Life’s Poetic Journey is about my journey through life from poetic eyes and a writer’s heart. I took life’s experiences and wrote about them as I lived them from memories stored in my mind since childhood. Every poem is a painting, each poem being a different color, and life itself is the portrait. The poet is an artist of passion, imagination, and dreams.

I wrote about people in this world who became legends, painted a colorful picture of a love for nature, and defined how the simple things in life can become the most beautiful. I learned as I grew older that life’s most precious jewels are those we cannot buy. Family and friends are the diamonds in life. The least expensive jewels, but the most valuable -- the most important.

My soul’s poetic journey through life will tell of inspiration, faith, and hope. If we seek the courage to move on in life through the reckless storms, as well as we do through sunshine, then faith is all we need to survive. If we believe in ourselves, we can believe in others. If we are happy with ourselves, we can make others happy. If we help ourselves, we can help others. Love is the portrait of life. We add the colors to how it’s lived and learned. My poetic journey is the portrait I painted as the artist.

Geri was born in Brooklyn, NY. She lived in Long Island, NY, forty-five years. Some of her beautiful memories surround the ocean’s water in the summer, and winter’s silvery snow. Most of her life was devoted to a nursing career.

Her favorite hobby is gardening, and her passion is for writing. She currently resides in Arizona with her husband and two daughters. She has been writing poetry for five years and hopes to someday write for children. Her favorite motto is: "Keep writing until you have reached the stars!"

Geri has been published in several anthologies. Her most recent is Southern Breezes by PoetWorks Press. She was published in Angel News Magazine, and Ya’sou! Her two chapbooks: Inspirations and Words to Live By were published by the Plowman.

I sat on a rock
as I watched the day begin,
holding a tin can in my hands,
with my lost soul inside.
This was our favorite place.
My loving memories of him linger here.

The rocks radiated
from the golden sun,
becoming fiery hot as heat intensified.
My naked skin burned,
while I began dreaming
as the beach baked like a crematory.

My dream
was about sailing
over the blue ocean water
until we met once again.
Late noon breezes
sent chills up my spine,
and all over my calm body.

I opened the tin can,
then our souls rekindled.
I began to weep as I freed his spirit
to this place we both love.
His ashes began to blow away,
while I continued to swim
to my heart's content.

I prayed
until he reached the Heavens,
and sunset colored the sky,
lighting his way to a peaceful world.
The canyon captured the magic
as the day dwindled to an end. He left our favorite place,
but he can never leave my heart.

The old picket fence still stands
through years of knowing happiness.
Once hearing the laughter of children,
it supported the presence of company,
while watching new families move in
as fast as others have departed.
The cycle repeated itself
as families grew older,
along with the old picket fence.
Long cold winters with snow, and harsh storms,
gave the fragile fence a beating.

Now, the sagging fence has faded,
and no longer knows the joy of youth.
It aged over the years as family trees did,
becoming weak and unstable.
But, when there's a quiet day
a few times during the year,
a special sound can be heard.
The mystical laughter of small children
as their voices frolic on the breeze,
while gentle wind passes through the yard.

An image of a former family
playing near the old picket fence
becomes a cheerful haunting
of days gone by--