my eyes as I watch its dance
my ears as I listen to its song
my heart as I celebrate my place in it
all blessed by natures beauty

There's poetry here in my heart
the trouble is gracing the paper
no words do flow unto my pen
my mind contains nothing but vapor

Thoughts so jumbled
I cannot think
from this emptiness
my heart doth shrink

To be reborn
to come alive
those lovely words
I must revive

To write again
to share this heart
it's what I must do
how do I start

Words on paper
not making sense
they're not fulfilling
they make me tense

There's a dam within
holding back the flood
yet I plod on
as if through mud

I know they'll come
this drought will end
the words will flow
once again be penned

Rejoicing now
as the words return
from heart to paper
they begin to churn

They're like a taste of honey
blessing the soul
for now as they flow
I again feel whole

The dawn breaks
the rays of the sun
edge past your blinds
casting light upon your eyes
now is the time to rise
engage your mind
greet the new session
that brings a new lesson
for there is much to be learned
from this gift you've received
called today

Life
is meant to be savored
get up
go live

my opinion was questioned
my view then became clouded
are my beliefs now that of another
no longer do I have an understanding
nothing of this life path that has been set before me
can be seen
I feel as if I am now blind
my direction lost
there is no moving on from where I find myself
no longer do I know which way is forward

why is it some wish to mold everyone they meet
into a clone of themselves

Salt trails upon cheeks
speak of sorrow
and also joy

joy and sorrow
they are yin and yang
the two sides of the emotional coin

so odd
two totally opposite emotions
yet they release in the same manner

my salt tested twice in three days
that which was lost to us
returned

how is it a pet can mean so much

Entering the forest
not really knowing why
I took chance to step upon a worn path

Though shaded beneath the canopy
the way was plain to see

Here and there rays of light
fought their way through the leaves
preventing the theft of my sight
removing the darkness
left behind from the night

The sun seldom dawns on the forest floor you know

The path I was following
was reminiscent of a slalom course
winding its way
through trees which were ever increasing
in their height and girth
taking me ever deeper
into the very heart of the forest

Before me appeared an opening
there was a great abundance of sunlight

As I drew closer
there at the center
I could see what must have been
the mother of all trees

The picture I saw
appeared strange to me
upon its branches
it looked as if there were the leaves
of the oak
of the elm
of the maple
of the birch and beach trees alike
all upon the same tree

My curiosity peaked
it was mixed with
the fear of the unknown

There at the base
of this trees great massive trunk
was the answer to why
I felt the need to enter this great wooded area

I had only heard of the Green Man before
never really believing that he existed

Then to my amazement
he spoke to me

“As the life of all trees are nourished
by the flow of the same life giving sap,
all human life is nourished
through the same blood”

“As all trees are one with creation,
all men are one with the trees”

“All the minute portions of creation
are part of the one whole,
we are all one”

Love
how useless
you find it
it leaves

Now you tell me
it was infatuation
you played with my heart
left it in pieces

How many others were there
no-one else need ever be cautious of you
never again
as I was your last

How can we trust our congress
simply to work for us
it seems that each time we speak of our needs
they put up an awful fuss

They couldn't care less
if our needs are met
as long as they keep getting theirs
and re-election is set

What they really want are the dollars
that the one percent will give
and as long as the dollars keep flowing in
we'll be needing as long as we live

In this small town
in my quiet little corner
of a world at war
I cannot escape
that which aids in its destruction.
The stress brought on by the news of the day.
It comes at me from all directions.
It is in the air and around the corner.

People with their opinions
without seeking facts
argue over who is right
and who has their head in the sand.

The discord between neighbors
ever growing for the political theater
of the media.
Actual news seems to have
disappeared with Walter Cronkite
and the rest of the story
died with Paul Harvey.

Must we be subject to the extremes?
They refuse to talk with each other
nor with those who might still believe
that there is a middle ground existing
where we might come together
as a people, as a nation
or globally have a chance.

Have we truly lost the art
of getting along with each other?

So many bigots

So many targets

So much hate

So little tolerance
of others with different viewpoints
who have been shaped by different cultures

Sure each of us are individually different
but we share this great blue marble
which orbits the star we call the sun.
We are all made up of the same stuff
with the same blood
flowing through our bodies.

Under the skin we are all
brothers and sisters.
Yet we seek to destroy each other.

Man, the specie
his own worst enemy.

Why  lie
what is there to gain
a life of slavery
to a story that's lame

lies are tough to remember
they morph and become strange
while the truth is so simple
as it never does change

why not live free
unbridled from lies
gain peace in your heart
find joy in your eyes

there will be new respect
folks will form a great trust
all because of a practice
of truth being a must

Tears spilt for children
the hungry
the dead
the dying

We can feed the world
but we don't

We can stop the killing
but we won't

How many more innocents
must die
before these tears
need no longer be shed

Where have they gone
we were such great friends
they've up now and left me
is this how it ends

It seems life depended
on us as a group
but they no longer want me
I'm left out of the loop

They were all of my world
now I feel all alone
is life trying to tell me
I can stand on my own

I guess life can be cruel
when a lesson needs learnin'
as sometimes it takes
the backs of friends turnin'

To sit in total silence
my world becomes filled with peace
it's as if no others exist at all

I am alone in that emptiness of sound
where no one and nothing can touch me

I become for a short while
he who molds the entire universe
into a single harmonic entity

There is no hate

There are no wars

No sickness nor hunger

One may believe
this to be running away  
from reality

But in truth
it is more a journey within
which returns my sanity

Nonsense they say
that I never make sense
and then write a book
in their crude elegance
it's for a work they dislike
and just don't understand
seems to read twixt the lines
they simply have no command
they need things spelled out
made as clear as a bell
if I don't get it right quickly
they'll be raising more hell

There once was a Christmas at home
as kids we four spent it alone
see my mom broke her nose
as she tripped over her toes
and the truth of old Santa made known

Sheep
they follow
never seeing the world
for themselves
they all become alike
they have no individual traits

told where they can go
they are limited as to what world
has to offer
hounded by the dogs
who move them toward a pen
they say for there own protection
yet it is for the shepherd
truly an issue of control

the wolves will always be there
the pen is no protection

those who have not learned
to stand on their own will fall

those who become as the big horn
will experience life

When ones heart is giving
their life is worth living
the smiles they receive
are quite enough

As their faces say thank you
and eyes well with dew
their need filled
today won't be as tough

This day they'll survive
once again feel alive
your heart being thrilled
your life being filled
your giving
to the living
has done the right stuff

To sing
laugh
and dance
is life
when we stop
our spirit dies

Why this journey
with no rhyme or reason
so many directions
throughout each new life season
each time I feel comfort
up pops a change
all becomes new
with a feeling so strange
but it's how we are molded
it shapes who we are
then it's how we react
that makes us a star
so play along with the changes
as if life is a great tourney
it's a wonderful game plan
for a winning end of your journey

I've written of forgiveness
so many times
sometimes more prose
other times more in rhymes
but one things for certain
it's what you must do
and it's not really for them
it's mostly for you

Letting loose of your anger
will comfort your soul
free up your heart
and in the end makes you whole
but if you hold tight
on to your bitterness
you'll be cheated of joy
and won't find happiness

The failure to thrive
the longer man is alive
is the result
of when he quits trying

He feels he's played his last card
to move on much to hard
there's no hope
is what he's implying

Then his spirit it dies
as his mind tells him lies
and deep within
his heart is left crying

But now it's too late
once backed off from the plate
striking out
with little left but the dying

many today
have begun to squirm
acting as
the lowly worm
as their secrets
begin to unfold
as finally at last
the truth is told
into the ground
hiding their faces
no longer visiting
their common places
ashamed of themselves
for what they have done
by pretending their actions
affect only one
their selfishness
has finally caught up
and what they are left with
is an empty cup

If I could just have my say
and live my whole life my way
you'd find me filling out my day
with a greater amount of fun and play

But society says that I must work
I look at them, begin to smirk
then realize if I want the perk
I must work or go berserk

I tell the mirror
I don't want to go
my anger builds
begins to show

I make the deal
for this one day
I'm so depressed
I cannot play

I've given up
I accept my fate
I'll go to work
but I'll be late

I tried patience

Always waiting
Mostly for peace to arrive

Believing in their goodness
Every man
Inside and outside of our circle
Need our respect
Giving it is the least we can do

Can we come together
Each of us
Not just in words
Something much more is needed
Our actions are the important part
Reviving the spirits of others
Even when we feel at the bottom
Determines our destiny

stuck in his box
with no way out
frustration with life
he began to shout

where is my freedom
the walls he'd scrape
again raising his voice
he would beg escape

let me out he cried
give me new things to learn
variety is calling
and inside I do burn

the box holds me prisoner
with no way to move on
I long for that place
where knowledge will spawn

someone please help
come show me the way
I know I'll learn quickly
if you'll but teach me to play

it's joy that I seek
not the four walls of this box
help me open my mind
bring the keys to the locks

I write this to you Christianity

What matters more
that we pray for
or feed the hungry
the flow of manna from heaven
today is nowhere to be seen
other than where it is with the help
from the hand of man

Was it not to be shared with all of gods chosen
by your word, your savior came to save all
his father fed them in the wilderness
he fed them on the mount
yet many die today of starvation
why must even one go hungry

This world has a glut of food
all it needs is to be shared
distributed to those in need
yet so much is thrown away

I guess it's less expensive letting it go to waste
when the bottom line is your desired taste

I have to wonder
those who feel that need to pray
and then do nothing to help
do they not see
that they are the answer
for what they pray for
their hearts would not have been touched
if they weren't

Or is it just more of the same lip service

Even if we were just to sit down
and share half of our sandwich
we would be helping them
renewing their faith
restoring their spirit
helping to ease their pangs of hunger

prayers without works
my friend, they're dead
as your heart is unchanged
where is your head
do you not understand
you've been called to good works
to help and feed others
should be looked on as perks
never a burden
rewards then received
as smiles grace a face
with their hunger relieved

When a heart
is filled with fire
fueled by bitterness
there's no peace to be found
no music to dance to
no joy to bring laughter
only darkness

Flowers of the field
turn toward the light
for they recognize
that in the presence
of this darkness
spirits whither
and die

What I would
I have not done
my life cheated
by my cowardice

Afraid to step out on a limb
afraid to follow my dream
unwilling to step outside
that safety net
of being responsible

Dreams are only achieved
by the passionate

Lost
confused
I know not my own mind
the day plods on
I cannot keep up
as soon as I see where I am
I am gone
it seems as if to some other dimension
a whole different world
one where I find so little in common
that my understanding is as I said
lost
confused

Alone
I feel no-one is there
for guidance
for consolation
to lead me back to the familiar places
that seem to have been left behind
to that safe place of in my mind
that holds on to my sanity

To return
even for a moment
then I would not feel
so lost
nor confused
as to who I am
and where I belong in this life

Held captive
in the emptiness of this place
my days without meaning
have led to places of darkness
ones that I wish to forget
yet they linger

How to move on

Which turn is to be taken

Is there any path that leads home
to the world I once was a portion of
tiny though I was
I was part of what made up the whole

There was purpose

There was reason

There was a feeling of sanity
of understanding
a closeness
with no confusion
during those times
and in that place
I never felt lost

The gruesome photos from war
they want brought to the floor
dead pictures of men
what the hell happened and when

The blood and the gore
they always seem to want more
it appears that man's taste
has really gone waste

Does man not see what's in store
this will poison his core
will he ever really learn
or wait until spirits burn

The internet
is such a great tool
except for the fact
there are too many fools
they have no respect
for man nor beast
and the funny thing is
they deserve it the least
so how do you handle them
what do you say
just ignore all their ignorance
don't be suckered into their play
show respect for yourself
don't let your skin be so thin
most of all, don't lower yourself
to the gutter they're in

Try to emulate others
no, not on your life
the conflict that builds
brings nothing but strife

Why would I wish to be someone else
is there something wrong with being myself
why go to the trouble of being another
would that not be lying to the world around me

Integrity step aside
no place here for you
the truth is now hidden
under my shoe

The mirror then tells a new story
one of a person I barely recognize
I have to question just who he is
and whether I can trust him for the truth

Is it not truth that builds trust
while lies break it down
those who once smiled as friends
step back now with frowns

The ruination of self
that's what comes with the copy
again I say, be a snowflake
don't be afraid to be different

Our youth
the pressures they face
children fighting
for acceptance

fitting in with their peers
they strive for
it's a shame
so many have died for

where have we gone wrong
did we sing the wrong song
the lessons we taught
seem to have gone for naught

are we actually failures as parents

is it really our fault
have we pushed them away
what can we do
to help them today

turn this tide
so they've no need to hide
the feelings they harbor
so deep down inside

the hurt that drives them
beyond our hearts reach
unto the point
where their spirit's been breached

how can we help them
bring them back home
help them to feel
they're not so totally alone

get them to realize
that they're loved beyond measure
and here in our hearts
they are the greatest .of all treasure

I ask you
are there answers to this
if not we must find them
yes, that is truly my wish

How can none
be less than one
when there's an extra n
added to it

It seems to me
that four letters are greater than three
when you add one
don't you always have more

And while speaking of more
three has more letters than four
right now
I think I'm confused

I guess I ask about none
just for a little bit of fun
and this rhyming
the vehicle I've used

love
meant for the heart
denied
for lack of trust

There once was a voice
he had never before been heard from
well, except for when pen
would make his recitation
to his good friend paper

The day came
voice discovered he had vocal cords
his first words, tentative in their birth proved
insecurity had been the reason
for his silence

He spoke slowly at first
worried that he would stumble
afraid he would begin to stutter
his fear of acceptance or lack thereof
kept him close to the edge of giving up

Deep within a new and fresh feeling come upon him
it was as if out of nowhere
there was a strength building
a new determination
giving up was backing up away from the edge

Voice became strong
no longer insecure

Voice realized his purpose
and vowed to fulfill it

Voice began shouting his messages
from the roof tops
from the tops of mountains
and across the seas

Voice would never be silenced again
his message will continue to be heard

You just may find this quite curious
that my writing is often real serious
well I guess it's to tell
a few stories of hell
of some people I find so mysterious

should I change me
to become thee
hell no I say
why can't you see
no two are the same
in life, this game
and if you want that to be
your understanding is lame
we must remain snowflakes
different each one
without that variety
we eliminate fun

so don't worry about style
let me be who I am
I'm not looking for change
only to become one more sham

becoming another
putting me on the shelf
all it would take
is to lie to myself
but that's not what I want
that's one thing I won't do
I must live with myself
before I please you

Our youth
they talk of suicide
this seems to me
a place they hide

To give their heart
a way to drain
and relieve it
from a terrible pain

The help they need
resides within
and will not be found
upon their skin

For in this life
folks will oft let you down
leaving you feel
as you're about to drown

Their acceptance is great
but your own must come first
to love who you are
is a most worthy thirst

In our minds we find questions
they're good for the learning
but to live life to it's fullest
our hearts should be burning.

They say all work and no play
makes Jack a dull boy
as he's never chased his hearts dream
and that's robbed him of joy.

Yes to think is important
but to love so much more
discover the dreams of your heart
there's so much to explore.

Everyone says it just can't be done
so why should I even start
waste my time to do the impossible
we all know that wouldn't be smart

But how will I know if I never do try
what if at first I was right
and if I succeed the look on their faces
now that could be one crazy sight

There is a stream
that carries the music of life through the forest.
Ever calming the soul and spirit
of the creatures beneath the canopy above.

As I sit by waters side,
my toes being kissed by its current
I find an unexpected blessing
that was ever there for me.
All that was needed
was for me to accept it

To get here I  left a world ravaged by
a rushed and impatient society.
Its greed  and lack of kindness
has taken its sad toll of men.

It would have owned me
had I not come to this place I now sit.
Far away from that world
free of stress, in true comfort.
A place more tranquil
than one could ever imagine.

The thoughts of the world I have left
have been washed from my mind.
My soul, my very spirit
has grown new ears.
My heart has opened
peace and joy have entered.

I am one with the forest.
The stream flows through me.
I am filled with its music.

I knew a man
who could not see beyond his nose
his path through life
was covered with stones

I knew a man
who refused to open his mind
he could not understand
why he could not understand

I knew a man
who would not let his heart be touched
he died alone
never knowing the joy that was his