Souvenirs and Mementos

The gifts bought in hopes

that they will be received in good spirits.

Clothes for the hard to buy for one.

Jewelry for the one who explicitly stated their preference.

Mugs are easy to get and though

they will sigh it is still a reminder of love.

The other knickknacks like keychains,

calendars or towels are fun to disperse.

The best is the memory

of the adventure.

Where you have been

and what you lived in those moments.

Frantic Worry

The need to adult

in order to get from one place to another.

The worry about delays,

the impatience of having to wait.

Wondering if everything goes right

will my expectations be rewarded.

Will the reward be enough?

Or should I let pessimism win

and no longer care that disappointment is inevitable. 

From Green to White

I was enjoying waking up to the lush green trees.

The trumpeting of the roosters.

The smell of tropical flowers surrounding the hotels.

Now I see only white

as the snow lands

covering all that I can see.

I must now bundle myself within

layers of blankets and clothes

to even simulate the warmth

I had become accustomed to.

Still, home is home

and I missed it.

Tomorrow’s Snow

The plane back to civilization.

Or the other civilization I knew.

Where the weather is rated in negatives

Instead of the positive sunny expanse.

The sunburn will heal as the novelty wears off.

Family and friends will be greeted

And I will be home once again.

Beach towels

The water is so clear and blue.

The sand gets between the toes.

Everything is covered by nature’s love.

Sunscreen applied washes off in the waves.

Lying in the sun on the towel.

A memento of the simple times.

A pleasure to be so free.

Vacation Forgetfulness

Time no longer runs standard.

Normal is the new sites and adventures.

The presence of other vacation garbed people.

Decisions made spur of the moment.

Laughter louder as the day goes on.

Skin burnt and lotion soothingly applied.

Water and sand tracked throughout the hotel.

Until the last day and time returns

To the weird remembrance of the original life.

Things that Awry

Your love poem that was meant for another.

The breakfast table being cleaned prematurely.

A song that reminds you of a previous heartbreak.

Cemetery stones showing the loss of loved ones.

A misunderstanding between friends that takes time to repair.

Anxiety that refuses to go away during the meeting.

The “look” that you thought meant something else.

Nowhere are you safe from mistakes.

I wonder how you would react if I kissed you?