Still carry on
Find the energy in you
To continue to learn
Keep pushing on through
It all comes from within
Knowledge is power
Educate your mind
Be the one to prosper

The sky appears
as an enormous
blue and white porcelain
China tea ***
the celestial hand of
Lord Buddha
pours happiness
into my heart
koi fish prance in
coral pink circles
prayer wheels hum

and

Life goes on.....

you came
you saw
and you left

i cried
i stayed
and i conquered

Ballerina butterflies
flutter joyously
orbiting each other
in ruffled orange tutus

Tinkly, melodious
piano notes of
Swan Lake drift
from the ice cream van
parading down
our avenue

Pirouetting in the
steamy Florida air
they embrace briefly
giving a tiny imperceptible
kick of their
black slippered feet
before wafting in
myriad directions
wings far-flung....

Sheer happiness
lives in their dance
I watch with delight
resting on my
ebony walking cane
as they soon disappear
into a neighbor's
small mango grove

Just keep at it
Let those words flow
Be the encouraging voice
That teaches the little ones to strive for more
Always be that mentor
Who is sincere
Make your presence felt
Just always be there

Everyday is a struggle
The lessons are there
We must live life more carefully
In order to conquer
Things are not always golden
We may sadly have to deal with corruption and strife
We remove ourselves from those shadows
In order to find the light

So close to You
No breath between us
exists

A shadow arcs
dark and empty
Illumined fiercely
By Your brilliance

A heart broken
and shattered
reflects Your face
In every jagged
fragment

I can never leave You
You can never leave me

Beloved
our fates are sealed
on the Scrolls
of Forever

I spread my floral rose
and green leaf sheet
on the emerald shore

Divine mother it's been
quite a while since
I visited You
Here I Am
Your little mermaid

The beach is practically empty
one lone fisherman
hoists his fishing pole
into the sea
flocks of seagulls
skirt close to his head
a sandpiper dips
his beak like a pole
Into the burgeoning
white billows

Good morning seagulls, pelicans
denizens of the sea
this morning I'm an ocean creature too!

Always stay determined
And never ever quit
Continue to give it your all
Be fierce bit by bit
You can do it
Have the courage and strength
Show your gratitude
Lift your head up and do your best

Better days are coming
The darkness will eventually give way to the light
Courage and confidence returns
We strive to make things right
Things will look upward
The clouds will disappear my friend
Brightness comes to the forefront
The sun shines once again