Our love came like a bolt from the blue
And rocked our hearts like a storm-tossed boat,
And to Heaven my lips gave thanks . . . but you --
You sketched a disturbing anecdote:

"As time passes, how can we be sure
That our love is as strong as today?"
O, what dire torment the mind must endure
If simple signs fail to light the way

Rest assured there is a foolproof test
Should one of us doubt the other's love,
Or if upon both hearts there come to rest
Strong forebodings, or traces thereof:

When we're in each other's company,
Should our thoughts drift to another place,
And the hours seem to drag on endlessly . . .
Love is loosening its firm embrace

When thoughts of you don't quicken my heart,
And thoughts of me don't bring you delight,
When we get the sense we're drifting apart . . .
Our love is preparing to take flight

When my eyes no longer speak to you,
And your kiss is easily denied,
When we behave as fickle friends might do . . .
It is then we'll know our love has died

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

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

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

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

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!

Long ago  my pride was abandoned
And Love's beggary became my art,
Just a drop of Love - a brief romance --
Has amply sustained this starving heart

Amorous overtures still put a blush
Upon the face of this wilting rose --
Praise my beauty . . . write me a love poem . . .
Spring will be mine though winter's wind blows

With what eagerness I would devour
The love poems you might hastily scrawl!
My starving heart would forego the feast,
Finding comfort in the crumbs that fall

Though meager the trickle from Love's spring,
The parched heart gives thanks with solemn prayer;
And even pity, wearing Love's mask,
Would banish the demons of despair

What darkness enshrouds the lonely heart
Until Love illumes it with its flame,
Even the embers of a flawed love
Will lend their pale glow to this sad game

Though Fate often stoops to treacheries,
Pity me not for what might have been;
I find solace in Love's fantasies . . .
Tangled in the lovely webs they spin

The beacon of solace grows dim,
I've no words to stop your heart from aching;
I'm tired of soothing your furrowed brow
While my own heart is breaking

Please don't ask me to hold your hand
While my whole being longs for your caress;
Don't expect me to throw you a lifeline
While I'm drowning in loneliness

I'm losing the will to respond
When from the abyss I hear you calling;
How do I guide you to a happy place
While my own tears are falling?

Now when you knock upon my door,
My love and understanding to entreat,
You'll hear a weary voice softly crying:
"Love is not a one-way street!"

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 has a way of lifting me up
To the summit of joy's highest hill,
Where I crowd the sky with heart-shaped clouds,
Using my fingertip as a quill;
Then mercilessly, Love dashes me
Headlong into heartache's stony rill

Love has a way of seducing me,
Even though I know I should beware --
So shrewdly it practices its art
Till I'm hopelessly caught in its snare;
Then what sadness overtakes the hour
When Love's broken vows defile the air

Love has a way of playing cruel games,
Leading my heart through an endless maze
Of sorrow, joy, then bewilderment --
At times, how it deceives and betrays!
Yet, Love remains master of my heart --
Through smiles and tears I will sing its praise

The arms that held you at end of day
Were not the arms you were dreaming of,
But how can a starving heart turn away
Anything vaguely resembling love?

I stood in awe of the sunset
Watching its rare beauty unfold,
Ray by ray, heavenly hues changed
From orange, to crimson, to gold

I saw silhouettes of leafless trees
Raising their bare arms to the sky,
As if to praise some entity ---
Or perhaps preparing to die

For all living things must succumb
Sooner or later ....... it's destiny;
Suddenly I saw the reason
We surrender so willingly

Now it was starting to make sense --
The crucial role Misery plays;
Might it be an act of mercy
That pain and sorrow fills our days?

Flora and fauna share the same fate
As does every being on Earth;
Predators, drought, sickness and blight
Stalk us from the moment of birth

Would any of us welcome Death
If our domain were Paradise?
How could we forsake happiness
If sad tears never blurred our eyes?

Knowing the anguish of loneliness .....
Constant, unsubdued by time;
Dour pain - mental and physical -
All the while faint bells of hope chime

Hope - that vain and fruitless longing
That augments our pain 'til we break,
Finally leaving us to welcome
That impending trip we'll all take

Weak and tired we concede defeat,
And with our last breath we implore
Death's guidance across Life's threshold,
And down that divine corridor

How we welcome this departure
As from pain and suffering we flee;
But what angst we'd feel leaving Eden .......
So I'm thankful for Misery!

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

There's no proof God exists,
There's no proof he does not;
Choose one or the other,
Then give it all you got!

If you care for someone, let them know,
Release Love's light, let it cast its glow;
This sacred fire was meant to be shared
So a heart in torment might be spared;
(How tragic when love goes undeclared!)

That flame of Love that is burning bright
Might fill someone's heart with hope tonight;
The roiling winds of despair will shift
When Love's guiding light presents its gift
To the unmoored heart floating adrift

Only Love can comfort and repair
A broken heart shattered by despair;
Love will rekindle the dying fire
Of mislaid dreams and hopeless desire,
As angels strike up the sacred lyre

But it is your love that writes the hymn,
Bringing light to eyes that have grown dim;
Rest assured your blessings will accrue!
Your days will wear a heavenly hue
When love you give is returned to you

I once pitied a man who had lost his love,
With compassion I reached out to befriend him,
His shattered heart was in need of repair,
So I offered kind words to help mend him

I once pitied a woman who walked alone
With just her shadow keeping her company;
Overwhelmed by grief, she bemoaned her fate,
But there was no one to hear her but me

And I once pitied lonely men and women
Who never met, sharing neither love nor dreams;
Drinking deeply from the well of regret,
Separately they waded sorrow's streams

But what irony my story discloses ---
The most dreaded of all my harrowing fears!
Now when darkness falls, I can't help but cry
Tears of self-pity 'til daylight appears

These days I find myself alone, abandoned --
A sad circumstance I've yet to understand;
Was I not deserving of his pity?
He walked away with my heart in his hand

Rarely does someone knock at my door . . .
It may be the darkness that they fear;
Through the open windows my voice resounds,
Perhaps they're startled by what they hear

I do tend to rant in mournful ways,
Maybe at times, a bit too robust,
But this is my voice, and these are my words,
So maintain your distance, if you must

There are those who commune quietly,
Speaking of God and his loving ways;
And those who reminisce about their youth,
Recalling scenes from happier days

But never has God come to my door,
So I have no divine tales to tell;
My youth was simple, passed with nonchalance,
So on this theme I've no need to dwell

But I could speak of cold, lonely nights
And the anguish of being alone;
How adept I am at nursing  love's wounds,
Yet, I never learned to heal my own

More than once, rough winds have ****** me down,
And Time had to re-feather my wings;
I've been neglected, abandoned and lost,
So I tend to dwell upon these things

You'll not hear a cheerful melody
Streaming through the broken window panes,
There's no roaring fire blazing on the hearth,
Just smoldering embers of love's remains

Skies become gray, and clouds tend to burst
When they pass over my little space;
Perhaps this is why guests dare not linger . . .
Too daunting and dismal is my place.
Well, then be off with you, and quicken your pace!

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

A long time have I traveled alone --
A journey of twenty thousand days;
From my sojourns, wiser have I grown,
But I do not seek undeserved praise

I'm not the first to endure this state,
Many lonely hearts have journeyed thus;
It's not that we embrace this cruel fate --
Rather, destiny has chosen us

Lonely wanderers we're meant to be,
We view the world through a sullen eye,
Cursing our preordained destiny,
We raise our weary arms to the sky

Then we clench our fists and wring our hands,
Questioning why life must be this way;
Our castles are built on shifting sands,
Only to collapse at end of day

How above our plight are we to rise,
Seeing our dreams trampled on like grass?
Observe frail birds braving stormy skies!
So our hearts through such torments must pass

And amidst it all, hope finds a place
Somewhere in a corner of the heart,
Camouflaging its deceitful face,
It holds the day and the night apart

Nighttime finds us lost in welcomed dreams
That harbor us from our world of pain;
With loathing we greet the sun's first beams .....
To face one more day of Fate's disdain

Why do we always look to the skies
When we can't find the answers around us?
What are these inexplicable ties
That have encumbered our minds and bound us?

Why can't we admit the glaring truth?
No one from another realm hears our cries;
Though you may find my thinking uncouth,
I find no proof of heavenly allies

Only to each other are we linked
Through all the miseries that Life imparts,
When the sobbing's heard, clear and distinct,
Help comes only from caring human hearts

You complain and say life is strange,
The world's problems cause you to sigh;
Tell me, what have you done to change
The little space you occupy?

Love's sentinel faithfully watches
From his balcony in the sky;
He fixates his light on lovers each night ---
O, what joy when two hearts comply!

But tonight the moon agonizes
Upon hearing heart-wrenching cries,
And as his light spills across darkened hills,
Daunting fears cloud his searching eyes

North and south his silver rays scatter
In search of the mournful lovers;
Fearful and distressed he looks east, then west,
Then gasps at what he discovers

A woman laments love's deception
(Too grim even for mortal ears)
And not far away, a man kneels to pray,
Begging pardon for causing her tears

O, careless moon, were you neglectful?
He succumbed to another's charms!
Was he led astray while you looked away?
O please, guide him back to her arms

Though the pain of betrayal is brutal,
Forgiveness lends its healing power
To the one who strayed . . . . while the heart betrayed
Bears the anguish of Love's darkest hour

Sometimes when I find I can't keep pace
With Life's demands and its treachery,
I seek refuge in my favorite place . . .
The other side of reality

What joy when my daydreams carry me
Like a hungry lion to its lair,
Into that land where passion runs free
And wild fantasies lurk everywhere

I can soar the heavens with the birds,
Or seek loving arms when nights are cold;
(You'll soon learn from my poetic words
My daydreams reveal desires quite bold)

O, how Love's fantasies flood this realm ---
Cupid flings his darts most recklessly!
Misery relinquishes the helm
Leaving me to drift Love's placid sea

And loneliness dares not trespass here
On this hallowed ground that Love has blest;
Though happiness wears a thin veneer,
Daydreams calm the heart's deepest unrest

So I flee to where elusive dreams  
Unfold their wings with temerity,
And I sate my thirst from Love's pure streams . . .
The other side of reality

Why does love keep tormenting us,
Why can't it just leave us alone!
Yet, when it comes calling, how we fuss,
Though its fickle ways are well-known

Love has an inflated ego,
And for that we are all to blame,
For as soon as it calls, off we go,
Darting like a moth to a flame

If we could just ignore love's knock
And batten the door to our heart,
Wouldn't that deliver love a shock!
(This scheme may fail, but it's a start)

We should be strong and just say no
When love's song serenades our ears;
(Although, I tried this once long ago
And found myself knee-deep in tears)

In my wisdom, or lack thereof,
I've found this advice still rings true:
Lay down a mat that says "Welcome, Love,
My door's always open to you!"

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

Why do we allow Love to taunt us
With its fickle yet enticing ways?
Why does a faded Love still haunt us,
Even though we set those dreams ablaze?

Love has such an inflated ego,
But for that we must all bear the blame;
As soon as Love beckons, off we go,
Being drawn like a moth to a flame

Why haven't we the will to resist
What we know to be deceptive lies?
Why is it that foolish hearts insist
On toying with the risks of surprise?

And yet the answers, or lack thereof,
Will not change what I know I must do:
I'll make sure my doormat says "Welcome, Love,
My door is always open to you!"

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!

They say that Love is but one step from Heaven,
And about Love there is not much else to tell;
But in its absence, our steps are misguided.
How true ...... I've already got one foot in Hell

How pleasant it is to sit and dream
While evening clouds paint the western sky . . .
Before I could tell my harebrained scheme
To the setting sun, it waved good-bye

If I may I'll share my plan with you:
Since all hopes and dreams of love lie spent,
Now and then I'll write a poem or two
Relating memoirs that I'll invent

What jealous passions might I provoke
From the wretched souls that only know
Loneliness, unaware of the joke
That I'm playing to hide my own woe

Wait until they read of my wild nights,
Strutting with a suitor on each arm,
Painting the town red.  These vile delights
Will bring gasps and be cause for alarm

Then there'll be the poems of quiet hours
When love's very essence lays its hand
On my heart like dew upon the flowers.
How the flames of envy will be fanned!

But here I sit, while the midnight stroke
Brings tears of loneliness to my eyes;
What fantasies my poems may evoke!
(But you and I know they're only lies)

Blithe and carefree as a wandering cloud
He drifted one day into my life;
How sweet were the hours Heaven allowed,
Tranquil - even though misery was rife

At times I'd been blinded by the sun,
But in his shade the path became clear,
No regrets appeared when day was done,
Joy, even hope, dared to draw near

Life is such a melancholy thing
When the heart is denied what it craves;
Now at Love's throne I was worshiping,
Dead dreams resurrected from their graves!

Like dormant seeds in a Springtime rain
My heart was awakened from its sleep
To welcome Love to its new domain.
(No longer would Heaven watch me weep)

But Heaven scoffed at my happiness!
Once again, Fate bared its ugly streak;
A brewing storm foretold my distress,
And in an instant my world turned bleak

Restless gusts were rehearsing their flights,
Like fierce gales that form upon the sea,
And as clouds often do on starless nights,
True to the wind, he drifted far from me

To all shattered hearts, this solace I bring:  
Awaken from your morbid dreams of death;  
Do not succumb to failed love's mortal sting,  
Don't let ill-fated love stifle your breath  

Though love's retreat can impart a cruel blow,  
Rejoice, knowing it was yours for a while;
For some, Love's sweet nectar will never flow,  
So bask in your sweet memories and smile  

Suffer in solitude behind closed doors!
But know this: tears will not restore lost love;  
Rather, relive the joy that once was yours,  
Memories are gifts from Heaven above  

Now's the time to let old wounds close and heal --
How far could you fly with your broken wings?
Reach for the stars and see what they reveal,
Observe Spring and the buds of hope it brings

Discard love's bouquet, keeping but one rose --
A keepsake -- not meant to be a tether;
Now let this spent love lie in sweet repose,
To float through time like a golden feather
                                          
Though the pain appears daunting, it will end,
Your heart will heal; but there may come a time
You'll need to offer solace to a friend
Mourning love's fickle ways with a sad rhyme

I finally have to admit it,
Though it brings a mountain of grief,
Despite his look of innocence,
The man that I love is a thief!

It all began when first we met ---
To my surprise he stole my heart;
But the man cannot help himself . . .
He's cunningly skilled in this art

In daylight hours or dark of night
His boldness astonishes me!
He'll steal a kiss, then take my love . . .
(I'm in awe of his strategy)

While whispering sweet things in my ear
He then steals my will to resist;
And when he leaves I'm robbed of peace ---
(In his absence, threats still exist)

My dearest thief, please be assured,
There is no need to steal from me;
Simply ask me for what you want . . .
I'll give it to you willingly!

When the sun waves farewell I'll keep my rendezvous
With Love, in a sanctum well-hidden from view;
To the Tower of Happiness together we'll climb,
It won't be long now . . . just a matter of time

After turning and tossing in anxious despair,
Sleep overtakes, and untamed joy fills the air;
For Love is the key that unlocks Heaven's door,
And O, what marvels will be ours to explore!

These breathtaking thoughts stir the depths of my soul,
And so to Love's edicts I relinquish control;
The real world dissolves when Love's born of a dream --
Lovers dictate the rules and fashion the scheme

While Love owns the night, not a word need be spoken.
But with dawn's first light the enchantment is broken;
As I watch the darkness quickly slipping away,
I implore the moon to persuade Night to stay

But their task has ended . . . there are rules to obey,
And I tremble to witness the first light of day;
Alone once again, roused from my fantasy
I pray: Take the night then, but let the dream be!

But I know that tonight when the stars fill the sky,
We'll meet in that Make-Believe land, Love and I,
For dreamers know the hour when to secretly stray
To their own magic realm, and love the night away!

I was too busy loving you
To ever notice the signs . . .
The frost forming in the vineyard,
The snow gathering in the pines

So busy was I loving you,
I didn't notice the smoke;
The fire had burned out long ago,
Leaving only embers to stoke

And then there was that lovely rose
You and I planted in the Spring;
While I was busy loving you,
I failed to see it withering

To our garden, without warning
There came clouds obstructing my sight;
Too busy was I loving you
To foresee the approaching blight

There's nothing left to salvage now,
Just withered vines  where love once grew;
Why did I not see this coming?
I was too busy loving you!

A confident smile rests upon your lips,
A surge of  light radiates from your eyes;  
Like a happy child, your heart jumps and skips --
Wild expectancy is hard to disguise!  

Somewhere from the darkest depths of your soul  
Come the sweetest notes of a singing bird;
Woe and despair have relinquished control --
Within your tortured heart new hope has stirred

Has the voice of hope not deceived before,
Whispering such sweet lies into your ears?
And that cloak of joy,  flung upon the floor
To absorb the streaming flow of your tears?

Is the purpose of my tale clear to you?
(I'm not sure how some minds will perceive it);
When hope delivers its deceitful cue,  
Think twice whether you'll take it or leave it

Where, O where are the men of passion,
Men whose eyes reflect anguish unbound,
Silver-haired men, their faces ashen,
Searching in vain for love never found?

Men who'll dare to cast a hopeful smile
Toward an alluring face in the crowd,
As dark memories of deceit and guile
Float away like a wind-driven cloud

Are there still men who would weave their tears
Into a poetic tapestry?
Men who express hopelessness and fears
In a voice that cries out silently?

Where are the men who cower in the dark,
Tired of their eternal solitude,
Praying for that one transcendent spark
So their faith in love might be renewed

Where are the men who'll take one more chance
To know love's forbidden ecstasy?
Where are the men who can't forsake romance?
If you know one, kindly send him to me

The pillow I sleep upon each night
Seems to be in a state of distress,
All because the pillow next to mine
Yearns for the head it used to caress

Each dawn my pillow is wet with tears,
A mystery I'm loath to explain;
Imagine, a pillow shedding tears.......
Clearly, from the realm of the arcane!

But I've heard whispers deep in the night,
When the pillows believe I'm asleep;
Softly I hear them call out his name,
And after a while they start to weep

Then morning comes with a tarnished joy,
Rising with the sun are pangs of woe;
This dampness on my cheek just confirms
My fears that the pillows miss him so

How am I to comfort their sorrows,
When my own despair I cannot numb?
Yet, the pillows must be told the truth --
But when I speak, all the wrong words come

I tell the pillows there'll come a time
Their feathers will caress someone new;
Although my heart scoffs at such a lie,
I must tell it ....... or I might cry too

When the sun waves farewell, I'll keep my rendezvous
With my love, in a sanctum well-hidden from view;
To the Tower of Happiness together we'll climb,
It won't be long now, it's just a matter of time

And I toss and I turn with such anxious despair,
Then sleep overtakes, and I find him waiting there,
Taking me in his arms, our love unfolds once more,
One kiss is all it takes to unlock Heaven's door

The longing in his eyes stirs the depths of my soul,
And so to love's edicts I relinquish control,
For all is possible when love's born of a dream --
The lovers dictate the rules and fashion the scheme

And love governs the night, with not a word spoken,
Till the sun claps its hands, and the spell is broken;
As I watch the darkness quickly slipping away,
I implore the moon's aid, and beg the night to stay

But their task has ended --- there are laws to obey,
And how I tremble seeing the first light of day;
Alone once more, awakened from my fantasy
I pray: Take the night, but don't take my dreams from me!

But I know that tonight when the stars fill the sky,
We'll be together once again, my love and I;
For all dreamers have an hour when they quietly stray
To their own magic realm, and love the night away

Without our consent we're taken from our calm world,
A slap, then a cry, and into this chaos we're hurled;
The ensuing bedlam is referred to as Life,
I wish I'd been forewarned of the misery and strife,
I'd have said "No thank you, I prefer to remain
An inconsequential atom in a calmer domain!"

Love is as fleeting as the moment
It makes its introduction,
Stirring the heart, and clouding the mind
With intoxicating seduction

Love breathes life into the dying heart
That loneliness turned to ice,
Then after reviving it, Love flees,
And the heart must pay the traitor's price

Love is a dangerous addiction
That can bring us to our knees;
And if deprived of Love for too long,
Once again our hearts shiver and freeze

Love is a merciless tormentor
That will take us to the brink
Of misery, and even madness,
Yet, from Love's cup we'll beg one more drink

Love that behaved as our dearest friend
Can suddenly become foe,
Conjuring up long-forgotten pain,
Delivering unbearable woe

But Love, who would not suffer for you?
We deign to play by your rules;
We choose a card, then roll the dice,
While Love laughs, watching us play the fools

I run to my mailbox with hopeful heart,
No message today - (that dream fell apart);
I stay near the phone,  just in case it rings,
(Loneliness can cause us to do strange things)

Sometimes I awake at the break of day
Imagining passion's rapturous display,
A thrilling embrace, then a kiss divine,
(Nothing more than a mad fancy of mine)

But I've mastered ways to get through the day,
It's when the sun sets, my thoughts tend to stray;
With soft music playing on the stereo,
I fill my wine glass, then turn the lights low

Despair is at its worst when shadows fall,
And Loneliness makes my heart its port of call;
A restlessness has me pacing the room
As doleful thoughts take hold, worsening the gloom

While the usual anguish makes its rounds,
The night offers its mystery of sounds:
I'm sure I heard someone outside my door,
(No, 'twas just the wind howling, nothing more)

Wait! What's that tapping at my window pane?
O, it's Loneliness, pacing in the rain!
Come on in, old friend, come sit by my bed,
I'll get more wine - we've a long night ahead

I'm not surprised, I knew you'd come to call,
Unlike Love, you're in this for the long haul;
Morning already?  The sun seems so pale;
Well, I've things to do -- first I'll check my mail .........

The sun arose, its duties to uphold  
In its usual, resplendent style.
While flaunting its rays of orange and gold,  
Proudly it rose, with an unsettling guile.  
But I wasn't moved by this garish display,  
For I find no joy since love went away  

And why does the moon glimmer so brightly?
The sun and moon --- a heartless duet!
I find their demonstrations unsightly,
A disgraceful breach of etiquette;
Such indifference causes me agony,
For I find no joy since Love turned from me

Just listen to those warblers in that tree--
Their once-welcomed songs lack appeal;
How dare they sing amidst my misery . . .
How can my broken heart hope to heal?
O, forgive my tone so doleful and wry,
But I find no joy since Love said good-bye

Come, Love, fly homeward to my heart once more --
Heal the dying dreams of yesterday;
Don't leave me standing alone on Life's shore --
(I'd rather the tide swept me away!)
Even Angels in their heavenly lair
If bereft of Love would flee in  despair!
          
But life marches on the same as before --
And the Earth still orbits the sun,
And each day my heart breaks a little more
Facing solitude when day is done;
Though fearing derision, I'll not be coy . . .
To live without Love is to live without joy!

When reality chills me to the bone,
The embers of make-believe are fanned,
Sitting on my garden bench alone,
Tightly I cling to a phantom hand

I sing words of love into the air,
Then wait for their echo to return;
My heart hears a love song, rich and rare,
Soon Love's cooling embers start to burn

I'll not despair, though he's far away,
(Miles of land and sea keep us apart)
No triumphant role does distance play --
In his spirit hands he holds my heart

And when the midnight hour is announced
By a distant bell, my yearnings flare;
Each need and desire is more pronounced
By every chime that pulsates the air

It is then I hasten to my bed
Where my spirit companion awaits;
With every embrace my passion's fed,
Each kiss brings me nearer Heaven's gates

Whispering "I love you" through the night,
I pretend my darling can hear me;
Yet when my eyes absorb dawn's first light,
Sadly, I never find him near me

But I'll cling fast to these wayward dreams
That direct my footsteps as they wend
Past the roiling swells of sorrow's streams,
Into that golden Realm of Pretend

Are you still recalling that dispute
You had long ago with a loved one?
It's time unkind words were rendered mute,
Let go of the reins, and let them run

What torment petty quarrels can dispense!
We say things, then later wonder why,
Hurtful words that never made much  sense --
Bind them to swift wings and let them fly

Time is not what heals our broken hearts,
Or brings comfort to a shattered soul;
Gently gather all the broken parts --
Mend them with Love's threads to make them whole

Focus on the things that made you smile,
Words and deeds that made happiness flow;
When sad memories taunt you with their guile,
Raise the window wide and bid them go!

Can you imagine life without love?
Envision the sun without its fire;
What value has a book with no words?
Vain the efforts of a voiceless choir!

How would we get through life without love.....
Tell me, how could the wingless bird soar?
Hopeless is the cloud without the sky,
How desperate a wave without the shore!

Just imagine your life without love ......
Carrying a candle with no flame,
Stumbling through the darkness all alone
Toward a sepulchre bearing your name

How despairing is life without love?
Is it really as bleak as it seems?
Do you think the comfort that love brings
Is nothing but illusions and dreams?

Then you are living life without love!
If all of love's splendors you deny,
And say its absence means naught to you,
With life's darkest threads you've spun a lie

Should the moon and stars desert the sky,
And the sun withhold its golden glow,
That black, hopeless void surrounding you .......
That is life without love! ........ Now you know

The morning's dew moistens my eyes --
No, these are not tears that you see!
(Cleverly we learn to mask our pain
When Love's not what it pretends to be)

A lonely wanderer, I strayed
Into a hopeless reverie;
So completely mesmerized was I
By Love's sweet and haunting melody

Throwing all caution to the wind,
I rushed where Angels fear to tread,
Ready to worship at Love's altar ---
What despair to find Deceit instead!

Yet, my heart cannot forget how
Deceit, in its cunning disguise
Took me in its arms and carried me
Through those golden gates of paradise

Now the moon says this day must end ---
Put aside those sad memories;
Tell me, how do I dispel these thoughts
That invade my heart like refugees?

A cold wind blew across my heart,
Then I heard an angelic choir
Prompting me to cast that tear-stained page
From the Book of Love into the fire

Too long I've implored Love's ministry,
Too long grim silence has reigned;
If Love would only beckon to me
No bonds could keep me constrained

What foolishness might I contemplate,
Deeming it necessity?
Through weeds and thorns, barefoot I would run,
If Love should beckon to me

Ignoring the rules of Good Judgment,
And placing my trust in Chance,
I'd fly to Love, bounding all hurdles,
With nary a backward glance

So weary am I of solitude,
So bereft of joy and hope;
Time has carried all my dreams of Love
To realms far beyond my heart's scope

But I've heard that Love can resurrect
A dream lying cold in its grave;
And so I cling to that beacon of hope,
Despite all the tears that I gave

I want to feel the euphoria
Of falling under Love's spell;
(Pay no heed to the years that I wear --
Youth had its own tales to tell)

Yes, at times Love can seem indifferent --
Cruel and willfully cunning;
But I'll be neither judge nor jury . . .
Should Love beckon, I'll come running!

I watched love take wing, swooping in constant flight,
Seeking a heart upon which it could alight

I watched Love clamoring for recognition,
Begging to be claimed without inhibition

I watched Love floundering in desperation,
Wearied of its flight with no destination

I watched Love grow weaker with each passing day,
Pleading for sustenance to keep death at bay

I watched Love yield to its frail mortality,
Defeated by the truth of reality

I watched Love succumb, forlorn and rejected,
Now it's dead ..... never to be resurrected

Words can cause a death, or redeem a life,
Words can calm and heal, or cut like a knife;
Words can terminate or extend the Lease
Man has on Earth ---- words of war or peace!

Peace occurs when everyone's content,  
When has turmoil not been Earth's lament?
Peace cannot live with suffering and unrest,  
Have we ever known Earth to be so blessed?
We'll seek peace 'til Time itself unwinds,
But it's just a figment of our minds