Music and memories go together
Like salt and pepper
One complements the other
One triggers the other
Listening to a song can easily transport one back to a memory or time
A certain memory can bring back a certain feeling
It’s as if one stepped into a time machine to relive that moment
Music can also inspire, ignite and calm the soul
It can heal ones wounds and evoke strong feelings
Music can take me back to a sweet memory of my father shoveling the snow outside during a winter storm
Or my father taking my hand as a small girl to enter a Brazilian ceremony many decades ago
Or to remember a colleague playing a song by the Temptations in the office one Friday morning to help start the day
Music and memories inspire our lives to be so much more like an artists’ painting

In the end
Light wins over dark
Love over hate
Goodness over evil
Freedom over oppression
Truth over lies
Integrity over corruption
Right over wrong
Kindness over cruelty
Healing over pain
Love is powerful energy
It can change the world
In an instant
Light up the world
With one small act
It can make a difference

Balance

Sometimes I feel like my life is surreal
That it’s not real
When I look back on my life I can’t believe my age
Have I really lived this long?
Where did the years go
They just flew by
Yet I remember things as if they just happened
And deep inside I still feel like me
Even if I don’t look the same
My hopes are still there
So are my dreams
Yet I am at the last third or so of my journey now instead of the beginning
How did that happen
Is this all a dream and I will wake up some day

Cold and dark winters night
Raining outside
Sky a deep black velvet
Temperatures cooling off
Hard to feel comfortable outside
Bones starting to ache

My heart, soul and body hunger for the sun
Just a glimpse of it through the clouds

I snuggle into my bed with warm blankets
Enjoying their warmth and comfort as the time passes into nighttime

My cat is by my feet seeking warmth for her body
I enjoy the sound of her purr as she falls asleep
Letting the sound calm me

Whispering winds blow across my face
Soothing my troubled soul

Whispering winds blow across my face
Bringing sweet scents of flowers

Whispering winds blow across my face
Lifting me up

Whispering winds blow across my face
Healing my pain

Whispering winds blow across my face
Reminding me of you

If you hurt me I will not hurt you
I will walk away

If you love me
I will love you back

If you offer a chair
I will sit with you

If you offer peace
I will join you

If you hurt me I will not hurt you
I will walk away

If you love me
I will love you back

We have the power to heal
We have the power to touch
Deep inside
Where spirit resides
We have the power to love
We can lift up ourselves
We can lift up others
We can even lift the whole world
We can warm the coldest night
We can embrace others
We can stand in the light

We have the power to change
We have the power to grow
Beyond ourselves
We have the power to heal
Everything

All we have to do is try
Believe
Light up the world

When in doubt
Trust
When in doubt
Believe
When in doubt
Pause
When in doubt
Meditate
When in doubt
Follow the light
When in doubt
Stay calm
When in doubt
Seek comfort
When in doubt
Trust

I will love you till I die
Till I take my final breathe
I will cherish you till then
You are my universe
You are my prince
You are my sun and moon

I will love you till I die

I will be in wonder of you
I will be enchanted by your charm
I will be touched by your presence

I will love you till I die

You captured my heart eons ago
You touched into my soul
You knew me like no other
No matter what
No matter where

I will love you till I die
I will cherish you until then

Go to a place and still yourself
Close your eyes
Sit quietly and listen
Enjoy the nothingness
Let it calm you

Stillness

You will hear the universe speak
Peace and harmony will be found
You will have what you need
Always

Stillness

Don’t let them inflict
pain on you
Don’t hurt
Or feel less
One is not better
Than another
Though they judge

We are all human
We come from the same
Whether wealthy
Or not
Whatever language
We speak
Faith we practice

Don’t accept their judgement
Only you truly know you
Others only see a fraction of
Be strong
Believe in yourself
Accept who you are
Don’t live in the pain
Free yourself
To soar

I may not be in my 20s
But I still have dreams
Dreams

I may not be in my 20s
But I still hope
Strive
Dreams

I may not be in my 20s
But I still dance
Sing
Dreams

I may not be in my 20s
But I still have wonder
Curiosity

Dreams

I may not be in my 20s
But I still have aspirations
Dreams

I may not be in my 20s
But I am not done yet
I’ve just begun
Dreams

I may not be in my 20s
But I dream big

Wake up
Clear your head
It’s another Thursday
Time to get going
Wake up

It’s another day
Time to get things done
Time to clear the head
Time to get dressed
Time for coffee and breakfast

Wake up
It’s another Thursday
The weekend is almost here
One more day
Time to get busy

Wake up
It’s Thursday
Time to get coffee
Time to have breakfast
Time to get going

He stands at the shore
The water gently brushes his toes
He is alone
He has done this before
Many times
Across the waters

It’s a cool day
The sky is light gray
No clouds are in sight
The waves are slow and deliberate
Across the waters

He has been standing  for some time looking  west
He is also watching the waves
Their rhythmic movement
It’s hypnotic
Across the waters

He breathes in the air deeply
It has the aroma of salt
It’s refreshing
It has a calming effect to him
Across the waters

He thinks about what is on the other side
He prays this time it will work
He concentrates with all his might
He’s trying to send a message
Across the waters

Will it arrive?
Will they hear him?
Hello, can you hear me?
Please answer back
He waits for some time
Across the waters

Hoping for an answer
Anything
Once again nothing comes
He is left with emptiness
He turns and walks away
Across the waters

Over the years,  he tried many times
Hoping his message would be received
It traveled thousands of miles
Hello, can you hear me?
I am calling you
Please answer me
Across the waters

Finally after years of nothingness
He gets an answer back
He can’t believe it
Is it real?
How is this possible?
Across the waters

Hello is it you?
I heard you calling me
I have tried to find you
But could not
How are you?
I have missed you so

Across the waters

Once upon a choice
I danced with the rhythm of my soul
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I chose to love you
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I believed
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I started anew
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I danced with the moon
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I held your hand
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I lived a miracle
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I danced with my soul
Rhythm

Once upon a choice
I found you
Rhythm

Are you real?
Are you just a dream of my imagination?
You seem too good to be true
I can hardly believe it
Imagination

Are you really here?
You are perfect in every way
The way you look
The way you walk
Your handsome face
You seem to good to be true
Imagination

Are you real or a dream?
You are like a melody
The sweetest of music
The finest piece of art
Imagination

It is Sunday morning
The woman gets dressed
Having finished her brief breakfast
She is going out

Dressed in her red coat and scarf
Ivory colored turtle neck sweater
Blue jean leggings
It’s winter at the end of January
Very cold outside
It gets into your bones
Makes them ache

She is heading out to the store
Afterwards she will stop for coffee at a favorite cafe
Before heading home

She is living her new life with her high school sweetheart
An unbelievable dream come true....

It’s one of those days
Still in the midst of winter
Skies gray and cloudy
Air cool and damp
Clouded over
People are moving slowly
Streets are empty
Cafés are full
People getting breakfast
Slowly sipping coffee
Clouded over
Warm beds are tempting
Heavy blankets and jackets
Cups of hot tea with lemon
Soothe the body and soul
Hard to get moving
Clouded over
Looking for that ray of sun

It may seem that there’s is a drought
Everything is dry and harsh
Sparseness all around
The path is hard to find
Dust and muck have covered it
Drought

Life seems fast asleep
Nothing going on
Waiting for something
Dry winds blowing fiercely
Erasing everything before
Drought

But after a time the rain will come Bringing new life with it
The dust will settle
Dryness replaced with green
New life growing

Drought

Come walk with me
Take my hand
Let’s stroll down a path
To see where it takes us
It’s been a long time

Come walk with me

Let’s go towards the forest
Covered in snow
Let’s listen to the quiet
Enjoy the stillness and peace
It’s been a long time

Come walk with me

Let’s go towards the beach
Let’s walk along the shore
Enjoy the sound of the waves
Smell the salt laden air
It’s been a long time

Come walk with me

Let’s walk home
Holding hands along the way
Just like we used to
So many years ago
It’s been a long time

Come walk with me

Let’s share our journey
Build some more memories
Let’s laugh and joke
Play like children
It’s been a long time

Come walk with me
It’s been a long time
I am waiting

We all build walls

Some are to hide behind
Some to prevent
Some to keep out
Some to mark areas

We all build walls

Some are real
Some are imaginary
Some are brick or wood
Some are stone or concrete

We all build walls

They are boundaries
Or borders
Or let limiters
Some are old

We all build walls

They can be high and reach the sky
Or low easy to jump or climb
They can lock someone out
Or keep them in

We all build walls

Let’s tear them down

Search your heart
Find the meaning of love

Search your heart
Find your destiny

Search your heart
Find comfort and care

Search your heart
Find where you belong

Search your heart
Find kindness

Search your heart
Find tolerance

Search your heart
Find what you were looking for

Search your heart
Find the best in people

Search your heart
Find beauty

Search your heart
Find why you are here

Search your heart

Some of us are lucky
To be by a golden bucket of peace
It’s calming
It brings a feeling of beatitude
When we immerse ourselves
We can lose our daily troubles
Slipping into a special place
Of safety
Of belonging
Of familiarity
It’s a place one doesn’t want to leave
Ever
Have you found yours?
Treasure it
It’s precious
It’s rare
Believe
In possibilities
Light up the world

Sometimes if we’re lucky
We are given a dream
A special wish or desire
It becomes part of us
It seems impossible

It’s a beautiful dream
We want it more than ever
It’s always on our mind
If we believe with all our might
It then becomes reality

Dream

Mornings
When it’s quiet
Peaceful
Are sacred
Times of stillness
When the soul
Is most present
It’s those times
When we find
Our true self
When the chaos of life
Subsides
Music is also a key
So is nature
To sacred times
They are precious
Like a rare jewel
Treasured
Always

It’s a bright bright Sunday

The sun is shining and
The sky is blue
No clouds in sight
The city is getting ready

Last day of the week
The weekend is ending
People are getting ready
Looking forward to another week

It’s a bright bright Sunday

People are out and about
Visiting cafes
Drinking coffee
Eating breakfast

It’s a bright bright Sunday

I’ve got the gray blues
Been cold and rainy for days
My bones ache to the core
I’ve got the gray blues

Missing the sun
Those warm golden rays
Shining down on my face
Lighting the way to another day
I’ve got the gray blues
Craving when they go away

Hot Steamy Coffee

Hot steamy coffee
On a cold day
With breathe visible
Bones chilled
Body aching
Longing for warmth

Hot steamy coffee
To soothe the cold
To warm up the soul
To calm the mind and set it free

Hot steamy coffee
To jumpstart the day
To motivate the body

Hot steamy coffee

Writing is in my blood
It runs through me like a running stream
It is intertwined into my inner most being
I am driven to do it
It is part of the air I breathe
It is life
It lifts me up
Like meditation
I disappear to another world

Writing is my blood
It is intertwined into my inner most being
Without it I am lost
Without it, I am not me

Writing is part of my life
It lifts me up
Like meditation
I need to write
I crave to write
It is like giving birth
Creating a new work
From nothing


Writing is my blood
It gives me peace
It brings harmony

It’s important
To be grateful
For whatever we have
Whom ever we know
For those that care
And love us
For our lives
And experiences
It’s important
To be grateful
For each sunrise
And sunset
For the moon
And nature
For the beauty
We see
It’s important
To be grateful
Each and every day

Sitting in a café
Watching the people
Talking and smiling
People from everywhere
Languages of the world

Watching the staff
Coming and going
Bringing orders
Like an orchestra
Languages of the world

People on their phones
Eating and drinking
Texting and talking
Laughing
Languages of the world

Baked goods on display
Beautiful desserts
Smells of things baking
People buying bread
Languages of the world

Street scene playing outside
People out and about
Bright sun shining down
Blue sky dotted with clouds
Languages of the world

Where did that 16 year old girl go?
What about the 28 year old?
Where are they?
Life passed so quickly
Where is the strength and freedom of youth?
The excitement of the new?

How do I find her and bring her back ?
Is she in the recesses of my mind and heart ?
Is she hiding ?
Dimmed by life’s travails

Where is that 16 year old girl
Filled with energy and emotion
How can I find her?
Where is she?
Is she in me when I look in the mirror ?
How can I feel free?
To run on the beach or fly like a bird

A  red bird sits on a branch
It is winter
He is elegant
He looks proud
Looking at him is entrancing

He brightens everything
He sets the scene
Snow is whiter
Trees are greener
Winter is brighter

His feathers are perfect
On top of his head sits a crown
He has a dark black face
Surrounded by red
His beak matches his color

A bevy of them are lovely
Sitting in bushes or a tree
They look too good to be true
They are truly beautiful
Nature’s art

Red bird

On a cold winter’s day
It’s morning
The air is crisp and cold
While the sky is bright
There’s no sign of warmth
People going about
Bundled up
Bodies and hands
Cold
Trying to create warmth
Cats seeking a spot of sun
Cafe clients sitting
Huddled together
Battling the cold
Everyone seeking
To battle the cold
Warmth

Sometimes the words
Just don’t come
No matter what
There’s no inspiration
Nothing strikes me
Nothing is there
Just a blank page
It’s like a winter white out
It’s painful
The desire is there
The want to write
But nothing comes
It’s frustrating
I want it to end
The inspiration
To once again come
Blank Out

Stillness

Quietly sitting
At a plaza
Amongst the trees
and plants
Observing
The floor is
beautiful tile
Patterned
Stores on either side
Behind me two fountains
The sound is calming
The air is cool and clear
Ahead sits a multi colored cat
Watching everything
There’s total peace
An oasis
It’s hypnotic

Imagine sitting in the desert
Alone
The sand is bright white
Almost blinding
You are kneeling
With your eyes closed
It is silent and still
Out of nowhere it starts to rain
Black colored rain drops
However, an umbrella appears
Emanating white light
It’s one of a kind
It’s translucent
Made of white light
It hovers over you
As the rain drops fall
They hit the umbrella
And roll off
Never touching you
Disappearing into the ground
Without a trace
You are protected
Once the rain stops
The umbrella disappears
You get up
To start walking
To your destiny
Imagine

What is special?
When someone says
You’re not that special
That others have more value
Than you
What does that mean
But what is it to compare
People to people
Relationship to relationship
As we are all unique unto ourselves
No one is the same
So if someone says you’re not special
What are they also saying
About themselves
For how can we judge
A person’s worth
To another
Without being in their skin
We are all unique
Each with our own destiny
Different from another
How can we be anything
But special
For we each are an individual square
On the quilt of humanity
Together making up the whole
That’s special

Sometimes in our darkest times, we are given a miracle of hope
It reaches out like a golden rope for us to grab and hold onto
Rays of hope

Sometimes it’s a bright light that shines through the darkness
Offering a path towards the light
Rays of hope

When this happens we should know things will get better
It is affirmation to never give up
Even in the toughest of times we should believe
Rays of hope

We are each unique and here for a reason
Our purpose is before us

Rays of hope

Sometimes in our darkest times
We are given a miracle of hope
When we want to give up
A thread to something
Comes
Light shining through
A hand reaching out
In the deepest darkness
We need to have faith
To believe
We should never give up
Even in our toughest times
Light will get through
Eventually
Believe
Let that faith light up the world
In the darkness

Brrrr  
Baby it’s cold outside
Jackets and scarves required
The air is crisp and clear
The sky is clear
The sun is out in it’s full regalia
The city is awake
Traffic moving
The café is almost empty
Too cold to come out
People huddled with their coffee
The steam offering warmth
Baby it’s cold outside
Hard to go out
Bed sounds nice where it’s warm
Winter is here and
Brrrr Wednesday

Sitting at home on a cold winters night
Bundled up under blankets with someone you love

Reading a good book or watching a movie

Sipping hot tea or cocoa as the rain or snow gently falls outside
Feeling safe inside

Smells of beef stew cooking on the stove remind one of home as a child

Hot bread baking in the oven
The warmth filling the kitchen

Warm sweaters of bright colors
Fleece lined jackets with mittens and gloves

All bring back feelings of home and comfort

I am sitting in a café by the street
I am scene watching
People coming to and fro
Coats and hats on
Scarves around necks
It’s cold outside
Winter

Seeing what is going on outside
Watching the people inside
Sipping coffee
Eating breakfast
Smiling and laughing

People from all over
Different languages in the air
Baked goods on display
Like valuable jewels

Trees full of oranges decorate
Fountains nearby against pink
Crisp day
Sun brightly shining

I am scene watching

Every day she goes out
Putting on her red coat
She gets her things together
Heads outside and starts her day

She visits her favorite café
Slowly sipping her coffee
Thinking about her

As she finishes her coffee
She gets ready to leave
Putting her coat on
Packing up her

She has had the coat for years
It came with her to a new land
When she wears it it feels like an old friend
Red is a favorite color of her
In a way the coat helps define her

Woman in the red coat

It’s morning
Saturday
The weekend
People are just waking up
Searching for their coffee
The sun is out shining

People are walking about
Cafés full of breakfasters
Cities waking up
Everyone has the slows
Newspapers sit on sidewalks
Street vendors full of magazines
and papers
Stores getting ready for another day

It’s Weekend Morning Treasure

You are the love of my soul
My true hope
My inspiration
The glimmer of the stars
Light in the darkness

You are the love of my soul

My impossible dream
My Prince
The most perfect part of me
My best

You are the love of my soul
The sun and moon
You are everything right with the world

You are the love of my soul

Go Towards the Light
If you see someone with a frown, smile
Choose laughter over tears
If someone needs help, reach out
Offer kindness instead of harshness and cruelty
Heal don’t hurt
Love instead of hate
Don’t judge, accept
Walk towards light instead of darkness
Give instead of taking
Lift up instead of tearing down

There’s too much darkness and hate in the world right now
If we can just light the world a little through kindness and love, it’s a start
Remember we are all human

Light up the world
Lift someone up today
Bring a smile to a stranger
Be grateful for each day and moment

When someone knocks
you down with a wet towel
Get up
When someone hurts you
Get up
When it gets hard
and impossible
Get up
When you can see nothing
but darkness
Get up
Remember who you are
Remember where you come from
Remember you are unique
You have a right to be here
Get up
Believe
In your power and light

There is forest and quiet
The trees reach to the sky
Darkness abounds
The air is cool and clear
Deep in the woods

A cabin sits
Surrounded by snow and trees
Mountains are in the background
A light is burning in the cabin
Smoke coming from the chimney
Scents of pine trees in the air
Deep in the woods

A dog sits on the steps
He’s a husky
Beautiful white and black
Waiting for it’s owner
Deep in the woods

A pie is baking in the oven
Coffee is on the stove
A fire burns in the fireplace
Deep in the woods

There is sublime quiet
There is calm and peace
It is intoxicating
Deep in the woods

Is a perfect sanctuary

Sometimes we are left out
Excluded
Forgotten
Or treated differently
Than others
We may be given less
Or cared about less
Because of who we are
Or what we are
Or where we come from
But that doesn’t mean
It’s true
Because no matter
Where or what
We are all the same
Even if our language
Is different
Our beliefs
Our home
We come from
The very same place
And will eventually return there
Yet exclusion happens
It hurts
The spirit
The mind
And the heart