I went to the desert
           hopefully myself to discover
           only to return empty-handed
           none the wiser.

           In my dream last night
           a strange voice spoke to me:
           '  a thousand deserts won't do you any good
           only you alone can set yourself free'.

Chinese proverb: It's easier to change the course of rivers
and mountains than human nature
how wise and how true a saying--
what a rare treasure!

I can't be like anyone
I am not them
when closely I examine myself I begin
to understand why I am the person that I am.

Kiss the light
dance with the moon
flirt with the stars
life is romance and too soon
time will blot out
the radiance
of the day
sweet moments are to be embraced
*before they sadly drown in the sea of transience *

come my love
tarry not
you are my light
come
I am waiting
don't let me wait
in the dark

Words-
do they know
and understand more
than us?

they seem independent
they are unto their own
and in their quest
for freedom
they set us aside

so often
they hold us back
they contradict
and find fault
with us

who is the servant
and who is the master?

Tears
they speak silently
over and again
of the pain
of past years

regrets
too many
broken dreams
love's fragility
joy's brevity

tears
they know
and feel more deeply
than the sufferer
they can write the full story

in the finest detail
of moments that caused misery
which the sufferer would remember but vaguely
they have a very long memory
and a heart filled with pity

tears
will anyone
show them
some sympathy
who, who would that be?

The flute is mute
it's half-broken
the flautist leaves it alone
old age has spoken

once he was the pride
of the musical world--he brought tears
to his listeners - now in the silence
of his sick-bed--he wants to forget all his past years

Santa Claus is in deep financial trouble-verily-
He had spent too much on kids in the past
To save himself from bankruptcy
He has set up Santa Claus  (Universal )Trust.

Every kid shall contribute $1 annually
(Before Christmas Eve) to this 'most worthy charity'
His email to the kids ends with these words: 'Trust me-
I am a person of the utmost integrity'.