Reminiscences of a Bleeding Soul

Genealogy

2011-10-31T14:41:00.000-04:00

There is a feeling deep inside
And I can't explain it
An inquisitiveness that fills my soul
And I don't know why
Searching the past to find the future
Bits of truth, questions, buried lies
Faces that share a common likeness
Seeds of time passed through the blood
We are bits of those who have gone before us
Plants springing through the layers of the mud
A word or tradition makes us wonder
An action or feeling of dejavu
In dreams we see the images of strangers
Yet glimpses in their eyes of me and you
We are what our DNA makes us
It is a code that runs like a program or a plan
It tells which paths will someday be taken
The story behind each woman and each man
Each piece is like a piece within a puzzle
Cut in shapes to make the picture come alive
Some left blank to color our own scenery
But each a unique drone within the hive

How Much Suffering

2011-10-23T13:57:00.000-04:00

So much suffering on OUR Earth

How can WE close OUR eyes?

In a world with so much wealth

How can WE just stand by?

And try to simply ignore

The misery felt by the scores

By the hundreds they fall

Death lingering at their door

Hearts and hands opened wide

Yet OUR world still denies

No food in their bellies

Only the sounds of their cries

Some slaughtered like animals

In genocidal wars

Butchered by evil men

Are the helpless and poor

From the Cherokee Trail of Tears

To the African Sudan

Clans wiped out for their differences

Tagged less important by man

And in the bigger world cities

Left to suffer in pain

Are lost on the streets homeless

Trapped in poverty and chains

Mentally ill on the streets

Or else rotting in jails

No hope for recovery

Their minds are impaired

Situations quite hopeless

Trying to escape

But the obstacles are unsurpassable

Of their dignity they are raped

And AIDS and other diseases

Keep them under government control

No universal healthcare for medicines

It keeps high the toll

Times passes on

And things stay the same

The only thing different

Are the rolls with the names

So much suffering on OUR earth

In a world with so much wealth

NEVER fail to believe

That God travels in stealth

He sees all the anguishing

Hears the cries of EACH child

He watches and waits

As they are exiled

From the necessities of living

While the rest never see the need

And he hangs his head in disgust

At the arrogance and greed!

2011-10-19T11:50:00.002-04:00

CHAPTER 1

How does one begin to summarize their life? I was born in rural Ohio. My father was an automotive mechanic. He liked building stock cars, coon hunting, and playing softball. My mom was a housewife and mother. Her favorite television shows were “As the World Turns” and “Murder She Wrote”. In her early twenties she developed paranoia schizophrenia. After a series of nervous break downs and hospitalizations she was placed on an anti psychotic medicine. She remained on this throughout her entire life.

I had one sibling, a sister, 4 years older than me.

We lived in 3 different places growing up. The first was a mobile home. Life was pretty much normal then, until we had neighbors move in beside us. The husband/ father of this family was in prison and the wife/ mother was an alcoholic. Their kids were pretty much left to fend for themselves. They would be on our front porch every morning, half dressed, carrying beer bottles, and would often times defecate on the porch or in the yard. The boys would steal our toys, throw worms in mom’s hair while gardening, and would often times punch me and my sister. That’s when dad decided to move. He rented us a house about 8 miles away. It was a huge house with lots of acres. We were told that the person who lived there before had hung himself, whether this was true we never knew. We did however find a crucifix, St. Christopher’s Medal, and a Catholic Priest Bible in the upstairs in a pile of trash. We never used the upstairs. Dad didn’t want the expense of heating a second floor so we never went up there. Downstairs we had the kitchen, a bathroom, living room/ bedroom, another bedroom, and a large spare room. The spare room was also closed off and we used it basically for storage. The landlord rented the farm buildings to people from town. They owned horses and ponies. We were able to play with these majestic animals daily and learned to consider them our own. When I was very young I used to climb the apple trees in the west field. I would pick apples from the higher branches and feed the ponies and horses. I also used to climb high in the corn cribs collecting ears of corn that had been left. The animals loved this treat. Some of the names of these wonderful animals was: Spice, Duke, Betsey, Pumpkin, Cherry Blossom, Charger, and Firefly. We had lots of cats and various hound dogs, bikes, a swing set, and lots of imagination. Looking back on those early years I suppose we would have been considered poor by most standards but we never considered ourselves such.

When I was 11 the landlord sold the property where we were living. He happened to own another very close to where we had originally lived. The horrible neighbors from our early years had done since moved away. It was a fair size farmhouse back a long country lane. It had three bedrooms upstairs, one downstairs, a kitchen and a living room. It didn’t have a bathroom though. The house had been rebuilt in the 50’s after the original dwelling had burned down. Why they didn’t put in an inside restroom is beyond me. There was an outhouse in the back yard, but we used chamber pots. Now that was an experience! These resemble cooking pots with lids. You basically use them like a toilet, but they must be dumped and cleaned periodically, a job that fell to my mother. I never realized what my mom put up with. It couldn’t have been easy what with two children and her. My dad used the outhouse, not sure why.

The Day Mom Died

2011-10-04T11:31:00.002-04:00

on a cold January day
only a few years ago
the ground was still frozen
from a long winter's snow
my mom lay there dying
in an old mobile home by the lake
my heart was in pieces
quickly to break
and the phone rang loudly
the timing was all wrong
but I answered it bravely
and tried to be strong
the voice on the line
was short and abrupt
demanding a payment
when my tears would interrupt
"it's not a good time"
I tried to explain
"your mom is late on her bill"
They rudely complained
Well, mom was busy dying
each breath closer to death than the last
and I felt belittled and totally harassed
It's the American way
The best health care system around
but only for the wealthy,
the influential - the renown
God help the poor, the weak,
or the lame
All men are not created equal
And never treated the same
Those in America
with money and means
They worry for nothing
Their grass always green
But those who just survive
Who inherited only their name
are made to feel they deserve less
Embarrassed and ashamed
I find it hard to believe
That "one nation under God"
Was meant to be cruel
With such an arrogant facade

All for the Love of Animals

2011-08-25T07:55:00.005-04:00

My husband and I love animals. Our first cat together was Bagheera (from “The Jungle Book.” He was a very large tiger striped cat. I worked beside the Dayton International Airport at the time and he roamed up to the warehouse. People were being mean to him so I brought him home. He slept all the way to the house on my car seat. He was a true “gentle giant.” Bagheera loved the outdoors. He would hunt during the morning and lay in a sunbeam in the afternoon, in the yard. His favorite activity was sharpening his claws on our split rail fence.

We have 18 cats now. Seven were found in a trash dumpster (Frodo, Arwen, Daffy, Tigger, Algernon (named after a mouse in the story “Flowers for Algernon.”), KoKo (named after the gorilla who knew sign language), and Lady). Their eyes weren’t even open yet. We bottle fed them every 4 hrs. and they all lived. Three were from one litter and four from another – found 1 week apart). About that same time the neighbors brought a cat home and turned her loose and then went off to Florida for the winter (Sneezy). Later Miss Sneezy, as we call her, found us, she was cold and hungry and also pregnant! We took her inside and she soon had 4 babies on our brand new loveseat! (Petey, Fuzzy, Patches, and Cassie.) Cassie died from a thrombosis in her legs.

While having a cookout at our house we had a sweet cat show up during one summer. We named her Elsa after the lion in the book “Born Free.” Elsa had such a wonderful temperament. She never hissed or fought with any of the other cats. She fit in perfect with the others. She died a couple years ago from what they said was Feline Leukemia (although all our other have tested negative). Elsa is buried near a row of Cedar trees. She rests beside our bedroom window along with her sister Cassie. Also buried there is a kitten someone dumped then ran over with their car, a yellow cat that showed up starved and injured, and a black cat we found nearby after the harsh winter snow had melted.

A couple years after all of the above we took a trip to Missouri. In a field in the middle of nowhere, with 2 shiny black horses, we found 2 small kittens (Solomon and Sheba). They were eating horse feed and grasshoppers. We ended up bringing them back to Ohio with us. We’ve since added 2 that were found abandoned at the county park. One was a grown cat (Raven)and the other, a year later, a kitten (Stardust). In the mean time we also had another neighbor bring one home, the neighbor ended up in the hospital for a long stay, and the kitten ended up on our doorstep (Abby).

One evening while looking at Freecycle on the internet I happened to see an ad about someone's mother having died and the daughters were trying to find homes for her cats. This is when Sparky joined our family. All white, with only three feet - Sparky was originally called "Stumpy." My husband felt that the name was just too degrading so after petting Sparky one night in the dark, a spark shot up from the static electricity - thus the name "Sparky." Now we have a new edition a small gray striped kitten who found his way onto our property and was found sitting mewing under our window. (Alfie)

We also have Charlie (black lab mix), Teagan (chocolate lab), and Leia (white German shepherd). Charlie came from down the street. We got him from a neighbor who had a litter of pups born. We are convinced if we wouldn’t have adopted Charlie that his life would have been very short.

Teagan was found alongside a country road in a cardboard box. She had been abandoned as a puppy.

We did have a beautiful white shepherd called Sheba. An old gentleman was dying from cancer. He asked us to please take her and find a home for her. We drove 2.5 hours to get her. She was such gentle dog. She rode excellent all the way home in the van. Sheba was only with us though for a few months. She came to us somewhat neglected. We gave her a good bath, good, food, and even took her for vet exams right away. They said she was fine, but in a few months time she started having digestion problems. We took her back in and they discovered she had a large tumor in her spleen. Their suggestion was to remove the spleen. She came through the surgery fine and they sent her home. The following day Sheba died in our arms in our bedroom. We later were told that it had been an aggressive cancer and that she would not have lived long. We were so heartbroken. We buried her beside the raised flower bed in the backyard. It was right before Christmas and my husband with the help of my young nephew helped dig her grave. We were so impressed by Sheba that I looked for another white shepherd. This is where our girl Leia came in.

Leia's owner had went in to the hospital, but he ended up dying. He had left her at the dog pound with the intention of picking her back up when he returned home. Since he died she was scheduled to be euthanized. A German shepherd rescue happened to stumble upon her. She was huddled in a corner, terrified, covered in urine. The rescue saved her from destruction. Someone from the rescue group advertised Leia online and I contacted the group about her. We adopted her once we met with her and saw what a lovely dog she was. All this time no one had bothered to check for a microchip. Right after bringing Leia home we got a call asking what we were doing with someone else’s dog. Here Leia, when only a puppy, had been surrendered to a pound for destruction. Her and a sister had been bred but not had any human contact. A lady from a place that trained dogs for the handicapped happened to see them (micro chipped them). She adopted them both and worked with them for months, even nursed them when they both contracted parvo. Luckily both young dogs survived. Leia was even in the prison system working with prisoners to get her used to people. My husband and I drove many miles to meet with the person who had originally trained Leia. She saw how wonderful Leia was being treated and we were allowed to keep her.

These are our family. All are spayed/ neutered, and shots. We have tried very hard to give these wonderful creatures the very best of homes. We love them all and they are all special and unique. If anyone would like to see any pictures please check out:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107552657808137231410/MyPets#
https://picasaweb.google.com/107552657808137231410/Dogs02#

glimmer on little star

2011-07-08T14:39:00.001-04:00

glimmer on little star
that sits within the heavens so dark
sparkle little flame from some distant world
let these eyes see your true colors
through pictures of your gaseous states
changing, imploding, exploding, yet still ornate
smiling back from the night
glimmer on little star
show us your shining light
so fuzzy at times, yet brilliantly bright
your name is often unknown
you are a part of a dot to dot puzzle in the sky
you are born in an instant and after an eternity you die
becoming part of the whole, your rebirth in a soul
mapping the heavens and connecting
drawing many a curious face
to another time and place
a symbol for sure – of God’s wonderful grace

Cats

2011-04-19T12:02:00.002-04:00

green eyes shining like molten glass
the Gods of Egypt protect
wrapped up in mystery, witchcraft, and lore
their lanky bodies reflect
the coy nature of their being
and the subtle rumbling of their purrs
the needle like sharpness of their claws
and the softness of their fur
their inconspicuous existence
tenacious in health
a curiosity that takes over
adding to an almost ghostlike stealth
they have been the companions to queens
great mousers in courts
in barnyards they sleep
and on ships they transport
entombed in the pyramids
made into statues with wings
worshipped and honored
even mummified with kings
green eyes shining like molten glass
cast from a deity's design
sharing our lives, our homes, and our hearts
ours souls and theirs, forever, entwined

For Charlie

2011-04-15T12:07:00.002-04:00

you made this world a better place
by seeing beauty in the smallest things
living in a shack, your wealth was more
than that of millionaires and kings
a leaking roof and pipes that burst
walls so thin, and filled with ice
a broken furnace, no way to warm
but you were more than willing to sacrifice
to give a chance to something frail
that others considered nuisances and pests
To see value where others saw none
Giving so much of yourself to invest
to be willing to watch and to learn from
to find the importance of a warm loving touch
to not be afraid to be different
showing kindness, compassion, and such
to open your heart to wildlife
Especially raccoons with their masks
little bandits that take over your homestead
It isn't that easy of a task
it takes a person who is very special
one with the most generous soul
a person with a great understanding
and it's easy to loose the control
for a man who tires of suffering
watching friends and animals die
who turns inwards for answers and reasons
a man who silently cries
It takes a special sort of bravery
to be different, ridiculed, and more
to not worry about your surroundings
the look of your clothes or decor
so now Charlie, you rest and feel lucky
you've done your share in this life and more
the coons will remember and cherish
the man they so loved and adored!

Richard and Gladis

2011-04-14T15:31:00.003-04:00

the day of terror had begun
Richard and Gladis would soon be faced
by a man, an acquaintance, a would be friend
they would soon find themselves kidnapped and displaced
Evil hides in the hearts of many men
deeds are done in anger and in haste
It simmers and it boils deep inside
and murder feeds the appetite with a bitter taste
Sammy was a man with a great big smile
Signs of arrogance shined within his eyes
Blood stained souls, like his, seem to know no shame
Their truth fashioned from their self made lies
what demons haunt this world so vast
that would find pleasure in such a senseless kill?
the elderly, the weak, pose not a threat
And spreading fear is an empty thrill
Much easier is it to just leave alone
then to sacrifice a life with no regret
to seal your fate with an executioners song
then surrendering, and admitting wrong
From the hills of West Virginia Sam is torn
Justice will prevail in kind
yet Richard and Gladis, disposed of like trash
to a grizzly death they are resigned
left in the cold as the reaper comes
blood soils the ground where the slain couple lay
and Sam is hunted, charged with the crime
in handcuffs he is led away
so who mourns for the innocent dead
how do we keep it from happening again
who stands in judgment over this grizzly act
what verdict of law will remain
Evil hides in the hearts of many men
deeds are done in anger and in haste
It simmers and it boils deep inside
and murder feeds the appetite with a bitter taste

My Opinion, Does Anyone Agree?

2011-04-07T14:59:00.001-04:00

Do you ever question how this country got the way it is? There seems to be an epidemic of stupidity that is destroying the very core of our existence. Every where one looks you can see the signs. Take for example the companies of today. Upper management makes decisions all the time, but you would think that when things fail that they would learn from their mistakes and come up with an alternate plan. Instead they keep right on doing things the same way. It doesn’t matter that the whole situation has destroyed the morale of the lower ranks. Why should they be of any importance? But it does matter. Possibly because it is those people that do the actual work. They toil day to day to keep things going. Like politicians, businessmen and women quite often like to hear themselves talk. They think just because something looks good from the exterior that it is also functional. They can’t see beyond their own egos. To them everyone that works for them is of lower intellect. They believe that these people should check their brains in at the door when they walk into work in the morning. Sad thing is the only thing that separates people from one class to another is the economic status of their wallets.

What is Life

2011-01-20T15:15:00.000-05:00

Laughter, love, pain, and blunders
What is life, but full of wonder?
Hugs and kisses, touching, holding
Hitting, fighting, constant scolding
Parents, children, all the others
Cousins, friends, sisters, brothers
Interacting, living, learning
Emotions, feelings, always churning
Laughter, love, pain, and blunders
What is life, but full of wonder?

How Poverty Hurts

2011-01-20T15:10:00.002-05:00

I often wonder if anyone else
Feels the way I do
Always dreaming and thinking about things
Not knowing how to feel
Like an onlooker, watching
Seeing how the scene plays out
Maybe it is because I don’t know how
To be a part, to join in
Or maybe I am set apart, different
Either way and for whatever reason
There are times when I am lost
Misdirected by not understanding
Why we are on this Earth
So much suffering and anguish
So many fighting to hang on
Most do not seem to notice
How many tears are cried
How many lives seem broken
I seem to feel it all…the sadness, the loneliness, the hurting….
Everyone else’s pain becomes mine and it aches with a longing
A need to understand how this could happen
My soul becomes a conduit of emotion
It trickles through my being and with each second
The serrated edge of poverty’s knife is rubbed against my raw flesh
And I feel…more than any human ever should

God's Visit

2011-01-20T15:04:00.003-05:00

Many centuries and generations have passed since the God of Abraham walked among his people, so the Lord wondered “what has changed on the Earth that I created for my children?” I left them my laws to follow and the free will to choose between right and wrong. I gave them the opportunity to learn from mistakes and the courage to go on. I gave them freedom from their sins, a clean slate, and the chance to be like me. Full of greatness, love, and compassion, immortal beings… “I shall walk amongst my human souls and see what they see, feel what they feel, experience what lessons they have learned and taught.”

Looking for a lesson in compassion and attentiveness - as a homeless man God secretly came into existence. In tattered clothes he roamed the city streets. He spoke to strangers about “his father in Heaven.” He talked of miracles and of angels, but the police tagged him as crazy or schizophrenic. No one wanted to hear. The wealthy passed by and spat on him. He was soon robbed and left injured in the street. What was the lesson learned?

For enlightenment in kindness - he then tried appearing as a beautiful white dove, a symbol of peace, joy, and love, but a nearby farmer-hunter shot him in mid flight, just because he was bored and he called it “sport.” The dove fell to the field -laying in the grass, heart racing, and eyes rapidly moving, as the life slowly drained away. A frail limp, feathered body lying all alone and frightened. God’s spirit returned to Heaven. What was the lesson taught?

For an education in humility and purity God appeared to man in the image of Jesus Christ, but he used an Islamic name. Traveling through the Deep South, as a stranger, from the Middle East, his skin was not white, his language not English - the Klan, with ghostly sheets covering their faces, branded him a terrorist and hung him on a makeshift gallows. What was the lesson learned?

He tried transforming into a child, thinking that the innocent and pure of heart would bring out only the best in man, but his earthly parents were too busy for him. He was left alone to be a latch key kid and he found at the hands of a pedophile he was violated, raped, and abused. What was the knowledge gained?

Seeking an insight in respect he appeared as an elderly woman, but because she was old and frail, with dementia, she was placed in a nursing home, and later died of loneliness and neglect. He thought maybe this was an isolated case so he reappeared at a Native American elder. He thought surely I will learn of traditions and rites of passage, but the Reservation youth, having been forced into white man schools, had lost all knowledge of their ancestry and religion and had turned to alcohol as an escape. God was disillusioned.

He contemplated what form to take on next. The idea of man’s best friend came to mind so he changed himself into a dog. He thought surely I will see true love, companionship, and loyalty. At first he was accepted, well fed, and lots of love, but then his owner became bored with him. He was too costly to feed and to doctor. He was pesky when he wanted love. The dog’s owner considered trading him for a new cell phone or a game console, but instead he sold him at auction to the highest bidder. With a spiked chain around his neck, his new owner threw him into a ring, and because he refused to fight, he was beaten and killed.

What kind of education in humanity did God walk away with? Were the tears of the father one’s of pride and joy, or were they tears of sadness, seeing what Christ had died for?

Grandma

2010-11-10T13:59:00.001-05:00

She went through life quietly watching from a distance
Like viewing a play through a looking glass
A kaleidoscope of colors encased her
Hidden in the blooms within the grass
She was like a flower in the springtime
Her tears were like the rain upon the land
And she gathered her memories in belongings
Treasures, like diamonds in the sand.
Some people would say that she was crazy
A hoarder of garbage and such
Yet to her it was a collection of emotions
Recollections to reach out and touch
She was a jewel with her laughing and her smiling
As she would dig for buried treasure to find
Reminiscing for hours with her grandchildren
Nothing less than perfect, sweet, and kind
She was like a flower in the springtime
Her tears were like the rain upon the land
And she gathered her memories in belongings
Treasures, like diamonds in the sand.

For Eileen

2010-10-27T17:55:00.001-04:00

Where has Grandma gone
She seems to have slipped away
Hidden behind smiles
And dreams of yesterday
Poised within her chair
In distant fields she roams
While quietly in the distance
God is calling her back home
Autumn leaves are falling
Just like in the past
Grandma's death is instant proof
That good things never last...

In fields of glory she was laid to rest
A wreath of flowers upon her breasts
No more to breathe this Earthly air
Yet no more pain, no more despair
A violet was she who dared to live
Pure of heart
And so much to give
A quiet soul who watched from afar
Now gone from this world
But giving birth to a star
To shine on forever in the Heavens above
She was a sparkling angel so full of love
She blessed us all with her spirit of light
And her beautiful smile now illuminates our night!

Hurting

2010-10-14T12:32:00.001-04:00

Hurting, aching
Heart is breaking
Eyes of sadness
Tears like rain
Hurting, aching
Heart is breaking
My soul suffering
From all this pain
Seeing visions
Children crying
Poverty and dying
No hope in sight
Politicians lying
Its all a game
To those with riches
Manual labor
Digging ditches
Not so fun without the fame
Hurting, aching
Heart is breaking
Eyes of sadness
Tears like rain
Real people dying
Politicians lying
Nothing left but a bloody stain.

The Crusaders

2010-05-11T11:40:00.003-04:00

we find it difficult to accept those things that make us feel less than what we are

those snide remarks from uncaring people that insults our intelligence

or that breaks our moral code of right and wrong
in a world that sometimes seems so cruel and heartless

we journey down a path that often times is quite lonely

seeming set apart, we carry a large burden on our shoulders

worrying about those who are unable to stand up for themselves

they need someone to carry the cross so that they survive

it is not that they are less deserving or ask to be poor

their palms have just not been greased with the almighty dollar

their hearts are tuned to love instead of selfishness

it is those pure of heart, those that shed the tears for all humanity

they are the saving grace of all the world

their empathy knows the unseen truths and feels for every downtrodden soul

living life in pain and anguish, wearing a false smile upon their face

so as not to show the weakness that would truly be their undoing

Yet having more internal strength than even they actually realize

These are the crusaders

In a world alone and free of spirits

2010-04-08T15:32:00.001-04:00

In a world alone and free of spirits

The wind howls and ghostlike images emerge

As the moon rises and the stars set

The rivers are tranquil - at a standstill

Silence breaks with eerie unknown whispers

Past lives surfacing, faces familiar, yet unknown

Remnants of forgotten times

Misplaced loyalties, lives out of order

A sword in hand

A spear, a bow

Defending life and limb

Then passing onwards in time

Lost in the eons

Adrift in space,

There is only non lineal motion

Never going back

Not moving forward

Never truly living

Never dying

Yet crossing over

Passing through

Shifting like sand in a sifter

Filling an egg timer

And then it is turned over

And it all begins again

The sand is trapped,

Caught inside the hourglass

Suspended forever

He Who Is God

2010-02-05T12:45:00.003-05:00

In His hands he holds the World
His breath is the warm summer breeze
His wrath the winter cold unleashed
Shown as ice upon His trees
When He cries it rains profusely
And when he smiles the Sun - it shines
And arched across the sky, is a rainbow
His covenant, His sign
He is in everything and in everyone
You only need to look, listen, and to believe
If you open up your mind and heart he will come
Your soul's salvation to receive
Your spirit will become a temple and his grace shall cleanse you
His relationship with you is built on a foundation of trust
To Him we owe our very existence
He made us all from Earthen dust
We are His people, designed in His image
It is Faith that sets the mold
Left up to us to learn His laws
His standards to uphold
We can succeed him or be wiped from being
All in the blink of an eye
It is our choice, free will that He gave us
To live eternal or to sadly die
The path is clear
easy, is the right way to choose
Yet millions deny him and turn away
They are imbeciles and fools
For material wealth they offer up eternity
Trading their heritage for silver and gold
Going through life alone and lost
Never a part of His chosen Fold

He stands upon the mountain

2010-01-11T14:58:00.001-05:00

He stands upon the mountain

Towards the precipice

Peering out upon the valleys and the tree lined forests

A hawk flies low overhead and in the stream below he spies a beaver

Building a dam…

This beautiful countryside

Seemingly untouched by man

Nature at it’s best

A small corner of a world that seems lost

The wolf howls in the distance and the elk run

The sunshine is at its peak

A gorgeous summer day

In the distance nothing is heard but rushing water

And a crow calling for a mate

And if you listen very close you can hear the flapping of small hummingbird wings

Soft and soothing like the angels themselves

If only it could remain

Sacred to all and protected

A place to go when life seems cruel and unjust

But soon it too will be overtaken, marred by the reality

That man destroys that which they don’t understand

Those things that they should admire

That should amaze them ….

When will we learn? When shall we finally see?

When shall the truth replace the lie?

Have You Forgot About Me?

2009-01-15T08:18:00.001-05:00

The temperature outside is dropping
Below freezing and going down
And my body is frigid and constantly cold
As I lay upon the ice hard ground
I shiver and I shake uncontrollably
All my muscles and organs ache
I try to sleep and to face the pain
But not sure how much more I can take...
Around my neck is a constant weight
And a gash from where the chain has dug deep
And even though I can show no tears
My canine heart, still does weep
Does anyone notice? Does anyone care?
I spend my life alone and scared
Summer has passed and winter is here
Why couldn't you have been prepared?
You took the time to mow the lawn
You pruned and cut your trees
You waxed and polished your fancy new car
Yet never once thought about me
We used to be such good friends
We would play ball and go to the park
At night I would snuggle at the foot of your bed
And keep you from fearing the dark
You have forgotten the loyalty, the unconditional love
Those things I so freely gave
And all I have now is an empty wood box
And a kick when I misbehave
I get fed cheap generic food
My life, it lacks so much
Oh, what I would unselfishly give
For only a warm human's touch
But for now I'll lay here and try to dream
And maybe if God hears my cries
He'll take me now to live with him
And I will find happiness after I die!

What is your answer?

2008-11-20T10:59:00.002-05:00

A question is posed
in a stranger's face
what if we had been born
into another race?
What if we had existed in another land
where hunger and disease had reigned
would we still be who we are and still believe
would our faith remain ?
replacing dreams, hopes, desires
with hollowed cheeks and ribs that showed
empty eyes, alone and scared
would the love of God erode?
where aids, TB, and lack of food
replaced security and good health
where famine, war, and genocide
replaced American wealth
from the Congo and Mambai
from the streets of New York and LA
To Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Would we still kneel down to pray?
Yes, a question is posed
in a stranger's face
what if we had been born
into another race
if we had existed in another land
where hunger and disease had reigned
would be able to bear that cross
To trust through all the pain?

Birth

2008-11-08T18:06:00.003-05:00

Life begins so simple
From an egg and sperm, we are transformed
Tiny brains and hearts of infinite wisdom
Human existence, a miracle performed
Little hands early grasping
A small thumb to suck and hold
Sometime angrily kicking and gouging
An unborn's way to reach out and scold
Warm within the mother's womb resting
The umbilical, the lifeline attached
A soul within a soul silently forming
Soon to deliver, to detach
A separate being yet a close copy
Of two entities a special part
Joined by blood and ancestral history
This is how we, as humans start!

Greatness

2008-10-17T14:00:00.004-04:00

There were great men of the Bible
Ones that God hand picked
To set the example for the human race
Angelic to depict
They got their start with Adam
With Eden, God did entrust
Later sinned, fell from grace
First man, made of dust
Later along came Noah
He would build an ark and fill it 2 by 2
His sons and daughters would build a nation
To populate the world anew
Peter, he was a fisherman
He left his trade to follow
He would know the Lord
Without Christ his heart had been hollow
He would become one of 12 disciples
To later walk in faith upon the sea
Tested by the crucifixion
He would deny his Lord by 3
There was David who had slain Goliath
A giant 5 times his size with arms of steel
With a slingshot and a stone in grasping
In his hand the rock concealed
Goliath fell and set that historical moment
David later would reign as King
From a shepherd boy and flocks in following
Israel out of bondage he would bring
There was Jonah who was swallowed
Faith and courage made that tale
Jonah alive and still well protected
Deep inside the belly of a whale
And Daniel thrown into the Lion’s den
For refusing to not ask and not pray
King Darius had decreed this ruling
Even to his own dismay
But Daniel lived to tell the story
He never doubted his Master’s love
It took a boy to teach the world a lesson
The simple sanctity of the Dove!
There were great men of the Bible
As ancient prophets would predict
Stories of miracles and of healings
That even the modern world can't contradict!

Poetry

2008-10-16T15:29:00.000-04:00

Another year has come and gone
You have added more gray hair
A wrinkle here and a mole or two
You move to the mirror for a stare
Yet the eyes, they are still the same
They sparkle and they gleam
And in your walk is still a skip
The pressure behind your steam
Your smile has grown
And it tends to catch
Passersby's that see it shine
And they smile back and even wink
Following your line
All in all you're still the same
Even though you are gaining age
And in the lines upon your face
Life is written like a page
Throughout our lives we all become
Like a character in a book
But with your laughter, love, and sharing
You can be proud of the path you took!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Birthdays come each and every year
The hands of the clock keep ticking
But to you each day I'll give a rose of red
Sweet flowers to be picking

Time together seems so short
Each day together is a precious gift
At night we stroll under moonlit skies
Our emotions, like the stars, adrift

We explore the world through our hearts
Love guides us down each trail
And that rose a day that I picked for you
Like your beauty never pales!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Dragon Dreams and fairy tales
Castles in the sand
Children imagine all sorts
Those things they understand

Like giants and super heroes
Pet dinosaurs or giraffes
Scary one eyed monsters
Purple elephants that make them laugh

There world is their imagination
It jumps with leaps and bounds
Like a merry go round that's spinning
It keeps their feet up off the ground!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

A laugh, a hug, a touch of kind
Warm thoughts and words abound
Sweet songs of love and happy things
Like a blanket to surround
A whisper and a promise
Undying faith in God
A prayer, a poem, a special gift
A wink, a grin, a nod
Such things are joyful in many ways
They brighten up our way
They turn a frown upside down
Making it a Special day!

-----------------------------------------------------------

They say that dogs are man's best friend
I have often wondered why
Until I watched a dear friend's pet
After the day he died.
The dog refused to eat or drink
He slept on top of his master's clothes
He twitched as he lay dreaming
Of balls that he'd been thrown
When he awoke, he wined and barked
He seem to not be alone
He then when out to "their" special tree
Under which was buried his favorite bone
He jumped on "air" and chased imaginary things
And looking towards the sky
He cocked his head hearing his master's voice
And then lay down to die.
They say that dogs are man's best friend
Now I never question why
For their loyalty and endearing love
Doesn't allow them to say "goodbye."

Babies

2008-10-15T08:30:00.000-04:00

2008-10-13T14:09:00.000-04:00

I come from very humble parents. My father who was an auto mechanic; a man who was self taught by hard work; not an overly religious man, but an honest one, who lived his life by a code of unbreakable ethics. He was a person who often did hundreds of dollars worth of mechanic work for 10 or 20 dollars; his explanation being that “people just couldn’t afford all those high bills that the fancy garages charge.” He cared about people and even though there were some who took advantage, my father never lost faith in the basic goodness of people. He was quick to temper though, with a great impatience for politicians who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth, who he believed showed little concern for the working class and poor. My mother, a very kind person, but who suffered from schizophrenia and later succumbed to lymphoma cancer. I recall the day she found out the diagnosis and came to tell me. She said “I want to so much to live.” I wept deep inside because I knew she would neither receive the very best care, nor the latest treatments. My parents had no money, no health insurance, and no property worth selling to pay for it. When she died the medical bills were in the thousands. The ironic thing was that my dad worked for years paying for health insurance that he never used. Then when he needed it, it was too expensive for him to be able to afford it. I remember as my mother lay in bed almost ready to leave this world. The phone rang in the mobile home where her and my father lived. It was the hospital’s bill collectors. I told them politely with a shaking voice that “it wasn’t the time,’ but they wouldn’t listen. They were rude and indifferent, lacking any compassion. Mom gasped in the background as the person on the phone continued to tell me “it is the right time.” I hung up the phone on them. What was I supposed to do? Mom was in the next room and so was my father. I couldn’t bear for them to hear. Minutes after that call my mom died. She didn’t go quietly. She screamed and gasped for air, she begged for Jesus to help her……and then she was gone. Six months later dad died of a heart attack.

All through our years of growing up I often wonder what would have happened to us if we wouldn’t have had the extended family structure of grandparents, aunts, and uncles. It makes one think – what becomes of those children that have no other family. These are the later adults that fill our death row cell blocks and our maximum security correctional facilities. They are the ones who fall through the cracks. It becomes easier to use lethal injection to silence them than to try and change the way things are. We have become a disposable society, not just with household items, but with individuals; those who are too weak or too poor to speak up for themselves; or those who might take a little more time to “fix” we simply “throw away.”

Children need to be taught compassion and kindness and as adults we need to lead by example. Today in America there is a growing arrogance. One that perpetuates the belief that everything we do is right and sanctioned by God. I find it hard to believe that God would have ever sanctioned racism (all races, not just black vs. white), economical inequality, war, genocide, poverty, etc… We condemn other countries for committing genocide yet in our own history of the early 1800’s we were the illegal immigrants in this country. We came in to North America from abroad and forced the Native Americans west. Hitler actually patterned his Nazi movement after the American Government’s removal of the 5 civilized tribes. He praised them for their creativity in handling the “Indian problem.” It is a history we tend not to teach, but over 14,000 people were taken at gunpoint and marched west and over 4000 died. Then we took their land and called it our own. So who are we, as a nation, to judge? Our own president Andrew Jackson at that time defied the U.S. Supreme Court and removed the Indians.

When we look at the health issue many denounce a Nationalized Healthcare system. Now being married to an Englishman I have heard opinions on both systems – American and the U.K.’s. I tend to believe that if a country that is as old as Great Britain has found a system that works better than ours (although it does have some of its own faults) why shouldn’t we take their health care system pattern and model it for the U.S.? If the countries of this world would work together to find the best solutions for all I think this world would have a lot better future. We are a young nation and the young tend to think they are always right and they oftentimes fail at things because of their own pride. A nation’s youth is really no different than a person’s youth – you learn from your elders. You find what works and what doesn’t work. You follow others examples. It doesn’t make you a communist, socialist, democrat, republican, etc…It is just learning from mistakes of the past. It is being smart.

It is my belief that we all come into this world (or we should) with the same rights. If a baby were born in Somalia instead of the U.S. does it make that child any less important? It shouldn’t. We yell about illegal immigration, but yet do we really have the right to stand and say “you can’t live here because you didn’t enter these states legally?” if the Native Americans would have believed that we would not be here today. That being said the past is done and we can not undo those wrongs, however we can work together to insure that history does not repeat itself. We can look at our problems together with an open mind and an open heart. We can embrace the diversity of our nation and find a middle ground. It only takes putting pride and arrogance aside. We need to start caring about one another, work to eliminate the poverty, and the rest will take care of itself.

Poverty causes crime, war, disease, etc……. take it out of the picture and enters the strength to build a world that our descendants will be proud of. Restore the teachings of kindness in our schools and ethics. This country needs leadership that truly cares instead of men and women who are so far removed from the common man’s needs that they can not even comprehend what the average American wants. There is a verse in the Bible that says it better. “It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven.” The classes continue to get further and further apart. We need to unite in a common cause (and not a war) that we all as human beings can be a part of. Every person comes into this world with nothing and when we die we take nothing of this world with us, so why do we tend to focus so much or the material things? A question we all must ask? I don’t think we will ever fall to a foreign government or to terrorism or to war: I think the sad thing is that eventually America will destroy herself if we do not change the way we lead the world. You can not expect a child to only learn the good from his parents. Whatever example is shown is what the child will follow. The same is true for a nation. If we set the example of a nation ruled by only the wealthy, who don’t care about the impoverished, the sick, who act holier than now, materialistic, who are argumentive (congress), etc….what message does it send?

2008-04-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

There are mysteries within the minds of men

Things that most can not comprehend

Shadows casts from molten sand

Make up the layers of what is man

Deep secrets hidden and buried lore

Demons that lurk, below the shores

Images of stars that share the light

They surface in madness and walk the night

All in glory like heroes that fall

They subdue themselves

Behind a great wall

Lurking and waiting for the visitor's bell

Walking the line between heaven and hell

Passion Consumes Like Fire

2007-05-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

Who's Who In America?

2007-05-11T14:16:00.000-04:00

Read the story and see if you can identify the characters..............
A country is invaded by Newcomers. Many would call them “illegal immigrants.” These incoming people seem arrogant and pushy. In reality they have just come for a better life for themselves and their children. They make no attempt to learn the native language. They start using up the natural resources of the new land they have come to. The country’s native inhabitants are soon in the way of progress– they are herded together in “concentration camps” and forced off their lands. Many are taken at gunpoint in the middle of the night. Their homes, businesses, churches, schools, are later destroyed. Nothing must remain. The NEW way is a BETTER way – a MORE CIVILIZED way! These oppressed are made to make a forced march, traveling thousands of miles, in the dead of winter snow. The newcomers want them out of the way, hidden from view. Many do not have proper shoes or clothing. Many are elderly, sick, or children. They walk barefoot through the mountains; some drown in the raging rivers, some die of a broken heart and spirit. Some of the “savages” stop to pray to God. They are a strong, proud people and highly religious. Their lives have been filled with a peaceful coexistence with nature. Their history and culture has been rich in national treasures. They are given very little food, even later given blankets infected with disease. Over 4000 people die in one group alone. After they reach the area that the “new regime” says they can live – their children are forced into “special schools.” They are taught to forget who they are, where they come from, they are assimilated into the NEW culture. They have been raped of their humanity, lied to, cheated, forced to beg for everything that once was theirs.

After reading this……………………….who are the oppressors and who are the victims?

Who's Who In America?

2007-05-11T14:12:00.000-04:00

A country is invaded by Newcomers. Many would call them “illegal immigrants.” These incoming people seem arrogant and pushy. In reality they have just come for a better life for themselves and their children. They make no attempt to learn the native language. They start using up the natural resources of the new land they have come to. The country’s native inhabitants are soon in the way of progress– they are herded together in “concentration camps” and forced off their lands. Many are taken at gunpoint in the middle of the night. Their homes, businesses, churches, schools, are later destroyed. Nothing must remain. The NEW way is a BETTER way – a MORE CIVILIZED way! These oppressed are made to make a forced march, traveling thousands of miles, in the dead of winter snow. The newcomers want them out of the way, hidden from view. Many do not have proper shoes or clothing. Many are elderly, sick, or children. They walk barefoot through the mountains; some drown in the raging rivers, some die of a broken heart and spirit. Some of the “savages” stop to pray to God. They are a strong, proud people and highly religious. Their lives have been filled with a peaceful coexistence with nature. Their history and culture has been rich in national treasures. They are given very little food, even later given blankets infected with disease. Over 4000 people die in one group alone. After they reach the area that the “new regime” says they can live – their children are forced into “special schools.” They are taught to forget who they are, where they come from, they are assimilated into the NEW culture. They have been raped of their humanity, lied to, cheated, forced to beg for everything that once was theirs.

After reading this……………………….who are the oppressors and who are the victims?

Recollections of Bible School

2007-04-30T13:39:00.000-04:00

I have many memories of summers spent attending bible school. It was always a fun time. One I used to enjoy sharing with my friends and also a time for making new friendships! There was daily singing, studying bible lessons, children's church games, making crafts, and times of silent prayer. Bible school is a great platform to teach kids basic moral lessons and values. Ones that often times are not taught in the home. Through lessons, stories, and games children learn coping skills, social skills, and there are buried ethical teachings in everything. I recall one of the older ladies from the church who told wonderful stories using visual aids, Christian hand puppets, felt, and drawings. She had a wonderful voice. One story in particular was about two birds. One that built her nest out of stick and strong materials and the other that built hers using soft tissues that she found. The story goes on to tell how it rains and the nest made of the “prettier and softer” materials fell apart, but the one with the strong foundation withstood. The lesson: teaches you to base your life on the strong foundation of Faith and God. Not to be swayed by material things that may be pleasing to the eye, but rather build upon strong values and a belief system that will support you in times of trial. As a child I was always happy to see how many children enjoyed attending the summer bible schools. A lot of times the kids that attended were the ones that normally never got the opportunity to attend church or any organized gatherings. They would jump at the chance to get the individualized attention that the teachers gave. This special attention paid off, because their minds and hearts were opened, many learned various valuable lessons during that short week. The children, me included, were like sponges – eagerly soaking in everything! Most of the local churches supplied transportation to and from the church and some denominations had snacks. At the end of the week it was commonplace to have a group picnic at a local park. Crafts usually consisted of wooden crafts, painting plaster of paris plaques, or constructing paper projects. Stories covered many parts of the bible -times of Noah and the ark, Jonah and the whale, Joseph and his coat of many colors, Daniel in the lion's den, David and Goliath, etc… Each story was compared to every day life scenarios and each taught a valuable moral lesson. It’s sad to think there are a lot of children that have never attended a Bible school or Sunday school. Some have never even heard of or seen a Bible. Many children are looking for something to follow, someone to lead them. They receive mixed messages about mixing church and state. Personally, I believe every child deserves to be a child. They should be allowed to learn and to see God in their own way. There is a difference between teaching verses preaching. Religious education should be offered to children along with Math, English, History, etc…. As a child I don’t recall any bad ever coming out of learning about the love of Jesus Christ. If anything, it left those kids that came from broken homes or dysfunctional families feel like they weren’t alone. It gave them hope, faith, and love – if only for a week, each summer……………………………

A Blood Sport – Legacy for Our Children?

2007-04-30T11:09:00.000-04:00

In all of 60 seconds
The deed is quickly done
And there is no going back
Once the bullet leaves the gun
There is no magic moment
No trophy for the feat
There are no starving children
That hunger for the meat
But there is a gloating hunter
That boasts of his great kill
That takes the head for his wall
That shoots just for the thrill
Someone who finds enjoyment
Out of taking an innocent life
One who skins an animal for its fur
And guts it with their knife
Then brags about their aim and skill
And all the work that they have done
They polish and they clean
All their precious bows and guns
Yet little do they realize
They have murdered or sometimes maimed
Whether human prey or an animal
The dying is the same
The breathe it slows and an emptiness
Slowly takes control
The fear, the panic, and the pain
The losing of the soul
So how can someone claim no wrong?
And be proud for what they did?
How can they condone the slaughter?
And teach it to their kids?

Reality

2007-04-25T07:50:00.001-04:00

There is a pain deep inside of me
An aching and a longing to be free
From this thing they call humanity
My eyes see another place
And I view it from behind another face
Peering without leaving a trace
And seeing a world that is scarred
My heart is wounded deep inside
My soul it weeps and it cries
The agony too much for me to bear
Trying to deny that it is there
Only sighs of anquish do I hear
As my spirit reaks with anger and with fear
That I will lose the sanity I claim
And never again be the same

My Life

2007-04-20T15:01:00.001-04:00

I sit and stare into the water of the lake
The bottom is muddy and it makes it hard to see
Yet my reflection is there
As I drop a pebble into the image
The ripples they roll outwards
Like moments in time
Temporal fluctuations that meld my image with another
My life flows like the ripples
Controlled by ebbs and tides
Dimensions blending into one

The Well of My Heart

2007-04-20T12:06:00.000-04:00

My heart is often silenced by its own emotions
It is trapped like a child that has fallen into a well
My poetry is like fiber used to weave a rope ladder
The words become the rungs that allow me to be rescued

A Fine Line That We All Walk

2007-04-19T12:17:00.000-04:00

We have all seen in the news headlines information on the Virginia Tech Campus shootings and Cho Seung-Hui, the young Korean man who was responsible. The whole incident unnerves me greatly. I personally abhor violence of any kind. I can not even fathom how anyone could take another life, but I can’t help but feel that society failed Cho Seung-Hui over and over again. Many people would think that compassion for this sort of person is unimaginable and wrong, but by the nature of his acts we should realize the boy was mentally ill. No sane person would carry out such horrific acts of violence. By his own history he showed signs of needing help, yet those signs were ignored. The old argument that people need to seek help before getting it is just an excuse. Let’s face it if someone is “mentally ill” how could they be capable of seeking help? I can’t help but think of my own life. My mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia back in the 70’s. A young woman, average intelligence, daughter of average parents, etc….who in her late teens, early twenties started to slowing slip away into a world of distorted perceptions and delusions. There were times when she thought television characters were speaking to her, times when she burnt photographs of loved ones, took scissors to new clothes cutting them in pieces, and even a time when she put a gun to her father’s head. There were hours of endless tears, moments of extreme anger, and like a rollercoaster we held on and went along for the ride. As children you don’t understand what's happening, but you love your parents and pray for the nightmare to end. All in all society did NOTHING to help or to intervene. The signs were always there and people just looked the other way. Most to this day never new there was a problem. Oh, I recall church folks coming to our home and telling mom if she “got right with God” everything would be better. It didn’t. I even remember missing 30+ days of school because I didn’t want to leave mom alone, but neither the teachers, nor the school authorities ever questioned why and never checked to see if there was a problem. The only way she ever got help was through her family, and through them, only because she was made by a judge to get help. To make a long story short – mom did get help. She was never told the diagnosis. The family was told it was schizophrenia. One of the worse cases they had seen and that she would have to stay on anti-psychotic drugs for the rest of her life. My mom died in January of 2000 of lymphoma cancer. She lived on the drug stelazine for over 30+ years, which her family doctor dispensed prescriptions for. Over the last 25+ no one of the medical industry ever followed up with her concerning the schizophrenia and in all that time she was never reevaluated. Once a medical doctor even took her off the medicine saying she was too nice a lady to need a drug such as that. It was only a matter of days when he came back to the family and apologized. Mom had just had her gallbladder out and it didn't take long after taking the stelazine away that the hospital saw an entirely different person. Over the years there were many times that she went off her medicine and the psychosis quickly returned. Family members would try diligently to get her back on it and eventually it worked and life would return to normal. Now my concern is what if mom never had gotten help? What if we had not been there? Would she or could she have become another Cho Seung-Hui? Of course, she could have. So what happens to those people who develop mental illness and receive no help? Everyone should know. They live out their lives in loneliness and isolation, end up on our streets, or help to populate our prisons. These poor tortured souls, who NEVER asked for this to happen to them, are told by politicians and others that “they are responsible for their actions.” If they commit a violent crime then we should get them sane long enough to stand trial, then sentence them to death. Execute them, so we don’t have to admit that some people are born with defects, illnesses, brains that malfunction….it’s no one’s fault, there is no blame, but there definitely is a stigma that is put on these folks. Funny thing is, my mom NEVER remembered any of her psychotic episodes. Our society needs to be more compassionate. We need to recognize the Cho Seung-Hui’s before the tragedy happens. Stop looking for why he did it and just understand that “within irrational acts there is no rationalism.” Within insanity there is no sanity. You can not change the fact that many people are destroyed by violent acts committed by mentally ill people, but as a society we can become a kinder, gentler people. We can reach out to those who seem disturbed, different, or isolated. We can help those who are NOT able to help themselves. We can be loving instead of judgmental It isn't always easy, but what helps is by knowing that there is a fine line that we all as humans walk. Anyone can slip on to the other side. Anyone could become a Cho Seung-Hui.

Cho Seung-Hui

2007-04-17T14:48:00.000-04:00

It was at the Polytechnic Campus
A respected Virginia University
Where an English major senior
Was to graduate in perversity
On an early April morning - gunfire echoed through Norris Hall
And students screamed and ran for shelter
Before their final fall
The gunman stood in total silence
Like a programmed robot without heart
Shooting down the children
Playing out his soulless part
Innocence turned pure evil
He became a devil now possessed
His aim seemed not to miss a one
With death he was obsessed
After 30 or more lay lifeless and bloody
Before it ended more would be dead
And Cho Seung-Hui 's rage would destroy him
And the terror it would spread
And now the news displays this so called "monster"
He was just a boy when all is said and done
A student who liked playing basketball
Someone else's darling son
How could someone so very young
Be filled with so much hate?
How could rage take control?
And condemn him to this fate?
All of our society needs to question
To search until we find a cure
For why these lives have turned from hope and love
Their hearts no longer pure

When You Die

2007-04-13T13:48:00.000-04:00

What region of space shall I find you?
Locked away in a world of despair
Where dreams are reversed in dimensions
And poison gasses flow through the air
In a nebula, floating, full of colors
Hydrogen that ignites and explodes with time
Expanding and compressing in rhythm
Like fireworks laid out in a line
It is there that you shall awaken
When you rise from your sleeping cot
When your soul releases long buried passion
And the truth is revealed in your thoughts
The stars, they will sparkle like diamonds
In amongst a backdrop of black
And the design of God’s artistry will entangle
What the human imagination seems to lack
It’s a quadrant of space like no other
Invisible wonders catch hold of your breathe
And one sees with his heart, not his eyes
The moment when life touches death
What region of space shall I find you?
When your spirit turns like the air
Where dreams are relived in suspension
And no where else in the universe compares!

Is War Worth the Price?

2007-04-09T17:22:00.000-04:00

To a distant war a young boy travels
On drilled, scarred, soil he shall stand
To honor the right of Iraqi freedom
To defend this O.P.E.C. land
But the weapon he carries seems so heavy
It seems its' weight is like a cross
A burden to be daily carried
For a country and cause that seems mostly lost
Yet in each battle he still marches
Never questioning, following orders as he goes
To but kiss the face of death
As the winds of change shall blow
And before his term of service has finally ended
Piles of bloody corpses shall lay cold
And the boy, now a man, who crossed the ocean
Sees all life and how it's been spoiled
And to his fight he sees no moral reason
Other than for greed of oil in this foreign place
And his heart will forever bear the scars of killing
And his own death he shall now embrace

Note: A brief history lesson - For anyone who does not know what O.P.E.C. stands for.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a permanent, intergovernmental Organization, created at the Baghdad Conference on September 10–14, 1960, by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. The five Founding Members were later joined by nine other Members: Qatar (1961); Indonesia (1962); Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (1962); United Arab Emirates (1967); Algeria (1969); Nigeria (1971); Ecuador (1973–1992); Gabon (1975–1994) and Angola (2007). OPEC had its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first five years of its existence. This was moved to Vienna, Austria, on September 1, 1965.

Dreams

2007-04-08T21:07:00.000-04:00

Within the mighty thunder
Crashes down the bolts of light
And the stars in heaven shudder
As they illuminate the night
Like a match, striking, burning
Passion, a flame out of control
But love becomes a diamond
From this smoldering lump of coal
And our souls are but pure energy
Intermingling without form
And our spirits portal weightless
Riding out the endless storms

Victoria's Demise

2007-04-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

What makes the soul of any one
Turn to evil on a whim
And what steers them down that road to hell
And makes their hearts to sin?
To take a life through theft and stealth
To murder and defame
To rape and pillage someone's self and home
In search of wealth or fame...
What pleasure is it that blood does give
That taste of bitter lust?
Which makes the average man revolt
And fills us with disgust?
Could it be that some have turned
Their face from God and home
And life for some is an empty shell
Spent in pain and all alone?
And that faith is something foreign
That these now evil spirits do not know
And that their lives are just a catalysis
A place for hate to grow?
For in this modern world one finds
That many things have changed
And emotions that once were unacceptable
No longer seem so strange
Entertainment is filled with violence
Email and news sends many signs
And children see no difference
Although it's out of line
And each day the world seems lessened
In knowing what is right
In yet we sit and question
Those mercenaries of the night!

This poem was written in response to what happened over Easter weekend 2007 in a small rural community. An 84 year old woman was brutally raped and murdered, abducted from her own home when she surprised a burgler.

Statement of Faith

2007-04-03T14:27:00.000-04:00

As a little girl I went to church. It was there at church that I learned Bible stories and memorized Bible verses. We had Sunday school in the morning before services, a class based on age in the evening, and during summers there were Bible Schools. But although I learned about the Bible during these times, I learned to know God through other means. As the daughter of a schizophrenic mother and a father with a hot temper, there were many times my life was seemingly turned upside down. Times that for a child were very devastating, but through it all I recall a friend who was always there. Now some people might think this friend was just a child’s imaginary playmate, not real, because no one could see him or touch him. Yet I have always known otherwise and never once I have I ever doubted the existence of God. At night, as I would lay in my bed alone and crying I would pray to him. In fields he walked beside me, as I searched for Indian arrowheads on the ground, and as I would sit alongside the Stillwater River, I would speak to him. I could have been born anywhere on this planet, could have been left on the streets alone to fend for myself, could have been handicapped, or maybe I could have been starving in a distant land like Ethiopia, but I wasn’t – and that tells me that I had someone watching over me, someone who cared enough about me to put me in the life I now have. My life wasn’t always easy. Although I grew up in the 70's we had no indoor plumbing (used what they call a chamber pot), no hot water (washed in basins), hand me down clothes, and there were times when I was petrified that my mom would freak out and do something weird. I always feared my dad would just get fed up and leave us, or that his hot temper would cause him to do something rash, but for everything I went through a lesson was taught. I truly believe that in the end I am stronger for the trials and much more “faithful.” God kept our family together, he taught us humility through poverty, yet we never felt poor. He gave me the empathic ability to see other’s pain and to know that “everyone has their crosses to bear.” Also, no matter how hard you may have it – there is ALWAYS someone else who has it worse. Today, I feel blessed by God’s love and guidance. If I could go back in my own history I would not change a thing. All those experiences made me who I am today. They brought me closer to God. My parents, they are gone now. Mom was lost to lymphoma and six months later we laid dad to rest. They were excellent parents, doing the best they could, with what they knew and what they had. It upsets me to think that people today seem so ungrateful, especially in the wealthier countries. They say they base their government on God and his teachings (Christian, Jew, Moslem, Buddhist, etc…), but I have never known God to teach hatred and war…and it is not the teachings of God to keep taking from the poor in order for the wealthy to get even richer, nor to condemn a person because of the color of their skin,…..I often wonder – if God returned today to this world what would he say? What would he do? Jesus Christ would have been of Middle Eastern decent. He would not have spoke English, nor would his skin have been white. He did not lead a life of the wealthy – he actually threw the moneychangers out of his temple in disgust.

Please let me know your views.....................

Sometimes We Think Love Is Foolish

2007-04-03T07:55:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we think love is foolish,
When in fact we just do not see
That God controls our every move,
It is described as destiny
Life - a journey to be travelled,
Meeting obstacles always along the way
But certain feelings, we find, never leave us,
They are with us every day!
And so we ask him for the reasons,
We wonder and we pray
And inside our hearts we keep remembering
Loving each other more each day!

Through the Eyes of Children

2007-04-03T07:53:00.000-04:00

Through the eyes of children,
Miracles of God are found
And fate, it sometimes leads us,
To hear our own hearts' sound
Sometimes we seem blinded,
By truths that leave us cold
And the future sometimes looks grimmer,
As memories of the past unfold
But then we see the stars,
Set in the little one's eyes
And we see the reason, God's plan,
And how we all must try
To live our lives to his perfection,
To learn that to sacrifice is to fulfil
The grace he has given us,
To live according to his will
Our hearts they find confusion,
In what they sometimes feel
And even things that we love,
We find just can't be real
For each of us, a path is made,
A plan laid out from above
And though it may be a hard one,
It’s sure to lead to love
So we travel life's long journey,
Sometimes we seem alone
But inside us God is guiding,
Bringing each of us back home

Lonely Is the Heart That Awaits

2007-04-03T07:47:00.000-04:00

Lonely is the heart that awaits
Each night for you in her dreams
Aching is the soul, who cannot be whole,
As with the passage of time it bleeds!
Painful is the heart that is broken,
Not by the loss of desire
But by the fact that it is totally consumed,
By loves eternal fire!!!
Empty are the arms that are separated,
That can not touch and hold
Tearful are the eyes that are blinded,
By life leaving them cold
Distant is the mind, who remembers,
The days of shared bliss
And hopeful is the mind that recalls,
All the heartfelt happiness!
Searching is the spirit for undying faith,
Believing that the will can win!
Believing in the love and knowing its right,
Knowing that denying "the soul" is the sin!

I Awoke In a Dream

2007-04-03T07:41:00.000-04:00

I awoke in a dream where the grass was green,
And the skies were a deep dark blue
And all the treasures of this world,
Came to me in you!
I walked with you hand in hand,
Feeling more than I'd ever known
In fertile fields I laid with you,
And the seeds of passion were sown
Your touch, it made my heart,
Sing with a joyous song
Like two sparrows in the wind,
We kissed all night long
The clouds rolled in as we made love,
The desire, it burned so hot!
And deep within our minds and souls,
We were bound together in thought!
We shared a piece of heaven,
There within the night
And somehow crossed, time and space,
By following, loves light!
Miles apart, we both awoke,
And our hearts were strong but why?
Cause somehow,
Dreaming made us connect
Clear across the miles
Our spirits had touched
And joined as one
Proving destiny had, had a hand!
In bringing us together,
In a way we'd understand!

A Thousand Lifetimes

2007-03-27T15:41:00.003-04:00

I have lived a thousand lifetimes
But from behind another face
I have died and risen so many times
Disappeared without a trace
Yet this moment in time is different
Because through the ages I have found
That love is felt the deepest
When you walk on the Earths sweet ground
When you hold your lover in your arms
Touch his flesh with fire
When you open wide your heart and soul
And let loose centuries of desire
'Tis the greatest passion
Pleasure beyond the stars
And through our mortal forms we feel
Knowing our souls are never far
Millenniums spent travelling
Learning all there is to know
And finding the answers so simple
In the words "I love you so!"

Night of Ecstasy

2007-03-27T15:41:00.001-04:00

It was the night I held heaven in my hands
When our two souls collided in desire
And I touched the stars by looking in your eyes
And our passion sparked and caught the world on fire!
And the love between us- it forged a trail
Splitting the whole universe apart
But you left inside of me- a marker- a way
Of finding a lighted path back to your heart
And here on this Earth where we were forced
To say goodbye possibly to never be together again
We found our souls they held fast and discovered a way
The moment that love had began
So our spirits built a bridge
Across time un-separated by space
And always together- our hearts transformed
Time standing still forever in this special place
And there in the night in the mystical realm
Where we meet I ask you to stay and never to part
And you reach out and hold me- souls intertwined
And God eternally joins our hearts!

All In A Day

2007-03-27T15:37:00.000-04:00

A tree stands alone,
In a field of golden grain
Its branches softly blowing
From a warm and gentle rain
And the sun is slowing rising,
There within the east
And the world it awakens,
Both nature and its beasts
The flowers they are stirred,
From the early morning mist
Their petals full of color;
From the sunbeams they are kissed.
And a rainbow in the distance,
Gives to all a sign
That miracles are everywhere,
If one only takes the time
To see the Earth and all its beauty,
Sometimes hidden from the view
But with patience and understanding
You can see all life renewed
Like the tadpoles in the little creek,
The bunnies playing in the brush
Or the deer off grazing a fence line,
The music of a thrush
Or the hawk that sits upon the phone lines
Waiting for a chance
To take a field mouse for a meal,
Sitting, waiting in a trance
The heron that stands in the water
Looking like a stick
A coyote hiding, watching,
In a forest dark and thick
So many wonders in this world,
So many to behold
Too little time to see it all,
To watch it all unfold!

Spring

2007-03-27T10:55:00.001-04:00

Spring will soon be here
Flowers everywhere
Birds singing from the treetops
The smell of lilac in the air

When We Make Love

2007-03-22T10:54:00.000-04:00

My heart splits wide open,
When you come deep inside
To the core of my existence,
Where my inner soul lies
The tears they pour out,
With no visible end
The rise of feelings so intense,
That I can not comprehend
Your spirit becomes liquid,
Running together with mine
A fathomless river,
That has outlived time
It is an awakening,
Of a soul long dead
A recollection and a memory,
Of loving promises once said
Lovers across millenniums,
Finding their way back home
Searching the miraculous heavens,
And discovering God's throne!
The answers to life's journey,
They are all right there
'cause when you feel lonely,
You’ll hear my heartbeat in the air!
Love is the prize,
Life’s carousel's brass ring
It is the reason,
Of why the angels sing
It is the medicine,
That cures the mortal wound
It is the instrument,
That sets life's tune
It is the gold,
At the end of the bow
It is the one thing,
That will make us whole
So when you come to me,
In dreams and in thought
It is prophecy being fulfilled,
Our destiny being brought
It is the path of God's unique plan,
We were once souls split apart
So he brings us back home full circle,
By re-joining our hearts!

Mountain Passion

2007-03-22T10:51:00.001-04:00

Last night I dreamed of the mountains
It was there I stood beneath the stars
And as I looked down upon the valley
I knew your spirit wasn't far
For within my heart I could feel your presence
And I knew you were there with me
And as we walked beside the mountain stream
We set our passion free!
The beauty was all around
And it was plain to see
That part of you somehow reached out
And joined with a part of me
For what I viewed I believe you saw
And what I felt you knew
And my eyes became your window
And my heart a piece of you
Together we dreamed the night away
And we shared the secrets of our souls
And somehow across the miles and time
We helped each other become whole
The mountains were a vision
Of a plan laid out from above
Of a seed that God planted within us
And of a learning of a special love
A bond between two people
That goes beyond this Earth
A rejoining of two souls
Somehow separated at birth
A love so sweet and gentle
None that can compare
Sharing an existence in life
And dreams always to be there!
The mountains are a symbol
They’re solid and their power great!
And the lives of lovers are predestined
Within the hands of fate
We can not stop the passion
We can not stop the dreams!
We can not break the connection
That true love always brings!
So together we become the mountains
We follow the lights of the stars
And no matter the miles between us
Our hearts are never far
They hold on to each other
Theirs is a strong embrace
And when we close our eyes each night
We’ll see each other's face
Our smiles upon the mountains
The wind calling out our names
And always we will somehow connect
And forever feel the same!

My Father

2007-03-22T10:47:00.001-04:00

He was a mechanic by trade
You could tell by the lines
Calluses and cuts on his hands
Were a definite sign
He came into this world
He didn’t require much
But he lived his life hardworking
With honesty integrity and such
Over thirty years of marriage
A man of family and pride
A man never faltering
Never having cried
And then one cold winter day
As I stood with this man so sad
I watched as his world was collapsing
This man- who was my dad
He stood by a bedside
Trying not to feel
Holding back tears and anger
Hoping to conceal
His wife lay there dying
Death close at the door
And two lives so connected
So much love at the core
He reached out and he touched her
Her look was that of fear
Because she didn’t want to leave him
After all of those years
I hugged him so tight
I didn’t know what to say
For that moment in time
I became the parent
And he the child that day
Mom screamed aloud
And I could see dad gasp
And our hands held tighter
In the tightest of clasp
The angel of death
Entered into mom’s eyes
And dad never got a chance
To even say goodbye
The next day him and I
We stood beside her grave
Listening to the message
Of the minister that day
Six months later
We laid dad to rest
Right beside mom
True love at its best
The marker bears their names
Carved deeply in stone
And they remain with me
I am never alone
And at the end
A lesson was taught
Love became the answer
With it- eternity bought
With an angel there watching
Mom taught dad how to cry
And Dad gave mom his strength
The courage to die
God yields each of us a plan
For every thing there is a reason
And as written in the Bible
To every thing a time and a season
Faith will not just move mountains
It plays a far greater part
It binds us to God
And heals every heart!

Seasons of Change

2007-03-22T10:39:00.000-04:00

The fog is thick and you can smell the dampness in the air
It is the average March day, in between winter and spring
Gloominess looms all around by the drab absence of color
Not even the birds dare to sing…
The trees stand empty, they have cast aside there leafy garments
They are barren to the world, exposed for what they really are
Only branches with bark that has gone gray with the winter cold
Their lonely figures are twisted, knotted, and somewhat bizarre.
The grass is yellowish brown with only a touch of green
Muddy patches where the earth has eroded from the scraping of ice
The sky, full of clouds, but white – ghost like silhouettes,
They are the shadows of lost souls, victims of their own demise
Winter is harsh; it shows no mercy in its taking
It smothers life and gives nothing back but cold and death
Yet in time, spring will come, and with it bring
Life renewed, by one quick breathe
The trees will suddenly be adorned with brilliant luminosity
The grass will be a blend of emerald and jade
And the heavens will become as blue as the oceans
The moisture within the clouds forming an almost magical cascade
Wildlife will awaken; a new generation will be born
Life, a gift, for what the barrenness of the last 3 months has stolen
The rivers will rush, making new streams and such
The bees will again gather their pollen
And the sun shall shine with a brightness that is blinding
And at nights one will behold the great northern lights
And if only for a few short moments we will all enjoy
The magic and the miracles of warm summer nights!

The Invasion

2007-03-21T10:59:00.000-04:00

They said they came for a better life,
Religious freedom and more
They landed by many a tall ship
Upon our eastern shores
They were welcomed into our lands
To share in it’s treasure
They were astonished by our civilization
And our simple pleasures
Our people were innovative
They had built roads and schools
Our society had faith in the creator and churches
And the Golden Rule
Our government was representational
Of a people quite proud
Businessmen and farmers
With great wisdom endowed
They looked upon the immigrants
As foreigners from abroad
No less valued but invasive
And somewhat flawed
They were ignorant of our language
Not willing to learn
They spoke and we didn’t understand them
Yet they showed no concern
They seemed greedy and arrogant
Started taking what they needed
Supply and demand
Our lands illegally ceded
Soon more invaders came
Their expansion grew
Their military expanded
Their power accrued
Our people came together in council
Trying to conclude
The dispersing of their nation
And how it was viewed
Our wealth was vast
But there was plenty to share
Yet the immigrants wanted it all
And the tempers they flared
They came into our homes and plantations
In the middle of the night
With guns and bayonets
Ignoring our rights
They herded us like cattle
Man, woman, and child
Forced us behind walls
Like animals gone wild
No food or facilities
Filth on the ground
Watched and guarded
As armies surround
Then forced to march
On a trail of tears
Over 4000 out 15,000 died
In less than 2 years
Elderly and sick
Families marched in chains
Pushed and stoked
Like a wrecked human train
They marched across mountains
And in the dead of winter snow
No shoes on their feet
In the rivers they froze
They later took our children
To their special schools
Taught them their ways
And by their set of rules
Assimilated us into their culture
And from our world we were torn
This is the United States version
Of a genocidal war.
We are the Cherokee Nation
Still honorable and proud
We are those faces
Lost in the crowd
We are the Americans
Those that were here at the start
We watched and we learned
With pain and suffrage in our hearts
For what is now judged
Of others and their laws
Is just a repeat of history
And the fact that it’s flawed
For what is seen by one
As progress and success
Is a quite different story
For those who are oppressed..

"There were ten million Native Americans on this continent when the first non-Indians arrived. Over the next 300 years, 90% of all Native American original population was either wiped out by disease, famine, or warfare imported by the whites."

Perspective

2007-03-21T08:55:00.000-04:00

The rich man pauses at the corner
His eyes blinded by what is there
Homeless, lost, and abandoned
The smell of the stench in the air
He sees not a soul that is hurting
He stands and walks down the street
His mind is focused on his business
Not a single person’s eyes does he meet
His cell phone he holds tight to his ear lobe
Trading stock on Wall Street - his career
Never does he once take a good look
At all the hearts surviving on fear
Of living alone on the streets of New York
No place to call home or use as a bed
No time to dream or to plan ones day
Taking time you could end up dead
The world just seems to keep on spinning
Round and round - it never seems to stop
Like a Merry go Round on a playground
And the chasing of robbers by cops
The rich man continues upon his journey
Stepping over a man on the subway stairs
Little does he know the man is dying
Left to suffer in pain and despair
Visitors they come to the city
To see the big Apple they say
They don’t want to live in the middle
Only want to enjoy the day
They, like the rich man, are sightless
For all they see are the buildings and lights
Little do they know of the horrors
That occurs during big city nights
They go back to their comfortable living
The rich man on to his corporate dreams
And to them the city is nothing less than beautiful
And perfect is all that it seems!

Separation of Class

2007-03-21T08:50:00.000-04:00

How far apart are the classes?
One woman is dressed in a Carmen Marc Vavlois gown
She’s attending a social club dinner party
She flaunts expensive jewelry
As she eats pâté on special imported crackers
Sipping champaign and having escargot
She leaves the party in her private limousine
In another part of the country is a man in his late 40’s
He searches his mobile home for pennies
Hoping to find enough money for a loaf of bread
Of course if he gets enough for bread the only meat he can afford
Is canned cat food. This is his pâté.
He does have some stale cookies he found behind a local grocery store
They throw them out when the expiration date has passed
However if you are caught you can be arrested.
It is considered theft even though they were in the trash.
These cookies are his imported crackers.
He won’t be drinking champaign and he can’t afford fresh milk.
Since he wasn’t able to pay his water bill he has no water in his home.
He has no car, only the old broken down truck that sits in the backyard. It needs a water pump, but he has no money to get it repaired.
Since he couldn’t get to work, he lost his job. Without the job he has no money.
And the cycle begins……
He walks to a nearby lake and dips his hands in for a drink.
It doesn’t matter that the lake is polluted.
The vintage, 2006, a good year if it weren’t for the unemployment, the health care crisis, the widespread poverty, the rise of violent crime, etc…
So how far apart are the classes?

The Cries of Katrina

2007-03-21T08:42:00.000-04:00

The water grows higher
There is a stench in the air
People dying, lives in ruin
So much despair is there
They lived in poverty
Before the floods
Their houses were simply boxes
Now swept away by rain and mud
Where will they go?
When all is said and done
Who will feed them and cloth them
When the seasons go and come?
New Orleans, once a city of bright lights
The Mardi Gras where vacationers found
Excitement for the summer nights
Now a city under water
Nothing left in its walls to give
The people are dying
Who will continue to live?
Bodies float down the Mississippi
It is a river poisoned with a Cajun fire
Gators swim in the depths of the water
Looking for human food to acquire
And on the rooftops the people wait
Elderly and children alike
Holding on to the hopes that help will come
And praying another hurricane won't strike
And the night comes swiftly in the swamp land
The night is silent except for the cries
And in the hearts and minds of all affected
They wonder who will live and who will die.

To Leave Behind a Friend - Where is the Humanity?

2007-03-21T08:32:00.000-04:00

The disaster, so widespread
In an area already stricken with poverty
An every day thing - doing without
Trying to be a part of the whole, yet wanting sovereignty
Now even pets are lost
Left to die amongst the destroyed remains of the city
As though trash, discarded
Finding no help - no kind of pity
Why is it that people think
That animals are only property for us to own
Put on this earth to be abused or neglected by man?
As we sit upon our self made thrones
They come into our lives offering us love
Companionship - asking for nothing in return
You can scold them, even beat them
And to them your backs turn
Yet they still stay - wanting only
A little sign of love or a kind hand...
Instead we abandon them in the streets
For their undying loyalty they are banned
There in flooded alley ways they are left
To starve, to thirst, and to die
Some use euthanasia to "spare them"
It is a truth disguised with a lie
We only spare ourselves
We are too weak to take a stand
We are too arrogant to even see
The total ignorance of man
Where is the strength to say?
"We either both leave or none at all?"
Where is the honor in fighting for a friend?
Be he human or pet, big or small?
My heart bleeds for those animals
That are alone, lost, and afraid
My eyes shed tears of a deep-felt anguish
For those friends who have been betrayed
It scares me to think that someday
When I am old, frail, poor, and alone
That society may decide to just throw me away
When no longer of use -be euthanized or stoned
And my soul is forever scarred by this undeniable fact
That where as an animal would never abandon those they love
We simply ignore their lives - a sacred gift - and choose to write it off as "less important"
It poses a question: Who are the REAL animals - them or us?

The Poets

2007-03-21T08:31:00.001-04:00

Living on faith
There are no absolutes
Believing in that which you can not touch
Gives us proof
That our existence is more
Than only a tale soon to be forgotten
Feeling like a misfit in a world full of strangers
We are those missing links
That science speaks of

I'll Call Him Jasper

2007-03-21T08:26:00.000-04:00

I looked into your green eyes
I could see you were hurting
Your body was thin and malnourished
Covered with scratches and places that were bear
Your eyes were covered with a secretion
You were obviously blind
Your nose was swollen from multiple infections
You were weak, hardly able to stand
There was a severe burn on your tongue
Impossible to eat without excruciating pain
You were terrified because we were strangers
I picked you up and held you
You were so frail, so sick, and disoriented
Life had been so cruel to you
Left alone, abandoned on the streets
During the winter you had huddled in a cardboard box to stay warm
Your only water, filled a puddle, frozen and dirty
Scraps that were thrown to you were all you ate
There were no fancy meals, no luxury hotels
Even with this - you wanted love
A human touch, a bit of kindness
Tears filled my eyes as I held you
I touched your face, your ears
I knew you were scared
It was probably the only time you had known compassion
I silently recited the 23rd. Psalm as the doctor inserted the needle
He had a hard time finding your heart
I hesitated, thinking maybe there had been a mistake
Then I cried wondering if we had done what was right
Soon your body was lifeless
You had left this place
Hopefully to go somewhere better
The receptionist handed me the bill
To her you were only a stupid animal, just a cat
To me you were a sign
That there is more to life than fame and money
More than fancy cars and expensive toys
A wake up call to look beyond the surface
The world is full of suffering
And an act of mercy from a even a stranger
Makes a difference.

Who Will Lead the Children?

2007-03-21T08:24:00.000-04:00

Who will lead the children?
When they march in protest in the streets
Who will take their challenge?
Or will they fall to defeat?
When they ask the world for answers
When they question the reasons why
When their happiness turns to sorrow
And their laughter turns to cries!
Who will lead the children?
When the innocence is gone
When the Earth no longer smiles
And the stars have all withdrawn?
When the chemicals have killed the flowers
And polluted all the seas
When the grass is all ploughed under
And we've cut down all the trees?
Who will lead the children?
What example will be set?
As starvation faces all
And self-annihilation is the threat?
Will God come to their assistance?
Or will he let them pay our debt?
Or by then will we have denied him
Will we have taught them to forget?
Who will lead the children?
It's a question we must ask
They are our responsibility
Their future is our task!
"Suffer the little children to come unto me"
Proof that God does care
A promise of his eternal love
Always to be there!
So who will lead the children?
And what direction will they stride
Will the flag they carry be a cross?
Or will faith be swept aside?

Rocking Chair Ridge

2007-03-21T08:21:00.000-04:00

They say that the Ozark Mountains
Are full of folklore, legends, and tales
And there are passed souls that live in the shadows
That still haunt those forested trails
But the cabin that sits on the hillside
Looking out on a canyon so wide
Gives a peacefulness that is beyond description
Yet defines a mountainous pride
The soft pines blow in the breezes
Black eyed Susan's stare up at the sun
And the whippoorwill sings in the distance
As the deer- they silently run
The squirrels - they play in the treetops
Chirping in protest as strangers walk by
The catfish feed on the surface of the pond
Raising their whiskered heads to the sky
The bears diligently search for honey,
Berries or nuts on the ground
Yet this black giant is seldom witnessed by man
As it roams without making a sound
There is a mist or fog upon the hillside
In this place called Rocking Chair Ridge
Where the Boston sentinels sit there watching
Forming a limestone natural bridge
And the hummingbird sings, as he hastily feeds
The owl hoots all through the night
And God's presence is there on the mountain
His creation, his beacon, his light!

Everything Stands for Something

2007-03-21T08:20:00.000-04:00

A rose is a symbol of a love so true
Red with a passions fire
And a daisy stands for a love that’s pure
Infused with a hidden desire
And the heart it bears it all in stride
Capable of more than we know
And the spirit it lives for the day that it gives
More than it will ever show

A Song In the Heart

2007-03-21T08:19:00.000-04:00

Eloquent is the heart that carries a song inside
Pure emotion set loose in the lyrics and rhyme
Are we but a fleeting second in time?
To be forgotten when the limerick is done?

Armored Knights

2007-03-21T08:18:00.000-04:00

It's raining in the mountains
Still the sun is shining bright
And the stone titans sit there watching
In the stillness of the light
The trees they blow in rhythm
Bending to each breeze
Never breaking, only bending
Like praying children on their knees
The raindrops hit the rivers
Nature's teardrops make a crown
And only in one's imagination
Does it truly make a sound
It calls to the heart that is open
Ancient wisdom it does share
And it seems that for a moment
There is magic in the air
Yes, it's raining in the mountains
Still the sun is glowing bright
And the titans sit there shining
Like armored knights in delight.

The Leap of Faith

2007-03-21T08:14:00.000-04:00

Four little birds
Perched within a nest
Down instead of feathers,
Upon their tiny breasts;
Their mother comes quite often,
As the little ones sing in tune.
Each day they grow bigger.
There's a lot less room!
Their mouths are all wide open.
They are ready for each meal
Their appetites are growing.
A thing they can't conceal
Then the day - it comes.
It's time for them to learn to fly!
Each of them will join their flocks
To soar within the skies!
The first step is quite frightening.
A leap of faith they find
As one is braver than the others,
Now only 3 are left behind
The others - they soon follow.
Two and then finally three
Mother and father sit watching.
Chirping on endlessly!
One little chick is all that's left.
He's smaller than the rest
Always the last to get fed,
Now his turn at the test
He makes a running start.
But his wings don't flap as strong
Suddenly he hits the ground!
Something has gone wrong!
He is wounded and quite frightened!
His heart pounds in his chest!
Will he lay there to be left to die?
Saddened and depressed?
Full of wonders and despairs.
Is our world - such a complex place?
Sometimes the weak are left to die -
Soon to be replaced
But often times it is the lesson.
That makes the rest to learn
In this case - the leap of faith!
And a mother's quick return!
She sits beside her fallen son.
Soothes him with her beak.
Only stunned and shook up,
His future's not so bleak.
Mother's love the healing force!
A leap of faith in love
And in a world so vast and large.
A miracle from above!

Canvas of Creation

2007-03-21T08:12:00.000-04:00

Under the stars
There lays a blanket of moon dust
Sprinkled there by angels
Across the heavens it sparkles
And the moon smiles
In its' brightness
Knowing that it has helped paint a small piece of
God's canvas of creation

To Fly

2007-03-21T08:09:00.000-04:00

With wings of a bird
She flew towards the heavens
Outstretched arms spanning the radiant sky
Her spirit miraculously leavened
Eagles astonished, as she passed them by.
Her arms were as light as feathers
Suspending her weightless form
As she reached out and touched the clouds
Her tears became the raindrops of the rising storm.
The water fell to Earth and filled the glorious oceans
As her eyes followed the path of the burning sun
Its brightness and intensity expressed within her eyes
As the earth on its axis spun…
Circling the world she soon discovered
Places she had never before known
The wealth of so many and the desperation of others
So many people, some truly alone
The borders of the countries from that height were faded
Nothing to show the boundaries because the globe was so vast
People and animals sometimes left to die, unaided
In a world running out of time and resources fast
Traveling through the outer layer of the earths orbit
She encountered space with the awe of a child
As far as the eye could see, she peered intently
A youthful heart opened and curiously beguiled
Stars glistened with an ancient distinction
All sorts of emotion showed on her face
She saw how unimportant mans existence had become
Simply, a lost and forgotten cause – the human race
In a universe so great she pondered
What would it be like to see it all?
Behind her the earth turned round and round
A giant multicolored sphere – it looked as small as child’s ball
Corporal life would go on as usual
But the soaring spirit would see beyond
A small living cell among the many
Becoming like a tadpole in a very large pond.

Who Art Thou?

2007-03-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

Who art thou
To say you love me?
But a stranger to the one who sleeps within my heart
Wine, a bitter taste to one so sweet
Like vinegar, is the disposition
When one taste the seed of the grape
Thou loneliness is my undoing
Those moments when thou heart cries
It is but a knife wound to my soul
For your pain is mine

Seasons of Change

2007-03-21T08:04:00.000-04:00

The fog is thick and you can smell the dampness in the air
It is the average March day, in between winter and spring
Gloominess looms all around by the drab absence of color
Not even the birds dare to sing…
The trees stand empty, they have cast aside there leafy garments
They are barren to the world, exposed for what they really are
Only branches with bark that has gone gray with the winter cold
Their lonely figures are twisted, knotted, and somewhat bizarre.
The grass is yellowish brown with only a touch of green
Muddy patches where the earth has eroded from the scraping of ice
The sky, full of clouds, but white – ghost like silhouettes,
They are the shadows of lost souls, victims of their own demise
Winter is harsh; it shows no mercy in its taking
It smothers life and gives nothing back but cold and death
Yet in time, spring will come, and with it bring
Life renewed, by one quick breathe
The trees will suddenly be adorned with brilliant luminosity
The grass will be a blend of emerald and jade
And the clouds will become as blue as the oceans
The moisture within forming an almost magical cascade
Wildlife will awaken; a new generation will be born
Life, a gift, for what the barrenness of the last 3 months has stolen
The rivers will rush, making new streams and such
The bees will again gather their pollen
And the sun shall shine with a brightness that is blinding
And at nights one will behold the great northern lights
And if only for a few short moments we will all enjoy
The magic and the miracles of warm summer nights!

Eccentric or Strange?

2007-03-21T07:56:00.000-04:00

Within the dark recesses of my mind is hidden
Emotions buried from a long ago time
And in my heart is a sacred chamber
Where mixed emotions hide
In a world where I don’t seem to fit the mold
A stranger to others who take the lead
Am I different, unique, or strange?
Maybe eccentric, some would concede?
I see the world in many colors
The grass isn’t always the traditional green
And I watch as the sun is rising
In the east – shining bright and quite serene
My heart yearns for the simplicity
That the modern age seems to regret
And the play of youth, once an adult
They too soon, seem to forget
I see the rain, as the tears of angels
The clouds, the chariots of passed souls
And within a simple Black Eyed Susan flower
More beauty then one’s eyes can behold
Yet the world envisions a different version
The rain is just rain, condensation at most
And the clouds just clouds, with no hidden images
And farmers plow the flowers under, and boast!
But my heart has become my vision
It sees beyond the opaque surface
It will hold on to hopes and dreams, the charity
Of it’s divinely given purpose
Hoping that others souls will awaken
From their mesmerizing materialistic views
And see the earth and all its radiance
Daily refreshed and life renewed!

We are the Soldiers of the Lord

2007-03-20T22:39:00.000-04:00

We are the soldiers of the Lord
In our hand is a cross, not a sword
Our colors, shades of red, like the son
Painted with the lamb and his blood
As we march in a world that seems lost
Facing each day like the first
The Word of God, the Bible, it stands strong
It’s a hunger that quenches a thirst
Our mission to us, it is clear
To stand against evil, no retreat
To shine like a candle in the dark
Temptations from within, to defeat
We are the soldiers of the Lord
Standing fast with faith as our shield
Not knowing where our path will lead
Or what our tomorrows may yield
But truth and love shall prevail
The word of God shall lead the way
And all of the fears and the doubts
They shall crumble and all fade away!

The Hanging of Saddam Hussein

2007-03-20T22:23:00.000-04:00

They marched him to the gallows
Shouted “death to tyrants” as they walked
Placed the hemp noose around his throat
While their guns were partially cocked
Doing a service for their country
Was their definition for this feat
A dictator stripped of power and wealth
To hang in shame upon the streets
They taunted and they prodded
Making jokes at his expense
His hands bound tightly and securely
No fighting back in self defense
He was a villain and a killer
He ruled with evil in his heart
He slaughtered the innocent and less fortunate
Condemned them from the start
He relied on family to protect him
His trust he would not share
He defied the world and his own country
With his so famous arrogant flare
Yet still he was a follower of Mohammad
Although wayward and confused
His mind though worshiping Islam
Made anti Moslem the accused
He swore to the world a jihad
And with his fundamentalists views
He swore to annihilate the infidels
Kurds, Christians, and the Jews
But still to someone he was a father
To some mother – her precious son
To the woman in his life – he was her lover
The one whose heart he’d won
Though vengeance may seem the answer
The punishment may seem to fit the crime
No man has the right to take a life
No matter what the time
An executioner is still a murderer
The taking of a life is still the same
Whether you do it in a fit of anger
Or under justice name
Only God can stand in judgment
Only he can see into one’s soul
Only he is the mighty shepherd
That can sacrifice a sheep from his foal

Some are blind

2007-03-20T15:40:00.000-04:00

The wealthy are so arrogant
They can not see the need
Of those souls that are so very poor
Those that spirits bleed
And if you take away the riches
Take away the luck or fame
All men would look identical
All would be the same

Look Inside

2007-03-20T15:39:00.000-04:00

Sometimes we find a hidden strength
That we never knew we had
And many times the better choice
Is finding good within the bad

To be in America Today

2007-01-27T15:05:00.000-05:00

It is a cold January in the year 2007. As I sit here at work my mind is a thousand miles away. It seems these days it is focused on everything, except my work. There are so many tragedies in the headlines these days. I often question how the world survives. This country seems ravaged by so much poverty and social injustice. If only the politicians would focus on the important stuff instead of wasting time and resources on the minor things. The eyes of the present administration seem to be on Iraq and the war. They worry about terrorism and oppression of the weak in the Middle Eastern countries. I can’t help but think though that here, in America; we already have the worst sort of terrorism, a terror from within – the fear of losing everything because of the lack of a good health care system, thousands of homeless, many mentally ill, cast out on the street, forgotten by society until they end up in our overcrowded prison system. We have the elderly, abandoned, often hungry, and left to die alone. There are also thousands of children who desperately need a good education, so that they can pull themselves out of a world of generational welfare. Then, let us not forget the thousands suffering with AIDS, the leprosy of the 21st century! We are a country that caters to the wealthy, where you can only gain popularity in politics if you have lots of possessions. We have taught our children to be more concerned with the latest cell phone design than for each other. We have left behind the lessons of faith and the belief in something higher than the almighty dollar. These are all forms of terror. The definition of terror being: something that scares you to death to think about it. I come from very humble parents. My father who was an auto mechanic; a man who was self taught by hard work; not an overly religious man, but an honest one, who lived his life by a code of unbreakable ethics. He was a person who often did hundreds of dollars worth of mechanic work for 10 or 20 dollars; his explanation being that “people just couldn’t afford all those high bills that the fancy garages charge.” He cared about people and even though there were some who took advantage, my father never lost faith in the basic goodness of people. He was quick to temper though, with a great impatience for politicians who grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth, who he believed showed little concern for the working class and poor. My mother, a very kind person, but who suffered from schizophrenia and later succumbed to lymphoma cancer. I recall the day she found out the diagnosis and came to tell me. She said “I want to so much to live.” I wept deep inside because I knew she would neither receive the very best care, nor the latest treatments. My parents had no money, no health insurance, and no property worth selling to pay for it. When she died the medical bills were in the thousands. The ironic thing was that my dad worked for years paying for health insurance that he never used. Then when he needed it, it was too expensive for him to be able to afford it. I remember as my mother lay in bed almost ready to leave this world. The phone rang in the mobile home where her and my father lived. It was the hospital’s bill collectors. I told them politely with a shaking voice that “it wasn’t the time,’ but they wouldn’t listen. They were rude and indifferent, lacking any compassion. Mom gasped in the background as the person on the phone continued to tell me “it is the right time.” I hung up the phone on them. What was I supposed to do? Mom was in the next room and so was my father. I couldn’t bear for them to hear. Minutes after that call my mom died. She didn’t go quietly. She screamed and gasped for air, she begged for Jesus to help her……and then she was gone. Six months later dad died of a heart attack. All through our years of growing up I often wonder what would have happened to us if we wouldn’t have had the extended family structure of grandparents, aunts, and uncles. It makes one think – what becomes of those children that have no other family. These are the later adults that fill our death row cell blocks and our maximum security correctional facilities. They are the ones who fall through the cracks. It becomes easier to use lethal injection to silence them than to try and change the way things are. We have become a disposable society, not just with household items, but with individuals; those who are too weak or too poor to speak up for themselves; or those who might take a little more time to “fix” we simply “throw away.” Children need to be taught compassion and kindness and as adults we need to lead by example. Today in America there is a growing arrogance. One that perpetuates the belief that everything we do is right and sanctioned by God. I find it hard to believe that God would have ever sanctioned racism (all races, not just black vs. white), economical inequality, war, genocide, poverty, etc… We condemn other countries for committing genocide yet in our own history of the early 1800’s we were the illegal immigrants in this country. We came in to North America from abroad and forced the Native Americans west. Hitler actually patterned his Nazi movement after the American Government’s removal of the 5 civilized tribes. He praised them for their creativity in handling the “Indian problem.” It is a history we tend not to teach, but over 14,000 people were taken at gunpoint and marched west and over 4000 died. Then we took their land and called it our own. So who are we, as a nation, to judge? Our own president Andrew Jackson at that time defied the U.S. Supreme Court and removed the Indians. When we look at the health issue many denounce a Nationalized Healthcare system. Now being married to an Englishman I have heard opinions on both systems – American and the U.K.’s. I tend to believe that if a country that is as old as Great Britain has found a system that works better than ours (although it does have some of its own faults) why shouldn’t we take their health care system pattern and model it for the U.S.? If the countries of this world would work together to find the best solutions for all I think this world would have a lot better future. We are a young nation and the young tend to think they are always right and they oftentimes fail at things because of their own pride. A nation’s youth is really no different than a person’s youth – you learn from your elders. You find what works and what doesn’t work. You follow others examples. It doesn’t make you a communist, socialist, democrat, republican, etc…It is just learning from mistakes of the past. It is being smart. It is my belief that we all come into this world (or we should) with the same rights. If a baby were born in Somalia instead of the U.S. does it make that child any less important? It shouldn’t. We yell about illegal immigration, but yet do we really have the right to stand and say “you can’t live here because you didn’t enter these states legally?” if the Native Americans would have believed that we would not be here today. That being said the past is done and we can not undo those wrongs, however we can work together to insure that history does not repeat itself. We can look at our problems together with an open mind and an open heart. We can embrace the diversity of our nation and find a middle ground. It only takes putting pride and arrogance aside. We need to start caring about one another, work to eliminate the poverty, and the rest will take care of itself. Poverty causes crime, war, disease, etc……. take it out of the picture and enters the strength to build a world that our descendants will be proud of. Restore the teachings of kindness in our schools and ethics. This country needs leadership that truly cares instead of men and women who are so far removed from the common man’s needs that they can not even comprehend what the average American wants. There is a verse in the Bible that says it better. “It is easier for a camel to fit through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven.” The classes continue to get further and further apart. We need to unite in a common cause (and not a war) that we all as human beings can be a part of. Every person comes into this world with nothing and when we die we take nothing of this world with us, so why do we tend to focus so much or the material things? A question we all must ask? I don’t think we will ever fall to a foreign government or to terrorism or to war: I think the sad thing is that eventually America will destroy herself if we do not change the way we lead the world. You can not expect a child to only learn the good from his parents. Whatever example is shown is what the child will follow. The same is true for a nation. If we set the example of a nation ruled by only the wealthy, who don’t care about the impoverished, the sick, who act holier than now, materialistic, who are argumentive (congress), etc….what message does it send?

Blessed

2006-10-31T20:44:00.000-05:00

When I was a young child

I stared into the night

Gazing at the sky above

And all its brilliant lights

And I wondered and I questioned

Everything I saw

Wondered why the grass was green

And why the trees grow tall

And why do they reach for heaven

With their branches spread out wide

And why does a geode

Have a crystal deep inside?

Why do all the little birds

Fly so very high?

Touching clouds with their wings

Way up in the sky?

And why do the willows weep

While the robins sit and sing?

Could it be, they foresee

What the future will soon bring?

Then of course there is mankind

With his own set of rules

Living life, controlling

Teaching lessons that are cruel

And wondering why the Earth revolts

With hurricane and floods

Knowing that the truth is sung

By each wild mourning dove?

When I was a young child

I stared into the night

Gazing at the heavens

And all its pretty lights

And I wondered and I questioned

Why I was different from the rest

And then suddenly I realized

That I must be truly blessed!

2006-10-19T15:37:00.000-04:00

So much suffering on OUR Earth

How can WE close OUR eyes?

In a world with so much wealth

How can WE just stand by?

And try to simply ignore

The misery felt by the scores

By the hundreds they fall

Death lingering at their door

Hearts and hands opened wide

Yet OUR world still denies

No food in their bellies

Only the sounds of their cries

Some slaughtered like animals

In genocidal wars

Butchered by evil men

Are the helpless and poor

From the Cherokee Trail of Tears

To the African Sudan

Clans wiped out for their differences

Tagged less important by man

And in the bigger world cities

Left to suffer in pain

Are lost on the streets homeless

Trapped in poverty and chains

Mentally ill on the streets

Or else rotting in jails

No hope for recovery

Their minds are impaired

Situations quite hopeless

Trying to escape

But the obstacles are unsurpassable

Of their dignity they are raped

And AIDS and other diseases

Keep them under government control

No universal healthcare for medicines

It keeps high the toll

Times passes on

And things stay the same

The only thing different

Are the rolls with the names

So much suffering on OUR earth

In a world with so much wealth

NEVER fail to believe

That God travels in stealth

He sees all the anguishing

Hears the cries of EACH child

He watches and waits

As they are exiled

From the necessities of living

While the rest never see the need

And he hangs his head in disgust

At the arrogance and greed!

Responsibilty

2006-10-19T15:36:00.000-04:00

So much suffering on OUR Earth
How can WE close OUR eyes?
In a world with so much wealth
How can WE just stand by?
And try to simply ignore
The misery felt by the scores
By the hundreds they fall
Death lingering at their door
Hearts and hands opened wide
Yet OUR world still denies
No food in their bellies
Only the sounds of their cries
Some slaughtered like animals
In genocidal wars
Butchered by evil men
Are the helpless and poor
From the Cherokee Trail of Tears
To the African Sudan
Clans wiped out for their differences
Tagged less important by man
And in the bigger world cities
Left to suffer in pain
Are lost on the streets homeless
Trapped in poverty and chains
Mentally ill on the streets
Or else rotting in jails
No hope for recovery
Their minds are impaired
Situations quite hopeless
Trying to escape
But the obstacles are unsurpassable
Of their dignity they are raped
And AIDS and other diseases
Keep them under government control
No universal healthcare for medicines
It keeps high the toll
Times passes on
And things stay the same
The only thing different
Are the rolls with the names
So much suffering on OUR earth
In a world with so much wealth
NEVER fail to believe
That God travels in stealth
He sees all the anguishing
Hears the cries of EACH child
He watches and waits
As they are exiled
From the necessities of living
While the rest never see the need
And he hangs his head in disgust
At the arrogance and greed!

2006-10-18T15:44:00.002-04:00

With wings of a bird

She flew towards the heavens

Outstretched arms spanning the radiant sky

Her spirit miraculously leavened

Eagles astonished, as she passed them by.

Her arms were as light as feathers

Suspending her weightless form

As she reached out and touched the clouds

Her tears became the raindrops of the rising storm.

The water fell to Earth and filled the glorious oceans

As her eyes followed the path of the burning sun

Its brightness and intensity expressed within her eyes

As the earth on its axis spun…

Circling the world she soon discovered

Places she had never before known

The wealth of so many and the desperation of others

So many people, some truly alone

The borders of the countries from that height were faded

Nothing to show the boundaries because the globe was so vast

People and animals sometimes left to die, unaided

In a world running out of time and resources fast

Traveling through the outer layer of the earths orbit

She encountered space with the awe of a child

As far as the eye could see, she peered intently

A youthful heart opened and curiously beguiled

Stars glistened with an ancient distinction

All sorts of emotion showed on her face

She saw how unimportant mans existence had become

Simply, a lost and forgotten cause – the human race

In a universe so great she pondered

What would it be like to see it all?

Behind her the earth turned round and round

A giant multicolored sphere – it looked as small as child’s ball

Corporal life would go on as usual

But the soaring spirit would see beyond

A small living cell among the many

Becoming like a tadpole in a very large pond.

In Memory of Alex Madewell

2006-10-18T15:36:00.000-04:00

In an Oklahoma green pasture

Is an unmarked hidden grave

No stone to bear a special verse

Or marker to engrave

Yet still a soul to remember

A branch in a family tree

Still a love in someone's life

In memories and dreams

A man who in his life he traveled

Across a country vast and wide

Carrying pieces of his native ancestry

Buried deep inside

From the Ozarks Mountains and its valleys

To Oklahoma and its tree lined hills

Never settling, always roaming

A destiny to fulfill

And planting seeds of his existence

That across generations would concede

That he had left a legacy far greater

Than money, fame, or greed

For he lived his life a pauper

Never having material gain

But leaving behind a trail of hearts

Always to remain

Like a bee who pollinates the flowers

Like the rain who makes to grow

We are the seeds our ancestors planted

Each a unique legacy to be sown

And the harvest is in remembering

Paying tribute to those who have died

By remembering and honoring

Always cherishing them inside!

Who Art Thou?

2006-10-16T13:09:00.005-04:00

Who are thou

To say you love me?

But a stranger to the one who sleeps within my heart

Wine, a bitter taste to one so sweet

Like vinegar, is the disposition

When one taste the seed of the grape

Thou loneliness is my undoing

Those moments when thou heart cries

It is but a knife wound to my soul

For your pain is mine

It's Raining In the Mountain

2006-10-16T13:09:00.003-04:00

It's raining in the mountains

Still the sun is shining bright

And the stone titans sit there watching In the stillness of the light

The trees they blow in rhythm

Bending to each breeze

Never breaking, only bending

Like praying children on their knees

The raindrops hit the rivers

Nature's teardrops make a crown

And only in one's imagination

Does it truly make a sound

It calls to the heart that is open

Ancient wisdom it does share

And it seems that for a moment

There is magic in the air

Yes, it's raining in the mountains

Still the sun is glowing bright

And the titans sit there shining

Armored knights in delight.

A Leap of Faith

2006-10-16T13:09:00.002-04:00

Four little birds

Perched within a nest

Down instead of feathers,

Upon their tiny breasts;

Their mother comes quite often,

As the little ones sing in tune.

Each day they grow bigger.

There's a lot less room!

Their mouths are all wide open.

They are ready for each meal

Their appetites are growing.

A thing they can't conceal

Then the day - it comes.

It's time for them to learn to fly!

Each of them will join their flocks

To soar within the skies!

The first step is quite frightening.

A leap of faith they find

As one is braver than the others,

Now only 3 are left behind

The others - they soon follow.

Two and then finally three

Mother and father sit watching.

Chirping on endlessly!

One little chick is all that's left.

He's smaller than the rest

Always the last to get fed,

Now his turn at the test

He makes a running start.

But his wings don't flap as strong

Suddenly he hits the ground!

Something has gone wrong!

He is wounded and quite frightened!

His heart pounds in his chest!

Will he lay there to be left to die?

Saddened and depressed?

Full of wonders and despairs.

Is our world - such a complex place?

Sometimes the weak are left to die -

Soon to be replaced

But often times it is the lesson.

That makes the rest to learn

In this case - the leap of faith!

And a mother's quick return!

She sits beside her fallen son.

Soothes him with her beak.

Only stunned and shook up,

His future's not so bleak.

Mother's love the healing force!

A leap of faith in love

And in a world so vast and large.

A miracle from above!

Masters Through Time

2006-10-16T13:09:00.001-04:00

The traveler who is nameless

Steps through the portal painted in time

To create his future, yet to behold

A life full of artistry and mysterious rhyme

As Aetion envisioned Alexander

Words flow like an endless stream

Through time and space they are passed down

Transforming into passionate canvassed dreams

Returning back from whence they came

They fall in time upon Shakespeare’s pen

As the eagle flies with its face towards the sun

Immortality of the soul never ends

Again the master is reborn

To once again use the gift that was given

A blessing that transcends one’s self

Through centuries these truths are hidden

Touching the hearts and minds

Of those who descend from royalty unknown

Within each the secret of the talent lays dormant

Soon to awaken – the spirit reborn

And the artist will paint his masterpiece

The poet’s soul will awaken with prose

And for the moment history will be relived

All their existence transposed.

The Cedars of Lebanon

2006-10-16T13:09:00.000-04:00

The cedars of Lebanon are once again

Kissed by the bombs of war

As Hezbollah stands in shelter laughing…

The pleas for mercy soar

Israel, a country with a history

Anguish over the destruction

Of those sacred temples or so called mosques

Of ancient divine construction

In the cradle of the Earth

The rivers run red with blood

The Israelites, sons of David

Become like the purifying flood

The Moslems, followers of Mohammed

The prophet with an Arabic name

But who’s to say that him and the Christ

Were not the one and same?

The basin of Mesopotamia is full and overflowing

The ground is like a sinking sand

With hatred bred throughout the generations

Devouring the souls of man

When will it all end?

Only when the children all lay dead in the streets?

When the wrath of Jews and the voice of Islam

Out of arrogance refuse to retreat?

Or when God speaks to all who’ll listen

With roaring thunder and lightening strikes

And time is frozen for the rest of eternity

For Christians, Jews, and Moslem, alike?

Petty Annoyances

2006-10-16T13:08:00.002-04:00

I really get annoyed

By petty snide remarks

Sarcastic innuendos

That sets the fire to spark

People are so ridiculous

They seem to get so bent

By tiny things that make no difference

So much energy is spent

On things that do not matter

When you look at the Universe as a whole

Things like disputing the weather

Will not save your soul

Complaints of improper internet posting

Idiosyncrasies in what is done

It will not help the stars to shine

Nor warm us from the sun

The little words spoken in anger

Remarks made in haste

Will not feed the hungry

Nor save us from the waste

This world has more important things

Like children dying from Aids

Old folks suffering from Alzheimer’s

Or the weak being afraid

People need to wise up

Spend time spreading happiness and joy

Quit wasting life and resources

Quit being so annoyed

For the world will become what we make of it

We can destroy her or create

For man makes his own destiny

So what will be our fate?

Our Immigrant Ancestors

2006-10-16T13:08:00.001-04:00

Their residence would become a foreign country

For love or faith, they would become

An immigrant on a distant land

They would leave and not look back

Their lives sifted like grains of sand

Always a stranger, yet striving to build a life

Never really to call it home

Alien in many ways, such a long way to roam…

They would deny their royal birth rite

No longer to hold a scepter of power

They would build a new life,

Their histories devoured

Not for lack of love for native country

But for that promise their heart had spoken

For a crown is an empty adornment

If ones heart lacks devotion

And a royal bloodline is cold

Without a body to keep it warm

Be True To Yourself

2006-10-16T13:08:00.000-04:00

I was the type of wife, who never spoke her mind

Later accused of being too good, compassionate, and kind

My life was no more than a reflection of my mates

No time to be myself - to sit and contemplate

He was the "king of his castle" - I was to do "what he said"

No time to dream or to look far ahead

I lost myself for those twelve years

No use crying - I buried the tears

I worked each day being what I thought he wanted me to become

Changed who I was in order to equal his sum

I centered my world on those things he desired

Tried to give him everything that he needed, everything required

But in the end he said it still wasn't enough

He sneaked away in the night - like Shakespeare's Mac Duff

Betrayed and discarded - a vow, a promise denied

Belittled and berated - and then cast aside

So how could something that started as devotion and love

Twist and be mangled - then simply disposed of?

A heart that is trampled, beaten and bruised

Self esteem destroyed - a soul quite abused

Although forgiveness comes easy to a spirit that is pure

For the pain of the past - there is no simple cure

Those memories of betrayal run deep in ones blood

And sometimes you drown in what is "perceived" as a flood

Of emotions and feelings connected with the past

All the trying for nothing and it still did not last.

And the lesson you learned is to be "true to ones self"

You can't deny who you are and place your identity on a shelf

There are things we are born with that make us who we are

And to one what seems fine - to you seems bizarre

Humans are different and no one should have to change

A union should bring ideas to exchange

And understanding to accept those things we see as wrong

To march to our individual drummers, singing our own unique song.

Would Jesus Turn Away?

2006-10-16T13:05:00.001-04:00

So many times we ask ourselves

Do we really do enough?

Or do we shun those in need

Ignore and rebuff?

Have our lives become so comfortable

That we never truly see

The needs of those around us

Those hearts that truly bleed?

Would Jesus turn away?

From those hearts we see as weak

Or would he become their guiding light

The path for which they seek?

You would think by now that man would strive

To walk a straighter walk

To lend a hand, to bend a knee

Use kindness when we talk

Instead we stand and argue

At petty things and more

We defame the poor and innocent

With an arrogant rapport!

Mankind would be much better

If it would learn from its mistakes

Work at making lives more equal

For everybody’s sake

They should study words of wisdom

For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged

And learn to cherish one another

Never to begrudge

The necessities for living

For every soul deserves the best

For no man is better than another

Each is equally blessed

We should ask ourselves the question

Do we really do enough?

Or do we shun those in need

Ignore and rebuff?

Would Jesus turn away?

From those hearts we see as weak

Or would he become their guiding light

The path for which they seek?

Preception Rules the Lives of Fools

2006-10-16T13:05:00.000-04:00

Perception rules the lives of fools

As the story of life is written

And all those lessons we learn in school

Keeps the mind and heart quite smitten

For each day is an adventure at best

Filled with trials that tests the soul

And no one knows that they have been blessed

Till they reach that celestial pole

When the spirit reaches the wool like clouds

And flies with wings towards the sun

And you find yourself wrapped in an angels shroud

With no where left to run

You hold a star within your hand, unfurled

Watch it as it glows red with fire

Giving forth the light of this whole world

Burning hot with spent desire

Yes, deception rules those lives of fools

Or so it is often written

But miracles break those written rules

When the heart, in love is bitten

The Ugliness of Evil

2006-10-16T13:04:00.001-04:00

The serpent raises its' head

Within the heart of the evil

Ruling with fangs of poison

And coercing in its slithering motions

It devours the souls of the lost

Those who have spent their lives

In pursuit of self indulgence

Then once it has digested

Those abominations of the spirit

It casts itself into the oily pit

There it finds despair staring into its mirrored image

Deep in the abyss

Seeing its reflection - what it has become

Disfigured, deformed, malignant

It sets itself afire

But from the flames emerges HOPE

That even evil can not hide, nor deny

The disgust of its own self perpetuated ugliness

A Soulful Existence

2006-10-16T13:04:00.000-04:00

Within our soulful existence

Are multiple dimensions or plains

Creating mirror images of ourselves

Exact, yet different, still the same

All intersecting at a special point in time

Joining at different stages

Merging together becoming as one

Souls released from their cages

A truth of the divine or

The dreams of a child?

To believe or deny?

Only Imagination gone wild?

Yes, within our existence

Are multiple dimensions or plains

Holding us back from a truth

But the memories remain!