Entwined

Now I know
Inseparable
Entwined
Conjoined
We are.

Like the wind
Blows and cools
My brewing heat.

Like the sun
Lights and warms
My lonely times.

Like the rain
Waters and washes
My dulled mind.

You walk alongside
Wanting of nothing
Giving of everything.

Bringing reminders
Of our sublime unity
Over and over.

With every lesson learnt
My weight lessens
Yet my gains increase.

As closer to the core
Of my existence
I reach.

How oh how
To thank,
With this heart
Of gratitude’s fill?!

Eyes brim
Heart glows
Sweet nectar
Smothers my skin.

This is
That promised land
Of milk and honey.

Satiating the hunger
Not of bodily organs
But of my soul seeking
Existence.

 

Artwork by James A. Eads.

Non Nobis Solum – Not Only For Ourselves.

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(Motto of Orchardleigh Village Estate in Somerset, England.)

Great beauty with legacy
800 years and still standing,
Orchardleigh Village Estate.

From times of bartering
To more complexities
Of social structures,
Survival of honor and simplicity,
Depends on the motto:
Non nobis solum.

Unaware
Oblivious
Every move, every thought
Yours, mine
All entwined.

Whether vows of marriage,
Neighbourly existence
Or humans of a given time.

Our lifetimes leave footprints,
Marks on minds
Impressions on hearts.

So tread softly on the blades of greens,
Carefully on jagged gravel.

Speak gently to sprouting minds
And sparsely to older vines.

Love deeply and passionately your betrothed,
And kindly every other fellow on your road.

Now as we leave this Estate,
This county, this land.
One day this planet.
Leave only what can be enjoyed.
Leave legacy of life lived well.
Life full of love and joy.

 

Kaleidoscope

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With a
Shake
Twist
Turn,
Beauties
Recreated.

Shapes
Colors
Distorted
Sorted
Settle.
Unimaginable arrangements
Displaying magical forms.

How can this be!
New transformations
Each time over!

Then we,
Atoms
Molecules
Cells
Tissue
Muscle
Bones
Organs!
Seven billion
Configurations!

All unique
Every finger print
Eye prism
Every path
Destiny,
And preciously afforded with loving care.

Amazed or not
You are unique,
Look no further
For the intrigue.

See your colors
Shapes and combinations,
Marvel on your inner
Ensembles!

Kaleidoscopic geometrics
Dazzle.
But you and I,
My friend
Will never be
Unraveled!

Debut Poetry

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There’s that book, on the bookshelf, it’s a treasure trove, full of every word you always wanted to read, speaks to what you’ve felt, what you know and where you want to go in your journey in this life… and even though you know each page, every once in awhile you have to pull it off the shelf…
Prior authors for me have been, Tagore and Gibran…
A lofty statement, but here is another from today’s world.. Atul Ranchod, with his debut book, Top of the Water…available on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/atul-ranchod/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aatul+ranchod

The first poem in the book is ‘Human Time’… when I first came across this poem it inspired me to make this audio recording…I hope it gives you a taste for the book..

https://rhythmandthedancer.org/2016/06/30/audio-human-time/

Embrace Time

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In this cavern of time
Seconds tick
Hours slip
Days merge
And years fly

‘Tis human nature
To grapple and look
Ask,
‘What happened in all these years?!’

True wonder
Laid in tiny seconds

Just as every raindrop
Yields a forging river
As every sun ray
Sprouts fields of grain
So does each second
Culminate to those years

Capture the magnificence
Look no further

Raindrops fall to your feet
Sun rays beam on your face
Moments delivered as breath

Tune into this finite time
The song and dance is on

No vocals needed
No taps shoes required
Once tuned in
The music is on

Yet midnight will strike
When magic runs out
The carriage disappears
So be forewarned

Do not procrastinate
Quiet yourself
Listen for the song
Feel the dance
Be in your present
Let melody and rhythm unfold

 

 

Why?

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Why do I stop
To smell the roses?
Why does the rose
Look up to the sun?
Why does the sun
Shine just so rightly?

The most powerful star
The most destructive force
Yet it shines
Gently enough
To feed the bloom
So the rose may grow
So I may stop
To smell the rose

What divine design
This universal force
Unites the grandeur
Of the sun
The seeming insignificance
Of the rose
The magnanimous posture
Of the human being

This pale blue dot
Within the universe
The galaxies beyond,
Why?
Why do they all
Exist?

Each day a gift
Each breath a gift
For just a minute shift
And poof, no more to live

So yes ask
Why?
And in the search
You’ll find your gift
The mighty power
Tying sun, rose and man
Divinely together

With a little acknowledgment
Your gratitude blooms
Like the rose
Your fragrance shows.

With a little understanding
Your wisdom shines
Like the sun
Your radiance beams.

So postured
Is this being,
Most fortunate
In his possibilities!
Grandest for the one
Who asks ‘why?’
For with an open heart
He shall find
His answer
In the Divine!

 

 

 

Lover?

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Lover?
Mate?
Soul mate?

Dancing with life
A song is played
It attracts
It calls
A warmth is felt
Perhaps contentment
Closing my eyes
I’m overwhelmed

I know
I feel
The well within
Digging for the spring
The release has begun

Now I know
Such beauty
Such clarity
With letting go
Brings more of the unimaginable

Worthiness
No question
The gift
Always there
Unwrapping
Layer by layer
Depth unending

My lover
My mate
My soul mate
All within

One World Trade Center

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All for which it stands
Rising like a Phoenix
Ashes left behind
Majestic in its stance

Fueled by the past
With pain giving way
To strength and liberty
So humblingly inspired

Life force trickles on
Like water flowing naturally
Replenishing sustenance
Circling with ease and grace

By the power above, below and all around
Love flows deeper, greater
Resilience at its best
Surfacing over and over

Lessons to the heart
Never give up
So long as breath is granted
You can always rise again

Whimsical or not..

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From the array of colors
To the multitude of acts
Nothing stays hidden
Everything is portrayed

Mesmerized in thought
Perhaps it’s to contemplate
But once up on our feet
Life is an act to balance
Even if on the rim of a coffee cup!

How similar to our daily reality
We rationalize, we theorize
Yet when there’s action
The heart and all its color is called on
So the spirit can fly!

Then sometimes we hang on for dear life
With chalice in hand!
If only to dive in headfirst!

We move with our season and terrains
Leaping and swaying
Reaching and praying
So thank you, dear friend
For all in one shot
You portrayed mine and your life
Like only the artist can!

Original art by AR

Father’s Accolade

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First a guardian
Hovering behind mother hen
Yet always ready
To take the reigns

Then a playmate and true supporter
With horseback rides
As bike holder
Even a fan in the bleachers

As life goes on
And all the work is done
Now the father comes to light
As he is physically
No longer always in sight

You remember the helping hand
Each time you lift
And oversized box,
You hear his words
Each time you decide
Your ‘yay or nay’
Your feel a push
Each time you move
Further into unknown worlds

This is a father
The one to let you hold
His finger and assure you
The one to let you go
So you can go adventure
The one to push you forward
So you make your dreams come true..

Fading Daisy

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As twilight arrives
Vibrancy gives way,
Hues become somber
Yet a depth is present.

A new richness and dignity
Gently evolves,
And stamina and endurance
Courageously prevail.

Golden years
They are called,
Petals fade
Even begin to drop.

The cycle of returning
To the core
Scare some,
But not me.

For where I came from
I will go,
And my salvation
Always in love…

For where I have felt love
Has been
And is
My way home.

Succulent

Simple uniformity
With chlorophyll abundant
Definition clear
With H2O fill

Succulent by name
Enabling warrior survival
In the most desolate
Arid of terrains

Human so similar
Designed to perfection
Multiple organ chambers
Renewing survival each day

Consciousness the difference
Given privy to the play
I behold the succulent
For giving me the way

Recognizing her attributes
I look into myself
Finding what sustains me
Our bond is now complete

Glory to our creator
As magic he did spill
For splendors both created
As succulent and me

3 of 3 – Dragonfly

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Dragonfly
Of water
Swishing and
Swaying

Like a river
Homeward bound
From mountain top snow
To ocean surf tides

Sometimes like a torrent
Waterfall of spring
Sometimes like the dry bed
Of a fall creek

Yet always seeing
Every boulder
Every tree
And collecting the breeze

And like the drop
Always ready to merge
But forgetting to quench
And getting so parched

Listen to your beat
Don’t let the current
Guide your feet
Take time and find your still lake

You know where
She waits
Go pay homage
To your deepest bathe

Enjoy the stillness
Be in your calm
Feel the gentle ripples
Lap lapping
At your feet

2 of 3 – Dragonfly

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Dragonfly
Of color
Radiating brightly
Inviting so warmly

Like
A rainbow
After the rain
And before the sun

Yet always constant
Always reliable
Thinking ahead
And perfectly malleable

Helping hands
Thoughtful ways
Yet maybe never
Center in the play

Explore
Full spectrum
Of all
Your hues

From
Red and yellow
To
Indigo and violet

You have them all
So like an instrument
Play all your keys
Find all your music

And be
Completely
All you were meant
To be

1 of 3 – Dragonfly

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Dragonfly
Of graphite
Standing tall
Standing strong

Majestic
As queen
With subjects
Always In mind

Leading
Governing
Yet hiding
Behind your toil

Come out
I say
And release
Yourself

You maybe
Strong
But it’s ok
To be weak

Let down your guard
Peel away the beams
Let in the comfort
Let out the cry

With your wings
Wide spread
Flutter
In the wind

Changing course
Switching mindset
Find the dance
Be the dance

Your strength
You’ll always have
Just don’t let it take
Away your joy

Ageing

IMG_5077

Graced with elegance
Layered in riches
Brimming with fortitude
Aged to perfection

Truest of treasures
Never an acquisition
Always a revelation
As embedded with precision

With dignity and resilience
With acknowledgement of meaning
A life lived well
Shows through with beauty

The human no different
Whether wrinkled or lame
The gleam of beauty
Will still break though

Live with inquiry
Don’t follow like sheep
Walk against the crowd
Walk the path less trodden

Look within, look around
Answers come of asking
Make room for knowledge
And every wrinkle will hold a story

Fear not the running of time
Welcome
For it brings sustenance for renewal
Perfect just for each moment

So grateful this heart
For knowing this treasure
For knowing the guardian
For having so ‘aged’

Uniqueness

 

To be so awkward
Yet accepted as graceful,
Lessons of the giraffe.

To flutter inattentive
Yet accepted as a delicate beauty,
Lessons of the butterfly.

To create incessant noise
Yet accepted as the warning buzz,
Lessons of the bumblebee.

To thunderously roar
Yet accepted as commanding,
Lessons of the lion.

Do you know how to accept your weakness
Focus on your strength
Turn your quirkiness into an attribute?

Put down the yardstick
Measure no more,
Uniqueness cannot be compared.

Seek your true features
See your real image
Be the student of your self.

Apple cart upset!

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Life’s milestones and achievements
Chronological and geometrically
Predictably livable
Despite being boring
Suffocating and imprisoning

All is fine
So long you follow
Societal norms.

This is how it’s suppose to be
This is what we’ve been condition
To believe.

Due to apparent successes
Fallacies repeated
Failing model denied.

Causal factors
Consistently appear
Inherent in basic human nature.

Aspirations for potential,
Desire
Passion
Growth;
Turn up unexpected at any given time.
Apple cart upset!

Membranes broken
Barriers busted
Cries for freedom.

Now labeled
Wild
Unruly
Lost.
Apple cart upset!

Can I let them roll?
My apples?
Of pain
Regret
Neglect
Sorrow
Passion
Desire
Growth

Or just pick them back up
Assemble
Square up
And box….

Topofthewater

IMG_6113One of my favorite bloggers, deserving of a re-post…checkout any one of his most 20 visited posts. You’ll surely be warmed or touched to the core!

topofthewater top 20

And be sure to see today’s post, ‘The Mature Rose’.. inspired by Annie Lennox.

The Mature Rose

 

Pain or Pleasure


Grin and bear it!
From dumbbells
To cross fit ninja workouts,
From early commutes
To long unbearable hours,
From insufferable critics
To cultural and societal divides.

Sweat
Toil
Push yourself to the limit
As you work against your grain

Why?
Because they say
‘No pain, no gain’

Yet
Studies show
He lives longer
He lives happiest is he,
Who loves
Who is happy
Doing just what he does.
That’s Natures way.

Hormones, neurotransmitters;
Dopamine, one of the finest,
Released when you smile
Releases when you laugh
Released when you feel happy!

Side effect?
YES!
More energy
More intellectual capacity
More ‘Happy’

This was Nature’s plan
This is Nature’s gift

So say, ‘No’ to pain
Welcome pleasure
And take home
Your happiness!

Happy 19th Birthday

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Young lady!
Who are you?
Big brown eyes
Spirit of the stars
Beaming power and light…

Young lady!
Where are you?
Skipping little steps
Spirit of the adventurer
Inviting intrigue and wonder…

Young lady!
What are you?
Precious wise soul
Gift from God
Showing love and kindness

Young lady!
Why are you???
Find your reason
Ultimate opportunity of life bestowed
We wish you all

so you can unfold…

Rose

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Gently reaching upwards
Driven by the deepest thirst
Reveling in the nurturing rays

Silken petals drape
Curl and seductively pout
She knows she is a lure!

Every entranced glance
Every gentle stroke
Serves to excel her beauty

Mesmerized by her own fragrance
Kindly bestowed from within
She recognizes her gift

Preoccupied she seems
Envied by the loveless
Yet magnanimous she loves

Why oh why!
Does she tempt you so
Day and night, night and day

For she knows nothing else
Than love is all
For onlooker and herself both.

Be the rose, be the weed
The inner fragrance of love
Is the same for all

Dig past the facades
Gleam through all the layers
For you too, are your very own rose!

In The Moment..

In the quiet of the moment

All noise
All burdens
All distractions
All dissipate

In the nakedness of the moment
All layers
All colors
All embellishments
All relinquished

In the nothingness of the moment
All abundance
All magnificence
All completeness
All revealed

In the beauty of the moment
All vulnerability
All transparency
All simplicity
All acknowledged

All in just a moment
All the sound of quietness
All the completeness of nothingness
All the beauty of nakedness
All free to be felt and owned
All found in the moment
The home of everything

My Divine

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You are so near,
Yet when distanced
Even my longing is but a pleasure!

And when I return within
To this place of my home
The sweetness is so familiar
Yet constantly refreshing with the wonder of being alive..

How you are the salt to all my sustenance
The butter making all my richness.
Together I am complete
Apart I remember my fortune.

What simple divine grace and precious living..
What more is there to say
Than Thank you!
And may I always continue
Each day
In that one irreplaceable union with you.

 

Invisible Forces

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When all the elements
Soil, light and water
Present and play
The process begins..

Awakened from core to surface
The seed pushed forth
Against all pressure
Against all odds

You too
With all your history
Shackled to torment
Over and over

Plus present bite and spit
Venomous and stinging
From glare to words
Abusive, depriving

Push, push forth
As no-one sees
The invisible forces
Constantly pulling you down

Reach with all your might
Grab every trickle
Kindness, love, joy
And watch…

Smoldering flames may persist
Stand detached from the fanners
Mourn yesterday’s self
Live in today’s breath

And promise me this
You’ll reach, you’ll call
Me, the like,
All your little gifts

You will be your own angel
As you already have your wings
And this life you’ll walk alone

But you need never be lonesome!

I found a gem…

img_4032It has not facets and yet it gleams
It needs no polish and yet it shines
It lives freely for it cannot be stolen
It is priceless and yet it’s abundant,
It’s sort for universally
And vibrates through all that’s living.

So many assets
So widely prevalent
Easily underestimate
Often overlooked
Poorly prioritized.
A living death without!

Yes you’re right!
This antique
Yet renewable gem
Is LOVE.
How you find it
Where you find it,
Everyone’s story is also a gem.

Yet the truth is
You’ve always had
Your gem so close,
Yet never knowing
It could gleam
On every thing, in everyday.
For how else
Could love be all around!

The pot overflows

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When the pot is full
It overflows
Whatever it holds
Spills all over

I too am a vessel
Sometimes enchanting
Like crystal and china
Sometime dense
Like cast iron and granite
Yet always incredible by mere design

My five senses
Serving me the contents
Filling, filling
Yet somehow
Always remaining half empty

It’s take the Master craftsman
To stir and shape
Just so precisely and smoothly
As the secrets lays
Deep, deep within my moulding

With love and care
The brew begins
With a little awakening
The pot starts simmering

The essence of love
From the depth of my being
Begins to bubble
Begins to surface

The aura permeates
The lure entrancing
Ingredients of life
Begin to come alive

What was once
Just a flower
A star
A lapping wave
All now connect
As my heart is awake

Humbleness to kindness
Smooths out the creases
Love and peace
Brings out the timeless

When true love is found
From inside out
The resounding beauty
Is of no doubt

Quintessence

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Universally recognized
Here it is
This new moment
This new year

Tolling bells
Universally recognized
Chime the old out
Ring in the new

Some are sad
Some are glad
Universally recognized
Time stopping for none

Moments
Occasions
Lifetimes
All universally recognized

Irreplaceably given
Recklessly squandered
Unforgivably forgotten
Until each last

Moment
Person
Lifetime
Era and Age

If so recognized
Then what baloney
To latently lament
To wantonly procrastinate

Hitch the saddle
Reve the engine
Flap your wings
Leave the dust to settle

Set no formula
Prove no hypothesis
Cut the concepts
Feel the lifestream surge

Love; power second to none
Kindness; giver above all
Peace; love and kindness paired

Recognize this
Quintessence
And then there can be
Universal peace

In the moment…

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In the quiet of the moment
All noise
All burdens
All distractions
All dissipate

In the nakedness of the moment
All layers
All colors
All embellishments
All relinquished

In the nothingness of the moment
All abundance
All magnificence
All completeness
All revealed

In the beauty of the moment
All vulnerability
All transparency
All simplicity
All acknowledged

All in just a moment
All the sound of quietness
All the completeness of nothingness
All the beauty of nakedness
All free to be felt and owned
All found in the moment
The home of everything

Poof!

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What used to upset
Rock, overturn my boat,
No longer controls
The sway of my day

No matter the shock waves
My steel rod nerves
Come from my heart’s
Tranquil waters

The ripple and waves
Grow and threaten,
But I’ve learn no fight
Is quite the answer

Steer instead
With kindness and faith
And strength will arrive
To save the day

A little focus
A lot of love
And oh by golly
The demons have gone!

Bloom from Love

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Gloriously my heart opens
What can I possibly fear

You shine your love
So direct and radiantly

Through the many miles
Scaling the galaxy

Tireless, relentless
Never to be absent

Whether a ray or blast
With clouds attempting to overcast

How could I not
Be ready to receive

Each day I bloom
My core coming through

In all my glory
It is you I have come to know

You teach to be constant
Stray not from the focus

Each day making the effort
Is so part of the play

My beauty is the reflection
The peace, the love
You shine my way

Challenge

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Challenge

You are in this universe.
Is this not evident?
You stand on this here earth
Breathe this plentiful air
Do you not?

Or

Is the universe in you?!
What?! The stars above?
The mountains and canyons?
The seas and oceans?
This glory of God?!

How could all that be contained in me?! You ask..

Close your eyes
How deep can you dive?
How high can you fly?
The challenge is there..

Did you even know this?

Your depth is in
What lies beyond
Within,
Constantly sustaining
Constantly renewing

Learn how to soar!
On the wings of this flight
The breeze so fresh
Time is rendered ageless.

The possibility is here
Whilst you are breathing, alive
How can you know? you ask
Have you not yet felt gratitude? I ask

Have you not felt awe?
Have you not yearned for more?
Dig deep, inside and out
Scratch beyond the surface..

Past this illusion
The mundane, the routines
Find courage
Find your worth..

Then live as King
And servant both
As the greatest gifts
Both are acknowledged and unfold!

 

Moonstruck

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Rendered speechless
Eyes locked to your face
Entranced by your aura
Encased in your silvery gaze

Each night you visit
Sometimes a slither more
Sometimes a slither less
But as twilight dwindles you’ll sure be there

When in full force
To the your great mercy
Some will howl
Some will swoon

Your lunar powers
Gentle and relentless
As each wave of sea
Beats to your beam

Each blossom blooms
Each offspring is born
Each harvest collected
Each winter unfolds

All that can cycle
Cycle it does
As you stay constant
And orbit all day

Companion of Earth
You have taught me my great truths
That the one by my side
From the first day through the last

Will emerge in all shapes
With powers big and small
Will shine lights so bright
No darkness can remain

Will soften the hardest
Will beckon the lover
Will reflect my imperfections
Yet regardless will remain
Always so present

Fairytales

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Princes valiant
Victorious and virile
Princesses demure
Delicate and divine,
Castles charming
Cultured and content;
Childhood indoctrination
Visual imagery instilled.

Years, decades pass
The images engraved
Yet distanced and denied.
Worthiness questioned
Strive abandoned.

Dragons and demons
Insipid and unrecognized,
Fuel either apathy
Or suppress revived energies.

Who are these demons?
Their beastly indifference
Their monstrous tolerance
And devious submission!
How cleverly and rationally
They lock away your dreams

Discard the visual
Embrace your rights
For fairytales do come true!
You want your castle?
Your kingdom to reign?

Claim your virtues
Respect your perspective and thirst!
Then pick up your swords of
Fortitude and determination!

Perhaps you were born
Right into your fairytale
As why else did you once
Feel like king of the castle,
Conqueror of all!

Reclaim your castle
Where brick and mortar
Is of joy and kindness
Appreciation and gratitude;
And fortressed by
The love of Divine.

Timeless Beauty

Original art by Tejal Patel

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Timeless beauty
Impeccable design

Handcrafted delicately
Gracefully balanced

This is your form
This is your nature

With each one of your breaths
Come to this closer

When clarity unfolds
It permeates your all

With the flow of your pencil
Dance out the Divine

Be it words, be it illustration
The song is just the same

One of endless love and beauty!

 

 

Regal Lily

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Standing tall
In all her glory,
Bearing her core
Revealing her story.

Once a bud
Now in maturity,
Rich in elegance
Yet humbled by mortality.

From inner core
To edge of petals,
Spectrum of hues
Strength in depth.

Spring’s chilly dawns
Or sudden April showers,
All weathered through
With promise of sun’s sheltering.

Let her life story
Yield comfort and challenge,
For as she cycles through
So shall you…

Disagree

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Read me right
Don’t like my sight?
It’s ok
As I agree
We disagree
As all I want
Is to run the other way
But you stirred the fire
In my belly deep
And now compliance
Has no right
And I might
Even fight!

Written in response to a daily challenge and then I got distracted and forgot to post!

Climb

image

Smiles, humor, sarcasm
Numbing facade
Looking up, looking in
Masking, masking the pain

Each day
Promise made
‘I’m OK’
“I AM OK”!

Each night, defeated
Demons crawling
Raging discontent
Useless numbing

Hard to swallow
Impossible to cry
Heartbeat imploding
Mind hurtling

Tools employees
Moments of relief
Comfort appreciated
Gratitude known

Yet recycled
Each day the climb
Survival unknown
Too hard to keep letting go

So in need of sharing
Just a little kindness
Just a little care
Making the infinite difference

Holding close
My worthiness
Confronting the change
Keeping light in sight

The seeds well sown
The need too great
Incremental changes
Alls in motion

Grasping at any strand
Any tendril of hope
Blowing my way
In the wind of life

The task at hand
Seems so huge
Yet greater still
Is Divine’s own call

The course is steep
Summit hard to reach
But I will,  without a doubt
Just so long, as I keep it all in sight

Letting go…..


Hiding from the inevitable

Avoiding the breakdown

Denying the process
Come I say, come!

Full force and break me

Fill me with your pain
Drown me, then wash with you

Away the momentary anguish

Leave me cleaned and empty
My choice to feel the void

My blessing to fill with love

My clarity to know the truth
What’s truly mine

I can never lose

Yet given freely and abundantly replenish
This is the story of love

Never to be lost

Only to be gained
Wellspring eternal

Even for the mortal

Mesh, merge and mingle
Into every moment, everyday

Let transient slip and slide

And love shine and be forever bright