as the day ends now
we lost more lives around world
values of life gone

keep watch when you walk
beware when out and about
pray for peace on earth

in the name of faith
since beliefs someones birth rights
some meet God tonight

Wanting to center myself,
a journey into the woods
would likely suffice.

I started out early,
about a quarter of 10.
Started off to find my center.

By reaching back to nature
to find a grounded centered me.
My Zen soul had to be found.

Sun breaking through canopied trees.

Oh wait, I have to stop!
This is the place!

Beyond this point,
my computer won't work,
I think I just lost WiFi.

You hear divorce
You get divorced
What is divorce

Is it Infidelity
Is it Lies
Is it Abuse

Infidelity equals no respect
Lies equals no respect
Abuse equals no respect

Stop lying to yourself and have some respect
It fell apart
Due to no respect.

Laying in bed with a book
Reading to bring me relief
At peace with life
Feel so relaxed, I know I will sleep

The hour grows late
My love comes to bed
Truly at peace with life
Feel so relaxed, I know I will sleep

She moves up close
Snuggles up tight
At peace with life
So relaxed, I know I will sleep

As she touches my body
And drifts off
Now truly at peace with life
So relaxed, that I drift off to sleep

She's my angel in life that brings me peace

My head laying on her heaving breast.
The sound of her heart beating softly.
Arms embracing, holding her close.
Peacefulness is found in this warm, loving place.

She's sweet in my memory
As dandelion wine

We were sitting together
Living life fine

Now we are together
For all time

Since shared together
A great day

By the  Dock of the bay.

Darkness takes many forms,
Taking you to places so unknown.
Sometimes it’s hard to return,
As the darkness overtakes the mind.
The body follows closes behind,
Until there is no return.
The End.

It was cold my first trip to Nome. Okay, it's always cold in Nome. It was February, still going down to -55 degrees some days. This was generally a one or two night stay. You really only needed a day, but the weather is unforgiving and so sometimes you wait most of the day. It is still dark up above the Arctic Circle, which Nome is only about 150 miles south of. The ocean ice will not start breaking for a month or two.

The morning started with an early flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage. It makes for a long day with approximately a 500 mile flight south so I can grab a 1,000 mile flight north to Nome. The first flight in had no delays so there was hope for the day. The hotel I booked which sounded quite grand was “The Nugget Inn”. It felt good knowing I would be in a nice hotel in this barren land.

It was a clear morning as we came in over the Bering Strait. I waited about 30 minutes to get my bags, then headed outside to see if I could flag down a ride. Taxis here in a village are a car passing by. You just waved before they go on by and hope they see you. It does not matter where you're going, Nome is not that big. Paid my three bucks and took a seat and said good morning to the driver and one other. The process is passenger in and passenger out until your destination comes up, but no hurry as you enjoy the warmth of the car.

Checked in and got a key, so I could begin my adventure at “The Nugget Inn” and Nome. I got to my room and checked it out and yes I was in for a surprise. The room was configured like a bunkhouse shack, two beds on old rusted iron frames. A small table and chair between the beds with a very small lamp. Well this was work and not a vacation and I was at the edge of the world.

The room had the feel that it was the same as in the gold rush days. And when I pulled up the blanket to check on the sheets. I am sure they were there when Jack London was here. Since the sheets were worn down to no more than gauze. So I take my first night in the city of Nome. And sleep tight under northern lights.

Morning sun peeks
Over the horizon
Dew drops cover
Blades of grass

Birds early morning Song
The rooster crows
Small creatures stir
As night owls sleep

Another night has passed
With moon
And stars
Crossing a darkened sky

Awake now
Humans of earth
Take count of your blessings
Blessings for eternity

Sometimes my yesterday's and today's become one

Sleep deprived with no sleep

Adrenaline flowing on a slow drip

It flows through my veins to my brain

Brings me to a point where I am still reasonable sane

A Christmas text
the only choice
to a long lost voice.

Loving her so dear,
a child so missed,
I try to send a Christmas wish.

As sweet words inked
the message link,
I felt proud to share my love of her.

About three lines were on the text
just as I write this down
and I burst in tears,
memories rushing back.

I hope she hears
or reads my words,
and knows my love.

I can take anything
she may bring to me,
cause any pain I feel,
is to not see her.

Sitting with my thoughts this night.
Not sure of my future
which seems to not exist.

Taking my time now to check the edge.
Shiny and smooth with the sharpness
of a surgeon's scalpel.

Leaving nothing to chance tonight,
I've locked all the doors and windows tight.
Disconnected the phone, even stopped the mail.

They say a hot bath will do the trick,
feeling no pain as the blade comes down.
Skillfully across my wrist, from the outside in.

Slowly now, but deep enough
I failed before, but not this time
Success is mine, I wait no more, the time is now.

Feeling better now, very relaxed,
drifting into a very dark sleep,
as I say goodnight, but really goodbye.

In years past, young boys became men early. Women were quiet, demur in their outward image.

Today, watching the actions of so many young men, they seem to have trouble developing into grown men, continuing in their youthful ways. Women have taken on a more commanding roll. Slowly gathering the wealth of the world from the young men who failed to become men. Hopefully in the long term, women will also help bring peace to the world.

looking skyward now
searching the heavens on high
stars shining brightly

shadows of dark clouds
blocking the light of dark night
leaving me searching
on this dreary night

as the cold cuts deep inside
a beacon of light
shines in front of me
moving faster to the light

a candle on the sill
to guide the way home
a beacon of light for soldiers
returning from war

Savor each moment, not because it may be your last, but because it may be the greatest moment in your life.

Drawn to you like a moth
to a flame by your beauty.
I must take leave before
the heat of the moment
overtakes the future,
clouding my judgment.

Your beauty can carry you far
but your mind is the solution
to change your future.
Bringing you to a brighter place,
with a future not found
within the confines of this place.

Sometimes in thoughtful
repose just riding a wave,
crus'in along in a surreal world,
appearing rather vacant you see.

I hang way out
on the edge of
never never land,
in the shadows close to the dark,

My return is generally,
in the blink of an eye.
So don't be deceived
by the view, you may see.

No matter words
or actions all
I never lose perspective
And really never go,

Completely out of control!

Sitting on the edge of reality in my altered state,
A place referred by me as near a Zombie like world.
Not functioning in a normal way,
But possibly leaning too far off the Edge of the blade,
keeping the true light of the reality of life in sight.

Texture or feel
slipping slowly,
gently down
seems to be a little gooey.

First to look at it,
then perchance
a little sniff,
to see what
olfactory sensation it may bring.

Scent in check
with no critter parts.
I poked it now
to see what tactile property,
it might have.

It was not firm,
seemed to jiggle.
Unconcerned stepping up,
grabbed a fork.
Don't usually eat things,

that move, that are green.

It was just a little town
in the boot-heel of Missouri
Cotton fields, sand, farming,
poverty all around.

My daddy was from this little town,
coming home with his wife,
pregnant with child to give
birth in his hometown.

All had gone smooth
as the time came to give birth.
Dad came in as mother screamed,
nurses pushing him out down three floors.

Bell ring ground floor
turning to go back up again.
Then met by the nurse
with doctor moving near.

Your wife we can save
but not your child,
now go back down
you'll just have to wait.

The adventure continued a few hours more
up to the top floor,
to be sent down again.
Smoking two packs of Camels,
as he paced the floor.

When all was said and done,
mom's welcoming dad,
holding me up in her proud arms.
That was the beginning of my journey.

Chasing Death Ever Since!

"Up and downs come in many forms in life. One of those that seems to be close to most everyone's heart, according to polls. They just wanted to know life expectancy. How we have improved with our new and improved medical care. The things they found seemed to create a bit of concern you see. Our life expectancy while gaining over a 100 years, over around 40 years of life was not the best.

The fact that brought concern is we were not first nor second nor third. Yet didn't we have the best medicine to be had in the world? They told us that was so. So consider the fact that USA is 34th. Now we can find many things to blame this on. I may be wrong, but I have a thought.

First do we need to improve our medical care, of course we do. Are we that far behind? Second you see, seems to be a small piece of the puzzle left out. They only look at numbers and not the cause.. We as a country for years and years, fight the wars and battles around the world. Right or wrong I do not really care, but a conclusion I would like to share.

While improving our medical care, I think a big jump in longevity could be near. If we stop sending young boys to war to be men. Yet they so often come home broken or draped in a flag.

Well remember “They”, who are close to “Them”.

Well in conclusion and in my view, “They” and “Them”, should be replaced by “We”. Just as the first word of our constitution says. Remember the Constitution, I'm not sure, but I think, “They” and “Them” , have buried it behind the bureaucratic world or our private government world."

Called up by country
Soldier defends his homeland
    Raise the Flag to them

My Child

a poem by Catherine Z. Wells

How quickly you have grown my child.
All gone the days when you were small.

How Quickly time has flown my child.
Summer, Winter, spring and fall

If we could just return my child,
to days, you sat upon my knee.

Oh how my heart does yearn, my child,
Your dimpled smile again to see.

But you are now a family man,
no longer mine to hold your hand.

You have a different life, my child.
Love her, but keep me in your sight.

It may not always show, my child,
the love I hold so deep within.

But know that it is always there,
will always be, has always been.

Mother

Many years have past
Since I heard my mothe'rs voice
When last it was heard, it was faint

And now I still hear
My mother's voice
Even though she's gone her voice still faint

When you look at the years
Whether parent or child leaving
The voice stays with you even though faint

Happy memories from the past
Sometimes that is best
To keep memory close even if faint

Never forget the love
Which is always there
Through life or death keep fears faint

When the time is right
It becomes your night
As the light of your life becomes faint

You will be reunited with the voice from the past and it will no longer be faint.

Rolling waves of foam
          Slapping against the sea shore wall
Water glistening Bright
          From sun shining high

In a sky as clear as crystal
         Reflecting on the crashing waves
Feeling freedom in the air
         Fresh and clear as the sea

When as free as this
         Dreams are running free
Under the sun and by the sea
         For all eternity