I've never been in love before.
Now I know it's You
I'll  love
forevermore.

I've never been in love before.
I've kept my heart locked up
behind an iron door.

But now Your love,
Your love so true and strong
has filled me with Your song,
this song that from me pours.

So please forgive
this helpless haze I'm in,
I've never really been
in love
before.

I will be free in my heart!
I will be free in my soul!
The light of Christ has made me whole!
A radiant bearer of Your light I'll be!
The joy of the Lord will flow through me!

Allelujah! Allelujah! Allelu, allelujah! (3 X)

Karma is like 69:
what you give is what you get.
Karma doesn't distract as much
---at least it hasn't yet.

A HUGE muscular tomcat
invaded our space, ate
our sweet Stripes' food,
and looked like he wanted
to tear her apart.
Rushing in to save her
from his assault, I
chased him away and
kicked him
right in the ****
as he fled my wrath.

After my momentary
satisfaction passed,
I regretted having kicked him.
As it turned out, he won.
Stripes had a beautiful litter
of his kittens, and when I
kick him in a recurring dream,
I wake to the pain as
my foot forcefully
strikes the wall.

Sometimes, when poets write of love,
we speak of body parts,
but the part of you that I love best
is hidden in your heart.

How can I kiss your kindness?
Caress your thoughtfulness?
That's what I adore the most,
beyond your mounded *******.

The fount of understanding
flowing from your lips
is even more attractive
than your shapely waist and hips.

Your ready sense of humor
is very **** too!
You get the joke that others miss--
I love that about you.

While others pant of naked skin
and love that's passion-driven,
we share a secret smile because
our love is baked with leaven.

splitting silence
with
devotion

We made our warm bed out of blankets
in the meadow 'way up high.
You took off your dress in the moonlight
to sleep beneath the sky.
Your touch was a warm summer ocean,
your kiss  made the whole mountain fly,
and you looked deep within me and smiled
at the tears in my eyes.

Now you can say  that you always were honest,
and your words were clear from the start,
but it's more than just words that got spoken.
There was language of the  heart.

I won't keep on calling your number
if you never  have the time.
I don't want to claim you or blame you
but you're always on my mind.
You had no idea I would love you.
It comes as a total surprise.
and you shake your head slowly and smile
at the tears in my eyes

And you say that you always were honest,
and your words were clear from the start,
but it's more than just words that got spoken.
There was language of the heart

Your eyes like an ocean of clear sunlit green,
my eyes with the salt water
washing me clean -- again.

Just imagine you whispered a secret
that could take away my blues,
and you let me believe it to please me
though it just wasn't true.
You just meant to share with me pleasure
and you're gifted at what you do,
but you're speaking an unspoken language
I thought that you knew.
It's one that we all learn by heart,
and our hearts think it's true.

But you can say that you always were honest
and your words were clear from the start.
But it's  more than just words that got spoken
there was language of the heart,
language of the heart.

We had our share of hard times, and it hurt you
that I never said "I'm sorry" for my part.
I'm the one who drove you from our marriage,
'cause I kept my feelings locked up in my heart.

This hard old heart of mine won't keep on beating,
since you gave up and walked out of that door--
I'm so glad you came today to see me,
They say tomorrow I'll be here no more.

Chorus:
Today is the last day of the rest of my life,
Why didn't I give you the love locked inside?
If I had the chance now, I'd make it all right,
but this is the last day of the rest of my life.

I always thought that I would live forever,
and in the Lord I know that this is true.
But I'll be moving to another mansion--
I won't be here to tell you "I love you."

I'm so sorry that my pride has kept me distant,
It's not even close to what I really want.
Before I go I hope you can forgive me,
and help me ease this broken, failing heart.

Chorus:
Today is the last day of the rest of my life,
Why didn't I give you the love locked inside?
If I had the chance now, I'd make it all right,
but this is the last day of the rest of my life.

Like a lion caged am I this restless night,
Straining to thy presence only fly,
On winged feet through forest's starry light,
There gently on thy lap my head to lie,

That thou may'st quench the fire within me rages,
The thirst for thee that doth my soul inflame,
Thus drinking deep of thee, whom my heart craves, I
Recover human stature once again.

Then would I pour on thee, who art my treasure,
The loving sweet that thou dost richly measure,
In hope that in some manner, in some kind,
I may bring you joy, oh joy of mine!

I'm watchin' the sunrise from over some coffee,
my rig's warming up in the cool morning air.
In just  a few minutes I'll head down the highway
runnin' for home and my love waiting there.

Chorus
She's my little bit of heaven,
she's the sparkle in my eyes.
She's the reason that I'm smiling.
I got to let her know before I ride

I pay up my tab and put on my old Stetson.
steppin' outside, I reach for my phone.
My angel is waiting at the end of this long day.
I got to tell her before I head home.

Chorus:
You're my little bit of heaven, girl
you're the sparkle in my eyes
You're the reason that I'm smiling
I had to tell you so before I ride.

I've seen a lot of mornings on the big roads,
I've driven through my share of lonely nights
Home was just a house all dark and empty,
now my angel waits in candle light.

Chorus:
She's my little bit of heaven.
She's the sparkle in my eyes
She's the reason that I'm smiling,
and I got to let her know before I ride,
yes I got to tell her so
before I ride.

Look for the sun
in the dark abyss,
God IS.
Remember this.

Let me lose myself
within
the autumn colors
of your love

I'm lost
between these chords,
thinking about you--
playing my guitar,
singing about you.

I know I shouldn't do it,
I should get the hell away!
We will never be together,
so why is it, whenever I play

I'm lost
between these chords,
thinking about you?
And every song I'm singing,
I'm singing just
for you,
just for you.


You are all I dream of,
though I'm not the one you see,
so I try to rein my heart in,
but it's wild and strong and free,
and it carries me away
to a place it wants to be,

where we run like wild horses in the moonlight,
flying like the wind beside the sea,
splashing through the diamond water,
there's a place where we can be

lost
from this world that we know, and
free
to run where our hearts want to go,
sailing to another world
that only love can find,
You can't get there from just anywhere,
you can't go in your mind,

you've got to be
lost,
to find that hidden door
free,
to reach that farthest shore

I want to get lost together,
just you and me,
Lost in that place where
we can be free,

running like wild horses in the moonlight,
flying like the wind beside the sea,
splashing through the diamond water,
let's go to that place
where we can be
lost and free
lost and free
you and me.

Love flows on
like a silent song
in my heart,
in my heart.

Love comes true
linking me with you
in our hearts,
in our hearts.

Love joins all
creatures great and small
in one heart,
in one heart.

Love flows free
rivers to the sea
in God's heart,
in God's heart.

Love flows on,
like a silent song
in my heart,
in my heart.

Faded rose petals
pressed between
yellowed pages,
catching my
bitter tears,
turn
crimson
once more.

Your love is like a hammer, babe
hits me like a twelve-pound sledge.
Your love is like a hammer, baby,
hits me like a twelve-pound sledge.
Breaks my heart wide open,
knocks off the rough edge.

Your love is like a fire, babe
burns me to the ground.
Your love is like a fire, baby,
burns me to the ground.
Glowing in the ashes
some diamonds I have found.

Your love is like a mirror, babe
one I don't want to see.
Your love is like a mirror baby,
I don't want to see.
Staring in the fiery eyes of truth's
not a place I like to be.

Your love is like a hammer, babe
It can break or it can build.
Your love is like a hammer, baby
Break or it can build.
Your love will make me stronger
if it doesn't ****.

I didn't intend to do that--
I HATE it when people
sneak up on me
with evangelical intent!
I merely opened my heart
to hear a poem, and
God bubbled to the surface.

No, not that God,
the one claimed
by the Christian right:
(who want you
to believe that Jesus
is a Republican--)

I mean the God you knew
as a kid.
Of course there's a God!
It's so obvious when you look,
wide-eyed and innocent,
at the miracle of existence--
how cool it is
just to be alive!

But then, growing up,
you found out
that there are Religions
that each have all this STUFF
about who God is.
They make it seem so complicated!

But really it's very simple:
Just love.
Everyone.
Always.
Devotedly,
passionately.
And--
forgive EVERYone.
That's all.
No, it's NOT easy,
but it is simple.

It works in every heart
It works in every culture
It works--
with or without
religion.

Religion might help you
find your heart's door handle--
reading about
the loving kindness of
a saint,
an avatar,
a rabbi,
a mystic,
a Sufi,
a Master.

But it could be
that God is always
singing a love song
to you
through a flower,
that rainbow,
a sunset,
the voice of a friend,
or even,
my beloved,
this little poem.
Are you listening?

Man plans;

    God
  
         laughs

My dear, you had me long ago,
sly wanton that you are,
your words awoke my lover's heart:
cut deep, yet left no scar.

Oh, come with me, master of Galilee,
I know that it's long you have waited for me.
Now I am ready to sail o'er the sea,
Oh, come with me, master of Galilee.

The waters are raging, the wind is a roar,
But sunlight is sparkling upon the far shore.
I'll raise the sail, will you take the oar?
Oh come with me, master of Galilee.

I've got too many questions and not enough answers.
Have you got some wisdom to share?
I'm far out at sea, no wind's blowing for me.
I'll take any truth you can spare.

"Three points of contact! Cover your bases!
Hedge all your bets, but shoot for the stars!
Follow your dream, but remember your zip code!
Keep some of it liquid--invest in gold bars!"

Wherever I look and whoever I ask,
Their words only lead me astray.
There must be a wise man, a really old wise man,
Who truly can show me the way.

Tossing and turning, sleep now eludes me.
I get up to wash off my face.
Stumbling into the bathroom, I flip on the light switch,
and the mirror blows up in my face.

There stands an old guy in the mirror before me!
Where is the face that was mine?
The wrinkled old guy looking back from my eyes
Says in my voice, "You'll be fine!"

What can he mean? And who can he be?
And what's going on around here?
He says, "One more thing: you don't need to worry--
You really have nothing to fear!"

"But how do I know if I'm doing what's right?"
He says, "Trust your heart and your soul.
You're doing that now, just keep on without doubt!
You're well on your way to be whole."

"But what if it doesn't work out like I planned?"
What if my dreams go astray?"
"Then make your dreams bigger than ever before,
Plant seeds and stay out of the way."

"To harness the power that's waiting to help you,
Feel free to dream big and dream bold
What do you want most to give to the world?
That no one be homeless or cold?"

"Whatever you want to change in the world--
You can! Just start where you are.
Keep singing your song 'til a friend sings along
Go ahead and shoot for the stars!"

"The very best piece of advice I can give:
Find something that's near to God's heart,
Bring more love and kindness into the world,
She'll help you right from the start."

"Maybe Jesus was just a guy who was sure
that love could make the world better.
Of course he was right and it still seems to help,
until it comes down to the letter."

"Now it's your turn to shine," the wise man concluded.
"Don't think that you can't, 'cause you do.
Give all that you've got in that warm heart of yours,
You'll find that big dreams do come true!"

Where flowers
   bloom,
weeds also
   flourish.

I sat down to work
until the moon
kissed me.
Then we
danced!

Oh, my lover, my love, how do I begin
to tell you my heart's broken open again?
These tears flowing freely all down my face
as I sing at your table, "Amazing Grace."

Could you possibly know what you're doing to me?
The sweet depths of feeling your love has set free?
My heart overflows and my eyes fill again,
I haven't felt this way since I don't know when.

Oh my lover, my love, I have come home to you,
It seems that our hearts' dreams of love have come true.
Could it be that this joy will not pass away,
but keep growing deeper, day after day?

Oh, I would be the star that your moon would embrace!
Let's dance together through oceans of space.
Let's share together our gifts from above, these
gifts from the heavens, our songs of true love.

His flaws
never bothered me
his scars
I embraced
whole-heartedly
his wounds
made him love
so tenderly

My Michelle, you're my belle,
my Michelle, I love you well.

Chorus
Wherever I go, whatever I do,
I'm never far away from you,
cause I keep you always
right here in my heart
not tucked in the corner,
but the biggest part,
'cause I love you, love you, love you
my Michelle, you're my belle,
my Michelle,
my Michelle.
I love you well
my Michelle

Chorus:
Wherever I go. whatever I do
I'm never far away from you
'cause I keep you always here in my heart
not tucked in the corner, but the biggest part,
oh, I love you, love you, love you,
yes I do, oh, my Michelle
I love you true, I love you true,
yes I do, yes I do,
my Michelle.

The very thought of you
makes my heart sing,
like an April breeze
on the wings of Spring,
and you appear in all your splendor,
my one and only love.

Shadows fall and spread their
mystic charms
in the hush of night
while you're in my arms.
I feel your lips so warm and tender,
my one and only love.

The touch of your hand is like heaven,
a heaven that I've never known.
The blush on your cheek
whenever I speak
tells me that
you are my own.

You fill my eager heart with such desire!
Every kiss you give
sets my soul on fire!
You give your self in sweet surrender,
my one and only  love.

Who am I? Who am I?
I am bigger than your mind.
Who am I? Who am I?
Do you know your mind is blind?

I'm your bitter enemy; I'm your sweetest lover,
I'm the homeless wanderer, and everybody's brother.
Older than the stars, I was born anew today.
I've come to ask you questions that will drive your sleep away.

Who am I? Who am I?
You could say it all depends.
Who am I? Who am I?
Where your question comes from
Determines where it ends.

I'm the riddle you can't answer, the vision you can't see,
The name you can't remember that just won't let you be.
I am the unthinkable, the word you cannot say,
The truth you can't imagine, the song you cannot play.

Who am I? Who am I?
Why do you want to know?
Who am I? Who am I?
They neither know nor own me
At the church where you go.

When you presume to name me, that name will come out wrong,
When you think you've found me, you'll find that I am gone.
Believing that salvation is a prize for you to claim,
You'll hear my silent laughter in the echoes of your pain.

Who am I? Who am I?
Look up at the starry sky.
Who am I? Who am I?
I'm the one who makes you wonder why.

I'm the dream that haunts you in the middle of the night,
I'm your deepest terror; I'm your brightest light.
I'm the one you live for; I'm the one you fear,
I am the Mystery: the reason you are here.

We were two little children
with the sun on our skin,
playing naked in the water,
innocent of sin.

Acting out our stories,
our games were all in fun,
playing naked in the water
by the seashore in the sun.

We played at being heroes,
villains, crooks and thieves,
Peter Pan and Tinkerbell,
pirates on the seas!

Suddenly I'm longing
to find you once again,
to see if you remember.
Do you remember when?

Our eyes danced together,
how imaginations flew!
I've never been so happy
as when I played with you.

We were two little children
with the sun on our skin,
playing naked in the water,
innocent of sin.

God's always with you
He's always there
God's always listening
He always cares

God loves you even when
you haven't got a prayer
Just talk to Him, yes (so tell him all)
talk to Him, for  (about it now, for)
He's always there. (He always cares)

Driving alone in the moonlight
An hour or two before dawn
Jackson Browne on the radio
Big wheels all humming along

Rounding a curve in the highway
I see deer in the road just ahead
The littlest one forgot to run
I hit her and knew she was dead

The body lay still and broken
Soft unseeing eyes open wide
Kneeling I took her up in my arms
And I sobbed, and wept, and I cried

I cried for her broken body
And I wept for her stolen life
I sobbed for all the loves I've lost
Through all the years of my life

I ain't got nobody baby, but you
I ain't got nobody baby, but you
I ain't got no family
to care about what I do
I ain't got nobody, baby
but you.

I ain't got no friends to call my own
I ain't  got no friends, don't need no phone
I ain't got nobody
when I'm feelin' so alone
I ain't got nobody, baby
but you.

I ain't got no dog to come home to
I ain't even got no dog to come home to
I ain't got nobody
'cause I'm hard to get close to
I ain't got nobody, baby
but you.


(a blues)

When the journey's over,
when the race is run,
when the light is dying,
and all your days are done.

At the end of the highway,
when the final line is crossed,
at the last ray of twilight,
when the night says you have lost,

there's a brand new beginning,
there's a brilliant new dawn!
Your spirit will awaken!
Your soul will carry on!

comes the
time
when
mist
must
ask
with
delicate
tongue,
"please
whisper."

My man,
play!
           Forest      
                          Wind      
                           ­                 Life
                                   Car      
                     Spray            
      Knife
gorgeous blues
(symphony from love)
drunk
like hot chocolate

there's a band-aid on my finger
where you cut me yesterday
slicing rotten pieces
of my vegetables away

you didn't even notice
it's your sweet nearsighted way
so no drama was enacted
and i had no need to say--

my little poems
love yours--
and i see yours enjoy mine--
perhaps we could be friends,
and on a play date
walk to the park
behind them.
before we  know it,
we're skipping,
enchanted by their exuberance
we'll delight to see them
playing together:
swinging side by side,
chasing fairies,
laughing
uncontrollably--
our carefree,
happy children.