Strong Will

I will spite the biting winds with the warmth I share,
I will choose to see what's ahead, ignoring the glare.

Treading ten thousand miles, one step at a time,
I'll get to my destination, without being resigned.

I'll reach that other shore, through shark-infested waters,
Never losing sight of everything that really matters.

A team of wild horse could not weaken my resolve,
This journey I am trekking, the focus being love.

See?

Why is it, that all you choose to see is fog?
I thought it was clear as the cold blue sky,
As clear as the water running in the brook,
In which you could wash your Murky eyes.

Elephant in the Room

High above the cubicles, the shadow’s reach has grown,
The whispers are getting loud around the fear of the unknown…

An elephant suddenly appeared in the middle of the room,
No explanation, no reason given, so the questions only loom.

The employed make speculation in hushed voices, muted tones,
But the questions remain unasked, to avoid making foes.

“Shhhhhh, it’s a secret, shhhhhh, I cannot tell,
You don’t know the answer, and for you, it’s just as well.”

My Treasure

I wear these jewels around my neck,
Beautiful for everyone to see,
These jewels I adamantly protect,
To lose them would be the end of me.

They cut into my heart and make me bleed,
the pain sometimes too much to bear,
My two daughters with their every need,
This burden all mine, the reward so rare...

Yet worth it. Worth the pain, worth the fear,
Worth making mistakes, worth all the tears.

I've done all I can without inkling to cease,
I know that I have given my all and my best,
and with this knowledge, I'll be at peace,
When my two daughters finally lay me to rest.

Empty

Poetry flowed from me in my dream,
but I'm so dry during the day it seems.
Nothing to say, nothing to write,
Writer's block, a spell that's dry.

Beach

The tide is way out today,
The water far off, just smooth wet sand.
Where are the seashells and starfish?
Where are the hungry gulls?
Strange, the beach is long and wide,
Quiet and so very empty today.

Sadness in a Dark Hour

“Never leave me and I promise to help you,”
He whispers as he tries to ease her pain,
She spontaneously bursts into tears
They both know it’s a deal she can’t take.

Things are so different in the black of night.
A different world than the harsh light of day.
He finds the strength to hint what he feels,
She lacks the strength to say anything.

Her pain subsides, and they settle back in,
Next to each other but each one alone still,
Morning light will drown out the darkness as
This chapter in their lives resumes to a close.

Breaking up

Mistakes made and lessons learned,
Lines crossed and bridges burned,
Joy had that we could not sustain,
In its wake: brokenness and pain.

Time to go back to being on our own,
When we began, the risks were known.
It's not all bad; still, a thorn in our side-
And won't get better until we divide.

This Morning

I'm in the room, and it's like I'm not there,
No one sees me, sitting in the next chair.
It's my doing; I'm here, not quite gone,
Good as a ghost that just needs to move on.

No eye contact, and nothing to be said,
Blank expressions that cannot be read,
Broken hearted, I once wanted to stay,
Now we just wait for the time to go away.

Oh sadness in the air, much like a dark cloud,
Plenty to be felt, and nothing said out loud,
Painful, these moments; easier to ignore,
Until the final time I walk out that door.

TWY

Like a whiff of a memory blowing in a breeze,
Like a feeling savored in a fondly lived dream,
The fragrance of the future and of the past,
Lulling the way to a different circumstance.

Matters of the Heart

Like separating the wind from the air,
Or dividing the light from the day,
Deny, deny that these feelings are here,
Keep trying to will them to go away.

Like tearing apart green from grass,
As if you could separate the two,
Choose your memories, deny what's passed,
Lie to yourself, though you know the truth.

It's a band-aid to cover a jugular wound,
A rubber raft to cross the ocean wide,
Sustenance begged from imaginary food.
It adds up to living while dying inside.

The grass looks greener on the other side,
To get over there would mean sacrifice,
Reward there'd be but still more of the same...
I think I'll stay contented right where I am.

unburdened beast

As darkness falls, the shadows creep in,
Why am I to pay for another's sin?

The wrong done to me, thrown in my face,
As the lights go out, my anger ablaze.

Hatred fills my heart so deeply,
I find I'm far from able to sleep.



It is night, and the beast walks free,
Likely on another killing spree,
Blood dried on his evil claws,
Shaking off guilt, he hasn't pause.


The killer walks free, what at thing,
Twisted, snarling snout, he's king,
He gets away with everything...
And it's his victims who silently pay.

Faith

The wineskins have burst; the ground covered in red.
The patches sewn into the cloth have all torn away.
God’s justice neutralized by the sacrifice of His Son,
And man’s justice twisted so the victims have to pay.

In this world, the lion surely lies down with the lamb,
After ripping it to shreds just for the desire to kill.
I’m told to be a good faithful one and suffer this pain,
Lay here bleeding and trust it’s God’s sovereign will.

I am only one blade of grass in this vast field of life,
I know much better than to shake my fist at the sky.
With my faith broken, butchered out; my conclusion-
Mistaken were all my beliefs about the Great Divine.

Destructive Vines

The lattice is strong, but the vines work together,

The tendrils reach out, grasping and winding tightly

The structure finds detriment when overwhelmed,

As the vines cling and climb and weigh it down.

Slowly, steadily, before anyone realizes it,

The innocent-looking plant blocks out the light

And chokes out any of the hope trying to grow…

Feeding off the tears falling down to the roots.

The vines infiltrate, widening cracks and crevices,

It must be delicately removed, killed and cut away.

Its signature remains on the lattice, now scarred.

Wild, the vines will never let up on raging new attacks.

Lunar Light

I walk along the sand, considering the moon,
The power with which it pulls the tides…
The ever-present cycle of dark to complete,
The light that reflects brightly off the water.

I no longer hold the cycle of the moon,
But the tides still pull, if not stronger.
The moon still swells from new to full,
Nine cycles long only buried deep…

Joy x 2, hidden away and increasing
The moon shines only on them for now,
Another’s treasure hidden in my womb-
Turning their tides and lighting their night.

Soaked

Rain of sadness falls upon me,
Hits my back, piercing through.
Hope is the umbrella I opened,
But I don’t think it will do.

I tried the raincoat of self-deceit,
Oh the pain reaches me still.
Self-deceit only increased it,
And doesn’t keep out the chill.

Rain is falling, soaking my heart,
Pretty soon I’ll be waist-deep.
Tied down by a thousand threads,
Looking around, I try not to weep.

The one to free me- bound in chains,
As revealed to me today,
I sit here wondering what to do-
Held down by my reasons to stay.

No-man’s land- are we headed north or south?
The sun’s covered up, confusion sealed by clouds.
What to do but strive for our goals with hope?
All the while waiting for the end of the rope…

Ah it’s no fun traveling through no-man’s land.
Rarely a sure step, treading through dry sand.
Still the goal is there, and well worth the reward,
So I’ll push on with hope and keep moving forward.

Scott

I awoke this morning angry at you,

When we first met, you were full of ice cubes,

Promises, potential, but you have no class.

You are just an awful broken, empty glass.

A drinking glass, around the rim chipped,

You offered to hydrate me but then cut my lip.

I waited, believing that you would come through,

After all, drinks are great with ice cubes…

But the ice cubes melted, lukewarm- yuk.

You coaxed me to drink- you were still a cup.

Mostly empty, true- unsatisfying and bad.

Still, you reasoned, not the worst I ever had…

I’m sorry I ever met you- I have a scar on my lip,

From being with you in that relationship.

I’m glad I determined what you were about-

And like any broken glass, threw you out.

Turtle Spirit

What can I learn from the Ancient Turtle?
Gleefully enjoying her life as it comes,
She was meant to dance the tides and flow,
She has her goals and ambitions too,
She avoids bad energy, and finds her groove,
She is strong yet gentle and patient...
She walks out on the sand and buries her hopes,
And waits for them to come to her
They do- naturally drawn to the water,
And so she has fulfilled her purpose.

What can I learn from the Ancient Turtle?
What lesson does she leave for me?
Patience, flow, peace, and energy...
To glide through life as seems natural,
To listen to my spirit and awaken,
To the purpose given at the moment,
To be fully present for each task,
Letting go of all that hinders...
To fulfill my purpose and in doing so-
Dance with the tides and find my groove.

Rose City

This is my city, but it is not my home.
I walk here by myself, but never alone.
I'm not like these people, yet we're the same,
Because of our differences, and to where we came.


The sun feels so good, warming my back,
People watchers watch, as my steps they track.
I see them too, brief contact with the eye,
Then look on to notice others, as I stroll by.


Lovers on the grass, families walking along,
A homeless group of people singing a song,
Bicyclers whizzing by, ringing their bells,
This park is full of different sights and smells.


I can never tell what the day will bring,
I do know that it's usually interesting...
Gourmet food, original shops, trendy places,
New found art, miles of sidewalks, many faces.


It's different here; somehow more alive;
The old-town area, where I enjoy the vibe.
A place I love to visit, so full of diversity-
This is not my home, but it is my city.

I hold my candle close, protecting the flame,

Obscuring it from the world,

This is my truth, but I don't want to share it with you.

By letting you near my bright little flame,

I give you the power to make it waver or blow it out-

I can't afford to live in the dark again.

Perhaps some day, my fire will be encouraged to burn brighter,

To light more of the world with the synergy from another-

But for now the risk is too high so I'll burn on my own,

Keeping my little flame covered and protected.

Human Nature

Why so natural to be dissatisfied?
Why do we focus on what is denied?
Why do we overlook the gifts given,
A whole life whisked away and driven,
Always to that one out of sight,
We strive and reach with all our might,
Overlooking what we have gained,
Taking it for granted, we are pained,
What we have just isn't good enough-
Making life for all involved more rough.

Warm air, white sand, like no place I've ever been.
Island life everywhere, musical in its very existance,
Blue sky, puffy clouds, soft grass- who could want more?
The only thing I'm missing, the only thing I'm longing for-
is w a t e r.
I can live here the rest of my life, right? RIGHT?
I can get around my neglected need for hydration...
Everything here is great, music and color everywhere,
Very little food but my mind keeps wandering back.

W A T E R.

I can go without though, this is such a beautiful place.
An ocean in front of me and not a drop to drink,
Execpt for the occasional rain- he says it's always been this way...
I wonder: If he's happy this way, can I be?
WAAAATER.
My dreams are filled with running streams, lakes, fountains.
I wake feeling guilty as if I don't appreciate all that I have.
This is the life- but without that one need met- is it?
Do I wait, hoping for a monsoon, holding my toungue to the sky?
Or do I sail to a place that is not so beautiful- but not so dry?

Sigh. Water. My mind is soaked, my longing is dry... Sigh.

Hands are numb, I feel the force of the fall,
Off the bridge toward frigid waters,
I brace myself as best I can for the impact.
Planning my survival as I call on God,
Still no painful, breath-taking crash…
After 3 seconds of eternity has passed,
I open my eyes, confused.
Suspended in time before unsure death,
I realize I’m dreaming and wake up.