Merry Snow White Christmas

The moon puts forth
Its silver light
Among the stars
This winter night.
Its plain to see
Without a doubt
This is a year
We’ll sing about.

We are going to have
A bright white Christmas!
We’ll have to get
Our shovels out
To clear away the snow
And find our mittens
For cold hands
And boots to warm each toe.

We are going to have a
Snow white Christmas!
It’s been really
Quite a while
Since Jack Frost
Tweaked each nose,
That we have had
To find our scarves
And haul out our warmest clothes.

Our hearts will sing,
Our voices too
And in our thoughts
We’ll be with you
To share our Snow White Christmas

(c) Lucille Falk Miller
written 12/18/2007

13 and My Christmas Flight

Thirteen is my lucky number
It brings good luck to me
Just 13 days from now
I’ll be flying westerly

At Spokane I’ll meet my daughter
Who’ll drive her Subaru
A hundred miles or more each way
It’s the holiday thing to do

Christmas is the holiday
Where we want togetherness
With evergreen and Christmas cheer
And sparkling happiness…

As predicted, 13 days ago,
I’m here in Idaho
Right here in Paradise Valley
And here is where I’ll be
Beside this wonderful blessed
Live green Christmas tree…

And now I am on day 15
It’s the strangest thing I’ve seen
In the sleigh, with Santa Claus—
It is bound to give one pause!

I am here in Idaho,
With Santa Claus and Ho Ho Ho
It’s a lovely place to be
And 13 brought luck to me.

(c) Lucille Falk Miller
Written December 2009

Thanksgiving Day

November is the month we choose
To show our gratitude
For all the blessings we’ve received
Our friends, family and our food.
And food – we should be grateful for
When one considers on this earth
How many, many people
So seldom since their birth
Have ever had enough to eat
I’ll remember when I pray
To say an extra prayer for them
On our Thanksgiving Day
And probably make a gift of cash
To provide something extra to their hash.

© Lucille Falk Miller

Fear

Sleep will not come
My heart is sad
Why must I think
Of fears I’ve had
Ever since
You shared with me
Things you have found
To do lately.
How they fit in-
The things you dream.
But I lie here
It does not seem
That I’ll fit in
To what may be
Your future life –
Will exclude me?

© Lucille Falk Miller

Christmas Alone

Christmas
What a lovely
Time of year
Sparkling lights
And caroling
Parties, friends
And family here,
Memories-
Of days gone by
Empty chairs
That make me sigh,
Loneliness
For here am I-
All alone

© Lucille Falk Miller
~December 4, 2005

Hiccup

Here am I
Sad and alone
Waiting by
The telephone
Every time
It rings I think
Please be home
My heart does sink
The hours pass
Day turns to night
What shall I do?
My thoughts take flight
Perhaps I should
Have a good stiff drink
Then climb in bed
And sleep, not think
But sad to say
The jig is up
Sleep will not come
When I hiccup

© Lucille Falk Miller
~April 15, 2003 [a 10 min writing exercise using the word ‘hiccup’]

Icy

It’s January 2010
The sun is shinning
That is when
The mercury falls
And so do we
If we don’t check
And we don’t see
All the ice
Lying there in wait
Broken bones
Are the sorry fate

(c) Lucille Falk Miller
~January 6, 2010

Beyond My Dreams

When I consider
How my life
Has traveled through the years
I reach back in memory
Recalling joy and tears
I know I have been blessed

My dreams - wild
Though they might have been
Did not achieve in fantasy
That which in life I’ve seen
And though I have
Seen tears it’s true,
When I recall the joy
The tears seem few

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ March 29, 2004

Rubenesque

I would really like to know
Why in every fashion show
They put the clothes
On starving frames
To show to mostly
Rueben dames.
Ah yes it irks
I guess you know
At almost every fashion show
Models starving – statuesque
Show clothes for me
Who’s Ruebenesque.

© Lucille Falk Miller
Written April 8, 1994

Never Too Small

If you think you are too little
To have a lot of clout
A mosquito in your bedroom
Should banish all your doubt

© Lucille Falk Miller

Just listen

It is so nice to be
Able to fit pleasantly
With those we so often see
Even if we don’t agree
We don’t have to
Tell them so
It’s better that
They do not know
There is little chance
Of changing them
They are rock
From root to stem
So we just listen
If we must
And we know there is
No changing us!

© Lucile Falk Miller
~ January 6, 2010

Retired

Ah what a happy day it will be
The day I hang away my key
The day when I can stay abed
And the clock no longer dread
But possibly there may be fear
How will I fill each day each year
And will my assets meet my needs
My doubt doth grow from such small seeds
It did arrive, its joy its dread
Now I find what’s new instead
Is how I’ll ever find a way
To fit it all into my day

© Lucille Falk Miller
~June 7, 1996

Warning

Ah ‘tis a lovely day
In spring
The snow does melt
And the birds do sing
But what do I see
In the muddy tracks?
A warning to do
My income tax.

But hurrah!

My income tax
Is figured out
And mailed away
With Joy I shout.
Nothing now
Stands in the way
For me to enjoy
The Spring and May

© Lucille Miller
~ started March 1993, completed April 29, 2003

Talent?

The words fit in together
To form a thought in rhyme
I write them down & measure them
And can’t wait for the time
When I can find an audience
Where I may share my verse
Pray tell me is it talent
Or think ye it’s a curse?

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ September 8, 1987

Keys

Where are my keys?
My heart stands still
I have to leave
Or I never will
Catch that plane on time
Then what will I do?
What on earth
Can I say to you
You’ve told me & told me
To have a place
To always put them
I can’t save face.
And then I find them
They’re on my wrist
I’m going to make it
For our lovely tryst

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ February 17, 2004

Line

What’s your line?
I’m asking –
Is it your words
Or your career?
Is it your hitting on me
Or line of work I hear?
They say the shortest distance
Is a line between two points
It also might be chatter
As we visit all the joints
Is it the rope one clings to
As in a mountain climb,
Or is it the walk one takes
In the struggle for sublime?

© Lucille Falk Miller
~December 2, 2003

Christmas Air

It’s in the air
I hear it
The bells the laughter there
The carols and the whispers
Gift papers’ crackling tear
The popping corn, the violins
Piano softly playing
The door bell chimes
The happy rush
Of children back from sleighing
It’s in the air
I smell it
The pine boughs everywhere
The cookies in the oven
The cider steaming there
The roasting nuts and cinnamon
The burning yuletide log
The pungent air, the turkey’s sage
The dampness of the fog
It’s in the air
I see it
The color, sparkling lights
The greenery, flickering fire
The snowflakes dancing white
The tinsel and the dazzle
The holly and the bows
Poinsettias, garlands, berries
And Santa’s cheeks and nose
It’s in the air
I feel it
The tug of memories
Anticipation tingles
Reunions happy squeeze
The warmth, the hugs the kisses
Cousin, nephew, niece
The magic of each moment
The hope, the joy, the peace

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ January 5, 1986

Christmastime

It’s a lovely time
When everyone gets home
And if that cannot come to pass
One tries to reach a phone
Little one’s excitement
Their smiles and joy to share
Sparkling lights and pretty bows
The fun is everywhere
The years go by and memories
May be all that do remain
To be alone at Christmas
Brings a special kind of pain
I remind myself
That I should try
On this lovely holiday
To bring some lonely person
Some joy
On Christmas Day

© Lucille Falk Miller
Written December 1, 2005

Sixty

I must say
Should one arrive
Full of zip
And quite alive
One has achieved
An age of gold
Make no mistake
One is not old
Sexy sixty
Is the time
With proper genes
You’re in your prime
You can pursue
And perhaps catch
Make well laid plans
You hope will hatch
But should you
Overreach a few
Here is a little help for you
Don’t give up
What ever you do
Just wink an eye
and flash a smile
You’ll have it made
By a country mile

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ Written in 2005

The Kiss

You kissed me
I stood, standing there
We knew - yes
We were both aware
Your arms would soon
Be filled again
But mine
would just remember when
And yearn
And long for
your return
A friend who knew
My love for you
Demands
‘How can you bear the pain?’
I say it’s sun
That follows rain
Like flowers which burst into bloom
My spirits lift and fill the room
When you return

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ January 3, 2006

Graduations

It’s the 26th of August
The year two thousand and ten
I’m in this park at Dartmouth
Where I can remember when
My darling precious grandchild
On her Graduation Day
Was handed her diploma
And she was on her way
Some 15 months ago...
For about 9 weeks in my home
Then off to San Francisco
Where she could work for pay
And a trip way off to Europe
As part of her working day
And now we’re with her in Vermont
For her brother’s wedding day.

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ August 26, 2010

Year Growing Old

October colors
How they glow
Prepare a door mat
For the snow
It’s my favorite time of year
The warming sun
I hold do dear
But I admit
A bit of pain
Sort of like the autumn rain
I know the year
Is growing old,
And soon we’ll shiver
With the cold

© Lucille Falk Miller
~November 6, 2000

Hurray

My income tax
Is figured out
And mailed away
With Joy I shout
Nothing now
Stands in the way
For me to enjoy
The Spring and May

© Lucille Miller
~April 29, 2003

Autumn

The flowers of summer
can still be seen
And the grass is still growing
bright and green
There is a chill
in the evening air
Signs of autumn
are everywhere
The trees are wearing
their brightest hues
And Mom’s dragging out
the overshoes
Housecleaning,
football
posters galore
Halloween costumes
are seen in the store
And I have suddenly realized
I must take my car
To be winterized!

© Lucille Falk Miller
~ September 12, 1991

Celebrate

Help me God
That I can be
Able soon
Successfully
Finished with
Junk mail debris
Accumulated

And while you’re at it
Maybe too
You would help me
Struggle through
Sorting out
From old and new
Clothes far far overdue
To be relegated

Then my life
Again can be
My own to cherish
Joyously
And my house
Quite neat can be
Celebrated

©Lucille Falk Miller
Written October 2, 2000

In the Spring

When the winter snows are done
When the browns turn into green
When the sun stays longer too
When the swollen buds are seen –
Then I want to be outside
Walking in the morning sun
Watching birds building their nests
Watching kids having spring fun
Watching jonquils peeping through
Soon pansies will smile at me
Brooks beneath a crest of ice
Start to hurry to the sea
Winter, coats and overshoes
Waiting to be put away
Shop windows are rushing things
Clothing for a sunny May
I want to burst out into spring
Enjoy this feeling to the max
But sadly I must stay inside
And figure out my Income Tax

© Lucille Falk Miller
3/17/90

Ruse

My life is full of many things
Most which I enjoy
And if there are some things I hate
A ruse I do employ,
I simply push them from my mind
And think of something fun
Then do what 'er I have to do
And soon the dread is done.

(c) Lucille Falk Miller
1/30/90

My Aching Back

I love to dance
But alas and alack
Do I have to bow
To my aching back?
Is this a sign
I am growing old?
Heavens NO –
For I am told
Siatica
Strikes
At any age
Admission can come
On another page
And I’ll keep dancing
Though I’m in pain
And – admit I’m aging?
Are you insane?!

© Lucille Falk Miller
Written November 6, 2000

Be Still

Where I go
And what I do
Is up to me
And not to you
Just as long
As you don’t pay
It’s not up
To you to say

© By Lucille Falk Miller
Written in April, 1987

Chic

The very best thing
One can wear
Appropriate just everywhere
That never will go out of style
Will always be
A friendly smile.

© by Lucille Falk Miller
Written on April 27, 1987

Calories?

Tiny lady
Twinkling eyes
Laughter
Then a grin
Printed apron
Tied around
Twice – though you’re not thin
Rounded softly
Like your speech
A little mixed but cute
German words & English words
But still they seem to suit
Busy in your kitchen
Making apple pie
Potato salad
Pfiffernues
Count Calories? –
You won’t try!

© By Lucille Falk Miller
Written April 5, 1986

My Cousin Leighton

Beautiful ladies
Please do not weep
It was best that I go
Though your grief may be deep
Remember me young
And leading the pack
My life has been short
But don’t wish me back
Oh I loved to ride
Through the wind wild and free
And I loved the waves
And the sound of the sea.
Fast shining cars
With everything on‘em
Intimate bars
And how I could con‘em
My cycle in summer
Took me where I would go
My snowmobile roared
Through the deep winter snow.
How could you want me
To stay and grow old?
I’d hate to be feeble
And shiver with cold
I’d hate getting gray
And losing my hair
And have to wear glasses
And need nursing care
I’d hate getting tired
Just when the fun starts
So beautiful ladies,
Though it might break your heart
It’s better I go
While I’m still ahead
When there’s no joy in living
I’m better off dead.

© Lucille Falk Miller
Written on Memorial Day, 198_

The Dream

The shot rang out
And claimed the life
Of one who spoke
Of peace not strife,
Of understanding,
Love, not hate
The Dream he dreamed
Was one so great
That though he died
His dream would not
It grew and blossomed
And a lot
Of folks who thought
The same as he
Picked up his banner
Of the Free
And sang his words
With energy
The chant has swelled
And amplified
And carries on
Although he died

© by Lucille Falk Miller
Written on Jan 7, 1987 for Martin Luther King's Day
and subsequently painted on the wall of a Mpls school where Lucy was a social worker