A teenage alcoholic
Stumbling up the stairs
You believe that no one understands
That nobody cares.
You have friends that cut themselves
And friends that take hard drugs
It's been years since you recall
Ever getting hugs

You believe that you will never change
You may even love your sin
But though it may be ugly
You're Beautiful to Him

You're middle aged and overweight
You've lost your husband/wife
You're weary of the daily grind
May even hate your life
You look in the mirror
Apply your makeup/shave
You see the crow's feet and gray hair
You're ready for the grave

You believe that fate has cursed you
That you will never win
But no matter appearances
You're beautiful to Him

The "Elephant Man", John Merrick
Was found in a cage
In a horrendous "freak" show
They said he was estranged
From basic humanity
Because of face and form
But Dr Frederick Reeves
Proved all of them wrong
He didn't look upon the face
Which was deformed in whole
He looked into his pleading eyes
And saw a lovely SOUL.

Though Joseph "John" Merrick
Was ugly by our ken
He was blessed of our great God

And BEAUTIFUL TO HIM!

BRIDGE:

No matter what society
Will say or do or think
No matter if you hate yourself
And your on the brink
No matter what
No matter how
You can yet begin
You're precious to the Living God

You're beautiful to Him.


SoulSurvivor
(C) 2/18/2016

He’s a material man
On a material planet.
Gobbles up money like a gannet.

Seeking status and promotion,
Upwardly mobile is his motion.
At his side is Madonna’s Girl,
In for a diamond, in for a pearl.

This poor creature has no soul,
Making a fortune his only goal.
Grandeur or Greatness is his God,
For the beauty of Nature he don’t give a sod.

This man doesn’t know what he is missing,
Life’s simple pleasures and Love’s real kissing.

Who really needs all those houses and cars,
Or getting seen in swanky bars?
What’s so fine about a designer label?
We seem to have built our Tower of Babel.

This man will be deaf to these words of mine.
The only mine HE wants, is a glittering Gold Mine.
Humanity divided into Rich and Poor,
Anyone sensible knows the score.

Nations chasing seas of oil,
While back at home the slaves they toil.
Waging wars for piles of money,
Everyone knows it isn’t funny.

Any hope for Material Man?
Unless he changes, he’s down the pan.
Please sir will you open your eyes?
Only Love is loved by the wise.

Paul Butters

I wonder if God
    sees our numbered
breaths, how many
     have been & how
many are left,
millions of digits
    shifting above
our heads;
the old woman
 on the park bench
        with just 500 left. 
The jogger with 100
   between now &
        tonight when he
will exhale
     for a final time.
I should scale mountains,
         stare at the sun
  make my amount
  count, every last one.

Early hours; the
parts of sleep
     recalled;
          a fly opening
        it's silk cocoon,
   a foetus moving
in a jelly womb,
   irises and corneas
         assembling into eyes
                    eager to explore
                a world outside;
      those first times
when regrets are
               abstract concepts
                             not feelings
                        growing roots
       in subconscious pools;
all the things I'd redo,
              my deepest desire
                              to be anew

wabi-sabi** (n.) the discovery of beauty in imperfection; the acceptance of the cycle of life and death.

take a look around you,
breathe in the air.
relax and find your inner peace,
feel the wind brush through your hair.

with life comes death and with death comes sadness
but don’t think of the misery and pain.
think of the past and the beauty of life.
let your mind dance about in the rain.

no one is perfect and perfect is a lie,
so accept your flaws and live.
wake up each day with no regrets,
show the world all that you have to give.

find the beauty in the simple things of life
and embrace them with all you’ve got.
never forget that you’re a gorgeous human being
and people do love you a lot.

with life comes death and with death comes sadness
but don’t think of the misery and pain.
think of the past and the beauty of life.
let your mind dance about in the rain.