Fly, my spirit daughter,
fly to the heights of heaven,
Fly throughout God’s universe,
Converse with other souls of light,
Use your powers to help us here,
There are things we do not understand,
Worlds we cannot see,
You now fly with the ancestors,
Blessed be, blessed be.
cfblack, 11-23-25
An ancestor of mine born in Bala, Wales, Owen Owens 1746-1861, became an ordained Baptist minister in Washington County, Kentucky, but he & his wife left the church due to their refusal to participate in slavery. (Refusal of their church to not participate in slavery “after much discussion”)
His traits mentioned were being of good morals, an “uncommonly small man” with a noble soul. He is my 5th great-grandfather, ancestor to Cora Belle Owens, my great-grandmother who married Alexander Reid in southern Indiana.
I write things down that I’ve done each day,
so that I know
I accomplished something.
Season 5, Only Murders in the Building,
Martin Short’s narcissism and
Steve Martin’s cooky-ness
make me laugh.
2-mile walk,
note houses for sale,
heat up tuna casserole,
very little reading,
avoided composing final reviews,
felt overwhelmed with life
laid down, twice today,
closing my eyes, I think of you,
and cry,
while my husband watches loud TV shows on his laptop
in the living room,
for the entire day.
cfblack 11-7-25
People ask us how we’re doing.
Honest answer, we’re struggling,
all of us, every day, every minute, in every way.
We miss you, we love you,
it is natural to grieve.
Your parents, your sister, your brothers, your kids,
your goddaughter, your cousins,
your coworkers and friends.
We all struggle every day,
but we’re okay. We have to be.
You filled this world with so much love,
You called your boys to check on them,
I turn to God,
I feel your spirit,
You are with us every day,
We whisper to you
but won’t hear back,
and yet, you are there,
you are everywhere.
You are in everything we do,
Every day we send our love to you.
cfblack, 10-29-25
Jasmine age 16, photography class
Everybody wants to know, how will I vote?
Democrats write me, Republicans too,
they send surveys I am afraid to answer.
Is this survey for real, or are they trolling?
Every mailing I get, it asks for money.
I grew up being told, my vote is my business.
I vote as a citizen, make my choices in private,
vote on issues that mean the most to me.
It’s none of your business how I plan to vote.
If elections were honest and votes were legit,
you’ll know after I vote, who I voted for.
And no, I have no money for your campaign,
because, have you bought groceries lately?
have you tried to buy steak? LOL LOL.
Lucky to buy hamburger. Hot dogs, maybe.
Maybe a can of soup with too much salt.
Have you looked at what a house costs to rent??
No, I can’t send $$ to your campaign,
you’ll have to figure that out for yourself.
Save your money and don’t ask for mine.
Call me on the phone, ask me, how was my day?
What are the issues you’re dealing with?
How can I brighten your day today?
I will vote while I still can, and hope that it counts.
But my vote is my business,
I hope for change.
cfblack, 10-27-25
My Dutch grandma served cheese and crackers,
chocolate candy with vanilla creme,
green and white mints, melted in your mouth,
She lived through the Great depression,
sat at her foot pedal sewing machine,
revised used clothes from someone else
to fit her own children,
went to church on Sunday,
and always had a smile.
Told us of times Grandpa couldn’t find work
and “had to go work for the WPA”,
They built sidewalks and did other jobs
after the first world war,
She loved hosting friends and family,
the adults talked for what seemed like hours,
until she winked and said with a smile,
“Let’s have a little lunch.”
Children then ran into the kitchen,
were treated like Kings and Queens,
climbed up on chairs awaiting them,
felt the love in their family,
watched her pour the magic bubbly,
ate cheese and crackers, and candy.
This is where we heard stories,
learned some family history,
but what I most remember
is my Grandma’s cheery laughter,
always happily hosting,
sharing what they had.
cfblack, 10-26-25
Yesterday, on the windshield of your car,
our car, the one we inherited from you,
a tiny grasshopper appeared,
light green baby, sitting there,
as I drove to the store.
a symbol of life between us.
I would see them in your yard,
after you passed,
not something we see every day anymore,
like I used to see them as a kid.
A sign of life, a symbol, and I like to think,
from you.
It is you saying, “Care for the earth,
all signs of life, everywhere.
Each life is precious, even grasshoppers,
care for all the living things.”
A friend of mine wrote a poem for you,
‘I see you galavanting through galaxies,
a grasshopper clinging … to your hand…
She dwells with the stars, tethered to God,
with an emerald green grasshopper
strapped by her side.’
I whisper to you in the car,
“I love you, I miss you.”
I see you too, green grasshopper,
all life is connected,
ours, with tiny living things,
and other worlds beyond.
cfblack, 10-20-25
There’s just no replacing you,
You are with us, always,
in spirit, memory, laughter, hopes.
It is you as a toddler,
you as a child,
teenager, pregnant, young mom and wife.
You raising your boys,
never giving up hope that
they will be just who they are, today,
your faith, your caring,
your forever love,
taking in 2 stepdaughters
as your own,
staying in touch with them
after divorce.
One of them now lives in Georgia,
close to where you were,
how ironic is that? But that’s how life goes.
You in your 40s, finally happy,
secure in yourself and who you are,
I miss you daughter, I miss you here,
your dad and I cope as best we can.
We move through days, one after the other,
carry you with us as we go,
Carry you always, in our hearts,
carry you with us, as we go.
cfblack, 10-10-25
When I take time
to take you in, again,
to feel your spirit,
to see your smile,
and realize that part of you
I cannot stop the tears.
Oh how I miss you,
my Spirit daughter,
jasmine flower,
unique, precious, sensitive, fragile,
strong, powerful, courageous and light,
life-giving, happiest in the clouds,
seeing God’s majesty,
one with the Universe,
all the joy that was yours came through.
We miss you, oh dear daughter of Light,
Fly, Fly oh so High,
to all the worlds of God,
When I come through to where you are,
Take me with you, flying side by side.
Thank you, Lord, for this day,
Keep my negative thoughts at bay,
when heart is heavy for missing her,
help me to know You walk with her,
when my eyes well up with tears,
help me to know, her spirit is near,
Love is eternal, Love is real,
Love is really all there is.
cfblack, 9-7-25
Doctor Grandma 