The sting of useless, empty-headed comments,
from someone you have always cherished;
Brings forth a sudden sense of insecurity,
and rattles the beliefs you once had treasured.

I tried not to listen to her rantings,
she had been under a great deal of stress;
But the more her words stuck to me like magnets,
and led to a state of confusion and duress.

This person who promised to be my friend,
now wound up and attacking me with shards;
Of glass-like pieces cutting like a knife,
and woeful stories that I needed to discard.

Using reason seemed out of the question,
so I followed my heart to save my soul;
No matter how long you've known someone,
there's still a place for compassion and control.

I feel relieved now that I've escaped this pain,
unsolicited and unworthy of time together;
Being true to oneself takes strong self-assurance,
which I came to know despite the 'stormy weather'

Committed to a life of joy and peace,
how disappointed to discover it otherwise;
Sailing about in the azure waves,
where no one could hear my cries.

Then my skiff is caught in a lightning flash,
a course correction needed to sustain;
From the forceful rocking, reeling and shaking,
then tossing over in the blackest rain.

Tears blending with the salty air,
I manage to get control of the tumbling;
Soaked to the skin I arrive at the deck,
and climb up ahead of a fearsome rumbling.

The wind was whipping around the bay,
then tossing me further into an abyss;
Perhaps I've imagined what was happening,
but I was overwhelmed with sheer bliss.

Light beamed ahead and startled my eyes,
and suddenly there was such relief;
I'd crossed over into the promised land,
no words did I dare to speak...

A vision appeared and calmed my soul,
no more anger, frustration and fear;
The tears dissipated and there I stood,
and my purpose was finally clear.

Keep my head up high and don't regret,
the mistakes of the recent past;
Reject the hurt and chaos of today's world,
and help folks conquer their everyday tasks.

He stood outside my window wanting attention,
I couldn't believe he'd be so bold;
I looked across the quad with hesitance,
as he shook and shivered from the cold.

It was evening now and snow had fallen,
in curious shapes of winter's delight;
I watched him as he let them gather,
his eyes were dark yet shining like the night.

Oh, truly--how much I wanted to let him,
come into my world for just an hour;
But we had grown apart in many ways,
and our emotions became raw and sour.

It's gratifying to have a college memory,
even though the aching still applies;
I backed away from my dorm window,
and silently spoke the words of our goodbyes.

The old clock sat staunchly in the corner,
with such a stalwart stance;
It rang out with every hour's time,
like a memory of ancients past.

The table set for five was stilled,
with dust and dirt piled high;
Each window in the yellowed kitchen,
was cracked from the cold outside.

A slate-gray sky hung overhead,
threatening the town with early snow;
a young man listened to the roaring wind,
And a tear fell from his eye.

He used to live in this broken place,
with his wife and children at his side;
But the crops were mighty thin this year,
to his family, he bid a sad goodbye.

Now what to do with these remnants,
of a loving life he had known;
A garbled prayer slipped past his lips,
while his heart turned into stone.

Yet memories have a certain way,
of stirring our fervent desires;
With the storm approaching quickly,
he set out to light a fire.

And within the flames he caught a glimpse,
of the force behind all his dreams;
Which lifted him from his sadness and grief,
and willed his soul to be redeemed.

My dear friend, the chaos is finally diminished,
the frantic hours of pain and conflict have finished;
Awaken to the easy, open breath of life today,
knowing the darkest clouds have now blown away.

You've suffered silently for so long this year,
never asking anyone else to quell your fears;
The urgent need to be respected and accepted,
you kept within your heart, afraid to be rejected.

But those scary moments that corrupted your mind,
were coming from a world of a much different kind;
The messages you received were jumbled and cruel,
they brought you far away from the 'golden rule'.

Now there's truly peace within these garden walls,
as if a mystical aura has enveloped and enthralled;
Your quiet prayers toward heaven were received;
so dry your tears, your soulful words brought sweet relief.

When I talk to the flowers and the trees,
I whisper gently so no else hears me;
It's my very own language that I share,
with the gifts from Nature, alive and aware.

Someday I'll follow a lonely bird's flight,
from the day's hours to the dark of night;
I'll sing his sweet song along with my own,
and cuddle softly within his nesting home.

An exquisite trip I'll take through life,
devoid of anger, frustration, stress, and strife;
I can be anyone, or anything I'd like to be,
perhaps morphing into a branch of a maple tree.

Yes, I'll fly away to parts known and unknown,
I'll leave my fears with the fairies and gnomes;
And in the crystalline dawn of early morning,
there'll be my secret thoughts, forever churning.

Slowly the wheel turns 'round and 'round,
defying every superstitious claim;
That only fear surely lies ahead,
as wicked sorcerers have proclaimed.

In a conspiracy of reckless gallantry,
the people appearing restless and tired;
Like the embers flying through the sky,
from a raging, roaring and ceaseless fire.

The clock tells time but no one cares,
to know if the hour has finally come;
When spirits' light or devil's darkness,
will erase the quandaries within their homes.

They sob and pray till their voices falter,
with hopelessness from the perilous days;
Until an angel appears singing out with love,
and a promise their souls will soon be saved.

Feeling worthy now--their emotions quite shaken,
from discovering faith within the realm;
For only charity's gifts can conquer hate,
and horrors dissolve through peace and calm.