Came out of rusty bars, with nothing but black stripes on me.
I walk down the street alone, seeing everyone else with no stripes on.
Their stares pierced through my innocence, as if my sins were still fresh for years.
But someone held my head high, gave me a identity, purpose and forgiveness.
He gave me a second chance, even when everyone else can't.
I walk down the street not alone, but with someone who filled me with hope.

"Why does it wish to come inside?"
Such stubborn rain not seeing why.
"Clearly a window is in its way."
So why does it wish to come inside?

Pitter patter, doesn't hear me.
Chit chat, continued talking.
Tick tock, time is passing.
Whish whoosh, cars are driving.
Splish splash, kids are playing.

"So why are you trying to come in?"
Confused, not seeing the point.
"Clearly, it won't be worthwhile."
So why does it wish to come inside?

Click swish, the windows swung open.
Pitter patter, the rain ran in.
Tick tock, the sound of the clock.
Silence silence, there's no other sounds.

Pitter patter, the rain continues
Hand held out to hold them tight
Tick tock, splish splash
"Now I know why you come inside."

This day you have made! I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Yet again, you gave me a chance. I will rejoice and be grateful of it!
Another day to feel your presence! I look forward to the day ahead!

There are times in a lifetime
When meanings collide
Times when we wonder
The reason why

There are moments of sadness
And gladness too
Those memories won’t last us
But they might have to do

There is such a fine line
Between the now and then
Such precious little moments
That we learn how to tend

So take up my hand love
And sing me your song
Our moments together
Won’t last all that long

Your heart is my mainstay
My chest full of pearls
Your laughter has taught me
My place in this world

Let’s spend time together
And weather the storm
We can chase all our dreams now
Before they are gone

Let’s live for this moment
And play out the game
Let’s share this adventure
To the end of our days

Remembering our dead
Mansions, or humble abodes
Virtues or deeds

Learned by heart
Nights of gladness
Morning sorrows

Stories as grains of sand
Forming eternal rocks
Or leaves from a tree
Shelters of hopes and dreams
  
Ocean waves drowning breath
Dreams crumbling as castles
Small homes becoming shrines
Images we choose, or not

Our great grands looking back
Thinking of us as we of ours
Long for memories to grow

Good grows as hands reach out
In time to lift, serve or destroy

Things break and lose charm
Those we feared and loved
Or guides found with sobs

Moments of shared delight
Human frailties, loss and pain
Keep us in want
Never enough, always too much

The hell of heaving
Infernos of inherited pride
Or careful purpose and deeds
Blessing those left

We follow their climb
When plotting our course
In darkness hides the light
Doors close in mind

Sitting Outside A Day In May  
      
I find myself not only wondering [but]
Thirsting, needing to know when and how they died, [but]
Thoughts or suffering or not: in short,
The state before and during…

I observe a skin that’s wrinkling,
Drying out and shrinking,
Hear and spy a bird in tree,
See the freshness, spring’s new growth,
The only thing I really see is death, a passing.

I allow myself my breaths,
The moods, desires -
All that goes along,
Forgetting for the most part.

Deep down I see the buds of parting
And an emptiness because
I have no answers.
All that I can do is wait and act and meditate
As if life equaled all time-in-the-world.

Every year in spring
I find I’m writing,
Charting age unconsciously,
Literally marking time.

Not sad, not glad but emptier
Than years before,
(or maybe more).
Noticing, acknowledging a substance;
The substantial underlying all the grandeur.

Sitting Outside A Day In May 5.21.2016
Birth, Death & In Between II;
Arlene Corwin

The Lord your God
           in your midst,
the Mighty One,
          He will save;
with gladness      
          He will rejoice
over you,
         He will quiet you
with His love,
         He will rejoice
over you
        with singing....

Zephaniah 3 :17

cj 2016

Dear, I'm going on an adventure and it's beginning now
Away from the heartache, away from the sorrow I go
I'm letting the light in
This is where my adventure begins
I choose to no longer be the shadow cast by the light
Instead I've decided to be a candle
Though it be small compared to others
One day it will spread and become a roaring wildfire
There are so many negative people leading negative lives
I've been one for so long
But that part of me is dying
Only the light will remain
As I sit here with the path rocky and unclear
I cast my eyes on the sky, I know
I'm leaving for my adventure now
It may take a while for me to reach my destination
But no later than a lifetime
Which is rather short after all
My heart was weighed and burdened
Now it is a candle
While being small
I worry not
It's soon to be a roaring wildfire
Burning bright among the night