The sun goes up,
The sun goes down
The days creeep quickly by
Before you’ve seen the twinkling stars
Dark clouds have filled the sky

You hear them in the early Spring
You hear their distant cry
But when the leaves begin to fall
Wild geese must homeward fly

The blossom forms, the flower blooms
The wild rose blushes red
See it, touch it, savour it now
Before it’s withered and dead.

Beyond grief there is a gratitude and awe,
Of the deep mystery of this mortality we share.
Holding close and letting go, laughter and tears,
Opens us to all that life and love can be.

I’m sorry to leave this earthly home
The sights, the sounds, the aromas of life,
Thanks to all who have walked with me,
Never enough time or ways to say farewell

My spirit has not died,
As my body has ceased to carry the life within.
These lips and hands and legs are silent,
But the loving essence of my heart lives on

The journey has been profound,
And life’s lessons have been rich.
Now you, a few ashes, and a stone
Bear witness that I lived and loved.

I came from stardust and the Energy of Life,
Now I am free to be a part of all that is.
I am beyond the ocean shores and distant stars,
And as close to you as your next breath.

It started in the kitchen

Although the storm clouds
Had been gathering
The flashes of anger
Caught both by surprise

She asked if he was going out again
He challenged tone and content

Then the dance began
Both knew their parts well
Old wounds were opened
New incisions made

In an attempt to add new drama
He grabbed the cleaver
Placing his genitals on the cutting block
In the centre of the kitchen

She laughed.

Once you danced with daffodils
And wandered with the breeze,
You were so free and happy then
And laughed or cried with ease.

Before a mirror now you stand
Clothed just as you were born
And for the first time there you see
A shapely woman’s form.

You blush at your own nakedness
As Eve did long ago.
A child walked to the looking glass;
A woman turns to go.

Outside the children laugh and play
And though your heart may yearn
The glow of innocence is gone
And never can return.

A well-chosen mask covers up how you feel,
Your words and handshakes are never quite real
Your life’s a drama, exciting and fast
Everyone you meet becomes part of your cast.

You play your role well with costumes and poise,
You’ve got the right moves; you’ve got the right toys
Even on down days you’ve learned to be slick,
A little more swagger and a smile does the trick.

You hug and you chat with just the right tone,
You text and you tweet and are seldom alone,
You play the mystique so incredibly well,
That even your lovers are under your spell.

Yet something is shifting, something’s not right,
You feel it inside, you sense it at night,
A hunger is growing, an insatiable desire,
To move beyond glowing to living on fire.

The clock says it’s time.
Time to get up
Time to wash, and dress, and eat, and work, and live
Time to care for self, and others
Time to smile, to say hello
Time to touch, and be touched
Time to hang on
Time to hope
Time to endure.

That morning when I opened my eyes
Sunlight from the window sill danced across the room.
I watched transfixed as everything seemed new.
Everything was the same,
Yet everything had changed.
Something had shifted,
I knew I could go on.
Life was calling,
And I was ready to answer.