The days linger long when clouds embrace,
the magnetic pull of your eternal face;
Its sweetness shed from a myriad of stars,
with signs of love in miracles from afar.

The brightest lights will shine for me,
when your hopes and dreams call out to me;
In a whirlwind of mystical words and sounds,
appearing softly as if they're heaven-bound.

My heart grows ever fonder with each day,
from the space you've filled along the way;
Could it be that magic has opened wide,
to a welcome world of songs and sighs ?

Not as a stranger you found me at last,
my beating heart drumming like a rocket blast !
Intertwined as one solid life we'll be,
as the waves connect through a luscious sea.

At the end of every twisted road,
there's a subtle sense of victory;
Relief in signs of breathless sighs,
restoring our pride and dignity.

Calamitous routes in honored claim,
now reveal a robust history;
For those who've conquered what remains,
from their uncommon curiosity.

In reaching back among the crowd,
we hear the chanting sounds' velocity;
That will grant a waging war of words,
far beyond its sheer ferocity.

While the broken pieces of the day,
are cleverly tossed and scattered;
For winning never seemed to be,
the thing that truly mattered.

Recalling how the world evolved,
in strains of aging melodies;
Resigned once more to waters' edge,
aligned with ancient harmonies.

In books are answers fully formed,
but life never seems the same;
As what's described in honored texts,
with words that shelter shame.

I suppose we tried our very best,
to make right the awful wrongs;
And reach beyond the sinful ways,
while meandering through the fog.

And forcing us to readily accept,
our lack of conscience in the past;
Change will revive the newest plan,
when common ground arrives at last.

And with such change the music thrives,
through frothy ocean waves;
Inspiring love from spirits' sounds,
reflecting all that we have saved.

They burn intensely in the blackest night,
from bubbling cauldrons of complexities;
Soaring openly into the cavernous skies,
and freely energize their raw abilities.

Destructive through their raging flames,
so far beyond mere mortals' comprehension;
Compounding aching wounds of hearts' lament,
in scorching psalms that bear each raw intention.

Among the massive canopy of fading stars,
entangled and dispersed by sparks of flight;
Soon connect along a wildfire's fearsome pace,
and through the paths of heaven's burnished light.

So fierce a power now set upon release,
The smoking torches quickly gather force;
creating empty spaces scorned and charred,
In history's relenting chase from sins' remorse.

There's a solemn place, so vast, which reeks,
of emptiness and deepened sorrow;
It's a place where no one can envision tomorrow,
for the day has been shattered into tiny pieces;
From the drowning sounds of tears' releases.

Careless missives scratched upon the walls,
of this cavernous cave where dark dissolves;
Into twilight, no matter the hour, and dreams,
evolve into nightmares of ruin and screams.

There's no escape, unless the heart stops beating,
and every soul among the crowd creates;
An unrealistic reason for their destiny, their fate,
yet honor bound they hold onto what's at stake.

Within the caustic reprisal from devil's doom,
a mystic cloud of gray covers up all faces;
The endless swirling of heavy smoke's revival,
sits upon the heads of those who need survival.

They grasp at hope despite its shallow promise,
to reap the benefits of life without the pain;
And when the sunlight's illusive rays diminish,
the dreary sky pours down its acid rain.

Only the poets feel the pain,
of climbing up the mountains;
Where thoughts and visions are pursued,
and run down the hills like fountains.

Yet often running far too fast,
and under a mystical spell;
At first it seems like heaven's arrived,
then we're burning as if in hell.

Opening our eyes to what's around,
the solemnity and beauty engaged;
Just as the theatrical moment begins,
to set the long sought-for stage.

The words sublime yet subtle too,
in notions of earthly pleasures;
But still the poet seeks the heart,
to burst out loud with treasures.

The stellar light illuminates the galaxy,
in sparkling flashes of silver and gold;
Like a child's painting awash in splattered hues,
with the angel-moon as guardian bright and bold.

An eclectic design by a superior soul,
inescapably translucent and chaste;
Its composition surpasses all boundaries,
a breathtaking canvas sketched by providence.

While here we view from our temporal plane,
this dance of saints at divine elevation;
Enthralled by the image we're witnessing,
as it defies our worldly imagination.

All around us earthly miracles lie,
within nature's triumphant show;
Yet untouched beauty magnified above,
reaffirms what we already know !

---of love, and fireside romance,
speak to me of all the things we share,
of passing time's urgency to care;
speak to me of sighs, of kisses, and touches
sweet.

Speak to me of forever love, of the way
we go forward from year to year--
And of all the laughs and tears
shed, as our hearts grow in harmony.

Speak to me of the yesterdays,
and all that has led us here--
to eternal bliss--
All we needed was one kiss,
and somehow the angels sang
with delight---that night,
you spoke of our everlasting bond.

Speak to me---how fortunate are we !
precious gifts have set our hearts with glee.
We've carved our initials into that maple tree--
to last for all eternity--never forget to speak to me.

When life is low and the fire dies,
and blue-black clouds fill up the skies;
My heart grieves in an anguished way,
and sometimes I can't face the day.

My folks live in a world beyond,
they've already played their earthly song;
I hope that they can hear my pleas,
for strength and comfort from stormy seas.

Watch over me and keep me well,
protect my soul from a tortuous hell;
Keep me always in your daily thoughts,
and hold me close when I'm distraught.

You live among the angels now,
your souls are cleansed by holy vows;
If the Lord can't always hear my prayers,
please...intervene with tender care.

Denied the chance for last goodbyes,
I reached toward heaven's light;
An angel touched my crimson face,
to my wonder and delight.

Silently it stroked my hair,
and wiped away all tears;
With spirit's warm and gentle hands,
it washed away my fears.

While lying in this lonely bed,
with pain too much to bear;
God's Will be done in His own time,
the future seemed so clear.

The whitest robe of gossamer,
flowed 'round my tiny room;
It sparkled like a child's smile,
that rose above the gloom.

Somehow I knew the hour had come,
to rest my weary bones;
And with an angel by my side,
found the essence of my true home.

A bouquet of jonquils sits gently on a chair,
its colors muted as the lightly scented air;
No longer fresh and lovely as before,
when first arriving at the marble door.

A twist in timely plans had come undone,
a wounded soul flew outward toward the sun;
The wailing captured everyone's attention,
no doubt her heart could use an intervention.

Yet no one could even find the maiden fair,
this gesture had caught her totally unaware;
Her future just destroyed before the altar,
left friends and family startled in the foyer.

Night fell swiftly above the church's steeple,
and bells rang out to calm the worried people;
Hours later while she wiped her tears away,
an angel called her home amidst dismay.

The night had lingered on and as she slept,
the bunch of jonquils carried to her breast;
Became the sign she never could forget,
so jaded were the petals of love's regret.

In methods shattered by modern rules,
revising all we've learned before;
When ancestors played dangerous games;
with deceitful manners we abhor.

The future is carried in the wind,
cast off in silence yet needing our aid;
The days are numbered when we can change,
our path to freedom while debts are paid.

Thinking we're 'above it all' destroys our souls,
not yet cleansed from past abominations;
We should strive to follow humanity's purpose,
which tells the tale of hope and reparations.

No wonder children are confused and afraid,
they see the world as a fiery storm;
Let's put out the flames with honor and care,
vowing to keep our progeny forever from harm.

Embraced by sheets of azure rain,
that soak my mind's increasing pain;
The raging sky confronts my eyes,
and gathers strength from tears I cry.

Should I have stayed inside the warmth,
bundled up in comfort from the storm ?
But restless thoughts led me away,
to wander through this rain-swept day.

Each perilous wind arouses flames,
within my spirit's shattered remains;
My love has left me in the cold,
alone and lost as I grow old.

Yet when I've stumbled in the past,
my faith had always been steadfast;
The Lord above with mighty powers,
lifted my soul through daunting hours.

A sign appears in colored lights,
as rays of sun now shining bright;
Deliver rainbows from heaven's nest,
which heal the ache inside my chest.

Wrapped in bulky woolen sweaters,
we scampered across the length of the field,
where crisp leaves had begun to fall
from several stalwart trees--
Surrounding our beloved playground like
tall, spare reeds, bending slightly in the wind--
And with the dampened earth beneath our feet,
and the mist-filled air crackling with Fall's breath,
We gazed upward at an ashen-toned sky,
as an early moon carved a lighted path for us
to follow--
Our hands held together tightly, running quickly
with the eagerness of youth,
seeking warmth and comfort at the roaring hearth;
We exhaled, watching the frosty air envelope us--
before falling lovingly into mother's waiting arms.

Barren branches reach toward the steel-gray sky,
the air whistles through them as they sway;
Touching each other with a crackling sound,
as moaning calls of winter birds obey.

With each move their tender limbs try,
to hold themselves up with honor;
Yet as gusts snap twigs to solid ground,
this scene appears to us in horror.

Why now is Nature so bold and brave,
while January's resting and nesting starts ?
Its darkness looms with grave concerns,
for every lonesome and solitary heart.

And the whirling frost will paint its pictures,
along the windowsills each night;
The once fiery hearth seems weary and weak,
as the numbing cold begins to bite.

It was quite different when we lived down South,
which seems like years ago;
But now we stumble over icy hills,
and plow through fields of snow.

While the holidays pass with mirth and cheer,
our souls become unsettled;
Knowing that God has future plans,
that would surely test our mettle.

The strong survive the wicked winds,
the remaining folks just fade away;
Yet when we hold each others' hands,
our misery blows far astray.

Remember the elders on the farm,
telling stories of a reckless season;
Their wit and wisdom brightened our world,
for them--life's challenges had their reasons.

Huddled together in woolen shawls,
with my loving family close at hand;
I pray to the Lord that we all survive,
this bleak and brittle land.

The sky lights up with sunny smiles,
that shower rays for many miles;
And Nature prospers from its powers,
as gardens bloom with fragrant flowers.

But what still waits in the world beyond ?
a sun that glows can't be undone;
Yet in the darkest hours we see,
the moon replace day's reverie.

In galaxies across the universe,
expanding time repeats its verse;
Of words that gently touch the soul,
while finding truth's commanding role.

So in the space that guides our way,
we seek to live another day;
Beyond the sun where heaven shines,
we'll sit and wait for dreams divine.

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'

The frenzied pace that fuels expression,
from piercing fragments of confession;
Devours its pace from a common source,
when enduring faith rejects its course.

While losing time to run the race,
resisting visions' one can't erase;
The wicked sins' resurgent fire,
dissolves in devil's blackened ire.

In vivid scenes of starlit skies,
revolving planets gone awry;
Cast brightest signals on display,
reaching spiritual heights along the way.

While communing with enlightened souls,
pursuing paths toward heavenly goals;
Resurgent powers' keen revelations,
will emerge from wonders of creation.

Sitting alone in a nearby church,
pondering the life around me;
Wondering why we all seem lost,
in this truly complex society.

Surely I'm not the only one,
who questions the role of man;
Determining how to make amends,
and love one another the best we can.

Lighted candles glow on the altar,
as white roses lay at Mary's feet;
The mother of Christ whose son sacrificed,
His earthly life without defeat.

This lovely place I often visit,
where peace and calm take my hand;
Inspiring visions of a world that's whole,
as we interpret our Lord's own plan.

One moment of grace is all we need,
to give of our hearts each day;
This humble gesture can only prove,
our blessed mission is here to stay.

At first glance a light appears,
which no one dares to follow;
A tingling feeling through our bones,
and breathing becomes shallow.

One step coaxed along the road,
as words float through the wind;
With clarity of prevailing wonder,
they ignite our hearts within.

While overcoming fearful thoughts,
we're propelled into the void;
In a magnitude of sweeping energy,
our mortal souls could be destroyed.

Yet the boundless reach of eternal life,
can color our hearts' passions;
In surrender to their potent dreams,
then dispersed among the ashes.

But sounds reverberate in golden tones,
from the towering strength of light;
And magically we can touch the clouds,
while melting peacefully into the night.

From multitudes of silent screams,
to quiet whispers that prevail;
In empty clouds of wisdom's offerings,
forming hollow sounds which always fail.

Crackling fires of warmth bring comfort,
to those abandoned in the cold;
And join the sharpened tongues of anger,
destroying tales from days of old.

The ageless relics that are left behind,
which challenge modern edification;
Soon enter into mass communion,
defying each promised revelation.

While shouts of horror dissipate,
dissolving into scattered mists;
Our minds concoct another way,
to wound and shatter ancient myths.

Along the path of righteousness,
rising notions that are limitless;
Promote the lights of love and cheer,
rejecting minds encased in fear.

Inside a world that's mostly gray,
a friendly shadow shows the way;
Into a place which comforts all,
and spirits answer worthy calls.

Among the shadows that reappear,
are those which banish anguished tears;
For when the road seems quite insane,
this friendly shadow takes the reins.

My shadow falls across the land,
preparing me to take a stand;
To help the lowly victims of,
the evil that destroys all love.

And when the dreams of angels die,
a second shadow fills the sky;
Where empty hearts can soon recover,
in vows to cherish one another.

Monday mornings bring a new start,
to focus on the most important things;
Looking toward a spirit of renewal,
seeing the path before us begin.

It's in the light of one's own heart,
the love flowing within the soul;
That reaches out to those who need,
to share their trials and their goals.

Hearts beat with a single promise,
one that will show the proper way;
To treat one another with respect,
trying to learn the lessons at play.

Humanity is such a stunning force,
the gift of tomorrows surely resides;
In a world which we can seek to create,
despite temptations to run and hide.

Engulfed within the swirling black of night,
I searched for answers to my horrid plight;
The hours seemed too long to be erased,
and minutes flew like shadows in the chase.

To rectify the madness of my torment,
I prayed to God to hear my soul's lament;
And turn it into something real and true,
that I would understand in common view.

I wondered if the haunting wraiths began,
to catch my heart alone in lurid plan;
And when the smoke enveloped me in waves,
the loneliness seemed like an earthly grave.

While questioning if Heaven could arouse,
a complex mission toward my holy vows;
I looked and saw a light which rose above,
and felt the angels shower me with love.

While feeling so engulfed in spirits' essence,
no longer fearing evil's woeful presence;
With deep gratitude I cried into the night,
till dawn arrived in sweet and soft sunlight.

Emotions awaken to the sounds of heartache,
the windless days so still and refined;
Telling stories old and bold, but deliberately passive,
yet active within each others' minds' eyes.

Out in the atmosphere lurks a stranger,
with gossamer wings, bleak, aged and dark;
Reaching toward the heights of terror and gloom,
crushing a small voice crying out, like a meadowlark.  

Distracted are we, the many sounds of confusion,
as we kick the can down the road of solitude;
Attempting once more to depart from images,
which feature only cloudy days and weary sighs.

One day the distractions will morph into glory,
and bring profound hope along its mighty trail;
The mind's eye bulges with bright anticipation,
as shadows soon dissipate, sullen and pale.

Anxious thoughts bear heavy burdens,
as specters rise in clouds;
Which float above the mist of light,
to avoid the angry crowds.

Just one corner of life's expectancy,
survives in sullen grief;
If only someone would show the way,
to salvation and relief.

The water's edge is frozen now,
no telling what may come;
A skater falls on an icy patch,
in the remnants of the sun.

Release again a mighty wind,
to capture all the sinners;
And if the iceberg floats away,
we'll follow just like winners.

And sitting at the pointed peak,
are cold and bitter ends;
Yet somewhere binds a silver thread,
with caution towards a friend.

It comes in spurts, the words and the visions,
sometimes jumbled, and other times clear;
Fascinating stories to flesh out on paper,
images that haunt us from far and near.

Pick up that pencil and sketch the soul,
in phrases both mellifluous and mellow;
Continuing to erase, over and over again,
until the piece uncovers its intimate flow.

Resting, then wondering if thoughts relent,
pausing, then swirling inside your mind;
While taking a chance that others will get,
the message you've molded and left behind.

A fabulous thing to entertain our gifts,
regardless of what the outcome may be;
The torture of creativity can rule your heart,
yet the process leaves you open and free.

Famous or infamous...a worldly stance,
hungering for that magical dance;
Bereft of love one chases the crown,
but often the planet turns upside down.

While followed by interloping sycophants,
honored with glory and financial status;
You're digging a hole within your heart,
still desperately clinging to sanity's part.

Then watching it all simply disappear,
when those 'hungry' folks retreat to the rear;
An abundance of riches had ruled before,
now there's no path to settle the score.

Gone are all your family and friends,
who would have remained until the end;
But they were cast out by your very hand,
was this the life you truly had planned ?

Well now you can feel the limelight's curse,
depicting how life could grow so terse;
You're shining one day then fading the next,
for sadly, the reign of fame disconnects.

Assured and calm the summer rose,
along the bold and steamy land;
With burning rays of sunlight's heat,
the sultry nights of love abandoned.

Sweat poured from my face easily,
as I sat on the wrap-around porch;
With a large tumbler of mint iced tea,
refreshing briefly as the night air scorched.

It was then I recalled the sweet sea air,
where I could run down to the shore;
And with a shout I'd dive into waves,
that cooled my fever to the core.

My mind wandered to that very place,
which brought me peaceful hours;
I'd lie on the sandy beach alone,
with no worries or cares to ponder.

But reality has a way of catching up,
to imagined dreams of heavenly tides;
Taking one last sip of the now warmed tea,
the restless night brought me inside.

And there my lonely bed lay in wait,
no one around to soothe my brow;
The heat brought on a sobering sleep,
escaping visions from the here and now.

While in the limelight of earthly pause,
and thus consumed by ancient laws;
We learn to keep our thoughts at bay,
in fragments torn and blown away.

In horror's face our lives stand still,
then wander up the rugged hills;
Like snowfall's magic in release,
our hearts align in search for peace.

Then overwhelmed by ghastly powers,
which torture gardens' innocent flowers;
Within our minds we'll hear a voice,
inspiring us to make a choice.

So why exist in bleakness reign,
pretending life is just a game ?
Don't climb into the devil's lair,
when angels call through fragrant air.

And thus in candlelight appears,
the balm of rainy nights so clear;
With waters' rush upon the soul,
where secrets lie and soon unfold.

It billows like the clouds on the horizon,
an ancient missive rallying through the sky;
Content to find its way to earthen dwellers;
and touch the sacred soil before our eyes.

Often, I'm reminded of a childhood dream,
that cast a promise through the years ahead;
When leaves protected lands like holy feathers,
erasing fears now ripped apart in threads.

This very potent dream brought vast illusions,
of stars which carried purpose through the night;
Eloquence became the wondrous centerpiece,
adorned in fashion's rainbow at the site.

Still reminded of the moments when it rained,
while grabbing hold of lessons taunting me;
Yet somehow 'springs of summer' cast a light,
beyond the image of the emerald sea.

This vision foretold to me engaged my mind,
in captivating blooms from sunny meadows;
And if I ever wandered far from home,
this dream would always find me in the shadows.

Dreams can take us all to many places,
traveling to whereabouts unknown;
Imagination stirs our inner desires,
as elements of mind are tossed and blown.

Magnetic energy pulls our deepest thoughts,
into a maze of magical creation;
Vibrant colors shape our infinite view,
and lighten our hearts with sweet elation.

We're set amidst a huge cornucopia,
of comets, stars, pixie dust and meteors;
A cavalcade of grandeur and wonder,
like confetti falling delicately to the floor.

At dawn we'll awaken with inspired visions,
of future worlds with endless possibilities;
From the elaborate journey far beyond the rainbow,
which has lovingly shaped our sense of reality.

In his eyes the secret of my pain,
mirrored softly in the gentle rain;
Knowing very soon my days would die,
within the ghostly shadows of our goodbyes.

The words between us had all been said,
the torment lingered long inside my head;
Our tears had blended with the falling rain,
revealing hearts which sang a lost refrain.

With a childlike innocence our love was born,
as friendship carried us against the storm;
We laughed as if the world was honor bound,
discovering the depths of life's sweet sound.

But somehow in the twilight feelings changed,
our miracle that magically had proclaimed;
Soon faded with the moon and all its stars,
and disappeared like dust among the meteors.

How well I can recall the hours we shared,
the beauty of those days without a care;
And in my aging years the memories stay,
to comfort me--as if you'd never gone away.

Whenever darkened songs of life decry,
a worthless moment glaring in one's eye;
One tries to climb the ladder to success,
but leaves behind its trail to happiness.

A stairway to the heights can be explained,
as something raw and central to life's game;
Yet in the shadows lurking all around;
it tolerates deceit as honor bound.

As if all subjects stop and lay their claim,
across the lacy trellis torn and maimed;
Now captivated by the wretched horror,
betrayal lies along the endless corridors.

Upheaval is the tale no one will tell,
from negligence imposed by Satan's hell;
And following the road professed to prosper,
will only serve to sink us through the quagmire.

I can see tiny flashes before my eyes,
why in the world do they follow me ?
Many times my mind has been shattered,
by all the ghosts who won't set me free.

The colors which should light my days,
dissipate among the wavering tides;
And sunshine never leaves its place,
to cast its rays of hope by my side.

As a child I was sent far from my town,
yet never knowing exactly why;
I can't help but think it's my own fault,
and for years I was passed on by.

Those tiny flashes of warning--like stars,
bring shelter through torrential showers;
As if heaven sent them just to touch,
my desperate nights--my darkest hours.

But looking at their twinkling light,
they now appear as honored friends;
And the bluest sky opens up its heart,
sending sweet angels to make amends.

The haunted hours become subdued,
as God's angels taught me to pray;
And tears of relief ran down my cheeks,
as I learned how to face another day

Emotions--tied together in rings of camouflage,
building up in a series of songs and sighs;
As the heart beats mysteriously, irreverently,
while hopeless tears explode from captive eyes.

Portraits--of sinister solutions surely project,
the wanton hurt of many passionate moments;
Cries from the soulless, the mastermind falling,
as drifting snowflakes dissolve from missives sent.

Fear--those wordless notions of discontent,
built like pyramids to last in the eternal sphere;
Gravely woven into a faded, jumbled tapestry,
weakened by Fate, holding on with pride revered.

Words--how they burden us with legacies,
descriptive and expressive but not always right;
The ghosts of our past seem ever-present now,
as they seek what's meaningful in spirits of the night.

The sun sets earlier now as autumn quickly nears,
with the beauty of this season it saddens me to see;
Each day fly by so quickly with so much life to live,
as I feel my soul sink downward toward melancholy.

The opal days of autumn often give me pause to think,
of how the summer drifts away and bids a sad goodbye;
As images of Fall prevail the solstice memories soon fade,
and sitting on the front porch swing I release a plaintive sigh.

God created every time of year as a lesson for us all,
for Nature moves in steady streams like the ocean over sand;
And if we listen closely to the changing winds and tides,
each element evolves and blends according to His plan.

No matter what the season there's always room for hope,
in the loveliness of flowers, leaves, the earth, the rain and sky;
And a promise of tomorrow travels through our yearning hearts,
which opens doors each moment 'till we say our last goodbye.

Reading between the lines of love,
I recognized this tale of woe;
It sizzled with a panicky voice,
and growled with anger rising slow.

The parchment pages rustled handily,
my fingers framed each word;
Perspiring now my hands were soaked,
in images which propelled the sword.

But no tears arose from mockery or shame,
while reading the familiar flow;
Of my gallant efforts to show the world,
there was more to my work than show.

Yet somehow in the gruesome night,
a thief had coveted my manuscript;
As I stood aghast in the bookstore,
each stolen page I hastily began to rip.

Can anyone else ever possibly know,
how very startling it is to see;
A literary fraud which breaks apart,
the inspiration for a writer's purity.

While traveling down relentless highways,
still trying to discover where to find;
The essence of tranquility and love,
to halt the turmoil poisoning our minds.

Emotions streaming in an endless fury,
enraged by all the purposeless of life;
Fraught and fearful of misguided echoes,
that dampen spirits' cause to surmount strife.

But worlds of raging anger climb above,
in perilous words that lack civility;
As the crassness of each mournful missive,
tends to feed upon the public's sanity.

Yet in the air a solemn pledge will rise,
from past histories defying caustic themes;
And suddenly the storms are put to rest,
by brave revolts against satanic schemes.

As if a bridge appears amidst the haze,
where highways cross the ocean's mighty force;
While following our hearts to greener pastures,
we're set upon and clear and righteous course.

Engulfed within the swirling black of night,
I searched for answers to my horrid plight;
The hours seemed too long to be erased,
and minutes flew as shadows in the chase.

To rectify the madness of my torment,
I prayed for God to hear my soul's lament;
And turn it into something real and true,
which I could understand in common view.

I wondered if the haunting wraiths began,
to catch my heart alone in lurid plan;
And when the smoke enveloped me in waves,
the bleakness seemed just like an earthly grave.

While questioning if Heaven could arouse,
a complex mission toward my holy vows;
I looked and saw a light which rose above,
and felt the angels shower me with love.

He stood so close to me,
I could feel his breath, smelling of crisp apples,
for it was autumn and we walked briskly through
the winds of change.

His long blue-black hair and celadon eyes,
captured me immediately. The slanted sun touched
his face with a coral glow as we gathered our books
and headed to his dorm.

He stopped suddenly, gently brushing his hand
through my hair,
pulling at the longest strands of auburn, then releasing
them quickly as if he'd gone too far.

I waited to see what would happen next;
the wind caressing his charcoal locks, and
swinging my red scarf in the cold, fresh air.

There was a burst of light snow, fluttering down
on us as we said goodbye. He always called me
"sport" as he knew my love was raging within me,
but he was "spoken for" by the girl back home.

Still, I wonder, if it were a different time and place,
would he have been the one. I cherished my time with him,
brief as it may have been...

And now he's with God, after a lifetime of success and joy
with his girl from home. I'll always feel blessed to have
known him; to have laughed, sung, joked, shared lunches, and cried on his shoulder about life's foibles.

Thank you, dear sir, forever. At 21, you were my guiding light !

With life's confusion and delusions,
and every day another quandary;
I feel as if I'm flying upward,
to escape all the pain and worry.

It takes a moment to realize,
how truly lovely the world can be;
Within the sky's reflection now,
wonderment is all I can see.

So why would I leave this place,
in order to melt into sadness ?
Why should I return to my home,
when upon me falls such gladness ?

Home is where the heart is,
as the saying surely goes;
But now that I'm up in the clouds,
my happiness is all that shows.

Reaching far into the frosty night,
our eyes can view the ageless plight;
Of fading hours in chillest air,
pretending life has been most fair.

Captive scenes of authentic fate,
from glossy stars that contemplate;
Their world in utter darkened gloom,
while wandering off to find the moon.

Descending from the Milky Way,
are sparks of luster gone astray;
And fizzled in disastrous mode,
like blazing fireworks' fierce implode.

In fantasies of awakening thought,
and mindful of the spirits' plot;
Our souls deplete essential schemes,
and struggle to maintain their dreams.

Once in awhile you sense a mystery,
from all that swirls within the night;
It carries your heart to an open door,
where you can discover a softer light.

This shine will greet your heavy heart,
with shades of golden warmth;
It covers you with twinkling stars,
and elevates your ebbing worth.

This journey brings a certain peace,
which quietly lives inside your soul;
The sparkling heavens then illuminate,
the truest path to your lifelong goal.

It seems the darkness of each night,
inspires that yearning feeling;
A loss of control so frightening,
it sends our emotions reeling.

But if you walk beyond that sunny door,
and bask in its wealth of honor;
Your life will improve with every step,
as dawn arrives in glorious wonder !

We come into this world clean and clear,
nothing yet written on the slate;
Our thoughts not formed yet feelings emerge,
as we cry and coo keeping parents awake !

When we grow into toddlers questions arise,
and so often we're misunderstood;
But our family and teachers seem helpful still,
trying hard to do us some good.

We listen to all the sounds of the world,  
curiosity and learning never cease;
We're lucky enough to find some answers,
yet myriads of puzzles increase.

Off to school and then to work,
relationships form and blend;
The varied senses of existence,
awaken minds with time to spend.

It's one long chain of wading through,
what the whole universe presents;
We try to choose what's right for us,
but often it's simply nonsense.

Then one day we've tumbled down,
that spiral stairway to our souls;
Dazed and confused we hold on tight,
never wanting to lose control.

Then a sign of love shines from above,
raising us up to the Milky Way;
The Lord's mercy and understanding glows,
for a new and promising day !

Climbing up the tree of sanity,
forgetting how I came to be;
A beginning or an ending calls,
between the fanciful purple walls.

Moving onward to reach the top,
looking forward to where I'd stop;
I've seen the mischief behind the walls,
where squabbles twist like little squalls.

Now where could I find my own place,
to start and end this boundless race ?
A step toward home is what I need,
yet wanderlust has been my creed.

It's all a fantasy that sweeps away,
the musky scent of battles at play;
On awakening from this hapless dream,
the world arranges another scheme.

And purple walls come tumbling down,
like violets torn from the underground;
But with the colors they have shown,
at last I've reached my sacred home.

Wildly caught in a most unusual pattern,
the reckless hands of time creating chaos;
Denied the chance to chime in awesome grace,
eventually moving forward past the chorus.

While voices yield a calling from the prophets,
to set aside their differences and squabbles;
The echoes' timely chatter brings disarray,
from a vacuum left behind in scorn and rubble.

No longer seeking to dispel the cryptic clouds,
of distinct rhetoric defying ancient chapters;
As the river of intent flows past each missive,
ruination trails in rejection of its captors.

Neglecting to reach out with total resolution,
the conflict settles down and dissipates;
Can mankind foresee the crowns of ageless stars,
when all is said and done without disgrace ?

While lounging on the grass under the maple tree,
my mind was wandering--ruminating about the past;
When the deepest, sweetest love I'd come to know,
swept me up into a world I wished would last.

A whirlwind of possibilities flew into my life,
the chance to sing along with the wind and sky;
His hands were strong--with eyes cool and bright,
I was no longer alone nor desolate as days rolled by.

The nights were filled with pleasure and romance,
with the passionate way we had grown as one;
I'd never experienced such an emotional ride,
my heart exploded like the rays of the sun.

But here I am as many years passed-- torn apart,
remembering all the beauty of our private moments;
I wonder, too, if he remembers them as I do,
those few months we lived in joy and contentment.

Escape is not the way toward resolution,
a runaway soul needs more than quick solutions;
While mindless measures trample every chance,
to see the changes wrought in tactless glance.

Despite new moves that carry you along,
those shattered scenes create a mellow song;
And when each word of comfort goes awry,
the heart grows restless for sweet lullabies.

In haste the mind's uneasy sense of fate,
renews sad memories than can never wait;
And the lonely waning hours of the evening,
foment all wretched fears upon the grieving.

Reflecting now on visions fraught with terror,
encircling the outer edge of 'now or never';
A sudden burst of life reclaims the soul,
as wisdom takes its place in honor's role.