JWG's Grand Hodgepodge — A Bell Rings & Space Travel (2 poems)

91. A Bell Rings

A bell rings
And makes me aware of another day
That has to be faced.

Warming hands and knees
To rouse myself from the comfort of bed
Looking outside at sunlight.

I am drawn to the Sun’s rays.
Outside, sitting on a bench with eyes closed,
I feel photons pulsing on my skin.

A chorus of Birds over my head —
Chickadees, Cardinals, and Orioles —
Brings me back to the pleasantness of lounging.

Looking around at gardens
That need tending and appreciation.
They, too, are prospering in sunlight.

Delaying the start
Of busying myself with the Flowers
To assure their survival.

“Good Day, All!”
(I wonder if they and the Birds hear me?)
“Thanks! I’m here to help.”

92. Space Travel

Space travel
Has intrigued me since I was in first grade.
I wanted to float.

Yes, floating in space,
Silently, looking down at the vast Earth
Like a helium balloon.

Taking a ride to the Moon
Was dreamed about until reality
Showed me the harsh inconveniences.

Bouncing on the Moon would be great fun.
Bouncing on a mattress had to suffice.
Bouncing on a pogo stick had its rewards.

Could I live in a capsule
Confined in a spacesuit for many days?
I tend to think the answer is, “No.”

I look at the Moon
Like ev’ryone else and see the romance.
I am drawn to imagine.

You know what?
I would like to orbit the Earth.
Some dreams never fade.