MARY MCKSCHMIDT - A Bench and a Tree

MARY MCKSCHMIDT

So That I Might Not Worry

12/2/2024

for Mother

She agreed to move to respite care
with its unfamiliar view and borrowed chairs
so that I might not worry while on vacation.

At ninety-seven, she did not
want to leave her home of nine-plus years,
her independence, her schedule, her friends,

but moved to the strange facility
with its new faces and unfamiliar rules
so that I might not worry.

While I thrived in the cockpit of our sailboat
with my husband of forty-three years,
she nearly died.

Today, we walked to our favorite bench
and listened to the song sparrows singing
so that I might not worry.

Alongside frost-touched hydrangeas,
we spoke of things that mattered,
the song the sparrows were singing,

how the magnolia will lose its leaves,
how I must learn to let go
so that I might not worry.

The Agony of the Decision

11/18/2024

“Put Your Oxygen Mask on First

like Mother Bear
with her two cubs
fleeing the raging
fires of Wisconsin
and forging the waters
of Lake Michigan
one hundred eighteen
long
miles
into wind
and waves
in the legend
of Sleeping Bear

how her paws
plunged
into the water
repeatedly
until reaching
the other side
and how she
crawled
up the glacial
mountain
of moraine
alone
to wait
for the arrival
of her cubs

who
never
appeared

and how I realize
after leaving
my own mother
to sail that lake
with my husband
the month
she nearly died
the agony of the decision
to prioritize
one’s own health
when responsible
for the care
of another

and how
I wonder if
Mother Bear regretted
not placing the cubs
on her back
as she swam
so that she might
feel the warmth
of their exhaustion
next to hers
or wished she
had dropped
with them
deep
beneath
the surface
of the water
as family
rather than

forever
waiting
and watching
from afar
as their bodies
created
the genesis
of the Manitou Islands
and nature
formed
a tumulus
of sand
about her
grief-stricken
body

Sleeping Bear (the small perched dune atop the cliff of moraine) with the Manitou Islands in the distance

After the Election

11/11/2024

plodding along the street
head down
afraid of falling
heel to toe
heel to toe
in the early frost
of autumn
cold
sad
scared
heel to toe
heel to toe
You take my hand
and I look up
as dawn’s light
lavishes the earth
with exuberance
heel to toe
heel to toe
I will not fall
heel to toe
heel to toe
heel to toe

Why Vacations Matter

10/28/2024

As we motor-sail through
the Manitou Passage
I lean into distant memories
of forget-me-nots
populating Pyramid Point
the red trillium peeking
through shadows
on South Manitou Island
the surprise snow blanketing
the dunes of Sleeping Bear
and add
the pink rainbow of dawn
touching the skies of Leland
this morning
content
strengthened
unaware
of the storm
that will swallow us
when we reach port
and the importance
of this time
in the passage

Without Consent

10/16/2024

He erased
the smile
she used to wear
everywhere
and now, guarded,
gifts only
to the robin
awakening with song
at daybreak.

“I’m automatically attracted to beautiful women,” Donald Trump said in a 2005 conversation caught on a hot mic. “I just start kissing them, it’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything . . ."

Nineteen women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. In May 2023, a jury concluded that Donald Trump had sexually assaulted and defamed one of them—E. Jean Carroll—and awarded her $5 million. A second defamation case produced an $83.3 million judgement in January 2024.

Culture starts at the top. Vote for Kamala Harris.

Gravity

10/7/2024

A good air day is a breeze
of 10-12 knots off the beam but
it is also when the breath of angels

provides insight into the incomprehensible--
like when our light-air sail
beneath the Mighty Mac

was disrupted by a red-faced officer
in a homeland security boat
who pulled within shouting distance

and accused us of knowing nothing
about gravity. Gravity?
Calling what we’d done

the stupidest thing he’d ever seen,
he was still hollering and shaking his fist
when he finally motored away.

Initially, I thought his concern
was for our safety, worried items might fall
through the metal grating of the bridge

as we slowed to photograph the underside
of the engineering masterpiece
connecting the peninsulas of Michigan.

Only later, did I realize perhaps gravity
had nothing to do with Newton’s law,
but with his heightened concern

for the security of bridges
since the collapse of the Francis Scot Key.
Perhaps our boat’s change of speed

created an urgency
in an otherwise lazy summer day
as he had to consider we might be terrorists

rather than two aging sailors
photographing everything
so as not to forget.

"Seek first to understand," Stephen Covey wrote in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It sounds so easy but can be so difficult!

Something in Her Eyes

9/23/2024

Perhaps she was exhausted in a good way,
grateful for the once-familiar chaos of family,
the slamming of screen doors, clanking of dishes,

continuous squeak of the refrigerator door,
boisterous voices around the table.
Perhaps she was determined to catch her breath

before creating the list of to-dos necessary
to close the cabin for the season.
Perhaps she felt the evening’s breeze

drawing her to the bench tucked
among the familiar firs edging
the lake outside the cabin.

No one knows for sure.

What is told is that a woman,
her auburn-streaked hair pulled in a bun,
face well-maintained so as

to hide her true age,
felt the presence of something
unfamiliar behind her.

Turning, she stared into
the eyes of a mountain lion
who returned her steadfast gaze

before trotting back to the forest,
leaving her to savor her glass of wine
without further interruption.

A special thanks to my cousin, Pam, for sharing the essence of this bench story while we hiked the trails threading through the hills of Colorado earlier this summer.

And I Lugged a Wheelchair

9/9/2024

The first time Mother and I saw the windmill turn its blades was when her twin flew from Albuquerque to Holland to celebrate their 90th birthday. The second time was nearly eight years later, her first day home in two months. Thursday, she walked to her bench at the Jane Tree Corner on Windmill Island and back to the parking lot with Wheelie (her walker). As many of you know, it is not a short walk! I lugged a wheelchair—just in case—forgetting there are miracles within things like excellent therapy, a strong will, and the prayers, encouragement, love, flowers, cards, and snippets from so many people across the western hemisphere. Thank you.

Short, Humorous, Rhyming Poems

Your Snippets

There once was a woman named Jane
Whose love it was easy to gain.
She'll give you a hug
That makes you feel snug
And she always sees sunshine in rain.
    H.M. of Michigan
__________

Lady Jane

There once was a Lady named Jane,
Whose heart was as grand as her name.
She loved her family and friends
With a love that never ends,
And all that love lived forever
as a gift to you and me.
            J.T. of Texas
__________

Wishing a quick recovery
To dear Jane McKinney
Who deserves nothing but the best
Including a better snippet!
            100-year-old B.L. and the “non hard-rhymer daughter,” S. L., of Florida
__________

Life can be hard
Times can be a little tough
Pull up your big girl panties
And say
“That’s enough!”
            S.H. of Canada
__________

Getting it Done

Lady Jane is building strength
To walk inside her door;
Her goal grows closer all the time,
With brighter days in store.

Her spirit is indomitable,
Her faith beyond compare;
No wonder she impresses folks
Who give her loving care.

We know that in our golden years
It can be hard to heal,
But perseverance is the key
To even out the keel.

And so this little snippet
Is coming to a close,
But great rhymes are never-ending,
As any poet knows!
            E. S. of Wyoming
__________

When I was born
I was brought into a home

Soon I got married
We built a small home

We always liked the beach
Lumber was put together for a magical home

Now we are old
We went to a retirement home

When we see Him
We will really be home
            J.H. of Michigan
__________

Your mind is a rockin’!
Your will is like steel!
You exercise daily!
Just avoid a cartwheel!

Despite what your therapist
Wants you to do
Be firm: “No!” to backbends!
And no high-heeled shoes!

Soon you’ll exclaim
To that wonderful staff
“Sayonara! Adios!
As you exit and laugh.
            J.R. of Michigan
__________

For the mother of Mary, I really must say.
Here's hoping your hours are brighter today.

Some silliness, laughter is always in style
So get out for that walk, we need your sweet smile.

Roses are red, violets are purple
No more soda for you,
It just makes you burple.

By now you are home and feeling no pain
No more of your shenanigans, don't do that again!

Ok, I will finish, I really must go, but have a great day-
Sue and Jim say, "hello".
            S.C. of Michigan
__________

There once was a family
Who met once a year
The time we had was lovely
Because we hold all to be dear
         J.S. of New Mexico
__________

To try to write a snippet
I’d certainly need to equip it
With a way to be funny
And with the correct iambic and intelligently appropriate metrical structure that would rhyme.
            J.R. of Michigan
__________

If we walk on the grass
we best be wary.
Poop on our shoes
makes Rubin contrary!
            J.M. and M.M. of Michigan

Thank you to everyone who has accompanied our family on this difficult journey from respite care (while Rubin and I were on vacation) to hospitals to rehab to home.

Mary

Snippets

8/26/2024

July was tough for Mother. A series of mishaps landed her in Medilodge of Holland for rehabilitation. She’s determined to go home. Many people are intent on helping. To say thank you, we decided to write short, humorous poems to make everyone smile. We call them “snippets.”

Learning about electrolytes

Michael likes blue.
Dawn prefers cherry.
We haven’t found anyone
who really likes berry.

For a bottle of orange,
we traded a cherry.
But we have to admit
we’d rather have berry.

Like Rubin, my brother
enjoys a good rhyme.
Tom says that’s because
he drinks lemon-lime.

Experiencing Therapy

With her athletic prowess
Mother’s wowing the team,
as she learns to move safely
and builds up her steam.

She works hard in therapy
so we can go walking
to our favorite benches
and do lots of talking.

Celebrating healing

Cards of encouragement
adorn a wall in her room.
When she looks that direction
she’s a flower in bloom.

Family gathers each day
in the courtyard at 3:00,
sharing love and laughter
which we know are key.

Can you think of a “snippet”?
Please send it our way.
We all could use humor
To get through a rough day.

For the staff at Medilodge of Holland and family and friends

Like Glass

8/1/2024

When I say the lake is like glass
I mean the kind of glass
on which I once loved to skate,

back in the days when I waited
patiently for the Zamboni
to shave the frosted chunks off the ice
and the pools of water to evaporate.

I remember lugging
a weathered canvas duffel
into an empty women’s locker room

and dumping the second-hand gear
on the floor—the padded shorts
with suspenders, shoulder pads,
elbow pads, shin guards
(none of it flattering)--

and lacing a snug pair of boy’s skates
on my feet, tying my hair back
to fit a helmet on my head,

shoving a mouthguard
between my lips, sliding hands
into oversized leather gloves,

grabbing my stick,
and waddling out the door
to join the guys,

determined
no one
could tell me
what I could
and couldn’t do.

So many injuries
against the glass.
Do you, too,
remember the ceilings?

I wrote the essence of this poem on the 7-hour motor-sail from Ludington to Frankfort, before President Joe Biden decided to step aside and support Vice President Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States. If she is elected, and I plan to do my best to make that happen, our country would become the 60th country since 1960 to elect a woman as head of state. The splintering of glass would be heard by young girls around the world and the light of hope would shine on us all.

Mary McKSchmidt