When cool, gray skies replace sunny days, I wish for her.
In the midst of the thunderous, heavy rain, I yearn for her.
When shadows are all around me, I ache for her.
In the days that my very presence creates unyielding distress, it is she that I seek.

She is my light in the darkness.
Hope is never lost.
Like a nurturing mother, she is there.
She reassures us of that light at the end of the tunnel.
She instills the drive within us to keep the faith.

When our paths are shaken, hold onto hope.
When we seem to lose ourselves, hope will cling to our spirits.
As if she's saying, "hang in there, take it slow, you'll make it."

Life can bring plenty of sorrow.
We need the internal push to keep going.
Seek out hope's hand.

She isn't too hard to find.
Follow me..
Take a moment,  breathe in and breathe out.
Pause and now look up at the world around you.
Observe the beautifully crafted skies and the free-spirited birds.
Observe the uniform movement of the trees and the way the wind moves them about in an orchestrated symphony.
Please take it all in.

You're in the now for a reason.
Hope is closer than you think.

It's midnight.
The sky is pitch black and the wind is crisp.
The scent of evergreen leaves and city pubs begin to intertwine.
The old, black, street cat begins to purr as it searches for warmth.
The moon is at it's highest point, and the glow of it's face is beaming towards me.
There's a stillness in the air and it brings assurance of bliss.
It's almost ethereal, the way in which the silence of this hour moves me.
I am experiencing the earth at it's rawest state.
Untouched and unnerved.
Undone, unanxious and au naturel.
How could this serene hour produce such an awakening in me?
Causing the pupils of my eyes to dilate in increasing darkness.
Causing my mouth to slow down in speech.
Yet, my mind wanders rapidly.
Aimlessly..
Images of my yesterdays and my tomorrows bombard me.
I begin to reminisce  on all of my joy and sorrows.
The stillness pushes me to confront my being in full transparency.
I feel privileged to partake in the earth's midnight hour.

See the blank, white canvas stretched out onto my desk.
Empty of life and devoid of  inspiration.
See my fingers grip tightly onto my pen.
I press tight onto it's body, and hope the increased blood flow in my fingers will allow my thoughts to bleed ink from it's head.
The palpitations of my heart cause sweat to sprinkle onto my forehead.
My breathing becomes heavy and shallow from the overwhelming rush of anxiety.
My mind begins to lock down from the intense pressure placed upon it.

I need to get these thoughts on paper.
I must translate what it is I see with my mind's eye.
Are there any words that can truly express the stirrings of the soul?

When at ease, the words begin to flow.
I see them spill out onto the once blank canvas.
The birth of these words overwhelms me.
I am a witness to creation in full effect.
The anxiety vanishes and my heart begins to beat smoothly.
The heavy block is lifted off of my mind.
Finally, I am myself again.

A prisoner.
Bound by the shackles of opinion.
Hope lies behind the bars.
Time seems to slow down.
In due time, they say, you will be free.

A puppet.
Harnessed by the strings of the public.
Each step is premeditated by his master.
Will the strings ever be released?
In due time, they say, you will be free.

A spider.
Entangled in a web of burden.
Spun into the despair that he alone created.
Allowing expectations to ultimately destroy his fate.
Undo what has been done!
Time is past due.
Be free.

The beauty of life is enhanced by it's terror.
Fresh wounds are sealed by scars which marks the terror.
It displays the innate ability that we all have to heal..
We are all strong; yet so very weak.
There is no life lived that is without beauty.
There is no life lived that is without terror.
Duality is evident in life.
Man enters this world with dual forces at work.
The dual nature of man's intuition and man's logic.
The uncontrollable reality that after life, death must follow.
Can we survive this world without duality?
This present nature that has been in motion since the beginning of time.
Duality will always be.
Opposing natures create a cycle of balance.
Balance is essential to life.
Without sorrow, can one truly appreciate joy?
Without discord, can one truly desire harmony?
Without hatred, can one truly appreciate for love?
Without evil we may never truly know good.
Without darkness what would be light's significance?
Duality is a very present force in life.
A very present force in man.

There's a battle boiling.
It's closer than you think.
The bombs keep you awake at night.
The shots fire  towards you.
You won't die though...You'll live.
The battle is in your heart.
The wounds are gruesome and they never heal.
This war is in your mind.
You are fighting yourself.
You are the enemy.
You won't die though...You'll live.
The battle is never ending.
The battle was there before you knew...
It will end if I...
Close my eyes!
Dig into the sea of of my spirit.
Allow the endless tears of my anguished soul to flow.
God hear me now!
Do You look at me with despair?
This battle consumes me.
In the deep of the night the burst of the bombs are magnified.
In my spirit there is an answer for peace.
Dig into the sea of of my spirit.
Come face to face with the ugly and gruesome.
Expose my wounds and my shame.
I will not run from my own shadow.
I will not be afraid to face the darkness.
The anguish will not burn forever.
I won't die.
I'll live.

The night's passion is irresistable.
The moon's glow is so pleasing.
The wind's whisper is so soothing.
Tonight the stars are my friends.
Tonight the trees will dance.
Tonight the owls will sing.
Tonight the birds will slumber.
Nature's aroma will rise of sweet smelling pine and sticky dew.
The sky will paint it's sensual hues of violet and deep red.
The city lights will compete with the twinkling stars.
I hope to see a shooting star.
And wish evening would never cease...