G.A. Neal

Conversation with Myself

Why am I going?
I know I am not wanted there.
But I must go. Is it duty…love…or both?
Unsure. Leaning on both.
That is how it is with family.
Not all families are beautiful
But they are still family.
How sick is he, really?
Won’t know ‘til I get there.
It is a 12-hour drive.
Why am I going?
I know I am not wanted there.

From Death to Life

Smoke hangs heavily from the forest fire
Thick plumes of darkness like a funeral pyre
Death of a forest while it crumbles to ash
Trees deep moaning, as they burn in a flash
Ability to breathe, all creatures will suffer
Fighting to survive, life here is tougher
Tough as it is, once the death has moved on
New life will begin, setting a brand new tone
Those that survive death on a forest floor
Will spread out new life for all to adore
The beauty of renewal, a beautiful sight to see
A reminder to us all, how wonderful life can be.

Hopes and Dreams

Standing at my full height, reaching for the sky
Feeling the warmth radiating down from on high
Many are beside me as the wind hits my face
Our lives are too short, soon gone without a trace

What be our purpose with a season so short
Barely enough time for a horse to even snort
Stretching out our petals of colors so bright
For all passersby to marvel in delight

The life of a flower, not that different from a man
Both are reaching out for a calm gentle hand
Sharing the love of life that we’ve been given
With hopes and dreams to be shared in our livin’.

Life Cycle

Flo stared into the bush at the beauty she saw.

“Teddy, do you know what that is?” Flo asked.

Teddy sat next to Flo being careful with his large basset feet.

“What ‘cha seeing Flo?” he asked.

“That white thing in the bush.”

“Oh, wow. Look, it moved.”

“What are you guys staring at so hard,” asked Scarlett as she moseyed into the yard wrapping her long feline tale around Teddy’s back.

“That thing hanging there.”

“That’s a cocoon.”

“A what?” Flo asked.

“You know how tadpoles down at the pond turn into frogs as they grow? Some caterpillars turn into butterflies. It is part of their life cycle. Flo, you are a Robin and lay eggs to create your young. Cats and dogs, like me and Teddy, give birth to miniatures of us. That’s our cycle of life.”

“Life sure is pretty,” said Flo watching the cocoon.

My Summer Joys

Strolling softly through the garden’s power
Still feels moist from a nice summer shower
A few weeds are pulled and left for dead
Tomato on the vine, some are turning red
Corn on the stalk, but too early for silk string
Squash turning ripe, what joy they will bring
Beans not doing well, it’s been too hot
Maybe now with rain, we could get a lot
Head to the house, time for some rest
What waits in the fridge, is summer’s best
Off with the shoes and hot socks too
Feet need to breathe, there’s nothing left to do
My senses are alert and my heart is a yellin’
Opening the fridge door for the cold watermelon.

~~~

G.A. Neal is a writer who loves to tell stories from her heart that hopefully encourage others. Her words remind us that whether the world surrounding us is bright and beautiful or dark and scary, we can always have a hand of hope holding us keeping us safe. G.A. was first featured in 2020 and then again in 2022. Click HERE to see her previous features. In 2021, she was a Pushcart Prize Nominee for her piece A Monarch Task.