Dec 2025

Defying the Season...

Look at these glorious
Tulips…
Just for me…
Not the usual chrysanthemums 
For November birthdays,
But Spring’s promise
Just for me...
Gifted by my grandson Lucas
In honour of my own day.
They’re blooming… 
Opening up bigger each day.
And I am so proud
Of their seasonal defiance…
Because I’m old now
And I like to think
I’m blooming
Ever wilder each day.
...
Like Sara Millican says,
     It's a privilege to get old 
     Because not everybody 
     Gets the chance.
     And I don’t just mean
     People we’ve lost,
     I also mean people 
     Like Madonna…
It’s NSFW, but some of you
Might enjoy watching her here.
     I also love her Zuri dress.
     I’m guessing she doesn’t
     Have to do
     Her own ironing.
...
So…
I’m blooming wilder
And joyously
Letting myself go…
     Even
          More.
...
If this isn't nice, what is?
              ~ Kurt Vonnegut, of course

Nov 25

Remembering to Remember...

Because I’m a Buddhist
My non-Buddhist friends
Have frequently gifted me
With Buddhist items from
Their travels.
One such gift was 
A Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheel
And another,
These small 
Tibetan Buddhist prayer flags.
I also own a table-top 
Balcony Buddha.
None of these is any part
Of my own Nichiren practice…
But
I do enjoy their peaceful
Intentions.

November is
The month where
I remember and share 
My intentions for a better
Tomorrow.

This is the month 
Of NaNoWriMo…
Which sadly now is no mo..
But you can still sit down
And write for the month.

Then there’s Polished Man…
A movement started in Oz
To help end violence
Against children and women.
Grab a bottle of blue 
Fingernail polish,
And paint just one nail..
And tell others and give money.

And Movember.
Grow a mo and donate
To promote men’s health.

The eleventh, of course,
Is Remembrance Day.
I always set my alarm
For 11 am 
And stop
     Whatever…
     Wherever..
And think of my friend, Van,
Whom I met in Oz.

I entreat you,
Be sure to remember
To remember
On the eleventh
Vonnegut
Et al.
His birthday
And pleas
For humanity.

Which brings me back
To these prayer flags…
I like to infuse them
With the intention
Of Peace.
    In my Buddhism
     We call it
     Kosen Rufu…
Peace in the world…
Every day a part
Of my morning and evening
Chanting. 
...
If this isn't nice, what is?
              ~ Kurt Vonnegut, of course