Family

March 7th 1998

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As the ‘passage way’

Of parenthood,

We’ve strived to be.

From nurturing to

Nagging,

As cheerleaders to

Protectors.

 

But actually,

With our smiles

Our laughter

And even the cries,

It’s Companions

We have grown

To become.

 

We’ve won as parents!

We hope you did too!

As despite any time

Apart,

We always feel that need

To come on back.

Back to the place

Of our togetherness.

 

So as 21 years

Rolls on in,

We have only to give

More of what

We’ve been blessed to have,

More WE.

 

From dream

To reality

You have emerged,

Definitely

A gift of complete

God-liness.

 

As beauty radiates

From inside out,

May you leave

Little gems

Of a life well lived,

Where ever

Your story unfolds…

Happy Birthday, Honey.

 

 

 

Gone but not Lost

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Number of days shorten
A shining light begins to fade.
Bearers assembled
Eulogies sing out.

Absence marked
At dining tables,
End of text and phone lines.
Keys, cars and clothes
All untouched.

Cried and uncried tears
All await their turns.
Triggers.
Simple stories and songs
Photographs and jokes.

Oh my lovely!
Where art thou now?
Among the stars?
Flying with the angels?
Watching over me?

Something tells me
My yearn
My memories
Of what we’ve shared,
Is my solace.

Your presence
No longer physical,
But still remains
Warm, charming
Undeniably lovable.

You live on, my dear.
Maybe not as I once knew.
But now, in a new phase
Here for me to face.

I learn anew
Life always goes on
Presence changes form
True love never ends,
And you and I
Will always be one.

 

Reyana

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Reyana

Resting quietly
On a family breast,
Rey’nd a love
Of a sweet little babe.

Big brown eyes
And a gentle spirit,
She sang a song
With her own fresh melody.

Rooted deep
In cultures rich,
She’s cocktailed to perfection
Both contemporary and ancient.

Princessed with abundance
Yet wise like a Goddess.
Rise my lovely
You have all our love to soar.

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.

 

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
An 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..

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…

Priceless

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The mother;
That knows her child’s palate
So her child’s eyes always gleam
And hunger is stirred
Even before the first bite.

The father;
That watches dote-fully
And nudges forward
Yet stands always
As the safety net.

The lover,
That throws the wink
The unexpected kiss
Ignites all primal thirsts
And satiates in participatory manner.

The Divine,
Delivers the life force
Delicately as breath.
Stays closer than close
So that you are never alone.

All impossible to beat
And priceless in nature.

Eighteen Today

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No mother could be prouder
Of the infant to child
The teenager to adult
That you have become

With obvious insecurities
To seasoned confidences
From fears and trepidations
To successes and conquests

With molding and shaping
Your character blooming
Showing love and kindness
To joy and gratitude

Always respectful
Quietly inquisitive
Always striving
Wanting knowing of more

For simply just who you are
I hope you’ll carry
My love always close
To nurture and comfort

For no matter the year
No matter the decade
You’ll always be mine
And I’ll always yours