This world is huge.  It's small.  Its infinitesimal and vast.
How did we come by such a beauteous and frightful place?
Out in the cosmos, alone and crowded.
Living our lives in years that are only a blink in time.
What laws of nature bind us?  What freedoms do we possess?
Time rushes by only to stand still.
So many questions.  So many answers.
Which is right?  Which wrong?  Is it only a matter of perception?
Such is the human mind.  Always questioning, contradicting.
Seeking and avoiding.  Creating and destroying.

I never knew there was
a special person out there
just for me.

I never knew he was more
than a dream.

I never knew he could make
my heart sing and the sun
shine.

I never knew that one look,
one touch from him could take
my breath away.

I never knew, until
I knew him.

When you said hello, God smiled.
When you held me close, God smiled.
When you spoke of love to me, God smiled.
When you touched my heart, God smiled.
When you were patient, God smiled.
When you were funny, God smiled.
When you were kind, God smiled.
When you looked beyond the surface, God smiled.
I have been blessed by God.
And so I smiled.

Silence............abscence of sound,
abscence of meaning.
Why is there no response to questions asked?
Why is love dammed up like a great river
held back from flowing freely?
Tamed to the point of numbing ennui.
No rush of waters, crash of waves against rocks,
no quiet eddies straying to the frothing currents.
Only slow monotonous treading of a relationship,
left to dwindle into dying embers of a once
warm and inviting glow between two lovers.
Gone astray, grown away,  to separate lives.
Caring enough to maintain, not enough to transcend.
Living in parallel worlds, never intertwining.
Absence of sound, meaning, feeling.
Unable to bear life without meaning, joy, anger, and love.
Pondering the mechanisms, catalysts, for change.

Emerging from this makeshift shelter,
I look about at the wicked cold day,
Wondering how long I will survive in this bleak world.

I have tussled with my demons,
Made peace with myself,
And accepted my lot in life.

My ragged clothing, barely covering me,
Warmth only a dream,
Decent food a luxury,
Knowing my family as I am now,
An impossibility.

The shrill jeering of children as I pass by,
The looks from strangers,
Judging me in my degradation.
None realizing that I was once They.

I could justify feeling superior,
When I had a home, a family, a job.
A sense of security and a mind and body unbroken.

And now, watching from the other side,
I wonder why I had so little compassion,
So litte empathy, so little mercy.
Just as They do now.

TatianaBendito
No rhyme, no reason.
Just like the sound.

Deep and resonant crying
Calling out forlornly
into unfamiliar
ocean depths.

The eerie echo of my voice
sounding through the sea.

Seeking solace in the familiar
But naught familiar here.

Lost at Sea.

Strange waterscapes passing by
my massive form.

Gliding easily, powerfully through
unrecognizable ocean currents.

Calling, calling, calling.

Searching Endlessly.

Rising to breathe from Earth's sweet air.
To take in the brief moment of transition
from water to air and back.

Rolling over the surface,
my tail a flag of despair,
my dive into deep crevasse,
Desperate.  Lost.  Alone.

Searching, searching for my home.

Hate what i see.
Nothing looks right.
Hate being a woman.
Hate seeing this sight.

Not worth a look.
Not worth a care.
Just getting by.
Wondering why I dare.

Doubting myself.
My external shell.
Big feet, and glasses.
Wow, how swell.

And that's not the worst,
I have to say.
Why bother asking,
My *** is in the way.

Turning off the feelings.
Hiding the care.
Shutting out the light.
Sorry I thought to dare.

Just doing what I must.
To make things right.
Going through the motions.
Without any fight.

Closing the door.
Not looking back.
Just keep working hard.
Keep the finances on track.

Wash the dishes,
Don't forget the dust.
Who gives a ****.
Doing what I must.

Done with smiling.
Done with lust.
Done with trying.
Just doing what I must.

Take a seat and push with your feet.
Feel the smooth, rocking glide.

Pump your legs hard and fast.
Hold on tight to the chains.

As you rise higher, ever higher
Reach out and touch the clear blue sky.

Rush through the air, defy gravity.
Lean back against the forward motion

And feel the sheer
                             joy
                                   of
                                       being.

hand
                    over
                                    hand

step       by step

crossing this wretched foot bridge

large          g ap  s                   loom

don't look down
         down
down

towards the scrabbling masses
reaching up
                          up
                                                 up

to
tear you from your perch

head up
      hands on the rope
         your feet walking in faith.

only then,

will you reach

your
   heart's
        desire.

A scene from Romeo and Juliet:

Romeo, Romeo, Where for art thou?
Deny thy father.......
Oooops............THUD!

Tumbling, twirling
leaves en masse.
Seasons arrive
and then will pass.

Brilliant hues
Of orange and red
Scatter across
Warm Summer's bed.

So brief the fall
in its passing.
Cool crisp air,
vibrant leaves flashing.

Soon, too soon
The colors fade
And bitter Winter
spreads its shade.

Six inches shorter.
Old as the land.
Snow on top.
Ice in the joints.
Light blurred vision.
Spring turned to winter.
It's a wonder I made it this far.

Thinking deeply after dark
Wondering when I will hear the owl
Call quietly into the night.

Cold winter's grip holds so tight.
Snow showers down from arctic breeze.
And chills the soul among the trees.

Silence reigns here in the deep
Hours pass without a sound
To give away the life force here.

Then achingly soulful deep and round
The howling of the wolves from far north
Waft down this lonely valley wall.

Peace of night shattered now
Nature's children give voice
To lonely coldness of this frozen land.

Age is slowing my best friend.
His ears no longer catching the faintest hint of rustling in the brush.
His fur not so golden red in the sunshine, fading white.
His legs not so strong, no longer bounding over the land.
His eyes not so sharp now, clouded with age.
His energy not so boundless, tiring easily on short walks.

He has shown me how to love unconditionally, trust effortlessly.

During his life he has shown me love, sorrow, joy, fear, patience.
My best friend, has blessed my life in ways I never knew he could.