
“Home Grown”


Hypertension or high stress – same effect.
Realized I could go back “home” and get a sample of cider and take with me my favorite bottle.
Sitting watching my old sunset view, listening to good music, and snap a picture.
My way – literally on the highway.
It is painful to go against instilled programming.





Happy, laughing, and clearly not taking me seriously.
Each of our animals is loving and endearing when relaxed.
But, where I desire order in action, they stir up chaos.and resist cooperation.
The dogs are highly vexing in their weaving, pulling independence.
The cats of four personalitjes aggravate by insistent clammoring.
Prolonged transition in homelessness makes more real insecurities.
I did not ask for these levels – I sought love instead of anarchy.
The hound keeps whining with anxiety’s distraction and paces in small spirals, getting tangled over her leash – frequency of vocal volumes increasing.
The wolf somehow knew I was trying to take her photo, so willfully kept turning her face away and finally curled up and lay down to rest and pant against my back.
They are both now wrapped around me as I sit – one behind and the other in front of me.
The hound got her nose harness off and is proud of her accomplishment, looking away when I call her name.
The moment I sink into being here, brief reprieve is erased.
A cool breaze embraces us with sweetness as the sun’s heat bakes nourishment into our bones.
(Title given by my youngling)


The tree keeps holding on, still green in its further curling and desiccating leaves in response to my prayers for its continuance.
I put a hand on a branch and tell it to just hold on until the rest of the trees drop their leaves. Then, the rains will soon come and it will get its reprieve.
Tonight, it got a special treat as I hummed out loud “The Limbo Song” cheerfully while giving it the usual four gallons of water around its base.
A passing guy caught my serenade as he walked along under the tree by me, but I thought, “What the heck? Anybody seeing me tending it at night likely already thinks that I’m crazy!”
‘La-la la la-la la-la-la! La-la la la-la la-la-la!”
“La-la la la-la la-la-la! La-la la la-la la-la-la!”
Hee hee hee!
I help people ascend to next levels – yet seem stuck in limbo without a home.
Life is a string of imperfect moments that we must be careful to not regret – else destroys the magic inherent.
In freedom’s release
Bound to each other
We may experience
Heights uncharted.
We mirror, he and I – like my shadow: without compromise.
He represents that part of me struggling to emerge being.
Strange to have found in someone the other half of me.

Hardship seems to be required in order to make great advances.
At some point, it should get easier.
However, if you change tracks, the game is reset and you have to rebuid from zero again.
And again…
And again…
And again…


I have been judging myself too harshly because I am not perfect while going through an incredibly challenging, imperfect and odds-stacked-against-me situation.
It is hilarious that in the striving for more space and ease of functionality, we find ourselves in even less space with more complexity.
My days do not end until long past midnight: there’s so much unforeseen yet to manage.


See the lady with hair flowing, holding out her hand whike looking up at the bird flying, and the children playing? They are all backlit by the light glowing: shadows of dreams forming.


On the back of an office door.
I see it in the mirror –
How it covers identity
This facade threatening
To take over personality
Women in their fifties
Allow gray to encroach –
Not the color, but ageism
Upon youth that’s poached
As skin tries to sag from
Weary-defeated struggles
I cry “Fie!” at the mockery
Made of my valiant efforts
I may wear the badge now
But tomorrow we will see:
I will be regaining losses –
Entropy won’t erase me!
Still finding my way
Innocent, vulnerable
Observing others’ ease
Yet, feel uncomfortable
Worried for the world
Craddled in my hands
Age changes nothing
When heart commands.







Something about creating my most recent song dislodged a block for me.
My heart feels more at peace – which has been a long time coming.
Love the bass…!
I’m beginning to really enjoy myself…
By Athena Stairs, September 18, 2022, in my car on a side road, when we were living in a hotel room for several months, searching for longterm housing.
Once got a taste for flying and sailing out to sea
The world from all illusion breaks free to follow me
And climbing over parapet to see the land unfold
Once greed and vice’s union yields to nourishment as gold
What would you confide to me if there was no more fear?
What if arms would open wide to embrace what is dear?
What’s wrong would be unfounded in purity untold
Our people given reprieve – once meek now become bold
I’d meet you by the firelight (fireside) and you would take my hand.
Our differences forgotten for something that’s more grand
We’d hear the revelry singing and toasts to fellow kin
Where we had thought the path ended a new day would begin
Tell me that you share this dream so I can understand
Why all that matters to me here is for love to comprehend
How boldness leads to ascension instead of staying still
Our troubles find solutions as we work to cure what ails
When at last there comes the time that we can join in praise
You and I and everyone will banish confused haze
The light will brighten what was dull and give life from once sand
We’ll claim at last the truth we know, once quiet now demand
Until the day we meet again I’ll hold on to this flame
My heart will still be beating – sped up by just your name
And if you seek the same as me nothing will hold us back
The colors unfold majesty – a rainbow out of black
We cannot expect that life makes easy righteous paths
Who would any of us be if we did not give grace back?
Come share your story with me and together we will see
That what defines importance is the same for you and me
When the night grows heavy and you feel like you can’t stay
Just know that in the bleakest hours we’ll find another way
We’ve gone through worse before my friend – our tears have surely told
But now our hearts are comforted where before they were cold
I’ll see you on the ‘morrow along the green tree lane
We’ll let go of old sorrows and greet happiness again
Remember you can find me when your mind has become clear
I will be here waiting for you and your answer to appear
A homeless man on first a bicycle then scooter began arriving outside every evening.
Instead of chasing him away or calling the police, I introduced myself so we would know each other.
Those on the street need safe places to visit to keep them from being exposed to violence, and because they are out in the night time, they help keep an eye out for malarkey.