Jumping and diving over rocks in a struggle for life. Magnificent creatures seeking to return to their place of birth. Noble creatures of bright and splendid colors fighting against the force of nature itself. Swimming to exhaustion, driven by some unseen force. From the cold waters of far inland rivers to deep oceans then back again. A course of life that is planned out by generations of selection through natures process of survival. Each fish must run it's course and finish where it started in order for it's species to survive.

Down a dry dirt road, an old house sits beside a knotted Oak Tree. Children in overalls with bare feet run and play. An old tire swing sits tied to I Willow tree branch. It has seen better days having been swung in a thousand times. Around a bend in the old road, sits a string of mail boxes, visited each day by the mail carrier, he always has time to stop and chew the fat a while with the old widow folk before going back on his way. Beyond that there is an old iron clad bridge where people go to sit and talk, or to cast a line in the river as it flows slowly by. All of this is off the secondary highway, down rural route 2 a dusty memory in my mind.

Born into poverty, I was told I could not. I was told I should not. I rose from the depth of my situation and set myself on a path of achievement and discovery. I did not let what I was given stop me from achieving my dreams. I came to understand that I alone define myself. I cannot let another define me. I discovered with in my own self that I do matter.

When there is no light, shine forth. When there is apathy, show caring for another. When there is a famine, be bread to the hungry soul. When despair is rampant, inspire someone. When there is a drought of faith, be a well spring of hope.

Cut  bleeding and wounded deep. My heart bears the marks of yet another broken promise. Though I am worn and weary, I will not give up hope. I have fought this battle before and I will live to fight another day. In matters of love I am often wounded and left on the field for dead. It seems that I am open to betrayal because I love so deeply. With each heart break I have new battle scars to give testament to my attempt of trying to find  a lasting love. So in the light of a new day, I will bind my emotional wounds. I will patch up the holes left in my life and move forward, bearing the battle scars to remind me that love is not without sacrifice and that it is worth the fight as I go on looking for love another day.

The world is round but some of us are square pegs, that doesn't mean that we do not fit somewhere. Despite our differences, we are all of the same fabric. We are all born in the same way and all have the same needs. We are taught what we know and often are close minded, but in the end we are all part of the same humanity.

Turning on my bed, dripping wet in sweat. My nightmares are coming true. One more night of restless sleep as the dawn finally breaks. I want this to end but I don't know how it can. I look in the mirror with blood shot eyes as I enter another day without rest. I try to exercise my past, but it is not so easy. The guilt of many failures weighs heavy on my soul. I can't find any peace even in pills and drink. So night after night go on fighting my demons hoping that they will not win.

Taking away guns and killing freedom of speech. New York City the once great international city. Fallen from grace as a beacon of freedom, to become a haven for oppression. No rights are held with in your hallowed streets. Your cruel overlords with distorted points of view. How they have hated and tormented you. In a socialist experiment gone bad. Once you had your freedom now it is as if it never existed.

I canceled all of his credit cards, and put toothpaste in his best shoes. I burned our wedding pictures along with most of his clothes. I spray painted his Mercedes Benz, I think Pink and Purple are really hot. I deleted his cellphone numbers and posted his work address online. I signed him up for the do call list and all in record time. I sent his family all of the pictures from his lap top and posted them on You Tube. I called the IRS and said his taxes are over due. I know I might have over done it, but he is going to learn. Never leave  a woman scorned lest you feel the burn .

Oh to dance on Green meadows and bask in the sun while my silver mane blows in the wind. My mighty horn proclaiming my dominion over all that I survey, in a kingdom full of fairies and elves. The trees full of sprites playing tricks on unsuspecting travelers while I run as fast as my hooves will carry me. In a place where the water is clear and taste like Strawberries one day and honey the next. Oh how I would love to be a Unicorn living in such a mystic land.

I asked a question as I cried to the heavens and wanted to know where God was. In a moment of trial and turmoil I felt as if I was alone. As I walked down the street, the wind blew up and threw dust into my face. I turned away and looked across the street where I saw a young woman helping an old man get into a car. As I walked forward, in despair, I came to a street corner where I saw a man with a sign. Expecting to be asked for money, I started to cross the street only to be cut off by a car. As I turned back, the man turned towards me and his sign said free meal come inside. I walked around a corner and saw children playing hop scotch outside of a store. The owner came out and I thought he would angrily run them away. Instead he asked them if he could take a turn then offered them each a piece of candy. As my heart broke the sun faded and the moon shone down through a clear night sky and as I approached my own home, a t.v. in a store window blared out at me, the man on the television said I am here. As he preached from scriptures he said words from God letting me know that he was everywhere. In each act of kindness and in all things good, he is there.

I am entitled, I should have it now, the words of the selfish and the hateful. Once work wasn't a four letter word and selflessness was acceptable. Now many want to be coddled and have become idle and selfish. When did it become wrong to labor, when did the entitled out number the hard working? Life is many things but often it is not fair and it definitely isn't free.

Shattered pieces of ceramic falling off of a roof top, adorning the ground in a colored mosaic, they refract the light of the morning sun. Piece by piece I move them around and place them where they seem to fit. Bringing a tapestry into focus, they become part of the landscape and form an image of what they wanted to be. Tired of sitting on a hobble of a house, they broke away and found a new purpose sitting on the ground waiting to emerge as weather worn pieces of faded color in different shades waiting for someone to put them together into the image of beauty that was screaming to be seen.

Water flows freely and grace is abundant. The fountain rushes forth with crystal water. Clear and pure from beginning to end. It holds healing and brings redemption. Let all who will partake freely of the healing waters. Be cleansed and made whole by the flow. No wicked thing can come near, for it will be washed away. As the snow flees from the warmth of the sun, so does wickedness depart from the everlasting flow of water from the crystal fountain.

Surrender to the inner self and open the minds eye. Meditate quietly on a serene place. Release your physical bonds and let the mind wander. Look to the serenity and beyond your place of focus. See all that is possible and receive ideas from the open spaces beyond the restraints of the physical world. Ascend to the heavens and see the birth of a new star and the ending of an old one. Cry for the beauty of both, realizing that their span of life is only a small part of the fabric of creation as you wander among celestial bodies. You are a free spirit taking flight and discovering secrets that lay hidden from those to focused on the physical world and it's trappings to under stand the reality of what is waiting for those who are willing to seek it out.

Lay me in the earth and cover me over deep. Surround me with Rose bushes as I quietly sleep. Let the running vine of the Flowering Cherokee rose grow over me. Surround me with beauty as I lay and wait. Perhaps when they bloom, I will be part of something great. So cry not for me, for I will be in good company, I will be sleeping among the Roses you see.

A war has been fought in foreign countries and in streets. In school houses and church houses, in courtrooms and in the media. Is it wrong, or is it right. Drugs and human sexuality, what is right? People are willing to risk life and freedom to make their own choices. War has been raged against the ideals of personal choice. One way hasn't worked, perhaps another should be tried. As long as no one else must pay for your choices or is affected in their own lives, perhaps letting us choose for ourselves is the right path at this time.

With each day I walk through out my life, I leave things behind. Though I may not see the traces I leave on my path. Each instance give me the opportunity to do something. The marks I will leave can be for good or bad. They can be for happiness or to leave a person sad. I can give encouragement or despair. I can cause confusion or help to clear the air. How I live my life, whether with selfishness or love will all come back to me when I am finally gone. Though I do not know what lies ahead, I know what I have left behind and on these things I will be judged, on how I lived my life.

When I am weary from the journey, I will lean on the cross. When the road becomes rocky, I will lean on the cross. When the battle seems hopeless, I will lean on the cross. When the enemy seems unstoppable, I will lean on the cross. When I can find support no where else, I will lean on the cross. Until I draw my last breath, I will lean on the cross.

Twirling around in your embrace beneath a glistening sky. Lights from a thousand galaxies shine down with ancient light as we bask in the glow of love. Wrapped up in each others arms, we forget our cares as we move to the music that is in our hearts. Enjoined as one soul, we are knit together. Our fate joined until eternities end. I look into your eyes and see the reflection of a single star that twinkles just for our love and I simply melt into your gaze as we are dancing under the stars in a celebration of our love.

At the end of the day on a stone jetty, I watch the silver break of the waves crest onto the massive stones. I pull my jacket close around me as the gulls dance about on the chilly ocean breeze. I hear the distant blast of a horn on a merchant ship coming from afar to bring her wares to our shores. The sun begins to go through it's transition as it changes colors from yellow to orange to red. At it hits the horizon and gives golden and red hues to the few clouds that begin to form. The ships, and waves becomes shadows silhouetted in the last few rays, as the sun yields to the first stars of the evening. In a few brief moments both are perfectly aligned and both night and day touch on the dark blue horizon of an ocean sunset.

Oh youthful brow that bears the golden crown. She sits upon her throne of stone. Looking out on her kingdom across vast fields. She rules her subjects with generosity. The Honey Bee and the Daffodil reside in her kingdom among her army of other subjects. The golden Dandelion so regal sits as her proud army. She sees those who have aged into white puffs of fuzz and she promptly frees them from their stem. Stomping lightly between the golden flowers, she sends her children to the wind. On a warm summer day, the lively queen, with her golden crown and woven locks of hair. She is loved by all of her kingdom, even if only until the wind comes around and finishes dispatching her subjects away.

Drawn between pages one and two, making the social media rage and angrily stew. Pulled apart in the internet, sectioned piece by piece. Thus goes the crucifixion of my character with every single tweet. Posting to face book rocks the internet. Oh but their not done tormenting me yet. All of the pages rave about what was I said, your not being berated unless your misquoted at least ten times, but not to worry your cover shot will be just fine. Now days with fame and fortune what is in a name, just be forced to the cyber walk of shame. You will be a star and obtain riches galore, just because your crucified as someone's little *****.

I look at the Peach blossom dancing fragrantly in the sun. I smell it's sweet nectar and cannot wait for it to fade, bringing forth delicious, golden and red fruit. Though I will feel saddened when the blossoms fade, my sorry will not last to long, once the trees are fully ripe with Peaches that I love to eat so much.

Hanging the Mistletoe, decking the tree. Getting a shopping list or 3. Hurrying to get all of the gifts, forgetting what the season really means. All of the hustle and pomp, overlooks the thankfulness that we should show. Taking a few moments to be kind to our fellow man. This is what holidays should truly mean.

In the world that is self absorbed and immersed in darkness, let each one of us that walk in faith be a light. Shine in the night and in the day time, cast out the shadows and bear the burden of your fellow person. Show kindness and patients and forebear cruelty. Stand firm on the principals of justice and faith. Embody all that is good and shun wickedness. Be watchful of the path that we walk and consider each other that if one shall fall, that we will pick that person up. In these things let our lights come together and form a beacon of hope that others might follow the example and walk the path of righteousness.

With mercy and hope lets start to work. With an unrelenting resolve lets move forward. Let us find an idea and focus upon it. Let us join together to bring about change. Look around and find your brother or your sister, join hands with them and make a human chain. Let us pass on love and caring to those who are in need. Let us show our kindness and selflessness, not our hate and our greed. Let us mend fences between one another, let us see what each of us can do. Become a helping hand to your neighbor. Lets make a dream come true.

Arise all of you who live under the heavens. To all who live life, let us give our God adoration, let us praise his name. Cry out with a shout of exaltation. Let the heavens proclaim his greatness, from horizon to horizon. Let the name of the lord be made great. Give thanks for his mercy and let us give him praise.

There is no peace on earth and we have lost good will towards men. We only want to hoard up wealth and to get more than we give. The cheer has gone out of our lives and we find no joy within. Would someone tell me where Christmas is, can anybody answer me?

Clang goes the wrought iron gate as I step inside the fortress where my fate awaits me. Behind me is the life I knew, before me is uncertainty and conformity. All aspects of my life are regimented from now on, my life is no longer my own. I lost that right when I hurt someone else, all for my selfishness. Now as I see the specters of half humans hovering around me, I come to see the faces of those that I hurt that will haunt me. I want to hide from the guilt that is inside of me, but the ghost of the past won't let me. As I walk into my new home eight feet by eleven feet is what I now call my own. A space reserved for people like me, behind an iron curtain that is drawn behind me.

Up before the sun filling a chest with ice. Drinks and sandwiches all neatly packed. Out to the lake, wait I forget my bait, turn around and find an open store. Back to the lake and put the boat in the water, head out onto the elusive monster fish. Settling into a quiet cove and begin to drown a worm, only to have the sun rise and blind you. Turn your boat around and reset to fish again. Then a power boat roars by from the lake party of the night before. The birds squawk as they are driven from their morning repose the waves rock your bass boat and churn up the water. You bite your tongue as not to curse, as you wait for the fish to decide to bite. Hours pass and still nothing, perhaps you are in the wrong place. You pull up anchor and move down the way only to find a pontoon boat in your usual spot. Two gorgeous women are laying out in the morning rays, then an old hairy fat man lumbers around the deck. On you go to another quiet cove and settle in again. Then you realize that the fishing time has passed and the sun is high and hot. So you set up an umbrella and settle down to eat and take a small nap. Time passes and the sun moves and you awake to a sun burn. So you amble around and pull your gear together as you begin decide where to throw out a line. As the sun moves toward the west, you finally get a bite as you set the hook and real your first fish in. Behind you the sound of another boat and you turn to begin to curse. You see the fish and game warden smiling as he takes his ruler out, he grins that its too small and you have to throw it back. After a thorough inspection and a look at your license, he bids you a good day. Meanwhile another hour has passed and you are tired but resolve to fish anyway. So as twilight falls, you have three or four good sized catches as the mosquitos begin to swarm. So you decide to call it a day as you head back in, but your motor dies because your out of gas. So with your wooden paddle in hand you head back towards your boat slip that seems miles away and you begin to contemplate the lies you will tell about how your day went and the one that got away.

The sky is many colors and the sun is shining bright. All things are peaceful and all the wars are quiet. Love has replaced hate and tolerance has taken the place of dissent. All people can sit together and talk in the same place. Differences are encouraged and not thought of as something that makes us week. All points of view are listened to and we can agree to disagree. Hunger has been replaced with plenty and children can play instead of having to hide in fear. We are all joined as one humanity under a rainbow sky.

Delicate flower that floats on the pond. Spreading out your leaves to cover the still water. Opening to give a fragrance or fill the dark pool with your color. You add uniqueness to quiet places. Birds wade over you and fish jump around you as frogs sit upon you and croak in the cool of the evening. Your roots reach into the depths like fingers seeking to grasp at some lost treasure. Your simple beauty can be overlooked, but you are a special flower indeed.

Caring should not take a resolution. Giving of yourself should not be a guilty pledge, it should be the way we live. We should not wait one hour to help out our fellow human, we should do it now. It should not take a new year for each of us to see how we can help someone out.

When you think you are alone, his arms are open wide. When you have fallen and think you can't get up, there is a nail scarred hand reaching out to you. When the burden seems too great to bear, there is a shoulder you can lean on. When you have lost all hope and are surrounded by the waves of despair, he will walk on the waves and carry you to shore. When you heart feels empty beyond reason, remember God loves you.

Wanting to embrace love, but confused by a torrent of emotions. I am not sure how to share my feelings for fear that I might push you away. We complete each other as friends, but I am sure we could be so much more. I long to show you how I really feel, as I sit here in an emotional storm. My heart wants to explode from the pain that it feels when you are not with me. I cannot imagine a world without you. I feel the winds of time passing and I must find the courage to decide before it is too late. Until then, my emotions are twisting in the wind as I try to muster the courage to tell you how I really feel.

When you see a unpolished stone in a persons life. If you are willing to put in the work and give of your time. You can knock off the dirt and rough edges and make a Jewel shine.

Riding high on a selected blend. A potent herb from Afghanistan. Smiling at the acoustic sounds from an island band, while you partake of something from your Jamaican friends. Letting your imagination run wild, you see a sparkling blade. You just look in awe as it glistens and sways. You pick it up and it feels lighter than air, you swing it wildly with little care. Then you get it a little too close, and suddenly your missing the tip of your nose. You go awesome as your brain attempts to register the pain, fighting to get you the message, through a stoner's haze. Then it begins to hurt and you fumble the sword with a jittery ****. The blade is bobbled and tossed about, then it becomes quite clear, as it clangs to the floor, dude did I cut off my ear?

Pulling on my jeans too tight, stepping up in heels so high. Swinging to the left and bumping to the right. Keeping up with the rhythm every single time. I'm too fly to be left out of anyone's scene. I'm working it fine in my Apple Bottom Jeans.

When the heart if broken and shattered into pieces, the nail scarred hands are there. When you feel your greatest joy, loving arms hold you close. When all that you believe is tested, God whispers be still. We only need pray to feel our Gods embrace.

I met an old man on a journey one day. I asked him where he was going and he asked me where I had been. I said that I came from my home and now business called me away, he said that he was heading home to stay. He asked where my home was, and I told him my tale. I spoke of a quiet little cottage clustered quietly by a meadow. I spoke of a loving wife and the child I had left behind. He then told me his home was similar to mine. He said he too lived in a cottage, though it was not really a home. He said it sat beside a meadow for many years you know. He said there he would take his rest, but little joy could be found. He said his wife had passed away and his child had long since left. Now he sits alone in his chair, silently waiting on his death. What a sad tale I thought, that the old man should tell. I asked how he came to be in such a state, if he didn't care for me to pry. He looked over at me and I saw something familiar in his eyes. He simply said that he spent a lot of time on the road, often gone for days. That was all he said as we parted our ways. I then looked back to see where he had gone, but all I saw were rustling leaves where I thought the old man had been. I then stopped to pause and think did this really happen, or was it a dream of what could be or might have already been?

Oh pain , and sorrow cuts me to the quick. What comes from a hateful tome written to spite my soul. How grievous are the words filled with poison that wound me and make toxic my soul. Oh fowl stench of criticism from my peers is gut wrenching, we're a knife plunged into my heart. Oh the Fowl deed is done, the poison words have cut me and curtled my blood , thus bringing me to a literary death.

A silly laugh and a toothless smile with sparkling green eyes. A selfless spirit and dark brown hair. His face lights up at the silliest things. Since you have been away, I depend on him more each day. Such a little man to bear such a big responsibility. Your picture sits on the mantle, he looks at it and says daddy. He recognizes you in your uniform. When we walk down the street, he points at anyone we meet who is dressed like you. I know why you had to go, but I still don't understand why you didn't come back. Each day I pray to God for his strength and I find more of you in our son. So for now I will go on, knowing that a part of you is always with me. He reminds me of you all of the time and that is both a blessing and a curse, since I know I will never hold you again.

I am a sinner, born of lust. I am not a saint, in that you can trust. From the moment that I became flesh and breathed in air, I was stained with sin from beginning until I cried. I live in a mortal vessel, I am as all men. I am prone to weakness and fear. I am never without sin. Only in the spirit can I achieve a state of grace, but for the most part I am a sinner each and every day.

A leaf falls from a tree and a nest is left empty as a small bird takes flight. Over the whole of creation, God watches both day and night. To all that he has made he is attentive. He is very caring you see. So much so that not even one lowly sparrow is unaccounted for, when it leaves it's nest and or falls from a tree.

Remove the gospel from the schools and tear down the crosses from the public cathedral's. Change the law to make the bible hate speech and shut the churches down. The blood of Calvary still flows from the cross. The forgiveness of God has not been lost. Try as the world might, this is a fight they cannot win. For all power in heaven and earth was given to Gods perfect lamb.

Stomping with angry hooves, rooting in the soil and stirring up dust. This is what the Earth Beast considers fun. Gnawing on bitter roots or lying in the burning sun. No one tells the Earth Beast what it must do or when it must be done. With a neck like two fold iron and eyes that are piercing and black. The Earth Beast can make its enemies flee with a snort and a roar from it's snout. Lumbering between trees and displacing rocks. The mighty behemoth wears a path over everything as it goes.  The ground creaks and groans at the Earth Beast coming, while leaves fall from trees as though winter had come. Into the water the Earth Beast goes, taking the river into it's mouth in one mighty gulp. The Earth Beast trudges on with little fear of anything except it's own kind. When two of the mighty beast collide, the mountains echo with the thunder of the crashing blows and the roars of the mighty Earth Beast make men's heart fail. So is the way of the mighty Earth Beast as it lives out it's life to what ever end it may seem fit.

They stole it, it was a conspiracy so says the disenfranchised nut job. It wasn't our fault, we did nothing so says the liberal left wing voter. Never mind the candidate was toxic and needed hazmat suits to be handled, we were robbed. On goes the rhetoric as they are told to resist. Become the deep state and dig in for the long haul. You are not defeated voters, you are resistance fighters. From California to New York and other places in between, the cry goes up as they take flight. One by one they blame everybody and everything but themselves. The loon bat takes flight not knowing that it is an endangered species as it's delusional world crumbles in lieu of common sense.

Arms around two bodies, embracing in the heat of passion. Two forms lost in each other forming an image as if a master sculpture had fashioned them. Two heart beats becoming one, as breathing joins in a rhythm. Each giving energy to the other as two lovers share the most intimate parts of themselves. All secrets are exposed and all pretenses are lost. For one moment they share souls and exchange pleasure with each other. Rising to the apex then slowly coming down together in a silhouetted embrace, entwined in each others love.

Teetering on the edge or the roof, I will look up at the stars. I listen to the cars pass as I walk in the darkness. I repeat this each night just after midnight to see how far I can get. It is 10 stories down to the pavement below. Each story passes a window with a story of it's own. My story is one of wanting to know what is next. So up I go to the edge, walking along the asphalt covered room, looking at the stars as I walk along the edge. Standing on the line between life and death I wait to feel the first rays of the rising sun to know that I have lived, unless I may slip and splatter on the concrete below.