Discarded

I couldn’t help but
feel a pang of sadness.

Someone had left a bag
of soft toys,
big and small.

And spilling out
onto the ground
next to the dumpsters.

A large teddy bear
lay face down on the
recycling bin.

Face down as if in despair.

I wanted to hold it.
Cuddle it.
Comfort it.

Eww..don’t touch that!
I was told. I know.
Someone put it there
For a reason.

Silly of me.
To feel sad for the toys.
But they were once loved
and adored by children.

Now abandoned,
discarded.
And forgotten,
on the ground.

Someone couldn’t even
be bothered
to throw them away properly.

Heavy December

It’s December in Sweden,
Darkest time of the year.
When we’re all needing,
Snow to bring us good cheer.
For our hearts to brighten,
And our souls to lighten.
Snow, if you please.
But it’s too warm to freeze.
So the wind just throws rain.
Endless rain at your pane.
Endless gloom fills the room,
Fills your head and your heart.
And your soul feels so heavy,
In the dark.

In the morning….

…as he leaves the house he removes one of his earphones, leaving Kate Bush to serenade him on only one side for a moment. He does so partly so he can hear the sound of the children playing outside in the nursery school across the way, but mostly so he can hear them if they say hello, which they often do. He wouldn’t want them to think he ignored them. That would never do. Having passed the children and heading to the bus stop he restores his Kate Bush balance and begins his day.

Be Lagom

If you’re forming a plan,
Of moving to this land,
Then there’s one Swedish word,
That you need to understand.

It’s lagom, the foundation,
Of this excellent nation.
Simply translated it means,
Average, in moderation.

But it’s so much more than that.
Lagom is a caveat.
And more of a lifestyle,
Than just a word, in fact.

Don’t over do it, or be proud.
Do not stand out in the crowd.
Do not bother, or talk
To your neighbors. Not allowed.

It may seem isolating, cold.
Hard to handle, and truth be told,
It takes some getting used to,
This lagom lifestyle foothold.

A lagom Swede causes no strife,
Keeps to his family and his wife.
Doesn’t try to cause a stir.
It’s the Swedish way of life.

So take pleasure, but be lagom.
Don’t take it all, but have some.
Not too little, or too much.
And leave enough for everyone.

A gentle reminder…

Those of us living by the sea,
Are at Mother Nature’s mercy.
A storm blew through,
And reminded us who,
Really runs the show.
It’s Mother Nature, you know.
She’s so unkind, so cruel.
We may think we rule,
But when up to your neck,
In water, all your tech,
Won’t do a thing. Yesterday,
It was nature, all the way…

Thanksgiving Confession

I do love my family most dearly,
And I don’t mean to be rude.
But Thanksgiving Day for me,
Well, it’s all about the food.
Right now that turkey,
Means more to me than family.

Not that I don’t give thanks,
I’m just trying to be frank.
I do feel bad, or at least not good.
But, oh my god, THE FOOD!!!
I’m not only a bad girl.
Maybe I’m the worst person in the world…

So come on, now. Don’t by shy.
More whipped cream on my pumpkin pie.
Right now the thought of obesity,
Really does not scare me.
Just leave me to my fate.
But first put more turkey on my plate.

WORDFEUD!

I’m not trying to be rude,
But you can see that I’m playing Wordfeud,
Keep on talking if you choose,
But my listening is just a ruse,
I don’t care, I must confess,
Whether or not your life’s a mess,
Don’t care what kind of shape you’re in,
I’m focused on this game to win,
I’ll listen to you – rest assured,
Just as soon as I find this word,
Till then I don’t care what you say,
I play to live and live to play!