Those are so wonderful and vivid. And as always very touching. I'm sure anyone who has parented or shared life with a child can appreciate those. My heart goes out to you for your loss and sending many hugs your way. As Stevie said that is a fitting tribute to your friend. If you write any poems about Marti, please share them with us.

######## THAT FEELING ######## Early on she'd known/ She would marry him one day./ That feeling was there. ~~~~~~ A tiny something/ Had shone within his eyes and/ Gave the truth away. ~~~~~~ She'd sensed it in his/ Smile, ---the way he'd touched her hand./ That feeling was there. ~~~~~~ The soft strength of his/ Voice, ---the tick'ly tingle down her/ Spine,...when he said her name. ~~~~~~ He hadn't had to/ DO anything really,just/ Look at her THAT way... ~~~~~~ And,THAT FEELING was there! ############################# HIS KISS ######## His kiss. . ./ Stolen, in surprise!!/ She blinked at him and shyly/ Regained composure. ~~~~~~ It was the first one/ They had shared,and she thought/ It would be 'special'. ~~~~~~ ...But,it wasn't that,/ It was so much MORE than that.../ It was 'natural'!

Thanks,GG,you are kind---and I'll think on a "Marti" one........

~~~~~~~~~~WITH THOUGHTS OF MARTI - ON MEMORIAL DAY, 2009~~~~~~~~~~ I'm sorry,My Friend,/ That I could not be there to/ Say good-bye to you. ~~~~~~~~ You left suddenly/ After I last spoke with you./ You spoke of nothing. ~~~~~~~~ Your end was nigh,and/ You bravely chose to meet your/ Fate with quiet dignity. ~~~~~~~~ Rest now,Dear Lady,/ And may you somehow know that I/ Will not forget you. . . . . . ~~~~~~~~ . . .The picnics,the walks/ The shopping,the talks,the laughs!/ Your bright eyes and smile. ~~~~~~~~ The movies,those lunches/ The cards sent,our 'crushes'---/ Your kind,loving heart! ~~~~~~~~ Confidences that we kept,/ The "happy tears" we shared,/ We had them ALL,as friends!/ And,I will not forget. . . . . . .

:hug :hug :hug so touching and a precious testament to your friendship. I am so sorry for your loss. When the pain comes, try to remember how fortunate you are to have had such a close and great friendship. Mant people miss out on that in life. Thinking of you, Ship.

That's so simply beautiful and very fitting, Matie. :hug

Many thanks to you both. It's just been a little hard the last couple of days. Getting used to the idea of someone being gone is the really hard part,I think,but it'll be okay after awhile......all part of Life,in the rough.........

~~~~~~~~~~FACING CONSEQUENCES~~~~~~~~~~ She lay on her back/Staring up at the lacework/The leaves make above. ~~~~~~ Her dream quietly/Broken by the call of a/Distant bird,now flown. ~~~~~~ The Summer sky makes/Her think of his dear eyes and/She blinks back sad tears. ~~~~~~ Why did it happen?/It's all so complicated,/Oh!What to do now! ~~~~~~ How could he be gone?/How could she have lost someone/So close to her heart? ~~~~~~ How does she regain/The hope and warmth of his love/When she betrayed him? ~~~~~~ Within her,growing,/Is the seed of Another./ Today,she told him.

Dangerous complications. Makes me think of the legends of Gweniviere, Arthur and Lancelot. Very well done, ship.

That's a special one, Matie! Haunting..........

Hmmmm,maybe there's a series a-brewin' here.....let me think on that!

~~~~~~~~~~~~ July - Sandpiper/ Scurries over warm beach sands,/ Suddenly...takes wing. ~~~~~~~~~~ The call of seagulls/ Cir'cling overhead,watching/ Children as they play. ~~~~~~~~~~ A woman walks there./ She wears a wide-brimmed straw hat,/ Pink smock,yellow pants. ~~~~~~~~~~ As she walks she lets/ The feel of the velvet sand/ Envelop her feet. ~~~~~~~~~~ The sun is not hot,/ But, it IS just warm enough/ To make one seek shade. ~~~~~~~~~~ Shade is found,at last/ In the shadow of a large/ Boulder,near driftwood. ~~~~~~~~~~ The woman sits down/ And pulls out a sketchbook from/ Her smock's large pocket. ~~~~~~~~~~ Left-to-right her eyes/ Scan,and drink in,the scenes here./ She begins to sketch---- ~~~~~~~~~~ A tiny boy and/ His mother,who stop to wave/ At her as they pass. ~~~~~~~~~~ A fat-bellied man/ In flip-flops,and too-small shorts,/ Smokes smelly cigar! ~~~~~~~~~~ And, the two Lovers,/ Strolling,arms 'round each other,/ Smiling,care-free,young. ~~~~~~~~~~ The woman draws them,/ And thinks about her own life,/ And sighs happily! ~~~~~ Retirement!

Another one with a little surprise at the end. You do those so well and you evoke great emotion with few words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~ August - Sunny,HOT!/ Muggy,sweaty,sticky,close./ Parched,thirsty,swelter. ~~~~~~~~~~ Splash! The sound of a/ Nine-year-old in the backyard/ Swimming pool. Refresh! ~~~~~~~~~~ Downtown, the heatwave/ Scorches soles of wing-tipped shoes/ And sweat-soaks white shirts. ~~~~~~~~~~ No breeze,no movement,/ Just tiny beads of moisture/ Sliding down one's back. ~~~~~~~~~~ Click! the sound of an/ Air-conditioner for the/ Friday end-of-week/ Commute home. Refresh! ~~~~~~~~~~ Whew! the day drones on./ Her day-off spent cooking,cleaning,/ Her husband home soon. ~~~~~~~~~~ Plunk! The sound of a/ Bar of scented soap being/ Plopped into a bath. Refresh! ~~~~~~~~~~ August day over./ Sundown, temps drop,moon up......ahhhh!/ Relax, and refresh!

I can feel that one, Ship.