I am afraid that I might hurt you when I carry you
That these hands – tired, calloused, and clumsy
Might not know how to hold a gift as precious as you
Son, I wish I could show you the beauty of the world
Sneak out of the house after dinner, away from your mother
And watch fireflies while listening to the chorus of crickets at night
I wish I could answer all your questions and sate your heart’s wonder
Catch a dew as it rises and trace its path as it falls again as rain
I want you to open your eyes
See a much brighter world; not like mine which is perpetrated by my silly fears
I wish God would give you great hands
One that would be so powerful that it would not be afraid to hold a basketball or a bicycle
But one that is gentle that it would hold mine and not let go as I grow older
How I wish, as you grow older, to give all of these to you
But son, how can I teach you of courage and valor
When inside your father’s chest beats a heart of a fearful dog; cowing in terror
You deserve someone who has a heart of a lion; brave and strong like a true champion
Still, I see you as possible
I need to see your smile to dispel my many terrors
I need to see you get up when you stumble so that I may let go of my failures and always move forward
I need to see you sleep so I may sleep
Need to see you cry so that I too can cry
I want you to like me
To see me
To see me now, in moments like this
Your father stays awake, gazing at your sleeping face
Fumbling as he reaches down to carry you
Being ever so gentle so that you might not wake
I am still afraid that I might hurt you as I carry you
But I need to feel the warmth of your skin
Like my breath needs air to live for
*10:18:08.23:30

Arise, Unconquered Sun! Awake from the Eastern Empyrean.
Land, bestir from your slumber! Light brings life and heat.
Valiant be my soul. Take heart and take to the sky.
Intone a grateful song for great blessings and small mercies to come.
Night and death and pain have departed, a new day has begun.

Much have been said
About my brother
Flame
How from his hands
Borne both
Creation
And destruction
Songs were sung
About trivial flickers
And infernos legendary
Allow me to say
My piece about
My brother flame
Flame
Words seems lifeless
Next to your colored streaks
Hearths spark
Red
Candles shine
Yellow
Blue
Is the burn from my oven
Life is borne
From your touch
Embers glow at your grasp
Metal refined from your speech
The world itself
Is teeming in life
For the sun
Looks down upon it
In its heart
You
My brother flame
Burn brightest
Fire
Is the element of change
You burn from the tears
Of the oppressed
You blaze from the verses
Of the revolutionary
Artists, lovers, and dreamers
Their eyes burn
With passion
Your disposition
My brother has never been cold
My Sister Wind
You warm her
With your embrace
Shed her chains and give her wings
That she may fly
Full of grace
Brother flame
You are a legend
May bards sing forever
Your songs
How you cradled the Phoenix
In its death
And herald its birth
From the same ashes it came from
How you fled with Prometheus
From Olympus
And sparked the dreams of men
You are a perfect instrument
Of God’s glory and renown
After heaven denied Earth
Rain
Elijah’s offer you consumed
On Horeb
Moses
Have seen you burning
A lonely bush
You’ve shown this lonely shepherd
He was standing on Holy Ground
And on God’s plan
Much have been said
About my brother flame
My piece reveals
Of those I am certain
These three
Life
Passion
Renown


12:27:08.03:23

Northern wind
Gentle wind
You came unseen
But I need not doubt
You are here
I close my eyes
I feel your passing
Invisible arms
Sweeping
Over mountains and plains
Trees wave
Flowers bow
At the touch of your fingers
You breathe life on creation
Each morning
And whisper dreams
Each day’s passing
Wind
Northern wind
You may have been the river’s cousin
For in you
I see her grace
Winged clouds carry your feet
You bring the Maker’s air
Warm breath on winter’s eve
You lay your cool hand
On my fevered brow
During summer’s heat
You breathe life
On my Brother Flame
With your song, he burns
Bright and true
Northern wind
Free wind
Where are you going
Which alley
Or pathway
In heaven will you take
Will you bathe in sea sprays
Or scale summits and hills
Will you be carrying songs from the village
Or prayers
From children
As they lay to sleep
Lift them up to the Father
Whose voice is heard
In quiet
In the stillness
Of the wind
Northern wind
Healing wind
You came from your
Lofty dwelling
From your window
You watched
Clouds sailing
Each morning you greet
From the east
Daybreak
As a new day dawns
Light gives heat
Hope
And the wind brings chill
Comfort
Northern wind
Healing wind
Gentle
Lofty
Free
You came unseen
But still I am
Certain
Assured
You are here

12:27:08.02:19