From the side of the street
To the mountain side
The saguaro reaches delicately out to the sun
For life
For growth
But with the tender life force
Comes hollowed out worlds
That lead to the saguaro blues
The sky down to the ground
As the cactus is laid bare
In a world so ready to move on
But the cactus reminds us that
Even in the midst of the desert
Life can spring forth abundantly
For all of us to see and be inspired to
Live fully
The quiet night of cold winds
To the bright day of warmth
Bringing just enough heat to warm the skin
The ridge runs through the mountains
Into the moonlight and sun beams
To the cactus reaching full bright daylight
With creatures small and timid
To the desert ridge of spring
Comes the fullness of summer sun
A bid you adieu
2025 we’ve seen you through
From the confusion to the start of nightmares
The year took its toll
And tilled us to powder
To the next year we start
In the morning hours
At the cafe in Chicago
Seeing the last lights of 2025 dim
What brings us into the year ahead
Propels us
To what lies in the last words
Said
Make the year new
With snow on the sand dunes of Lake Michigan
Chicago and the fall of white crisp
Flakes
To take the new direction
That life will bring
In a new year
Of life
And joy
The dunes of Christmas
Shore up on Lake Michigan
Again and again
The winds blow snow and rain
Summer and plain winter
To take up the roads of tomorrow
With the winding dunes of today
We prepare for Christmas
To be together in a warm living room
Together we will be
Soon
On the shores of Lake Michigan
The family joins again
in the journey of life
That brings us together
Over the water and
New to the dunes
It is good to see each other
Very soon
Swaying in the palm trees
The last cast of the sunshine rays
Over the mountains
That bring you to the city
Where the flow of wind slows
During the winter
And just the ripe of trees
Set out to see the morning off
Take in the sun of hope
As we learn to love under the
Lights of Christmas Eve
The lights of a desert Christmas
Shine over the valley
Sparkling reds and greens
In unison
Come together
Over the dim light night sky
And waning
A simple sway of the palm trees
Brings good memories
Of Cactus in bloom
In the evening news
So take this Christmas
And live with every sweet breathe
I take
The coffin hopes of the world
From birth to grave
The worlds finest hours
Bring out what we can save
Take it lightly and go forth
Make the world a place to be proud of
Before it’s too late
In the depth of fog
And cold
That has brought upon the season of Christmas
The last leaf
Hangs in the distance
As we prepare our fireplaces and hearths
For a distant glow
Of warmth
The last leaf holds hearty in the season
Giving us hope
For life amidst the darkness
A Cup of Songwriting 