I read
What excites,
Soothes,
Or
Makes my blood  boil.

Uphill struggles on the road
That lead me near to you;
Panicked times when doubt seeps in
Dear Lord what should I do.
Put on the armor you have said
And after doing all stand still.
Renew your strength and wait on me
Just rest, this is my will.
These fleshly thoughts are tempted
To fix everything myself;
Forgetting I can never win,
Unless I have your help.
Sometimes it’s hard to fight
That need to push ahead
To just be still, stop pushing
And wait on you instead.
Lord give me the wisdom
To pull back if needed,
The strength to push ahead
Or the faith to just stand still and wait
The way your word has said.

Chiseled memories
Once new and unforgettable
Now pounded away
By the rapid waters of life.
They float through my mind
Like a misty fog.
Sometimes I feel like I could reach out
And grab hold,
But the clarity slips through my fingers
Like vapor.
How could I have forgotten,
Things I never wanted to forget?
Is senility creeping in,
Or have I forgotten that too?
Age,
It just has a way of undermining
Your grasp with reality.

Help puts a smile
On another’s face
Help lends the helper
God’s gift of grace.
When you feel all alone
With now way to cope;
God sends a helper
To lend you some hope.
     © 8/18/2000

The season is hot
And it’s only the end of July.
I can feel the sweat
Dribble between the valley of my breast:
“Sure” just doesn’t give you the protection
It once did.
Greenhouse effect and all that.
So I sit here on this thick plush love seat
Lean back on my leopard print pillow
And thank God for artificial air.
    
© 7/31/2003

Let me dear Lord
With each step I take;
Look to you
For the choice I make.
Whether the sky
Is blue or gray;
Let me speak with encouragment
Of all I say.
Let me always look up
To each soul I greet;
I was so wretched
When first we did meet.
Let jealousy and envy
Be a part of my past;
And let self control
Be a trait that lasts.
Let love always be
My driving force;
And through your word teach others
To find the others.

Thank God for the little things
That may not seem worthwhile
Soon you'll find the little things
Are the things that make you smile.
That barely whispered thank you
Is an example you have set
One that speaks of character
To the people you have met.
You may not think it matters
But believe me that it does
They may not know why they like you
But they'll like you just because.
Every simple act of kindness
Is a light that shines the way
A beacon for the soul in need
To guide them when they stray.
A candle in the darkness
May not seem to shed much light
But in a world that's filled with darkness
It's a beacon burning bright
So don't forget a please and thank you
When you're meeting someone new
That example tt you set might be
A beacon guiding you.

God is my all
On Hi I can call
I know He hears my pleas,
When I'm in a stall
Or I stumble and fall
He's always there for me.
Life is mostly hard
And some days harder than most,
But I can boast
On a God who's faithful and true
And will always be there for you.
In the midst of a frown
When life has you down
And you're struggling to survive,
Though it may be rough
You're getting tough
And the point is
You're still alive.
What doesn't **** you
Makes you stronger,
It's a fact that's sad but true,
So don't wish for the battle
To go away
But for the strength
To see you through.

After reading a few of your comments
I felt bad,
Like I didn't measure up somehow.
I started wondering
What you didn't like;
Like I needed your approval.

But it got me Thinking;
And poetry, after all
Is an expression of one's self,
And it doesn't matter
If -
My poetry reached out
and touched your heart
or bit you on the ****;
You read,
You responded
Point is - it made you think
And for moment,
I forgot that was what it was suppose to do.
Pardon the self indulgent pity!!
Thanks for reading and responding

Sometimes
I feel like I’m drowning
In the whirlpool of life.
Caught
In the swirling vortex
Occasionally
Getting the chance to breathe
Before I go back under
The drowning weight of life.
Does it ever stop spinning?
I’m sure it must have been tranquil
At one time,
But I can’t seem to remember it.
I want to be happy,
Go with the flow;
But in the toilet of life
I spend most of my time
Trying to stay afloat.

Heavy burdens
Tear filled nights,
Indecision
About wrongs and rights.
Separate paths
Which one to take?
Troubled
With so much at stake.
Strong in mind
I use to think;
Feeling now,
I’m on the brink.

So unreal
It’s hard to think.

You are saying I choose to let them hurt me
And mayhap you are right.
If I choose every action
And every reaction
Then I condone myself
No matter what I choose.
Am at fault
Even their reaction
Is partly mine to blame;
For it was my action that created their reaction,
So why do I suddenly feel doomed
In every choice I make.

We struggle with the hopes and dread
Weaving choices through destiny's thread.
Knowing where we want to go;
Choosing decisions that might not make it so.
Sometimes we forget
To cultivate dreams
Missed opportunities
Can rip out the seams.
We seem to expect happiness
To fall in our hands;
But we have to capture it
Like an hourglass and sand.
We need to search for what's good
More than what's bad;
Look for the joy
And tone out the sad.
Find our own way to fix
What we deem is wrong;
Find our own niche
To where we belong.

On the verge of unbelieving
That Heave can exist;
For depressions pull is strong
Not so easy to resist
The constant toil of daily life
Is a struggle at its best;
But every life is filled with hardships
As we journey on our quest.
It isn’t what you want in life
Like wishing on a star;
It’s how you deal with what life gives you
That determines who you are.
So I’ve quit thinking every obstacle
Is a hazard in my path
I’ve quit blaming everyone else and God
For the failures that I have.
I’ve determined if life is better
I’ll have to make it for myself;
I’ll work hard for things I want
Not counting on any help.
If I’m down, I’ll lift up myself
By doing things that I enjoy;
If it makes me feel like laughing
Then mud cakes will be my toy.
I’ll cast off the worldly standards
Of what’s socially right to do;
And live my life for me, this round
And what it takes to get me through.

Shrouded in darkness
The demons lie,
Waiting to terrorize
The innocent soul.
Twisting and turning
The touches of truth
Into something
The heart does not know.
And, in the darkness where demons dwell
And fear feeds the flower of deceit,
Only the hunger that you feed the most
In the end will be what you believe.
By: Linda Duncan

Lost and alone
No way to cope
Trying to survive
In a world without hope
Then I found God.

Things are hard
Each and every day through
At times I wondered
Just what to do
But things were better with God.

No food to eat
But God did provide;
Arrived home to find groceries
On the porch outside.
Yes things were better with God.

Not enough but still
The bills were due;
An unexpected raise
God saw me through.
Things were better with God

God's blessings so numerous
I forgot to pray;
And I found myself
Drifting away,
I forgot - things are better with God.

Days became harder
Blessings were few;
Didn't realize I had wondered
Away from you.
Should've remembered things are better with God.

Life seemed much better
From an outside look;
But no one saw
The foundations that shook.
Things hold together better with God,

Out of practice
Forgetting to pray;
Lost and stumbling
Along the way.
Yes, things were better with God.

Once again, I find myself
In a world without hope;
But remembering, I know
There's a way to cope.
Things are better with God.

If there's a chance I can change a situation
Honor bound I am to try;
But if it's already in the past
I have to let it lie.

Upon blank pages
I exercise my emotions
Worries, loves, hates,
Indecision, insecurities;
All those things
That threaten
To explode to the surface
Like a worn punching bag.
These blank pages
Accept in silence
All those emotions
That threaten to consume me,
And when the last word is written
And the last period placed,
The overwhelming burden
Was somewhat lighter
And from what became therapy,
Poetry emerged.

I walk in darkness
But not alone.
I find myself
Bumping into pain
Stabbed with confusion
Crying in the darkness
With only the sound of my own sorrow
To break the silence.

Fear shrouds in like a mist
Until terror takes over.
And, through my tears
I look at the enclosing shadows;
And, strange as it may seem,
I find hope
Knowing they are cast
By the light.

I will overcome, I will survive
This illness trying to destroy my life.
Despite the hurt, despite the pain
I will not let it drive me insane.
God didn't promise no suffering
We'll all have some;
But if we walk by faith
We can overcome.
Through faith
All things are possible
We only have to believe;
And reach out
With open hands
Expecting to receive.

Whoever said pain was all in my head
Obviously hasn’t felt any.
It’s hard to look past pain.
Dalton can say pain doesn’t hurt
All he wants on roadhouse
But this is the real world.
Pain reaches out like a bolt of lightening
To remind you it’s there.
I have learned to endure
But it doesn’t make the struggle any easier.
     © 4/15/2013

When my life is gone at last
Don’t dredge up all the past;
I’ve forgotten every wrong
In this world they don’t belong.
Heaven’s gates are void of pain,
No more crying in the rain;
No more loss of hope
No more struggling to cope.
Only faith and love
Are centered in the world above.
And if by chance I don’t get in
It’s not your fault I live in sin.
It was my choice to choose.
It’s up to me to win or lose.
Everything in life’s a risk
A chance you take or miss.
Let it slide or take a voice,
You’re the one who makes the choice.
If there’s joy at the end or pain
You’ve only yourself to blame.
You can’t escape the consequence
Of a chance you’ve lost or missed.
No one ever said life is fair
You have to be the one to care.
By: Linda Duncan
©1/13/2002

What horrors happen in life
To twist the mind
To make it abandon
It's normal confines.
To need to hurt
Or want to ****;
To find some fun
Or perverted thrill.
Looking back some seem
To have had no need
To find violence
A place to feed.
Normal parents
And normal lives;
And yet this is how
They chose to survive.
How could they have done
Such unspeakable acts
Some part of me wants to understand;
But there's that horrible thought
That if I do
I'm afraid that I'll
Have condoned their hand.

Lord help me not to falter
In the faith I have for you
To know you can accomplish
All you said that you could do.
To know I only have to ask
And in my heart believe
That you in your wisdom
Will supply my every need.

Dear Lord,
Help our ministry flourish.
Help us to study and to learn.
Help us
Lay aside these early needs
And pray for your concern.
Help us always to be humble
Keep pride away from our goals,
Let us strive to do your will
And leave you in control.
Let us look past circumstances
And know that faith will lead us through,
Let us interceded along the way
For those that need us too.
Help us not to look back except to see
Just where you've brought from;
Let our lives be a testimony
As to just how far we've come.

Fear of Water

Reflections from the setting sun
Glisten and dance upon the water.
A cool breeze comes and goes
Capturing the soft smell of saltwater.
The sun, a blazing ball of orange
Is halfway sunk into the water.
Standing upon the small deck,
I look out at the breathtaking view.
But, all I can think about is the murky water
And whether or not I might spring a leak

I hate that pain sees to shake my faith.
I’m afraid to pray for healing
When I have
And it doesn’t seem to be working.
I know there is a God
And he can do all things
I’ve seen it;
So what is wrong with me?
I use to be sure my faith was strong enough
I even quit my meds
But obviously that didn’t work.
My faith must not be strong enough.
God teach me how to make it stronger,
Help me figure it out.
You’re the only one who can make miracles happen.
     © 4/15/2013

Twin peaks of pleasure
Pointed toward an aching touch,
plead satisfaction.
An involuntary spasm
And I open myself;
Eager for the approaching journey.

Childhood memories
More pleasant than I remembered.
Growing up
I thought they were all bad.
It’s almost laughable to realize
I had no idea how bad
Bad could be.

As a child I felt alone rejected
Only true blood could be counted upon.
With everyone else I was always
Looking over my shoulder
Not paranoid so much as sensitive
To the spirits of those around me.
I learned to follow those instincts
To survive.
Instincts that keep you safe
Even from those you love.

But at least when I was young
There were friends at school.
Someone to share the secrets with.
Who am I kidding;
I kept my secrets.
I’ve never really trusted.
Therein, of course,
Being the root of my problem.

Childhood friend have gone.
Not a one remains to talk to
Co-workers are just that.
Outside of work they don’t exist
As I don’t exist to those around me.

My epitaph will probably read,
Who was she?
I think I’ve even forgotten
How to make friends.
I don’t even bother with the effort.
Out of sight, out of mind.
I am content to be alone.
Although I wish it weren’t so.
I would open up and enjoy
If I could just remember how.
    © 7/31/2003

You have no idea the relief it is
When depression goes away
Especially when I look back to remember
Just how long it stayed.
Years and years of medicines
Though none really did the trick.
I zoned out like a zombie,
Or else they made me sick.
I would cry myself to sleep at night
and pray for death each day.
I even thought to end it all
But God had a better way.
I stepped out of my comfort zone
In obedience to Him;
And immediately the depression left,
I was no longer overwhelmed.
It weighs you down so heavy
That you’re buried in the pain.
You hurt from all the aching
Til you think you’re insane.
So, when those imps of satan leave you
It’s amazing how you feel;
When God lift’s that crushing burden
You know at once it’s real.
No more thoughts of dying.
I don’t cry myself to sleep
I joy in all the promises
I know that He will keep.
And even though there’s hardships
My spirit is at rest;
With God, I am an over comer
And through Him I am blessed.
     © 4/22/2013

The wind is blowing something fierce
I hear it’s deafening cry;
As if in pain it stopped
To mourn and ask us why.
We’re cutting down the forrest
At such an alarming rate;
The lands that once were large and vast
Have begun to dissipate.
The floods are raging wild
With no trees to stop their flow;
With all the mistakes
That we have made
You should think we’d know.

God makes a way
To overcome every battle
God makes a way
He’ll see me though
Every I face
My God can erase
And He’ll do the same thing
For you.
By: Linda Duncan
© 6/24/2016

I look at the beautiful countryside
I feel the refreshing breeze;
It's like feeling God's presence
Whispering through the trees.

It's amazing to think such a tiny seed
Could grow to be so tall;
But miracles tend to happen
When God's in charge of it all.

How can you look at a sunset
Without knowing He is real;
You can feel His presence
If for a moment you just stand still.
The beautiful brooks and rivers
Flow freely through this land;Everything is beautiful
When created by God's hand.

Undeserved favor
Amazing Grace
A gift from God to those of us
Forgiveness for wrongs,
A chance to make things right
An almighty protector
On our side of the fight.
A love never ending
A hope that flies;
Unending mercy
In our father's eyes.
A life eternal
In a heavenly place;
Thank God for His
Amazing Grace.

God guide this day
With your blessing and grace;
Judge not with justice
But put mercy in its place.
Look not to the doings
But to the intent of the deed;
Let our thought be guided
By your planted seed.
When confusion sets in
Lord send us your peace
The one that passeth understanding
And sends comfort through grief.
When worthlessness and depression
Come knocking at my door;
Lord double the reinforcements
That weren't there before.
When the voices sy that no oe loves you
Help me remember that's not true;
When all the world had turned against e,
Let me know there's trust in you.
When my prayers feel like no one's coming
And I cannot hear your voice;
Let me see past circumstances
Let having faith always be my choice.

God guide this day
With your blessing and grace;
Judge not with justice
But put mercy in its place.
Look not to the doings
But to the intent of the deed;
Let our thoughts be guided
By your planted seed.
When confusion sets in
Lord send us your peace.
The one that passes understanding
And sends comfort through grief.
When worthlessness and depression
Come knocking at my door;
Lord double the reinforcements
That weren’t there before.
When the voices say that no one loves you
Help me remember that’s not true;
When all the world has turned against me
Let me know there’s trust in you.
When my prayers feel like no one’s coming
And I cannot hear your voice;
Let me see past circumstances,
Let having faith always be my choice.
     © 9/12/2003

Throbbing, pounding,
Growing in intensity.
Every sound magnified
A hundred fold.
Even the slightest ray of light
Is a stabbing pain.
I do my best
Trying not to concentrate
On the pulsating pain;
But it’s so concentrated.
On bended knees I rock
With my head cradled in my hands,
Hoping to ease the torture.
Nauseous and aching,
I cry through the pain
Cursing this body
That suffers migraines.
By: Linda Duncan
© 4/27/2000

What kind of heritage do I have?
Worthless, I'm afraid.
I never wanted to pass that on
To my kids.
I want to be someone
They can be proud of.
But I'm just someone
They can be ashamed of;
Someone who's let themselves go.
Someone,
Who doesn't even like them self.
I've forgotten all the good things I knew.
I've become weak.
I can see the downward spiral of my life,
But I don't know how to stop it.
Is there a destiny?
Do we really have a choice?
Sometime, I think hell is inevitable,
I'll never come close to perfect.

Love is hell and hell is war
And nowadays I just can't keep score.
Broken hearts, shattered lives
The one with the inner strength survives.
You give it your all, you throw in your heart
And sooner or later it's torn apart.
Which can I trust, which ones are true?
I don't know anymore after what I've been through.
I know there are others who've suffered more pain
At the hands of those with something to gain;
But right now that doesn't help me much
So I've developed myself a mental crutch,
A fortress no one can penetrate
Built so high with a wall full of hate.
Check your emotions, don't let them show
Don't ever let a relationship grow.
Love is hell and hell is war
And I just don't think I care anymore.

Endless waves
Of fear and doubt
A thousand what ifs
Tossed about.
Old regrets
Still seeping in
Wondering if
There's a way to win.
An ocean filled
With stepping stones
Each one named
Each trial honed.
Some will sink
And some will rise
Fill with joy
Or desperate cries.
If only one stone remains
Then I can cope;
So long as that one
That rose is called hope.

If all were fair and just in the world
Maybe there would be peace.
If the world had wisdom and understood
Maybe the fighting would cease.
If all men had sympathy and caring
Maybe no child would live unfed.
If life held no pain or sorrow
No tears would need be shed.
If all could be humble and meek
Then pride would not stand in our way,
There would be no ambitions to to drive us
No temptations to cause us to stray.
If each soul could be filled with laughter
There could be joy in each heart.
If all men could be brethren
Then each man could feel a part.
If at any time your life is this
Then your life is rare.
And the world could be like this
If the world were just and fair.

Down the dim and darkening tunnels
through the mazes of my life
While my soul deals with the trials
and my flesh deals with the strife
I still can see the burning
of salvations shining light.

While my heart has mourned with losses
and my tears have overflown
And my world has tossed and tumbled
from everything I once had known
Though circumstances said defeat,
through strength, my faith has grown.

I've learned to look past what is there
to what it might become
I've learned though strikes may be against me
that is not the total sum.
I must do my best to measure
up on the day my Lord will come.

As I lay upon a bed of death
it's claws gripped to my soul
I must confess a part of me
just wanted to let go
But a quieter voice said,
"there is more to do you know."

Who stands upon deaths' doorstep
and doesn't stop to wander back
To look upon the deeds they've done
or upon the things they lack.

I’m sure it wasn’t easy
Being a teenage mother with child;
It would have been simpler to have aborted me
And had another one after a while.
But you chose right over easy
Stood firm and held your ground;
And even when things got a little rough
You never once backed down.
You sacrificed time after time
To give me the things I needed;
To push me on ahead in lie
To make sure I succeeded.
You made time for the nagging questions
That only a child could ask
You made being a mother
Seem like a simple task.
I’m older now and wiser,
And in the years I’ve grown.
I’m settled down and married
With children of my own.
And being a mother I’ve learned
Is one of the hardest things to do;
And yet I remember throughout the years
It seemed so easy for you.
I remember you always having the time
To put my fears to rest;
Or time to put away your life
And help me on my tests.
I remember things you did without
To buy me shoes or a dress;
You never got impatient
Or treated me like a pest
And I pray that when the years are gone
And my children are grown up too;
They will think half as much of me,
As I’ve come to think of you.
I’ll never forget your sacrifice
Just to bring me into this world;
I just wanted to let you know,
Love always, from your little girl.

Transient confusion
Senility kicking in;
Who knows.
In the beginning
There was purpose.

Red brick houses
One after another,
No deviation from the form.

Then
I spy the odd one;

The misfit
The outcast
Finally,
someone who thinks for themselves.

I find happiness in my dreams
I'm sure I do, or so it seems.
In dreams I feel and fly and sing
In dreams I do most everything.

I'm strong as an oak
And all things I know,
And I can go wherever
I long to go.

There's no limitations
No holds barred;
And this earthly vessel
Is a beauty unscarred.

And this soul that cried out
Sometimes at night;
Is filled with joy
And void of fright.

All those things I long to do
In dreams they really do come true.
That loving adventurous person I wish to be,
In my dreams' reflection is always me.

Give me the unction Lord
To be ready when you call
Fully clothed in your armor
Prepared, lest I should fall.
Let our gifts and your talents be nutured
And used at your command,
Filled with pride at being your child
Never afraid or ashamed to stand.
When I see others around me
Let me seek to fulfill their need
Let your spirit and your word
Be the food on which I feed
And when this life is over
May you find my life worthwhile
And with open arms proclaim to me
Thy good and faithful child.

I wish you the chance
To fulfill your dream
Apart from me
So it would see.
I am so very
Proud of you
Of the man you are
And all you will do.
A child of God
I raised you to be
He's always there
Don't forget to see.
No matter how you struggle
There is always hope;
With God there is always
A way to cope.
May He give you strength
When the day is long
And courage enough
To see you home.
Wish I could remember
All the words you wrote
For they lift me up
And give me hope.
I raised a man
Of integrity and strength;
Who pushes through
Even when he's weak.
When you're on your own
I know you'll flourish and grow;
And when nothing's happening
I still want to know.
I pray God's goodness clings
Like a shadow to you;
And that He keeps you safe
In whatever you may do.
May He send you encouragement
Every day
And laughter and joy
To lighten your way.
Never forget
That you are loved
When you're touching cloud nine
And soaring above.
Sometimes out of sight
Is out of mind;
So don't forget those of us
You've left behind
I'm so afraid when you're gone
I'll never see you again;
Or even if I do
It'll be who knows when.
You'll have laughter and pain
I won't be there to see
I'm afraid you'll thrive
And forget about me.
I know your life will be easier
Without the hassle of us;
And you'll forget to call us
Just because.
You'll have new adventures
And meet new friends
A new world of excitement
You won't want to end,
I won't ask you to stop living
Or traveling around;
Or to give up any
Of the joy you've found
Just remember to call
Every once in a while;
And know it will bring
Your mother a smile.
It'll brighten my day
Just to hear your voice;
Fill my heart with love
And a need to rejoice..
When you sleep at night
Don't forget to pray
And know I'll be praying
For God to guide your way.
God is sending you to Alaska
He prepared the way;
With room and board -
He heard a mother pray.
I dedicated you
A long time ago;
For God to protect you
Where ever you go.
So I leave you now
In the best of hands;
And know God has for you
The greatest plans.
So keep in mind
You are never alone
And you're always welcome
To come back home.
You're always be
In our hearts and prayers
As we wish you the best
And bid you farewell.

By: Linda Duncan

Every legend begins with a truth
I've often heard it said
And it makes me start to wonder
About all the things I've  read.
Did Merlin really exist?
Does magic live out there
And if it does
I wonder where.
Atlantians may have acclimated
In the ocean depths where they abide.
They've learned to live and breathe
In the waters where they reside.
Maybe there's a whole new civilization
Down on the ocean floor
Where Neptune ad all the mermaids live,
Those fantasies we adore.
Every eye-drawing man I see
I'm beginning to speculate
Could it his werewolf blood
That doubles my heart rate?
That **** specimen of magnificent man
Does he change when day becomes night?
Does he thrive on the feels of adrenalin
Or how easy he can cause fright.
Does he run in a pack when the moon is full
Does he lure women to his bed
What determines our strength of will?
That tiny human thread.
In the dark of night across the crowd
His eyes lock onto me;
And though I long to pull away
He's all that I can see.
I see the tiny point of fangs
As he leads us to solitude
And I feel the rush of adrenalin
As sure as I feel the doom.
****** awake by the vivid dreams
The memories begin to flood,
But reality quickly opens my eyes
When I see the drops of blood.
There are predators out there in the streets
Not all the human kind,
And fear of what we don't understand
Encourages us to be blind.
Those things that terrify us
The predator in the night;
We are so foolish to assume
They're not there in the light.

I love to turn on PBS
And find Bob Ross
Painting a perfect picture.
I see strong bold mountains in the background;
Tall trees reaching the roof of the canvas,
And brilliant cascading waterfalls
Pounding against the rocks.
The roar of rushing water so loud
I can scarcely hear my heartbeat.
I can almost envision a hidden cavern
Behind the falls in the crevice of the rocks.
The pool of rushing white foam
Fans out into a liquid blue.
A small grove of wild berries
Grow along the bushes near the rocks.
Beautiful dogwoods of lavender and white
Spot across the meadow.
And a small beautiful weeping willow
Lets the edge of its branches
Float about the water.
It looks so beautiful and inviting,
So safe within the confines of the canvas.
And I’ve seen the absolutely awesome portraits
That God himself has created.
But I find myself weary
Of sticking my naked feet into the waters
Knowing that even in God’s beauty
Something might be slithering under the surface.
    
© 8/1/2003

When I look into myself
I try to find perfection;
Knowing the impossibility of it.

And, I wonder why my first instinct
Is to want to feel better than someone else,
When, in fact, I’m on the lowest scale of humanity.

What I would like to see inside myself
Is someone who doesn’t judge or complain;
Just someone grateful instead of someone who grumbles.

I look at people, imperfect, damaged
Who never complain, but are always thankful for life;
And I, with no seemingly damaged or missing parts
Look toward them with envy.
Children, with frail bodies, weak hearts, and no hair;
With every reason and right to complain -
Only smile and laugh, even knowing their time is limited.
And I sit here thinking I have the right to feel bad.
By: Linda Duncan
© 6/15/2000