chasing down those clouds
in penetrating light
rode to the bridge

sun had set
pink and gold patterns
on the river

The man at the water plant
leaning on the railing
glanced down the river.

above the silhouetted hills
below the salmon gilded clouds
a patch of blue

no longer blue
but the color of the turquiose ring
on my bike tires

the best thing about being totally relaxed
and its true
is being comfortable in your own skin
uninterrupted nakedness day and night

young as the day
long as the night

jumped out my skin
crawled back in

a forgotten dream
time reversed

memories alive
walking the spirit world.

It seems you're holdin' on dear life,
    as tears come down in streets & strife
    as poachers stab a plunging knife,

     Never turn a trusting back
    in your world the angry hack
     nothing done or what you lack,
     rope is  there, pick up the slack,
     climb away from their attack,

     You need to find a piece of HOPE,
     a hand to help & hold the rope,
     as fingers reach to steal & *****,

      I am hear for you, I'm here right now,
      I HOPE these words will help somehow,
      hope can fade but this I vow,

      The sun will shine again tomorrow
      amidst the trials and the sorrow
      pay it forward, time we borrow

       I hear you poet, I truly do
       I'm right there, beside you too,
       shining light on grey skies new,
       wipe away & they turn blue,
       hold a hand & will undo,

        Your beauty shining from within,
        take away your thoughts of  sin,
        dig below the surface skin,
        I promise we are new again,

        Take that hand & take good care
        in your pain &  we all share
        kindness something I can spare,
        take a chance
        & help to dare,
        life if just not always fair
        but this to you, I say & swear
        never more than we can bare,
        when you feel as if you'll tear

       Part your load I already carry
       so rest your head & don't be wary,
       when roads ahead they seems so scary,
       one day again you smile merry,
       your soul & spirit feeling airy,

       This is just a wicked test,
       before your heart can have a rest,
       for you dear one, I hope the best.
       an onward journey, onward quest,
       I hope the heavens, yours have blessed,

       & shine a brilliant idea of hope
      the Angels  favorite kind of dope
      don't let go of that sweet rope,
      apply a healthy healing dose,

      draw in the Dr really close,
      this injection won't be gross,
      if a syringe,
     please don't cringe,
     or have a twinge,
     hope it's something you can binge,

      It's not a drug,
      just sending hugs,
      I pray, &  say
      keep trying today,
      the sun it stepped away,

       Hope it will bring a little relief
       I know in my heart
       & in my belief
       if you try & don't give up
       you will have a bit of luck,

      It will come in the form of words
      a pen of HOPE I know is heard,
     seems the Heavens they concur,
      in a method they prefer,
      digging in a needed spur,

       My God, your God
       they are the same,
      doesn't matter what the name,
      love as one & never blame,
      raise a voice, inviting change,

     I am here & write of you,
     a hope that rhymes they will undo,
     or provide a little needed glue,
     know that others love you too,
     this is something you CAN do

     Whatever you believe,
      bring a rest dear God,
      in your light I pray we're awed,

      whoever you are, wherever you are,
      I wished upon the waiting stars
      erasing deep & painful scars,

     Adding bandages & soothing cream
     sleep at night, a chance to dream,
    finally see a light that beams,
    shining brilliantly,
    stunning beauty,
   loving all is a duty,

   an overwhelming love
    that comes from above

   Hey you gotta friend
   who is there until the bitter end,
   I know in this you can depend
   & in this message that I send,

   Send much love & best wishes
   just a few hands blew kisses,
   send you all my favorite dishes,

   bring comfort and some
    key ingredients,
    to a weary & tired
   seekers heart today ❤

     Cherie Nolan © 2016

I know I am young
and need to learn -

but you are old,
and need to remember.

Dangling on strings in an old wooden shed,
the puppets wait with hanging heads.
Dust filters through a shaft of light.
Everything's still and silent as night.

Suddenly the door opens with a boom.
The Puppet Maker enters the dusty room.
His smile is wide; he’s dressed in his best,
as he grabs the puppets from their rest.

The orange sun sets as he walks along,
The dusty roads, whistling songs.
The puppets are tucked in a bag underarm,
while they pass through the town and reach a farm.

A stage is set up for the puppet show,
They’re pulled from their bag and lowered below.
The quiet wood shed forgotten and past;
Replaced with bright cheering and many laughs.

Rainclouds form,
in a grey skied mind,
pouring down,
is so unkind,
crystal ball tears,
& lightning fears,
emotionally you're mind reading,
indigo ink is quickly bleeding,
your touch you know I'm needing,

a premonition was imprinted,
on your darkened heart,
& doomed us right,
from the start,

I crash to the ground
in a deafening sound,
thunderstruck,
endings ****
& so does luck,

I'm ripped apart at the seams,
shattering my broken dreams,
of ever finding the way,
to your sea,
& ever hoping my heart,
will finally be free.

Cherie Nolan © 2016

Slender and tenuous reasons
Run through the droplets of motive
Which impel us in our actions
Direct us to  our self-fulfilling fates
Our cleverly devised mistakes
For we each bear the scars
Of our own fatal flaws
Victims of our own design
As I have been of mine
Haven't you?

I am the saboteur of my dreams
Picking at the seams
Of a braver me
A wiser and unlikelier me
All my tendencies and traits
Conspire and defeat me
To subtly beat me
About my empty head
With every word I've said
Every thought I've had
And that's why

                       By Phil Roberts

You might not be an astronaut
Never be a king or queen
Never meant to be the president
Or walk the red carpet scene

Won't win the Noble Peace Prize
In science or literature
May never find that mountain to climb
Or discover the colds elusive cure

You may never make it famous
In the circles that you move
But you can always count on the one thing
You are good at being you

You may not step into a room
To the roaring of applause
Or have the Paparazzi follow you
Taking pictures of all they saw

You may not be a rock star
Filling stadiums at night
Among these and other things
You may never do in life

While the above for others
May all soundly come true
You can always rely on the best part in life
And that is in being you

You may take some things for granted
Seeing green on the other side
Wish that you had made it
Much further in this life

You can take it all to the bank
With holdings firm in your belief
That where your ship has landed
Isn't at all where you should be

But when your lot is filled with haven't got
All you can do in life is lose
Just stick with the plan that is at hand
And do the best at being you

I was never the type
of child that obeyed
much  of anything;
not even the many
times  I was told
not to stare into
the evening sun
when I felt
alone.