Middle Times

Middle Times

Cheers to hope in the middle -

To today, to the design, the shaping, and the seasons

To the middle

between a beginning and an end

Middle in height, in age

Middle rows in school, the grading curve 

Middle sibling

Middle of life

Middle of older age

Present but not yet

Pressure to deliver

Dreams going on inside, in the middle of the brilliance 

So busy in midlife 

Advanced degrees 

children involvement 

the pace 

no time to breathe 

yet the repeat is needed 

Day after day

Middleness prompts the "what's next"

Worth and future

"that mark of perfection"

Feels the squeeze being the bridge

The compromise 

Midlife when the "leaves are at your feet "

Life taking place 

children progress

Life - the haunting 

to go back 

redo 

regret

Rejoice

Mid older age 

Now sitting watching from a distance, our job is to watch. 

children gone to livelihoods 

Watch the cycle continue 

the aging of yours and their beautiful lives unfolding.

Remember to rest in the middle 

"Ordinary mornings matter"

So we take heart in the middle

Middle of joy , hope, waiting and adversity- 

Lean back, 

and we consider it all

In the middle…..

Just like this daily life - we go on,

creating our lives and space, in the middle of the tension and shaking

 to breathe 

and be stunning 

About this poem: Middle Times  is a poem about the times we find ourselves in the middle of - life, seasons, jobs, waiting times  between beginnings and ends. Cheers to hope in the middle - of today, to the design, the shaping, and the seasons 🖼️❄️🌄

"Life has a middle too. And middles can be the hardest, because that’s when you can get really lost. But middles can be a beginning sometimes.” -This is Us

Love and legacy

 

Love and legacy 

Love, family,legacy

Overlooked 

Thought Ordinary 

the love and joy 

"kinship, personal ties"

assurance

affection

enthusiasm, 

devotion

the experience and recollection of family 

Legacy

transmitted

Received 

ancestor 

predecessor

opportunities 

undying  

Came before 

carried over from an earlier time,

Everything else fades away,

riches, fame, beauty, but Love, 

"Love Endures Forever". 

The one thing I can give

 to everyone I meet,

pass on to others

A structure can  be built that lasts between people 

A love for one another preserves, 

Love bridges

  the heartaches,

        the division, 

                the years of joy

   

A fine tree, along a well-trodden path, years of growth, times of soaking,

Nourishing in its roots and branches, like family trees

Roots run deep, in times of strain, love- deeper still

We received from our ancestors; we pass it on.

Lean back against the bark

Look up

Live well and you will leave something of lasting value, 

When time is spent together 

It's so hard to say goodbye 

"Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it -every, every minute?"*

Love and Legacy, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem:  Love and Legacy is a poem about friends, family, love, and the joy to pass on lasting values and memories.  -Joe Holuta

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*Let's really look at one another!...It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another. I didn't realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed... Wait! One more look. Good-bye , Good-bye world. Good-bye, Grover's Corners....Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking....and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths....and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every,every minute? (Emily)

Thornton Wilder, Our Town

Kilbourne Lake again

Kilbourne Lake again

Glistening lake 

Cherry , Mello, mountain pies

Bumping kayaks on the rocks at shore

Echos of laughter at the swimming hole

Loon calling at sunset and sunrise

Chopping sounds of dead trees for the fire pit

Bats flying to catch the bugs over the lake at nightfall 

Sizzling grilled burgers and dogs 

Pancakes and sausages in the morning 

Running along the path and rocks to the bog 

Jumping and sinking  a few feet while jumping onto the shaking grounding 

Golden sunlight in a gold sparkling inter tube 

Hair washed in the cool waters of the lake 

Laughter at the swimming rock

Oh remember the years, and years of youth 

Cold in the tent this year 

Sounds of the night quiet the restless soul

Breeze and sparkles of the lake resounding

Never wanting time to end

Pair of Loons getting an early start

Coffee fresh again

Bacon, homemade granola and muffins

To the swimming hole for a shave and wash 

A call, missing you 

Cousins rock connecting again

"why do they have to go?"

My heart, our lives 

"Will you not bring us back to life once more?"*

He will be with us again 

A toast is made to the ones, who served and gave that we could enjoy this day 

Gone before us but present in every eye, smile and Whippoorwill singing

A cheer, a toast,lifted high in gratitude and honor and remembrance

“Cherish every moment, 

Fleeting life under the sun”

We part again for a short time 

Looking forward to being together again soon 

Peace and Joy 

Pine needles fall like raindrops on the tent 

   Kilbourne Lake again, Glimpse poetry by Joe Holuta

About this poem:   Kilbourne Lake again is a poem about the family trip to Ontario,  Kilbourne Lake,  in August 2026. This year not all of our family could go and we remember them and we miss them. Generations have passed and new ones have started here!

Rachel drove back to camp 4wheeling it to the Beaver Pond, and over the rocks to the cabin. 

We refresh and reunite and recall those who have been here long before us we've enabled us to be here to enjoy the  backwoods.

• Joe Holuta

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*Psalm 85:6 voice