ALVIN

ALVIN,

You came into my life almost a year ago ..

You were small, needy and unwell..

You made me feel anxious and sad,

Helpless and mad.

But then one day … the veil lifted.

I fell in love with YOU.

Loving your dog is unlike the love you have for a child, friend or sibling.

It is unconditional.

No strings attached.

No arguments or compliments

The view is one-sided

Or perhaps it is not.

But the feelings are felt.

It is true and inspiring.

You have taught me patience.

To be more loving.

You came into my life late one night.

Almost one year ago.

An idea not conceived thoroughly

But yet ….. it was …

You are where you are supposed to be.

Lucky ME.

I am blessed to have you in my life.

We are joined at the hip (sometimes at the foot) LOL.

But nonetheless we are joined.

I love you Alvin.

You bring me great joy.

Continual amazement.

I know that you understand me.

Each word ….. even when you tilt you head to the side.

I know you know….

Thank you so much…..

Love

Always, Your “Mom”

This KISS, this KISS (please stop, Mom you are embarrassing me!!)

 

Written on our first Anniversary together … January 19, 2011.

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Saturday the 15th day of September, 2018.

 

Saturday

From out my upstairs office window the trees are swaying in the wind.

The sky is grey almost white, heavy with moisture.

There is rain falling one minute.

The next you can see snow flakes falling down, down.

It seems quite peaceful or is it only an illusion of such.

 

The overcast sky and rain mixed with snow makes me sleepy.

It feels like a slow melodic dance that hypnotizes the viewer.

Making my eyes droop and my body so relaxed.

That all I desire is to sleep.

Sleep, sleep, sleep.

 

Mother Nature is wise.

 

It was Alvin that awoke me on several occasions this morning.

Once to go outside.

Once to trick me into getting up.

Once to eat.

Once to eat.

 

I am up now.

There are birds up and flying outside my window high in the sky.

While a magpie lands on the rooftop of the neighbour’s garage.

I guess the creatures big and small are starting their day.

Shall I?

Perhaps others were up early.

I am not an early bird except for work.

Out of necessity not desire.

 

So this is Saturday thus far.

Here I go.

CY Lewis, written September 15, 2018

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I was inspired to write a poem this morning by my daughter.

She gave me a poem written by Mary Oliver, a great American poet.

This reminded me of how much I loved to write and read poetry.

Also an extra reminder that I bought two books of poetry while on our road trip this summer.

 

Have an awesome Saturday.

Remember to take time for yourself and to spread kindness.

Special Hello to:  all those writers out there …..

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

POETRY

FROM DREAM TO REALITY

I had a dream late last night,

Of sparkling white sandy beaches,

Palm trees swaying in a sweet scented breeze,

Of clear blue skies and water, clear blue,

Of monkeys, elephants and parrots, too.

When I awoke and looked all around,

It was a dream, so I had found.

The picture is somewhat sadly different.

My sandy beaches are cluttered with garbage.

The palm trees have been removed, replaced with malls.

The breeze smells bitter — terribly so,

The monkeys, elephants where did they go?

We have come too far, too fast,

The signs have been there,

But we did not see, due to our hungry greed

From horse drawn sleighs to gas powered cars,

From tin and glass to Styrofoam and plastic jars,

From all that technology we still didn’t learn

That we’re literally burning our planet — our Earth.

The time has come to join together,

Mothers, Fathers, Sons and Daughters,

If we learn to reduce, recycle and reuse

We can save our planet —

The gem in our universe.  Our Earth!

Written for Amanda’s school play at W.H. Ford School

By Carol Lewis on November 28th, 1990

This is so bizarre that I wrote this twenty years ago for my daughter’s school play.  It is even more prevalent today, (2008).

********************************

TODAY IS MARCH 30, 2018

NOW TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS HAVE PASSED.

ARE WE FURTHER AHEAD?

HAVE WE LEARNED?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Thursday the 14th day of September, 2017.

 

FOREVER CHANGED

Last night as I prepared for bed,

before I laid my head down upon my pillow,

before I drew the blankets about me to keep me warm and dry.

I thought of all those souls, of all those creatures of land, water and sky.

Lives lost and forever changed.

Struggling to keep safe from the fires burning in Western Canada.

Praying for rain with no lightning and no wind.

Of those trying to escape the massive flooding and destruction caused by the Hurricanes in the Southern United States, and in the many islands of the Caribbean.

Praying for sunshine and the wind and rain to stop.

Of those who are searching for loved ones in the rubble of the largest Earthquake in 100 years, in Mexico.

It warms my heart to hear stories of people reaching out to help each other.

Strangers going into neighbourhoods to rescue beloved pets that got left behind.

First Responders risking their lives to help.

There were no political agendas, no thought of race or religion.

Just humans helping.

Despite the danger and risk to themselves.

People coming together to help.

I am forever changed.

I am so grateful to have my own bed in my own home.

I am so grateful to be warm and dry.

I am so grateful to snuggle with me, Alvin on this night.

Safe and sound and together.

Grateful in the knowledge that my family and friends are safe and warm as well.

Gone are those thoughts that have irritated me during the day, and that keep me awake at night.

For they are not important.

Life can change in the blink of an eye.

What is important ….

 

Each other ….

You are all in my thoughts and prayers ….

Each human being, each creature of land, water and sky ….

All those affected …..

As you are all important to me and to this planet.

 

Written by: CYLewis, September 13, 2017.

 

Special Hello to: Dedicated to the survivors of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Friday the 12th day of February, 2016.

This morning my mind has been racing to many different places ….. islands …. home …. work …. everywhere.

So I wanted to share a poem that I wrote several years ago.

Peace out my friends and have a great great day.

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IN MY IMAGINATION

In my mind, there is a place

Where the sun shines all day

And it rains some nights

Where the tulips bloom to my delight

Where the water is crystal clear

And sparkles like diamonds in the sun

Where peace is not just a dream.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I found my dreams they all came true

I could touch the stars

And walk on the moon,  and then visit Mars.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I met you there on a sandy beach

When the sun was shining just before the rain

You took my hand, and you kissed my cheek

In my imagination.

In my imagination.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

Somewhere that I can go

Kick off my shoes, walk in the sand

Meet you again in my imagination

Under the stars

In my imagination

Please remember to go

Meet me there

In my mind, there is a place.

 

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010

Walking to and through the rain …

As I’m walking along,

Pace, brisk as I have set.

The rain softly falling,

from the sky a tranquil blue.

That yellow beacon peeping thru.

Birds are flying singing their songs.

I’m humming a song in my mind.

Humming and thinking of moments —

Times that were wonderful.

Hoping that I may see them once again.

The sun is covered by dark clouds.

Rain begins to fall with passion,

Hard and heavy.

Drops of rain bead upon my face,

As I hasten my pace toward home,

I’m soaked through but no matter,

Dry clothes await me.

Rounding the corner I’m almost home.

There I will be dry – still thinking of those treasured times.

Wishing you were here – with me.

 

Written by CY Lewis, August 18, 1990

You and Me

Would have, could have, should have

Sums up the story of you and me

Short days – long nights

long talks – some fights

sweet love – awesome hugs

made up – shut up – slammed some doors

life should be so simple

people tell us the writings on the wall

oh, if it were that easy…

tell me, do you agree

our love…

dog barks, kids cry

don’t yell, I won’t tell

baby

you told me I was the one ….

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis on April 22nd, 2011

In My Imagination

In my mind, there is a place

Where the sun shines all day

And it rains some nights

Where the tulips bloom to my delight

Where the water is crystal clear

And sparkles like diamonds in the sun

Where peace is not just a dream.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I found my dreams they all came true

I could touch the stars

And walk on the moon,  and then visit Mars.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

I met you there on a sandy beach

When the sun was shining just before the rain

You took my hand, and you kissed my cheek

In my imagination.

In my imagination.

In my mind, there is a place

In my imagination

Somewhere that I can go

Kick off my shoes, walk in the sand

Meet you again in my imagination

Under the stars

In my imagination

Please remember to go

Meet me there

In my mind, there is a place.

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010

Last Night I dreamed ……

Last night I dreamed of a man

Not just anyone.

But this tall, incredibly handsome…

Someone,  who would love and understand,

Laugh with and admire …

This woman that I have become.

I could feel his strong arms encase me.

His warm sweet breath touching my skin

Leaving a warmness that would melt the polar ice caps.

Locked in a gentle embrace,

Is the only place …. I want to be.

I saw him in the moonlight.

Somewhere between the moonbeams his shadow overtook me

He held me tight, the man of my dreams.

My mind takes the reigns from my heart.

As I think of what could be,

The man of my dreams, appeared to me as I slept.

Crazy as it may seem, Actually it may be.

I don’t even know his name or where’s he from yet.

He never spoke a word, not one word.

But I knew….

I felt all my tomorrows in the warmth of his hand.

I had painted his picture firmly in my mind since I was a little girl

Didn’t matter his name, he was mine, always has been mine…

Carol Yvonne Lewis, written April 22nd, 2011

If I Had Known

Looking at photos of us when we were kids.

It seems like only yesterday,

but it was a lifetime ago.

Things have changed.

We were five now we’re four.

How I long for those days.

When we were all together.

When playing school, all sitting in a row … I’d be the teacher…

Running about the yard playing in a nearby slough looking for tadpoles …

Playing in the dirt ….

Imagining driving to far off places in that old black car, and eating Mom’s homemade french fries and pumpkin pie.

Playing hide and seek and watching Disney on Sundays.

Was what we did, when we were just kids.

Now we’re grown,

Time has past.

If only I had known,

We would be four and not five.

I would have taken your hand.

I would have told you how much I loved you every day.

I would have loved you better.

I would have visited you more often.

I should have tried.

I would have known your pain.

I would have understood.

I would have known your favourite song.

I would have known your favourite colour.

I would have known you better.

Now we’re four and it’s too late

For me to take your hand.

To share your pain, and to comfort you.

I wished that I had knew you better.

Between the pain and the laughter.

You were a man, and I remember the boy

The little boy with a zest for life.

The little boy that always seemed to find a way ….. now that’s our secret….

That irresistible little guy that made me smile.

The little boy with such a big heart.

That much I did know when the boy became the man.

I feel that I let you down, but it is too late

I wished that I knew your favourite song.

Or what you made you cry late at night.

Why the time passed so fast.

Now we’re four instead of five

What did you think?  Your thoughts?

I wished that I knew.

If I had, I had only known  the man, not just the boy.

Written by Carol Yvonne Lewis, January 8th, 2010

Jeff and his sisters at Christmas

Grandpa Jim & All 5 of us ......

Jeff & two of five (Cindy & John)

Jeff and three of five (Carol, Cindy & John)

Jeff and Five of Five (Tyler, Cindy, Carol & John) - 1992