon, As a crescent moon smiles at me overhead, from the Eastern sky.

My Aussie, Kooper, gently rustles the leaves as he makes his rounds, checking out the perimeters of our yard.

Kooper barks, then howls looking for his neighbor dog, Baba, who is still inside.

He comes to me, for me to scratch his ears, then he bends down in gratitude, to lick my cold, aged feet.

The trees are still. Another neighbor’s workshop light shines through a barren tree.

Our yards are lit by a neighbor’s floodlight, extinguishing my solar garden’s cross.

Early commuters are driving along a highway in the distance.

Silence, overcomes me. I am at such a loss, today.

I am yet unable to praise, sing, or pray.

I sip my morning glass of orange juice, thinking of my daily tasks yet to do.

The clouds in the East are becoming highlighted with a pinkish hue.

I go inside, and my warm plaid robe is set aside, as I wait in the warmth for the sun to rise.

My husband sends me an “early bird” vision…and another…and a call.

Good Morning!

Good Morning!

That Girl Named Leona

“That Girl named Leona”
By Valerie J. Laidlaw
(aka Lala)

As a child…
Leona had soft, cornsilk hair,
Three brothers to love, and a baby sister in her care.

Always, she had a soft, listening heart and ear,
And a kind, loving soul, and a sensitivity
So “Puhr.”

She embraced friends and family
All as one,
Loved music, bowling, and just having fun.

Her heart ached…
As she lost her friends, family, and her son,
Yet, she truly believed Jesus was there for her loved ones,
And was alongside them in heaven.
She cherished and appreciated all of the joy
In the time she was given.

House of Bad Manor

“House of Bad Manor”

A Lord rode astride his armored white horse,
Traveling on in a South-eastern course.
The crowd cheered to him, as he arrived at “King’s Gate,”
Searching the grounds for his “Love, Future Bride, and Soulmate.”

A Lady arrived in her carriage ornate,
Entering the Festival through the Western, “Queen’s Gate.”

The “Lovely Vision” appeared,
As the sun beamed upon her and her carriage.
The two met near the house of “Bad Manor.”
He dismounted, kneeled, and asked for her Honor,
Of Love, and her hand in a Marriage.

Valerie J Laidlaw, 10/04/2015

At the MN Renaissance Fair

The Flight of the Dragonflies

The Flight of the Dragonflies

By Valerie J Laidlaw

Dragonflies fill an August evening sky.
Little, ebony helicoptors, Randomly hovering above.
Circling continuously,
Reflecting occasonal glimmers of sunrays,
Into iridescent gleaming colors of yellow, blue, and green.
Three-dimensional, swirling, ascending, and dipping,
Continuously maneuvering,
Overhead.

Rubber band video & pups

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid =pfbid0if9rY711YfTzJ2BTR2GQ9MoR72abu6a8jykeT99S5DEZBwxBAypkWqKT3nZCsrE6l&id=1346825881

To Cousin Jeri, with love

To Cousin Jeri, with love

By Valerie J. Laidlaw

Reading through our messages,

Back and forth throughout all of these years.

A friendship grew between us,

Sharing family, our losses, and tears.

So wonderful she was to connect with,

She had unconditional listening ears.

She was there when I was still alone,

Seeking, yet hiding behind my wall of fears.

She and I exchanged knowledge of our mutual family tree,

Plus, shared resources in an expansive and growing geneology.

Our life paths were different in so many ways,

Yet, similarities in our thought-waves brought us closer with each passing year, and months of days.

She celebrated proudly alongside the joys of our grandchildren and their successes,

Sharing stories of their sports, homeruns, goals, dances, plus, photos of prom dresses.

She read my poems, and shared my photos of birds, and my love of sewing, crafts, and painting,

She really “got me,” and my way of thinking!

As I traveled “Down Under,” we continued to share,

I began to believe, “Cousin Jeri” would always be there!

From Jeri,

I have a pink, Norwegian, hand-wired stone,

An official “Harley Davidson” telephone,

A pair of Christmas light-up bearded gnomes,

Greeting cards and notes, uniquely given,

And, a miriad of insightful messages for which I am so grateful to have received,

And I will fully cherish as long as I am living!

This is just one example of how Jeri became such a wonderful part of my family, not just a cousin…a true friend!

Jeri touched so many of us, including my husband Rick. I am just one of many, however, she had a unique way of helping each of us feel special and important to her.

My grand-daughter Breeze wearing a jumper Cousin Jeri knit for her.

Class

“Class”
By Valerie J. Laidlaw
September 5, 2020

I coordinated advocacy groups in the ’90’s.

Once, there was a young man,
Whom I watched, while he hosed off
Trays and dishes into a stack.
After completing his task,
He told his boss he’d be back.
He walked by his coworkers,
Who curiously, all asked,
“Where are you going?”
He responded, proudly,
As he smiled, and stood tall,
Flinging his jacket over his shoulder,
And said, “I’m going to class!”
We walked across campus,
Where he met a group of peers,
College students, his same age in years.
As part of their experience, they each played a role,
As “student advocates” spending time, getting to know,
Each person assigned to their group as a goal.
Through time, often, there were some true friendships built,
Pieced together, like a myriad of fabrics in a quilt.

(Extra thanks goes out to the instructors who opened their classrooms to the experience, including the professor showcased below.)

Still

Still

By Valerie J. Laidlaw

No more “Kmart” blue light specials blinking.

No more “Speak Easy” dining and drinking.

No more “Safari” movie viewing in rocker-back seating.

No more “Courtney’s Comedy Club” improvs or reading.

Like the seasons of our lives, our city evolves.

As decades drift onward, and the earth revolves.

We still have our “World Famous DQ Dilly Bars!”

Shadow

Shadow

By Valerie J Laidlaw

There was a shadow,

An intrusion.

It took away the joy,

The futures,

And happiness,

Of our children’s bright young lives.

It took away mothers,

Teachers, and students.

Plus, that shadow caused,

A father, and husband,

So riddled with grief,

Of the wife, he had lost,

His broken heart gave up.

So many families,

Lost so much from this tragedy.

Like a horrendous storm cloud,

With thunder and lightning,

Barging in, on a quiet day,

Stealing our sunshine,

Painfully away.

We must join together in their memory

Carrying forth their lights,

Never letting them fade,

Or be forgotten.

Where Are We Safe?

Where are we safe?

By Valerie J Laidlaw

Recently, I hear increased gunfire in a range nearby going on.

People who have legally learned to responsibly possess and use their weapons.

So many of us feel a heightened sense of nervousness and unrest, lately.

Firearms are plentiful where a population hunts pheasants, deer and wildlife.

There are rules, regulations, trust, and respect among them.

Even fishing has its rules and limitations.

Nowhere should it be necessary to arm oneself as a citizen of our country…

With massive assault weapons and clips of ammo,

Destroying another person’s right to live in peace and safety!

It is not a sign of bravery.

It is a sign of weakness.

It is not a moment of fame.

It is only a time of sadness and shame.

It is not a skill,

There is no thrill to massively kill.

If someone feels the temptation to do so…

Please don’t harm innocent children and defenseless persons!

Don’t purchase the weapon!

If you did,

Give it to someone else to lock up,

So your impulses will not turn into action.

Seek help!

Think!