Lei Day

May Day
is Lei Day
a chance 
to say
Aloha
in a special way.

Make a lei
a chain of flowers
to drape 
on this day
around
the neck
of someone
you know.

Bring the spirit
of love
and Aloha
to those
who need a lift.

Bring the smell
of Hawaiian islands
to those
who need a break
from their stress.

Aloha,
Happy Lei Day.


    Yes, I know this is coming to you on May 2 and Lei Day is May 1, but as my Island friends tell me, it is never a bad day to receive the gift of a lei.  So maybe I'm early for next year.  Your challenge for today is to write a poem from the viewpoint of your favorite flower.  What is its life like?  How does it feel about the other flowers, the birds, cats or dogs?  Have fun.  I think I'm going to try drawing a lei.

Zen Garden

Some see only the gravel

and the rocks

needing raking.

See an arid land

where dust and dirt accumulates,

where nothing will grow.

Some see the same rock pile

of islands in a vast sea,

enduring.

Or mountains

reaching through the clouds

striving upwards.

Today I am a rock.

Let me be an ocean island.

Let me be a misty cloud

ringing.

     Do you ever have days when nothing seems to be going right?  When I have days like that, I know it is time to count my blessings, so today I'm counting.  This is a free verse poem.  I invite you to write your own poem today that uses a simile or metaphor to describe how you feel.  You're welcome to share your poem in the comments below.  Have fun writing.

    Happy St. Patrick's Day.