Challenges punctuate our lives with question marks.

We ask ourselves, “How long?” So we dream.
We wonder about each other. So we believe.
We concern ourselves with each other’s welfare. So we pray.

We doubt our wisdom. So we trust our hearts.
We second guess ourselves. So we act in faith.
We question our tomorrow. So we cherish the present.

We fear the question marks that have punctuated our lives.
So we build walls;
Walls to hide from our fear, walls to hide from our frustration,
And walls to hide from our feelings.
Let us never build walls that would cut us off from the world,
Or from each other.

Within the circle of our fellow strugglers,
Our thoughts are punctuated with fewer question marks,
And from time to time - a simple period.
Here with each other, it's not as difficult to wait for the answer.
And the walls don't seem as challenging to climb.

Whatever our question,
We can dare each other to dream.
And in this time of testing, we can hope for the answer,
An answer that will be different for every one of us.
An answer that punctuates each of our lives
With an exclamation point!

©2014 Michael S. Davis

There you are,
shouting in silence from the ultra sound.
"I am here."

Yes you are,
smiling in the dim warm rosy glow,
changing our lives.

A mere peanut,
nestled warmly in the center of
your mother's being

"How are you?"
We ask as the anxious spots of crimson
spark our fears.

"No, dear God!"
Our hearts scream as your heart slips
from your mothers womb.

Then the terror,
as your mother nearly gives her life
to save your own.

Senseless grief
as we excuse God for our not
getting to know you.

Eternal hope,
as we send your spirit to God
with our prayers.

Precious memories
of a life we held with our love
for but a moment.

We are changed
as we examine just how deeply
you touched our souls.

©2013 Michael S Davis

Language precisely
is an inaccurate device
to communicate.

©2013 Michael S Davis

The way of the Spirit is...

Love, the Spirit's essence;
Joy, the Spirit's song;
Peace, the Spirit's rest;
Longsuffering, the Spirit's patience;
Gentleness, the Spirit's touch;
Goodness, the Spirit's manner;
Faith, the Spirit's attitude;
Meekness, the Spirit's strength;
Temperance, the Spirit's control.

©1981 Michael S. Davis
A Commentary on Galatians 5:22-23

Though the house will feel empty,
my life will be so full of you,
that, as my arms enfold nothing,
my heart will embrace you anew.
And when I feel lonely,
Your  presence is one with  my soul.
So, that when my heart's broken,
Your love makes me whole.

Christmas without you, Lord
would be more than I could bear
but, with You in my heart,,
Your love I can share.
Christmas without you
having given Your all for me,
is a Christmas without
any presents under the tree.

©1997 Michael S Davis

I think of a special lady, who has gone to her reward,
Who led a life of faithful love and service to her Lord.
She loved you and cared and clothed you and fed,
And spanked and tucked you into bed;
Then helped you be faithful with your own,
Until now your children’s children are grown.
When one thinks about such things, only a superlative will do
She’s a Mother’s Mother and she taught you well, for you are now one, too.

©2003 Michael S Davis

Though the house will feel empty,
My life will be so full of you,
That, as my arms enfold nothing,
My heart will embrace you anew.
And when I feel lonely,
Your  presence is one with  my soul,
So, that even without you,
Your love makes me whole.

Christmas without you
Would be more than I could bear
Except for knowing your heart,
And the love that we share.
Christmas without you
Sitting right here next to me
Is a Christmas without
Any presents under the tree.

©1997 Michael S davis

Though only in the shadows
Hidden by shades of gray,
I’ll be there beside you-
With each precarious step I’ll stay.

If you need me in the darkness
Or exposed in light of day.
I’ll stand right there with you-
I’m with you all the way.

When all of this is over
Or if it never ends.
One thing you can count on,
If it’s on my heart, your heart depends;

No matter where this road leads
Or what burdens we must bear
We’ll share the load together
Because, always, I’ll be there!

©2001 Michael S. Davis

Just brown… those eyes.
Those eyes…
Those eyes… reflecting an oak’s quiet strength
Those eyes… singing with a cello’s maple voice
Those eyes… piercing with the promise of an acorn
Those eyes… hinting at the rich fertile soil of your bustling mind
Those eyes… revealing you as a treasure dipped in chocolate.
Those eyes…
Those eyes… just brown.

©2009 Michael Davis

I don't have to ask, I call you my valentine,
Be mine, not to possess ; you are.  mine -
to love and cherish, to nurture and hold,
to snuggle and kiss and be even more bold.
With you I'll  laugh and cry and struggle and play.
And daily with two hearts, as one we will pray.
The hopes and the dreams we want out of life,
are becoming reality, my valentine, my wife.

©1998 Michael S. Davis

When you are near,
I can’t find the words to portray the
wonderful singing in my heart;
And then again,
there is no describing the
aching it endures when we’re apart.

When you are part of my day,
I can’t explain the
unbelievable completeness of my being;
And then again,
how could a heart so whole
feel so broken when you’re away.

When you are with me,
I am content
with my heart so full of you;
And then again,
when you are gone
it rings so hollow and emptily.

When you are by my side,
my heart smiles
with pure and crazy delight;
And then again,
without you even near
the thought of you makes my sad heart bright!

©2013 Michael S. Davis

My thoughts are full of you
As the treasure that I find
That permeates my mind
And fills my point of view.

Replenished from that well
That brims over with your love,
I want the world to tell
And bless our God above.

You fulfill my sweetest dreams
And supply a warmer glow
Than the brightest, clearest  sunbeam.
So with joy I overflow.

I choose to love you so,
That I fill your thoughts, too;
Then you may always know,
—I am occupied by you.

©2013 Michael S. Davis

You got up this morning, to face another day;
To go through all the motions, with all that, that implies.
Perhaps it’s your passion, or maybe it’s just the pay,
Just remember it makes a difference in other people’s lives.

I have one more smile to give you, because you saved my life,
One more chance to take and hold my daughter in my arms,
One more moment to see the look of love from my dear wife,
One more day a captive to my grand children’s charms.

I have one more joke to tell with the laughter it could bring,
One more meal to savor its taste upon my tongue,
One more chance to serve Christ, my Lord and King,
One more time to listen as a favorite song is sung.

I have one more rose to lift, to smell its sweet perfume,
One more hour to toil to provide for those I love,
One more moment amazed at a butterfly's costume,
One more game to watch and hear a baseball hit a glove.

I have many, many, many, “one more” things to do,
But this day I just lie here, as I think of life and death;
Pondering just few things that I’d like to say to you,
As I live through one more sunset and sigh another breath.

So, with these poetic words I offer humble gratitude
To you who rolled out of bed and on that day I met
With defibrillator paddles and a get it done attitude,
You each worked to get it done and gave me one more sunset.

©2008 Michael S. Davis

The night is long while we’re apart.
The night continues . . .
     the clock keeps ticking . . .
          and the sunrise waits.

Our fears are exposed with each bump in the darkness.

Our frustration grows when every glance at the clock
reveals that daylight is no nearer.

Our hearts reach out
through the blackness of the distance between us,
to embrace in the warmth of the sunshine of our love.

Our eyes then focus on the new day that will end
our long night apart.

©2000 Michael S. Davis

Heavenly paradise, that one place of bliss;
I don't think I doubted, I now know it exists.
I enjoy Eden’s blossoms, as I nuzzle your hair;
And my heart has no doubt that I’m actually there
Surrounded by beauty of celestial kind;
Engulfed in nirvana that transcends my poor mind.
The light of that place that forms when we meet
Exposes a beauty from our heads to our feet,
And could not exist outside of the place
Our hearts sculpted out of time and of space.
With you in my arms, I experience rebirth
And know the sweet ecstasy of heaven on earth.

©1998 Michael S Davis

No more doubt, no more fear,
In your love I feel secure.

Though it’s hard to understand,
I know my heart’s safe in your hand.

No matter when, no matter where,
I know your love is always there.

I hope you know it’s also true,
My love is always there for you.

©1998 Michael S Davis

So tired —and...
the body groans,
even as my spirit moans;
my brain aches, as frustration
overwhelms me without solution.

So tired — yet . . .
I find hope in my faith,
comfort in your embrace,
encouragement in your eyes,
and the future in our prayers.

So tired —so . . .
for now, in this one moment,
let’s set aside all the torment
drop the handles of our too-full carts,
and rest in the warm embrace of our hearts.

©2013 Michael S Davis

Who knows why there were walls so high
around your heart and mine.
Perhaps there were just too many hurts
and things that made our souls pine.
So painful brick by brick
and impenetrable stone by stone
The walls around each of hearts
climbed until we each were shut off and alone.
We did not know that our walls
each had a window,
Until we met and saw amidst our walls
the portals through which our lives were aglow.
And in that glow we found the doors
that would let each enter in
Beyond the walls and with the other
a new life begin.
We found the key that let us
unlock those doors and each pass through,
And let the trusting, understanding, unconditional love
be the only thing between me and you.

©2000 Michael S Davis

Precious roses placed in her care,
Each one is different, each with gifts so rare.
She tenderly nurtures them in this garden of life,
As she prepares them for spring and the seasons of strife.

They are warmed by the sunshine of her love
And challenged by the fertilizer of her demands,
They are watered with the tears of her concern
And pruned under the discipline of her hands.

She lives humbled and honored and trembles each day,
That as placed in her hand by the Heavenly Father,
These precious roses make a beautiful bouquet
By which the Lord up above has honored her as “mother.”

©2013 Michael S Davis

The  passing thought of you,
The enchanting sound of you,
The sweetest scent of you,
The slightest glimpse of you,
The longest sight of you,
The faintest touch of you,
The boldest grasp of you,
The honey taste of you,
The warm embrace of you,
The matchless love of you,
Transforms me through and through!

©2013 Michael S Davis

You can count on me to stand aside
when you need to be alone.
You can count on me to stand aside
when you have to do what’s done.
You can count on me to stand aside
when you’re taking care of self.
You can count on me to stand aside
when you don’t need my help.
You can count on me to stand aside
when you think that is best.
You can count me to stand aside,
but be with you for each test.
You can count on me to stand aside
and look on you with pride.
You can count on me to stand aside
yet stand always at your side.    

© 2010  Michael S. Davis

I take your hand in mine and it belongs there.
I nuzzle at your neck and feel your silken hair
And I know we belong together.
When I feel you touch me like a feather
Or I trace your smile with my finger tips,
Or we touch with just our lips;
When the very skin and hair and fragrance
Of our bodies declare it, there’s no denial;
We belong . . .
     Together . . .
           Forever . . .
                Touching.

©2013 Michael S Davis

In the midst of this cold, cold world
with all of its care and woe,
I’m blessed with your caring warmth
and bask in your loving glow.

I’m warmed by the look in your eyes
that tell me it’s me you adore,
And warmed as your hand clasps mine
as my heart takes wing to soar.

I’m warmed when I hold you near
as we sigh all our cares away,
And warmed when your heart touches mine
as together we face the day.

©2008 Michael S. Davis

There are dreams and wishes and visions of things
That are the reasons we live as we do.
The path that we take with the challenge it brings
Reflects the motive behind what we choose.

I’ve dreamed of belonging and finding my place,
Then your kiss gave me my first clue;
And those dreams became real in the smile on your face,
As I realized I belonged ever with you.

All the wishes I’d wished for faded from view,
And all my plans just crumbled and fell
When I pictured a life spent always with you,
Enchanted and under your spell.

The visions remain as true as before,
Though not as dependent on me.
My vision is clearer, you’ve opened a door
For me to be all I can be.

It may seem at times as if I give up on things,
That I could never again stand up tall;
But the visions and wishes and all of my dreams,
Are fulfilled in your love and worth it all.

©2000 Michael S Davis

You Are . . .

the quiet place where my mind likes to rest.
the smile that inspires me to be my best.
the comfort when life’s storms around me blow.
the sunshine and fill me with your glow.
the joy that emboldens me to face the“whys?”
the heartthrob when I see the love in your eyes.
the love that makes life more than it’s ever been.
the voice that speaks “I love you” again and again.

©1998 Michael S. Davis