Dan Gray

Dan Gray Mar 2013

I am but a vessel.
The basic clay from my parents.
Moulded by the genes of countless ancestors
Giving me basic shape and colour.
The glaze; the teachings of my parents,
The impurities coming from society.
Fired by the love and hope of them
Who wished to see me walk this world
With little or no prejudice.
Accepting people for who they are
Not the colour of their vessel,
Nor the decoration of their religion,
Nor the fanciness of wealth.
Nor what level they were placed.
I have traveled.
Seen wonders.
Stood with tears
Seeing the awe and beauty of the world
Sat with tears
Seeing the hate, anger and destruction;
Of the same world.
Life has filled and emptied the void within
Many times tho some of the contents stuck.
Age has chipped and cracked this vessel.
The network of fine crackling envelope
Showing age and time and learning.
The chips from the close calls,
Show the many ways,
Of breaking into many pieces.
This vessel is still strong however.
Searching for that one love that will fill it.
Making it whole as it should be.
Giving meanings to all that it has done.
Slowly view all those imperfect vessels that you see.
They show a strength of survival.
Chipped and crackled glaze the armour of belief.
There is character there if you seek to look.
A void that only you may be able to fill.
For each is made for that one they may never meet.
So don’t just pass these vessels by ...
They may be the one to fill the void....
You wish to have filled.

Dan Gray
2009

Dan Gray Mar 2013

Loneliness

Loneliness is the winter of ones soul.
You feel the cold and isolation from all.
As a deep white blanket of snow,
Reflects back the feelings and warmth of others.
Movement without sound,
Like white shadows circling.
The blending of what you feel close
And what is in the distance
Impressions of those that travel near,
Resembling footsteps in snow.
But no contact.
You do your best to clear your way,
But loneliness seems to drift in as quickly.
You cry and shout into the wind,
But every sound is covered in frost,
And is carried away to nowhere.

Dan Gray
2004

Dan Gray Mar 2013

Dream

You wake up and you find she was a dream.
A dream that gave you happiness,
A dream that gave you sorrow,
A dream of all those yesterdays,
A dream for those to morrows.
She’s a dream of life and loving
In a world that’s unforgiving,
As she takes you by the hand;
And leads you through the quiet;
Through the valley of all loneliness,
Passed the shadows of those forgotten.
In the darkness ;
Of, the night.

Dan Gray
1972

I wrote this when I was 17 and home on leave. At the time I was really into Leonard Cohen. The funny thing is after 40 years, this is the only poem of mine that I can recite from start to finish. I remember the words going around and around in my head and I had to write them down ... guess they are still going round and round :-)

Dan Gray Mar 2013

Friendship

The path of true friendship
Is comparable to a Celtic knot.
Friends taking different directions
Traveling their own winding paths
Finding select adventures,
Loves, pains and griefs.
At varying distances and times
One path intersects another.
Stories are told, sympathies felt,
Laughter exchanged
Comforts given.
We never know where our paths lead
Life, however, is easier
With the knowledge in our hearts,
True friends are but a few steps away.

Dan Gray

Dan Gray Mar 2013

Me, Myself

I find I compare myself more often
To those large, isolated trees in a field.
On the backside of prime.
Roots and limbs remembering strength,
But slowly losing that which is remembered.
Trunk still filling out.
Standing, with all the strength I have.
Weakness, unseen
Slowly eating away at my being.
Looking as if I will stand forever.
Branches, as arms outstretched
Offering shelter to all who wish it.
Activity all around me
But standing alone,
Bracing against the elements.
Stubbornness and pride
Strengthen my stand.
Inevitably, as with all;
Time overcomes
And as a stump remains behind,
All that will be left
Are memories;
Of the tree.

Dan Gray
2005

As time goes on, things we did while young catch up ... written while waiting for a hip replacement.

Dan Gray Mar 2013

Bonnie in Stitches

Come and see the art I hang.
On walls by windows and doors.
If you give me just a few more years
I’ll include the ceiling and floors.
I look at things through different eyes
Then I look out through my heart.
Inspiration will soon take hold
It’s then I get to start.
I choose the media that will be used
From paints and inks and thread.
To give the texture I can see
As it takes shape within my head.
I like do what I think is right
To express as best I can
The visions forming in my mind
Not another’s master plan.
The first may not be one you like
Or the second in some small way.
But take the time and look up close
Find what’s right today.
So take home some of what you like
Hang it by your windows and doors.
For future work who will know
It may be your ceiling and floors.

Dan Gray
2006

I dated an artist whose media was fabric, thread, lint, etc. Her home was filled with her work and I often commented her floors and ceilings were the only open spaces ....I hope she is still selling.

Dan Gray Mar 2013

Earth Mother, Fairy Queen

Earth Mother
Fairy Queen
Friend of a thousand years.

Attraction of mind
Regaler of times
Laughter, trickles of tears.

Associated memories
Like things endured
Growing with equivalent fears.

Years soon go by
History flies
Reflecting as similar mirrors.

Beliefs being different
Colour your way
Ignoring all of their jeers.

The Earth she does lead
The Mother does bleed
You encompass with loving cheers.

I’ve tasted your salt
I’ve tasted your bread
Quaffing more than a couple of beers.

My friendship I pledge
Till the Circle ends
Long past our separate biers.

Dan Gray - 2009

Ever have a friend you 'know' you've been friends with before?