I wait in the aspen grove,
I hope you'll find me there.

That clearing where we found the trove,
Where I first stroked your golden hair.

Youre still waiting in my mind,
I hope I wait in yours.

Like fruit protected by the rind,
Like oceans meet the shores.

Three days we spent rustling like leaves,
Three days our hearts were still as trees.

Three days I will wait here for you,
After then we must begin anew.

Ashamed ashamed, strayed, lost and afraid
Afraid of the stares and the look on my face, the sound of my voice and the shape of my frame

There was no name to call out, no one to turn to, no future to hope in, all bridges were burned through

Ashamed, in shame, shame was my prison
All I had was myself and the sinking suspicion
that I could never be enough /my future was written…

naked, afraid, exposed and alone… alone… so weak and alone
And then in the pit, in the dark, crying out,
A voice like a blanket covered my doubts
And for a brief second I could see through the clout --

A me without blemishes, apart from rejection,
as if nothing had wilted my frail fine perfection,
as children and home and soothing all comfort…
and then sinking back in, did I even belong here?

Don’t I deserve the shame, oh shame, ashamed and unworthy
So I ran to an alter and threw my heart to mercy,
I was weeping, no wailing for freedom from hurting

But I couldn’t go back to a self with no savior,
no salve to soothe burdens or soften my anger

Then LIGHT, then form, then heart bursting rapture,
"No shame, no shame," you bellowed in laughter
And you came, you were love, it was you chasing… after...after… me?

Racked with guilt for the waste and the dirt on my skin,
you embraced me, unlocked me, invited me in

Calling life from death your words fashioned a new me,
crystal, and jasper, light dancing right through me …
No shame for my children, unashamed in my eyes
[--- twirling and buzzing unashamed but why…]

what gain is there where I had been?
What trade could fair my sorrowed sin –
more than this world, its passions and pleasure,
you lifted me to the truest of treasures

And now with the key to free dark hearts from prison
I rush back to Canaan and to find that which is hidden…
Where ear has not heard and eye has not glanced,
You shine light near the broken to give them a chance

And I, with your eyes, now see my true worth,
to sing of our lovesong renewing the Earth

Now stares cannot stop me, or whispers faze,
I am one who has captured heaven’s gaze

I invite all from shame out from Cain and the curse,
to be washed by the sight of he who loved first

We are his prizes, his treasure, and frame,
oh how he loves the shamed, lost and afraid

If there could be eternal youth,
like unending day.

All the flowers of holy truth,
would only seek the shade.

If there could be eternal love,
like primordial fire.

All the stars that burn above,
would only seek the pyre.

Still I'd see the flowers wilt,
i'd see the stars wink out.

If I could see our house rebuilt,
our ancient garden sprout.

A house illuminated, and no imperfection bared
unfinished, well used, improperly repaired.

Shabby when I find it, with unkempt yard
grasshoppers flitting among broken bottle shards.

Crooked door, bubbled windows make a wise old grin
crumbling steps, sunken porch through all time inviting in.

The floors creak soft sighs, sending up dust motes
a record of past lives, passed down in quiet notes.

The sun rests here on shoddy tables, dusty bookshelves, broken chairs
A house illuminated, and no imperfection bared.