Now

She saved my life,
my stepmother did,
long after she was
no longer my stepmother;
she became my friend.
I, involved in a
abusive relationship,
sought her advice
and found the courage
to leave and live
my own life
without fear,
without intollerance,
without controls
and manipulations
and threats and bruises,
just as she had done
so many years before.
And now, fifteen years
later, as we scatter
her ashes, I ask myself
what have I done
with the gift she gave me;
wasting all these years?
And what am I going to do
about it now?


Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Sour Soul Mates

my heart clutches in my chest
as thoughts of you fill my head
and I wonder if you're alright.
our weird connection worries me
tonight; the way we finished
each others thoughts, each
others sentences, knew
exactly the right gift, the
right meal to make, the
right movie to bring home,
the right CD to play, without
saying a word. more like
one pea in a pod, the other
not needed. and though
we're millions miles
apart in spirit and just
around the corner,
I still hope
that you're okay.

Haiku #15

cool convertible
top down, hair wind blown, cruisin'
and here comes the rain

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #14

one little brown quail
waddles from the bush, then four,
mom watches, cautious

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #13

on the go, go, go;
hike, bike, swim, boat: leaves no time
to enjoy summer

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #12

beautiful roses
greet me "hi" every morning
fragrance wafts my way

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #11

red, white, purple, pink,
and my favorite, yellow;
roses, big and bold

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #10

ra-ruf, ra-ruf, ra
noisy little chihuahua
just won't let me sleep

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #9.1 and #9.2 vote for your favorite

bath in the back yard,
water hose, wet dog and soap,
shakes and splatters all.


bath in the back yard,
wet dog shakes and splatters all
now I need a bath


Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #8

puppy dog kisses,
dog breath, dog hair, sloppy tongue,
I don't really mind


Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

clouds roll in quickly
darkening the evening sky
all hail, storms brewing

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

a little ditti

sleep tight
starlight
wish I might
sleep thru the night

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku # 6

lazy Sunday morn
breakfast in bed, comics, coupons
perfect way to wake

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #5

little dogs barking
at shadows lurking nearby,
keep neighbors awake

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray

Haiku #4

dark black cloudless sky
millions of stars floating by
a cool summer night

Copyright © 2010 by Shawn Murray