Let me chance upon a secluded nook
Where Life's bitter torments seem to cease;
There I shall transcribe a most dismal book ---
My heart's voiceless pain seeking release;
A field of daisies swaying in good cheer
Might lighten this burden so sad and drear

Or  I might climb to the top of a hill
Where the scent of heather stirs the air,
And the clear mountain springs sputter and spill
Over ferns dwelling happily there;
A comforting balm shall course through my veins
As my heart dictates its mournful refrains

While tides ebb and flow o'er a restless sea,
My pen will scrawl with a feverish zest;
And when all endurance is drained from me,
On some grassy knoll I'll take my rest;
As the night unfolds its jeweled canopy
My heart will shed its cloak of agony

But should more toil await as night draws near,
Pity me not for this endless day;
For life has ****** many a poisoned spear,
And this poet's heart must have its say;
Not till the very last vestige of pain
Is expelled, will my heart find peace again

Rays of a golden sun greet the day,
A warm breeze brushes my cheek in its play,
Fragrant flowers bloom in radiant hue,
Amidst this beauty, I think of you

A wandering bird in hectic flight
Searches for shelter before fall of night,
Then sanctuary comes within view,
When I've lost my way, I think of you

Amorous waves hug a lonely shore;
As avocets scavenge the sandy floor
The moon and stars keep their rendezvous,
In this peaceful realm, I think of you

A dove woos his mate high in a tree,
Together they warble love's symphony
As bees sip the rose's velvet dew;
Seeing love fulfilled, I think of you

Though life may demand its daily toll,
Your love guides me toward my journey's goal;
And when despair spreads its darkest hue --
Love's flame kindles when I think of you

Standing at the footbridge I kept watch each night,
My lantern raised high, with its brilliant light;
I helped him pass safely, one side to the other,
Only to see him fall into the arms of another

Now my lantern is cold, no flame burning bright,
No more do I search for those lost in the night;
Next to the hearth, on pillows strewn o'er the floor,
I sip wine with whomever finds their way to my door

While I wait alone for Love to come,
When I add all the parts, but can't get the sum,
When life overwhelms and I finally succumb .....
I dream

When I see no end to lonely days,
When rainbows are colored in black and grays,
And to the Lord of Love I can give no praise .....
I dream

When I call Love's name and no one replies,
When I look for you through tear-filled eyes,
When even the wind feels pity and sighs .....
I dream

When morning comes and the day is new,
But the pain is old, and I'm missing you,
When the sky won't don its cloak of blue .....
I dream

When I wish on a star and its light grows dim,
And birds no longer sing their evening hymn,
When the world is looking hopeless and grim .....
I dream

And I keep dreaming until my spirit soars,
Until my spirit reaches Heaven's doors,
And when there's no answer, although it implores .....
I dream

How callously this day has come and gone,
Though hoped for, no gifts did it bring to me;
The sun reluctantly announced the dawn,
Not one bird could I find to sing to me

No matter the path, I walked it in vain,
No one offered a kind word nor a smile,
A cheerful spirit was hard to maintain
And became burdensome after a while

Strolling my garden I sought solace there,
While gathering roses, thorns pricked my finger,
Hopelessness and woe hung thick in the air,
With dusk at hand, I chose not to linger

O, the searing pain of being alone,
Doubting, while yet hoping love might find me;
But this day failed me and can not atone
For all these hopeless longings that bind me

I shall not forget nor forgive this day,
Such neglect saddens and tortures my night,
And this chaplet of misery shall lay
Upon my heart like a perilous blight

Contemplating Love's banquet of delights,
I greet each morn with new hope in my heart;
But a thousand days and as many nights
Saw my dreams perish and watched Hope depart

Too long my lonely laments have been sung,
Do I demand too much when I implore
Love's blessing before my death knell is rung?
(This granted, I would ask for nothing more)

"Tomorrow Love will come - be not concerned"
Hope softly sighs.   But my senses are numb.
And yet, as the page from Life's book is turned,
Once again to Hope's deceit I succumb

So what if love proves to be untrue --
Are we not accustomed to its lies?  
Long ago deceit made its debut 
And left its reflection in our eyes

So what if the night denies us sleep    
While we wring our hands, pacing the floor;
Yes, the cruel ploys of love make us weep,
And yet we keep coming back for more

So what if we embrace every lie --
How sweetly they fall upon our ears!
Is it prudent for us to deny
Love a chance to turn the tide of years?

So what if we keep taking that leap
Of faith, praying each new love will be true;
The hills we climb each day seem less steep,
And Heaven's portals well within view

So what if love makes us play the fool?
Better we find solace in a dream
Than to tie the rope and kick the stool . . .
And dawn finds us dangling from the beam!

Drifting like a feather in the wind,
Being carried here and there,  
In love's windstorm, around I'm spun,
Just a prisoner of the air  

Floating and tumbling in turbulence,  
Once more  being turned around,    
At any time expecting love      
To cruelly dash me to the ground  

Dancing like a feather in the wind  
With no solid ground to tread;  
While floating over restless waves,  
It's the cross current that I dread  

A feather.... just floating.... in the wind,  
How I fear the hurricane! 
The raging  winds of love's deceit  
That would see my hopes and dreams slain

Twisting and turning, out of control,  
Surrender the sole recourse;    
Let the winds of love have their way,  
Blustering with their awesome force!  

Just a feather carried by the wind,  
Sanity becomes a blur;
I rise, then I fall helplessly
While begging the wind not to stir!