Simplicity

Simplicity is not easy.
Sounds like it would be easy, but it’s not easy.
Not as easy as it looks anyway.
Things that look effortless rarely are.

Gymnasts make flying around on one apparatus after another look easy.
When was the last time you tried a simple somersault?
A long time ago perhaps.
Probably because as an adult it isn’t fun, comfortable, or easy.

The Beatles’ songs often come off as simple.
But writing them wasn’t necessarily easy.
While composing the “Two of Us”, Paul said to George:
“Now it’s complicated…if we can get it simpler, then we can complicate it where we need to.”

Matisse was the master of simplification.
His drawings are so elegant.
Nothing extraneous.
It may have been effortless for Matisse.

But for us mere mortals, it’s never nearly so.
Simplifying is a process of self-editing.
When we get it right,
Like The Beatles sang, “We’re on our way home.”

www.RoyceDeans.com

Over the River and Through the Woods

Tis the season
to be jolly 
to give thanks
to light a candle
to sing and dance.

Millions are the reasons
we give a gift
raise a glass
visit a neighbor
stay up late.

One theme in common
we eat 
and eat
and eat 
and eat.

To the kitchens we retreat
traditions repeat
ovens heat
not a missed beat
prep complete

Baked with love
basted with creativity
served with generosity
consumed with cheer.

RoyceDeans.com

As of yet, an untitled poem

Wet leaves with cold air
Ice and snow appearing in my garden with more frequency
Preparing for what is really to come.

Soft chair with quiet warmth
World is changing out my window, as expected yet still surprising
Observing what happens every year.

Accidental collections become apparent
Accumulated objects crowd in as they grow quite in spite
Realizing a change has to come.

Urgency presses upon
Subtle nagging thoughts and reasonings set on repeat
Wondering if they speak the truth.

Urgency presses on
Imagination filled with ideas that begin to shout from across the room
Been waiting patiently, wantonly.

I pick up my brush.

www.RoyceDeans.com

Fa La La La Laa, La La La Boo!

The end of October brings us two things, Halloween and the uncomfortable realization that we are now heading into the homestretch of another year.

Halloween gifts us an all-too short period of time when we can forget about life for a while. Compare that to the extra dose of reality that the end of any given year provides.

Spooks, goblins, hobos, clowns, famous and infamous women as well as the occasional Nixon mask are all perfect versions of the sort of tomfoolery we all need more of. I propose that instead of jumping right into the next round of Season’s Greetings and Christmas carols playing in every shopping establishment from today til December 26th, let’s dress up to our heart’s content from October to January 1st. And if you are that into Christmas, you will actually be able to get a little more milage out of it by dressing up as Santa or one of the three wise men.

Let’s do what we can to change our daily grind into our daily spellbind. Viva la Monster Mash.

RoyceDeans.com