Our winter sun has set ---
The days grow shorter now;
The love that we share brings not one regret,
And so I make this vow:

I shall remember you
When through that dark abyss
I journey alone, as we all must do,
When doomed by Death's vile kiss

And when you've reached Death's shore,
Marooned by Life's fierce tide,
I'll search for you, and mournfully implore
Quick passage to your side

My cries will resonate
Throughout Eternity,
And if there be a Divine Magistrate,
I'll beg on bended knee

And as I seek your hand
In realms extraordinaire,
What joy will be mine in that foreign land
To find you waiting there

Death's mandates may be stern
But Love need not obey,
For Love defies Death, showing no concern
For Life's sad yesterday

And we'll not flinch at chance,
Nor will despair dictate;
In this realm of eternal circumstance
Love has no fear of Fate

And how we shall rejoice
When our souls reunite
To bear witness to and vow with one voice
The Love that Death could not smite!

I've never envied another woman
For her jewels or garments finely sewn,
But I can't conceal the envy I feel
Knowing she has love to call her own

To see her walking as though she had wings
On her feet makes me pause in wonder;
And hard though I try, I cannot deny
I envy this spell that she's under

Once an elderly couple caught my eye ---
A man and woman whose youth had flown,
But her countenance, in radiant trance,
Left no doubt his love was hers alone

What envy permeates my waking hours --
What vile winds across my heart have blown!
I don't ask for much - a man's tender touch,
Just a love that I can call my own

But lonely days and nights turned into years,
And O, how my restlessness has grown!
I fear I shall die without knowing why
I never had love to call my own

Death nips relentlessly at my heels
Like a mongrel that broke from its chains.
Depart, you thief of cherished flesh,
You've no right yet to my remains!

Keep your distance, mask your putrid scent,
I'm not ready . . . and I reject it.
Of course, I know you'll have your way
Some night when I least expect it

And you'll deliver some lame excuse,
As any deceitful villain would;
Ramble on, vicious Thief of Life,
Your prattle will do you no good

Although despised by one and by all,
Some cruel law has given you free reign
To decide when our transient frames
Shall invade the earthworm's domain

And obey we must -  we have no choice,
Not the meek, not the bold, nor the mild.
Indiscriminate is the soil,
Taking all . . . man, woman and child

For you've never yet lost a battle--
By no regulations are you bound.
I'll object, but you'll still drag me
To your lair deep into the ground

And when that final trumpet blast sounds,
Not a drop of mercy will you show;
Up you'll jump, eager to collect
All that's due you . . . and down we'll go!

Bravely the sun announces night has flown,
Its blinding rays far and wide it casts;
Reluctantly the moon descends its throne .......
Nothing lasts

Contentedly you'll hear the robin sing,
Her egg-filled nest she proudly broadcasts,
Then one sad morning her fledglings take wing .......
Nothing lasts

The withered rose that once nourished the bees
Now treats them like bewildered outcasts,
Her drops of nectar no longer appease .......
Nothing lasts

Sad hearts rejoice when Love knocks at their door,
So glad to forget their shattered pasts;
Soon they're holding hands with despair once more .......
Nothing lasts

For some, life holds honey;  for others, rue,
And then suddenly the trumpet blasts,
The Angel of Death comes to claim his due .......
Nothing lasts

Why was I drawn to that gypsy's tent  
When the carnival came to town?  
"Your fortune for one dollar," she cried,  
Soon she wore my resistance down  

After staring at my hand a while  
She announced with a worried sigh:  
"You're a woman wrapped in loneliness,  
Lonely until the day you die!"  

She tried to offer a kindly smile,  
But I sensed pity and sorrow;  
Did she think I took her seriously?  
No one can foretell tomorrow  

Now I look at that same hand today  
And recall her words -  how they sting!    
This abandoned hand that no one holds,  
My finger, wearing no man's ring

But it was a time of hope and dreams  
When the gypsy first read my palm;  
How did she know, I now ask myself,
Sitting alone in twilight's calm  

Lips that kissed mine uttered promises  
They never intended to keep;  
And a heart that pledged its faithfulness
Sank to deeds that were dark and deep  
  
Just what did the gypsy see that day  
While she sadly gazed at my hand?  
Why did she not tell me all my dreams
Would be built upon shifting sand!

So long ago she read Fate's decree,
Truth I can no longer deny:
I'm a woman wrapped in loneliness,
Lonely ..... until the day I die

False prophets never weary of their task,
Their stern warnings shrouding us in gloom:
"Implore God's mercy for your evil ways,
They're the cause of misery and doom"

But Life has always held suffering and pain,
Long before the term "sin" was defined;
Most of what we do is ingrained in us,
Meaning this is how we were designed

How could a creator not be aware
Of each imperfection, each defect?
Let us lay the blame right where it belongs:
On the shoulders of the Architect!

We steal, we hate, we **** for no reason,
And so we must don the judge's robe,
Enforcing our laws, rendering punishment .....
We're the stewards of this hapless globe

Fear's ponderous stone must be rolled away
Before your thoughts can exit the door
Of the prison that holds your mind hostage,
Granting it swift wings to leap and soar!

I've been in that tower, shackled to lies,
Anointed with the oil of deceit;
But Truth kept vigil with me all the while,
Waiting, curled in a ball at my feet

It cried "Unfold me, pick me up, hold me!
I'm the key that can unlock your mind,"
I heeded the voice, then ran from my cell,
Leaving fear and deceit far behind

Then I saw life for what it really is:
Random happiness and random grief,
We laugh, we cry, we suffer, then we die,
Only in love do we find relief

So don't preach to me of sin and God's wrath,
Such idle threats trouble me no more;
And to discourage future intruders,
I've hung "Do Not Disturb" on my door!

With faltering steps, slower grows my stride,
Kicking stones, I stumble on my way;
Walking such wretched paths, God knows I've tried
To rise above all this Earthly fray

Sadly,  the heavens are not mine to soar,
Mangled pinions make for hopeless flight;
Only in dreams am I raised from Earth's floor --
To remain earthbound is my sad plight

I've been told lovers walk among the stars,
But the heavens are not mine to fly;
This Earth, this prison with its accursed bars
Is my domain 'til the day I die

The Fountain of Hope can no longer sate;
Sands of Time spill from my dimming eyes;
I spend these days reflecting on my fate,
Struggling to sort the truth from the lies

Yet, I still reach for what I cannot gain
While ghosts of a sad past surround me;
Heartless creatures! While they scoff at my pain,
I cry for Love that never found me

O, Fate, at times I find your style profane ---
Cold as ice, unmoved by my despair;
But the hour is late, no doubt I'll remain
Earthbound, never to breathe Love's sweet air

How long has it been since you've heard
Someone declaring their love for you?
Why are we not prone to say the word
That removes clouds tinged with sorrow's hue?

If you love someone, tell them so,
Bring a banquet to them, served with wine,
From their hungry hearts the thanks will flow
As on love's sweetest verses they dine

If you feel love, say it today,
For tomorrow is promised to none;
If you can chase but one cloud away,
Sorrow will be lost, and new hope won

Say it today, empty your heart ---
When those thoughts are suppressed, they might die;
Release the joy loving words impart,
Pull back the bow, let love's arrow fly

Say it today, make someone smile,
Erasing both despair and malice;
Give them reason to find life worthwhile,
Let them drink deeply from love's chalice

Say it today -- throw a lifeline
To a heart drowning in misery,
Say those loving words that ring divine,
And send them ......... Special Delivery!

No fancy clothes have I ever desired,
Yet, in Nature's splendor I'm well-attired;
To my lips red roses bequeath their hue,
While morning bathes them in its pearly dew;
My lips quiver, awaiting unknown bliss --
They're dressed for love, but there's no one to kiss

My heart is clad in the latest fashion:
A cloak of dreams, sewn with threads of passion;
Love is embroidered into every fold
With tender warmth for when the wind blows cold,
Come, lonely drifter, come find sweet repose!
My heart's dressed for love, but nobody knows

Dawn's first blooms offer themselves for my crown --
How they complement my gossamer gown
Made of moonlight, and embellished with stars,
(I'll not be constrained by propriety's bars!)
But from my eyes tears fall like melting snow,
I'm all dressed for love ...... with nowhere to go

Few are the times Love knocked at my door,
     but they've all escaped my memory;
No enchanting poems stirred in my core --
No grand tributes to Love's mystery

But when despair extinguishes hope's flame,
     what salient words drip from my pen;
It's then that my heart, wounded and lame,
     unveils its poetic acumen

Is this why misery commands free rein ---
     just to appease Fate's poetic lust?
The tyranny of anguish and pain
     gives hesitant verse that final ******

Try to visualize agony pent
     in the depths of a desolate heart;
Now sketch the face of that vile torment . . .
Soon the pain becomes a work of art

Too often deceitful hearts will lure
     trusting hearts, blinding them with false love;
Great is the anguish they must endure . . .
     but it's the poems that I'm thinking of!

Passion-filled verses mix and combine
     like the paints in a grand masterpiece
     when the shattered heart tries to confine
     rage and bitterness seeking release
    
And yet, Love that survives Fate's brutal shove ---
The fortress that refuses to fall ---
Those words that proclaim undying love
     become the grandest poems of all!

They say 'tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have known love at all;
They have no clue what this sampling may cost . . .
Love can cause empires to rise and fall!
A heart, once content, becomes tempest-tossed,
Each little cloudburst feels like a squall;
I'd rather my lonely sea not be crossed ---
My heart won't be a fickle love's port of call!

At the end of the well-trodden path
That I walk each lonely night,
A figure of ghostly pallor
Appeared in the moonlight

Sitting on the bench with lowered head,
His silver hair, streaked with gold
Fell forward, as hapless tears dropped --
A sad sight to behold

Dare I ask him why he sits alone
On a night so bleak and cold?
Dare I transgress his solitude
With inquiry so bold?

Somehow I found the courage to ask,
And he responded with scorn:
"If I were to die here tonight,
There'd be no one to mourn"

Seized with pity, I reached for his hands,
Gentler hands I've never known;
So warm and tender was his grasp,
Why was this man alone?

The air filled with panic as he spoke,
Like the cries of hunted birds;
Feeling defeated and hopeless,
Desolate were his words

He said it had been quite a long time
Since a woman held him tight;
I then drew him closer to me,
And held him through the night

First our breaths mingled, then our lips met,
My heart started beating fast,
His kiss tasted like vintage wine,
Thrilling me to the last

Silently we wallowed in our bliss,
How lucent the moon had grown;
Fate laid its hands upon our hearts --
The seeds of love were sown!

Hand in hand we left that lonely path,
Rewriting our destiny;
I knew I'd found a discarded jewel,
And took him home with me

Sleep, my beloved,  my arms will not tire
Of holding you . . . let your dreams take flight;
I'll keep watch until  dawn's ring of fire
Burns away the tapestry of night

Where do you go in your errant dreams --
Riding cloud-drifts through Love's pageantry
While I keep watch next to sorrow's streams
Until the dawn brings you back to me?

Then let your fantasies ride moonbeams
And wander among celestial spheres;
I'll keep watch while you pursue your dreams,
Though my weary eyes are blurred with tears

Walk the pebbled shores and valleys green
Till you find your kingdom by the sea;
And when you're ready to choose a queen,
Think of me, love, O please, think of me

For dreams are but a subtle disguise,
Masking the desires we dare not speak;
And so I'll keep watch until your eyes
Look in mine . . . and find the love they seek

Life is not perfect, it has its flaws,
And flows with restricted efficiency;
Once in a while, it will bend the laws
To compensate for some deficiency

At times, Life will send torments our way,
(For which it should humbly beg our pardon)
Gladly we forgive such vile display
When we find love growing in our garden

We dance to some unknown rhapsody,
While Life's hands are positioned on the keys;
We think we compose the melody,
But Life will play only what it shall please

Life is a gamble we seldom win,
Though we have no choice but to play the game,
The cards are dealt, the wheel starts to spin .....
Will triumph be ours, or a loser's shame?

Dubious is the motive for this game,
Yet, we follow the rules most ardently;
Always seeking the elusive flame
That reveals the purpose of you and me

In darkness, we blindly tread thin ice,
Where underneath a rough sea is churning;
Though our instinct murmurs sound advice,
The ***** of hope nurses our yearning

Know this!  God's secrets will not be learned,
Though foolish hearts beseech the realm above;
But when the last page of Life is turned,
We'll find all that really mattered was Love!

I must clear my mind and reclaim the peace
I lost amongst accumulated things;
Enough! This endless confusion must cease,
So to all sad memories I'll give wings

Like bats, let them fly to dwell in dark caves,
They've no place in a mind seeking the sun;
Or let them die and be laid in their graves --
I'll not grant refuge once this day is done

Reaching into corners long undisturbed
I find dust-covered memories of youth;
What comfort to find no expressions curbed,
But to hear tender hearts speaking the truth

Blessed were childhood's days, passing like a breeze,
But somehow ensuing years went awry;
Foolishly, I've harbored dark memories,
But now the hour of their fate hovers nigh

Good-bye to those who brought pain and deceit
To this heart that could never comprehend
Why, as their flowers lay withered at my feet,
Their deceitful love I would yet defend

Away with the tattered remnants of love
That once composed a lovely tapestry;
To the trash pile I'll send them with a shove --
No longer will they cause me misery

Upon the pyre dead flowers will be tossed,
But there remains one rose of fairest hue
My mind cannot dispel, at any cost --
The one love that has proved worthy and true

So I shall guard it deep within my heart,
Lest the failing mind let it fade from sight;
To all the rest I now bid them depart ......
Will the last to leave please turn out the light!

Just as sure as the night claims the moon,
And every dawn claims the rising sun,
I'll gather the woes that burden your heart
And claim them all,  one by one

Just as the tide claims the waiting shore,
And the soil claims every seed that's sown,
With fortitude only love can renew,
I'll claim your pain for my own

Just as the rose claims the morning dew,
And the bee claims his throne on the flower,
I'll stay with you, sharing your darkest nights,
And I'll claim each lonely hour

Just as all stars lay claim to the sky,
And for their theft they need not atone,
So I feel no guilt in stealing your heart
And claiming it for my own

Just as death will one day stake its claim,
And over my grave they'll place a stone
So inscribed: His love was a fleeting dream,
Yet, she claimed it for her own

I often wonder, when Death seals my eyes,
Who will read my poems, who will analyze
Every word and thought that dripped from my pen
As angels wept and softly sighed Amen

Many eyes will see just meaningless words
That flounder in their minds like wounded birds;
But dare I hope for but one astute heart
Able to translate my crude form of art!

While reading my words, he'll breathe a deep sigh,
Sensing each torment as it marches by:
Loneliness, with many a sleepless night,
Tears that clouded the moon's radiant light,
Prayers intended to shake Heaven's rafters
But never yielding "happy ever afters,"
Carefully planned dreams, all destined to fail
Like ill-fated plots in a fairy tale

Will these rhyming words so carefully wrought
Clearly illustrate the love that I  sought?
Then down his sorrowful face tears will flow,
Having realized the depths of my woe

And if his tears were to dampen the soil
Where I lie in rest, set free from life's toil,
Will I know he took pity on my plight,
Thus granting peace in my eternal night?

Foolish woman, trying to drown her distress,
She ambles down rainy streets alone;
Weary, she grapples with her loneliness,
Poor thing! she'll return drenched to the bone

There are feelings she finds hard to define ----
Walking in the rain helps clear her view;
Soon the proper words and cadence align,
And with verse she'll share her pain with you

Poems are a priceless commodity
That allow sorrow to be dispersed;
And you, loyal patron of her artistry,
Will read words in which you're well rehearsed

Once again, her tears will run down your face,
With closed eyes you will clearly review
All the memories her mind can't erase,
All because her poem spoke to you

The uncaring winds blow harshly now,
But there was a time they caressed me
As gently as love's kiss on my brow,
And O, how the  God of Love blessed me

Love's sweet offerings were mine to take,
Though at times deceit came in disguise;
But I endured it all for love's sake,
(Lover's choices are not always wise)

But those days have long since departed,
Love is but a transient memory;
By sorrow my course is now charted,
And my love-ship sails a lonely sea

Birdsong no longer delights my heart,
Children's laughter now fills me with rue;
But loneliness, being a newly-learned art,
Foretold the anguish that would ensue

Where are the dreams that once stirred in me?
Why do love poems now seem absurd?
I pray this not be my destiny . . .
Yet . . . the voice of Hope speaks not a word!

The day is rich with the gifts of Spring,
Seeds of expectation have been sown;
Truly, I could not wish for a thing,
..... well, maybe not to be so alone

Could a lovelier morning exist?
The lilacs and roses are full blown;
To shout with joy I can scarce resist,
..... yet, I wish I were not so alone

But Time must march, Spring's performed her task,
Now Summer has made its presence known
With such charm, so what more could I ask?
..... well, perhaps not to be so alone

And when Summer dons Autumn's costume,
I'll not cry for the days that have flown;
That Spring will return I must assume,
..... I wonder, will I still be alone?

Now wintry winds nip in playful jest,
Their icy jabs chill me to the bone;
Missing his love causes such unrest,
..... and never have I felt so alone!

And each night as I lie in my bed,
I caress the rays the moon has thrown
On the pillow that once held his head,
..... and I cry because I'm so alone

Eight chimes of the clock announced the new day
As I struggled to get up from my bed;
Could this be morning? It's so dark and drear .......
But that's what the clock said

And so I arose, still numb to the truth,
'Til I heard the whisperings of woe and dread
Repeating "He's gone."  Words I can't accept .......
But that's what my heart said

At once, his solemn promise was revived:
"Our hearts, tethered by Love's unyielding thread
Cannot be parted," and so I believed .......
Because that's what he said

Love was the sum of all things beautiful,
Near my heart, woe and sorrow dared not tread;
And I know his love was deep as the sea,
Because that's what he said

No, dear reader, his love was not fickle,
He now sleeps in Heaven's celestial bed,
While I share endless nights with Loneliness .......
Because that's what Fate said!

What joy when my heart took its ****** flight!
It soared with stars navigating the night;
Pledges of love were uttered with each breath,
Not once did I entertain thoughts of death

At last my lonely heart had been caressed
By love, and drawn tenderly to its breast!
Nothing could keep my spirit from flying,
Not once did I harbor thoughts of dying

The flame of love burned with a steady glow,
It seemed love's fountain would forever flow;
When love surrenders in totality,
What fear has the heart of mortality?

But O! how my world changed -- now I'm alone,
The fountain's gone dry, my heart's turned to stone;
Every day despair rears its ugly head,
What irony ........ how I wish I were dead!

How lonely must the night become,
How dark before we are shown the light?
Must it be the starving man's last crumb
That draws God's attention to his plight?

To what degree must the heart break --
'Til it's held by one thin fragile thread?
Can we shout a sleeping God awake?
Dare we go where angels fear to tread!

How many tears must stain the page
Of the distraught poet's saddest verse?
The answer evades the wisest sage,
Could it be God himself laid this curse?

But in vain we question our fate --
Superficial particles are we,
Destined for death, nervously we wait,
Born to suffer - but to what degree?

Is no man worthy of his birth?
From what Source sprang this complexity?
Begging for mercy has little worth,
Not even Death pledges amnesty

Might the darkness get darker still?
Does our suffering bridge eternity?
Is wrath part of God's undying will
To torment us ....... but to what degree?

Toward that mystic land of fond memories
I wandered alone at end of day;
Climbing well-known hills with sure-footed ease,
Down familiar paths I made my way

Through a schoolyard gate how quickly I ran
To greet dear friends that had blessed my youth;
To reclaim those happy hours was my plan,
But instead, I faced a bitter truth

As I glanced around me with childhood's eyes
I saw laughing faces everywhere,
I smiled and waved, only to realize
Of my presence they were unaware

Once again my thoughts carried me away
To where my sweet love and I once strolled,
Somewhere is that strange Land of Yesterday,
But his image refused to unfold

There alone I stood pondering my plight --
Where was the bright sunshine of my past?
Now, tightly bound by the dark threads of night,
Life had left me, helpless and downcast

I knew then the past must be laid to rest,
But what agony to my heart came!
How do I douse this fire within my breast?
O, winds of Time, please blow out the flame!

Truth has inflicted an egregious wound:
No more can I walk Yesterday's shore;
The roiling seas of life left me marooned,
Exiled to the Land of Nevermore

Somehow you wandered into my world ---
I don't know how you found your way!
The path was unmarked and overgrown,
No welcome signs were on display

I kept my door locked, and curtains drawn,
No light streamed from the window pane;
And yet, you dared to knock at my door
And enter my dreary domain

But now that you're here I realize
How wretched loneliness can be;
And I give thanks to the Star of Love
That guided your footsteps to me

Ponderous stones of distrust and fear
Weighed on my heart many a day;
Somehow you trampled those stones to dust,
And Love gently blew them away

Winds of despair extinguished Love's fire,
But somehow you relit the flame;
Now I find myself reaching for dreams
I never thought I could reclaim

Yes, dark clouds still gather overhead ---
Life must pander to misery;
But since you wandered into my world . . .
Somehow, it doesn't matter to me

As the twilight slowly fades to dark,
The impending gloom ignites a spark;
I raise my pen and begin to write:
"Once upon a long and lonely night ....."

With such ease the words begin to flow,
Like the rush of Springtime's melting snow,
Too often these words have framed my plight,
Sketching every long and lonely night

As the clock announces each grim hour,
The moon keeps watch from his lofty tower;
Like a sweet embrace he lays his light
Over me each long and lonely night

Thank you, friend, but in moments like these
Only a man's embrace can appease
This longing of my heart to take flight
From another long and lonely night!

In some distant tree a night bird cries
His sad anthems to the darkening skies;
Does he not know his laments invite
Yet another long and lonely night?

With such recklessness I assign blame
For this cruel torment that shows no shame;
But how can a doomed heart be contrite,
Awaiting a long and lonely night!

Talk to me about your worries and fears,
What makes you anxious, and what provokes tears;
Who wrapped you in this shroud of misery?
It just might help if you'd share it with me

Tell me what caused you to wade sorrow's streams,
What troubles your day, and disrupts your dreams;
When your darkest thoughts come to cloud your view,
Say what's on your mind, I'll listen to you

I'll always be close by, just so you know,
When the sun's high, or when it's hanging low,
Always trying to change your gray sky to blue,
My attention is yours, I'll listen to you

And so we shall remain dearest of friends,
Staying the course, no matter how the road bends;
And when Fate looks upon us disdainfully,
I'll listen to you .... and trust you'll listen to me

This life's good enough for me,
My heart's happy and carefree;
A pleasant smile cast my way
Is enough to make my day

Or to see a daffodil
Swaying on some verdant hill
To beguiling melodies
Composed by the gypsy breeze,
That's enough to make me smile
And delight me for a while

Should a stranger tip his hat
And pause for a friendly chat,
I shall be grateful for that

Or if some tall shady tree
Spreads its arms to shelter me
From the sun's intensity,
Could a frown wrinkle my brow?
Surely not - at least not now!

Warbling birds and buzzing bees --
Two of Nature's symphonies,
How could this music not please?
And with Love close by my side,
I shall be quite satisfied

But should no one smile at me,
Nor one flower do I see,
And the stranger walks away
Without bidding me "Good day,"
If the birds forgot their song,
I'd forgive the silent throng,
If all Nature's wonders cease,
My gladness would not decrease,
For Love is life's true masterpiece!

So long as Love holds my hand,
I shall find life to be grand;
Though the gales blow wild and rough,
I'll know I've been blessed enough

His footprints next to mine in the snow,
The wildflowers he picked for my hair;
The kiss we shared 'neath the moon's pale glow ....
That kiss that left me gasping for air

Those evening strolls down paths thick with fog,
The first time he whispered "I love you,"
A night bird perched on a fallen log,
The lone witness to our rendezvous

Nights when Heaven's gilded gates would part
To reveal a glimpse of Paradise;
His heart pressed firmly against my heart,
Seeing my reflection in his eyes

So confusing are these memories
That consume my every waking hour,
With such precision they taunt and tease,
As if commandeered by some dark power

Is it just my mind playing a cruel game --
Does loneliness prompt this strange duet?
Recalling a lover with no name ....
Haunted by a man I never met

I've not seen a night like this before,
Not one star is making its debut;
It's as though Heaven has shuttered its door
To conceal our anguish from its view

Our love now sails seas of turbulence,
Waves of tears threaten to sink our skiff;
Once, warm exchanges when moments were tense,
Veered us away from each treacherous cliff

In darkest hours, our love gave us strength
To weave all our woes into a song;
And in my arms you fell asleep at length --
Tell me, is this not where you belong?

Love's golden threads gently bound our hearts,
Breaking when a weakened link was strained;
My heart shattered into a thousand parts,
Scattering when it became unchained

Gather these frail fragments in your hands
Lest the winds of Time blow them away;
Don't let them sink into the shifting sands,
Stranded on the Shores of Yesterday

Place Love's golden threads upon the loom,
Weave your magic -- let the shuttles fly!
Heaven will rejoice seeing our love abloom,
Freeing the stars to dance across the sky

I've set the tea kettle to boiling,
In the windows, candles brightly burn;
While those stormy clouds are fiercely roiling,
I'll watch at the door for your return

The logs on the hearth sputter and hiss,
This raging storm seems unabating,
I need the calm of your arms and your kiss,
Please, my darling, come home .....  I'm waiting

Wild with joy we outstretch eager hands,
Reaching for those first sweet buds of Spring,
Only to find thorns amidst the blooms,
Startling us with a most painful sting.
But it's just Life's way of teaching us
That happiness is a fleeting thing

But never stop dreaming and hoping,
Nor allow your heart to become callous,
For when happiness knocks at the door
How soon we forget Fortune's malice.
And when happiness wears Love's disguise,
Whose lips would not sip from Love's chalice?

Happiness flits and darts through our lives
Erratic as a bird on the wing,
Fragile as a snowball in the dawn
Of a sudden sultry morn in Spring.
Just a brief reprieve from misery,
Happiness is but a fleeting thing

It's a bit late now to search for flowers,
The summer is in retreat;
Soon the cold north winds will blow,
Carpeting the ground with snow,
As slurred prints betray my dragging feet

It's a bit too late now for dreaming,
I don't feel up to the task;
All my dreams have gone unsung,
Bitterness befouls my tongue,
At last, I see Life without its mask

It's a bit too late now to seek love,
I wouldn't know what to do;
Would I even recognize
That crown-jewel of Paradise?
How would I respond to "I love you?"

It's a bit late now to try and change
All the wrong this world contains;
I'll pass that torch to the young,
Now that my Swan Song's been sung,
And the life slowly creeps from my veins

It's a bit too late now for most things,
I've relinquished all to Fate;
Yet, I swear by all the stars above
I want to believe I may yet love!
But I won't ....... it's just a bit too late

I'm just waiting for Love's knock at my door,
I've nothing better to do with my time;
Sometimes I count grains of sand on the shore,
Once in a while I compose a rhyme

Pay me no mind, I'm just biding my time,
I'll gather some kindling, then feed the birds;
Winter's threatening to bolt recklessly --
In its wake, I'll pen more idle words

Do you know how many teardrops it takes
To fill a glass after the wine is gone?
Many nights, when sleep refuses to come,
I sit counting my tears until dawn

How long can the flame of patience stay lit
On that candle upon my window sill,
Hoping its light beckons Love to my door,
And yet doubtful that it ever will

At times I despair, darkness overtakes
My mind, while hopeless thoughts start to unfold,
But the heart is wise and its spirit leaps
To stoke the embers that have grown cold

How long will I wait for Love to arrive?
'Til the blind man sees, and the deaf man hears!
But pardon me, I must be going now,
The wine is gone ..... time to count my tears

Little things no longer cause despair,
Though my daily vexations be rife;
Let the wind ruffle and muss my hair,
Rain on my parade -- see if I care!
I've made my peace with Life

While the neighbor's dog barks through the night,
Why not join in with your drum and fife!
Yesterday, those moments would incite
Anger, but now I calmly recite:
I've made my peace with Life

In my woe, prayers to Heaven I'd send,
Each time, their denial cut like a knife;
And slowly I came to comprehend
Some rules of Life were not meant to bend;  
I've made my peace with Life

Love never found its way to my door,
Never would I be the envied wife;
Too tired to fight, too proud to implore,
I'm no longer engaged in this war;
I've made my peace with Life

What did I achieve when I complained?
The rallying of more woe and strife --
Dark clouds hid the sun,  and it still rained;
Now from undue stress I've been unchained ......
I've made my peace with Life

I was awakened from a restless sleep
By a spectre at the foot of my bed;
The curtains were parted, the moon shone bright
Forming a halo around his head

There was a strange familiarity,
And boldly I bid him come nearer,
That look of anguish, those desolate eyes --
Things I've often seen in my mirror

What pity I felt for this transient guest
With the moonlight on him overspread,
He said not a word, but I seemed to know
Why he stood at the foot of my bed

I extended my arms and drew him close
And held him while he cried through the night;
Obeying the sun, the moon summoned the stars,
And with dawn's first rays they all took flight

Once again a new day found me alone,
But what strange thoughts circled 'round my head:
Had I been dreaming, or had there indeed
Appeared this phantom beside my bed?

There was a presence in my room that night ---
The Spirit of Love's longed-for caress;
And the pillow under my head was moist
With tears of defeat and hopelessness.
So throbs the deep wound of Reality . . .
I'd been embracing my own loneliness!

I dared not hope to glimpse Heaven
Nor sit on Contentment's throne;
A darkened abyss was my domain
And Love's radiance unknown

There was no cause for dreams to stir
Or my senses to run wild;
The indifferent ebb and flow of Life
Left my weary heart beguiled

I preferred the grave to this fate,
But you rolled away the stone
And drew forth my cold exhausted breath,
Replacing it with your own

Quietly you opened the door
To my heart and entered in;
Your loving words, spoken faint and low
Spread joy where sorrow had been

Like the muted flutter of wings
That guide a bird to its mate
Came the gentle whisperings of Love,
Silencing the voice of Fate

And so this heart, dying in degrees
(Lifeless though it seemed to be)
Bounded with glee when it heard your voice . . .
At last!  Love had called to me!

On that day he came to me
To sorrow I was bound,
Sailing without love's guiding star ---
What little joy I found

Cold and dismal was Hope's  lamp
Until he lit the flame,
What warmth and light surrounded me . . .
Then Heaven spoke my name!

Heaven heard my whispered pleas,
It saw the tears I cried,
It knew my heart's deepest desire . . .
My prayer was not denied

All my doubts  began to fade
Like dew upon the sea;
The latch was raised, the door swung wide . . .
The captive dove was free!

Free was I from doubt and gloom --
Free of fear's tyranny,
As angels strummed their golden lyres
In Divine harmony

Strange, indeed, the power of love ---
A glorious mystery!
My thankful heart will always bless
That day he came to me

If I were that forceful gust of wind
That lifts feathers on the robin's breast,
High above the clouds I'd carry you,
To where Heaven flaunts its sacred crest ---
Far beyond Earth's perils and torments,
Where no angels glimpse a mortal guest

O, to be a swelling ocean wave!
I would sweep the shore, drinking you in,
Dragging you down to my very core,
Showing you places you've never been;
Sheltered we would be from peering eyes,
Lest they judge our love, calling it sin

But I'm just a woman who loves you,
No mystical powers do I command;
I can unburden your heart from pain,
Offering all the love that you demand;
And when the night exhales its cold breath,
There will be the warm clasp of my hand

Yes, I'm just a woman who loves you,
I can't transcend my humanity;
But I can illume your darkest hours,
Bringing you peace and serenity;
And if Divine mercy shall permit,
I'll walk with you through eternity

If you've grown weary of my love, just go!
You need no excuse clever or cunning;
But should your cup of loneliness overflow,
Just call my name, you know I'll come running

Your love is weak, it leaves me needing more --
Like a skiff with no breeze to fill its sail,
A seashell washed up on a lonely shore;
But should you need me, just call - I'll not fail

In love there's no common sense or reason,
And there are no rules to which Love adheres;
Too often, dazzled hearts witness treason,
And the fairytale always ends in tears

Love is a strange song, sung in many keys,
Righteous or false,  Love is the staff of life;  
Just see how quickly we're brought to our knees
When Loneliness plunges its frigid knife!

So bring me your love, unfaithful or true,
It matters not if it's rough or tender;
In your arms let me greet dawn's rosy hue --
Then mock if you must my self-surrender

Are you tired of your boring life
But unable to change the scene?
There's a simple fix for this plight . . .
Let me show you just what I mean

The key is imagination --
There's really not much else you need;
Pack a bag with your wildest dreams . . .
Ready? Now mount your magic steed

Fly to the moon, go down to the sea,
Bravely walk that circus high wire;
Your imagination can place
You on any stage you desire

Sometimes we can't help but reflect
On a forbidden love affair,
Go on, indulge your fantasy!
(As the saying goes, "Let down your hair!)

You're holding hands, then your lips meet,
(To say more would be unrefined)
But don't let guilt taint the moment,
It's all taking place in your mind

After you've tried this a few times,
Life will start to lose stagnation,
Burdens will be more bearable,
Thanks to your imagination!

No, it won't cure heartaches and woes ---
It's meant to be a brief reprieve
From the garden where misery grows. . .
This realm,  cursed by Adam and Eve

Take a moment and listen to the birds
Broadcasting their gossip in warbled words:
Shrill are their cries when danger's lurking near,
But soft and sweet when they've nothing to fear

Every creature, no matter its station,
Has its method of communication;
With awe I observe their ability
To make known their thoughts with facility  

But is mankind not especially blest
With the volume of words at our behest?
If there's a message we wish to convey
We need only choose from our word bouquet

How fortunate to have at our command
Such power to make others understand
The pain we feel when Life thrusts its cruel spears,
And the night finds us overwhelmed by tears

Or the joy when Love spreads its golden  wings
And shelters our hearts from Earth's loathsome things;
So if you're glad or sad, let the world know it --
You've mastered the skill . . . you're a poet!

In a secret chamber of my heart
Where my thoughts seldom dare to intrude,
I unveiled pieces of yesterday
Amidst the imposing solitude

Sorting through the broken shards of  love,
My teardrops disturbed the dust of Time;
His loving lies and deceitful words
Still moved me with their seductive rhyme!

Each fragment was moistened by my tears
As broken strains of our symphony
Carelessly strewed their bittersweet notes,
Summoning the past so tenderly

What sad but sweet memories were aroused
As my thoughts hearkened back to the day
Two hearts, in the winter of their lives,
Went searching for the last buds of May

What rare flowers might have bloomed for us!
Our story ended so incomplete;
Like thirsty bees that return to the bloom,
How those love-filled days begged a repeat

O, why did I rouse those sleeping ghosts .......
What master do lonely hearts obey?
Better these tears flood my tortured heart,
Drowning those pieces of yesterday!

Seeking to escape harsh reality,
I pretended to be a vine,
Climbing and clinging to a strong oak,
My eager tendrils did entwine;
With gladdened heart each morn I awoke,
Free of cares and woes, and life was fine

'Round and 'round I twisted, embracing him --
To reach Heaven's light was my goal;
Steadfast and oh, so strong was my oak,
He calmed the unrest in my soul;
Proudly I became his leafy cloak,
But overconfidence took its toll

My sheltering oak had grown tired of me,
He released me and down I fell;
It was then I yearned to be a rose
Of great beauty and fragrant smell;
Why this vain choice?  Only Heaven knows!
What folly, but how was I to tell?

Along came the bees, then the butterflies,
And soon they drank my nectar dry,
Slowly I withered, then my head drooped,
The ingrates left me there to die;
O, to what wickedness they had stooped!
With lowered head, a worm I did spy

Calmly he laid upon the Earth's *****,
Then burrowed deep into the ground,
It opened its arms and welcomed him,
And therein he dwelt, safe and sound;
Being covered by soil seemed so grim,
Yet worth the contentment he had found

"That's it!" I cried, "I want to be a worm,
Hiding deep in my earthen lair,
Where soon I'll forget life's cruelty
And the torments that drove me there!"
And no one will come to look for me,
They might know I'm gone . .  but they won't care

Love left me waiting, staring at the stars,
While Faith and Hope stayed close behind;
Then the sun cast its rays, and still I stared --
(Now I know why they say love is blind)

And the sun and the stars looked down on me
And asked "What are you waiting for?"
Boldly I replied "I'm waiting for Love,"
And they laughed till I could bear it no more

Still I waited, but as the years marched on,
Faith and Hope abandoned their post;
And love never guessed its fatal mistake --
I would have made a marvelous host!

Love left me waiting, but I wait no more,
I've freed myself from its tether,
Ah, but Loneliness took pity on me . . .
It summoned Gloom . . . now we all live together

Love's ecstasy flew on gilded wings  
To this heart laden with woe;  
Like the buds of Spring my dreams unfurled . . .  
And then Fate dealt its cruel blow.
Now I walk that lonely path again,  
But I'll forget him . . . just don't ask when  

How does a shattered heart find its way,
Deprived of its guiding star?
How long will it take before it heals?
Do wounds this deep leave a scar?
Though my world is crumbling 'round me now,
I must carry on . . . just don't ask how

Trying to hush echoes of the past,
Alone I bitterly weep;
I've climbed the Hill of Sorrows before  . . .
But it's never been this steep!
Each day dark clouds are filling my sky,
And yet, I still hope . . . just don't ask why

But should abandoned hearts dare to hope
Lost love will return again?
Last night as I prayed I thought I heard
Crying angels sighing Amen;
Now I bravely flaunt this smiling mask,
But do I still miss him? . . . Please, don't ask!

I cannot reach nor touch the stars,
Yet I know they dwell high above,
And though you are far from my reach,
Distance cannot weaken this love;
Your touch is not familiar,
When I speak, you do not hear me,
Yet as I wake to greet each dawn
I feel your spirit so near me;
And I swear by all the stars in the sky,
I will love you until the day I die

Though your love is a distant dream,
What joy to my heart it does bring,
This voice, used for cursing anguish,
Had forgotten that it could sing;
Now sweet melodies venture forth
While my heart writes each loving word,
Though such songs have often been sung,
Love has a voice that must be heard;
And so I'll chant as the moon sails the sky:
I will love you until the day I die

Some may think a spell blinded me
To all others so I'd choose you,
I only know I could not live
If ever I were to lose you;
Look! Eden's gates are opening,
Once again, Paradise revealed;
Shall we dare to trespass those grounds?
Soon the gates will close and be sealed;
Yes! Let us enter when God blinks his eye,
And let us love until the day we die!

Dear fellow traveler, do you feel lost,
Are you blindly searching for the way?
Then take my hand and come with me,
This is the start of a new day

Are you bewildered by life's purpose?
Well, I may have some good news for you,
And I'll be glad to share it now,
But there's a few things you must do

Clear your mind and forget what you've learned,
Old ideas never served you well;
Some questions must go unanswered --
A hunger we're not meant to quell

Now let your mind see things from all sides,
You have to consider many views;
Your heart and mind must sort through facts,
Only then can you wisely choose

Seek the pure joy of friendships and love,
Cherish these moments when they appear,    
Treasure life and its mysteries,
Don't let death burden you with fear

When love reaches out, take hold of it,
For to conquer all,  love is the key;
It will be your sword and your shield
When you're facing adversity

Though you're passing through here this one time,
There are wondrous things for you to see;
Look with your heart, not just your eyes,
Don't focus on eternity

I implore you, think of the present,
We are the guardians of this gate;
This life, this moment here in time
Will be lost if you hesitate

Someday you'll thank me, dear traveler,
That day when you're taking your last breath,
If you've faced the truth that is life
And thought less of life after death

And if there's an afterlife, you'll know,
For now, don't let it cause you distress;
Your life now is reality --
What follows is anyone's guess

If you were a bird, I would let you perch
Upon my shoulder, close to my ear;
Your feathery wings would caress my face
As your sweet song blessed the atmosphere

If you were a frog, I'd not seek a prince,
I'd love cradling you in my pocket!
Or, I might wrap you in lace, and then
Wear you close to my heart like a locket

If you were a bee buzzing 'round my head
I would let you nestle in my hair;
Deep in the night your honeyed kisses
Would transcend Heaven's ambrosial air

But it matters not your earthly facade,
You're the one who rules from my heart's throne;
Your seeds of love took root in my heart --
And so, you shall reap the love you've sown

When stars fill the nighttime sky,
In a lonely realm I abide;
I think of the man and his loving ways,
But only his ghost slumbers at my side

In the early morning hours
I wonder why I lay alone;
I think of the man who should be with me.....
Fate is callous and has a heart of stone

In the bright sunlight of noon,
Feelings of hopelessness are stirred;
I think of the man - how I need his love,
And though I beg, all my prayers go unheard

In the solemn evening hours,
I beg of God to tell me why
I think of the man, but I can't hold him,
And in my silent loneliness, I cry