In the background playing at the cafe
Drums beat ever so slightly
There is a faint, hypnotic rhythm
It is both entrancing and calming

In the background playing at the cafe
Drums beat ever so slightly
They draw me into memories

My heart starts to slow
Matching the beat
My imagination wanders

In the background at the cafe
Drums beat ever so slightly
Like a meditative dance

At times of darkness
Stand in the light

At times of cruelty
Be kind

At times of hate
Love

At times of judgment
Accept

At times of wrongdoing
Do right

At times of hardship
Help

At times of darkness
Stand in the light

Just Me

I may not be like you
Look like you
Sound like you
But I am also human
I’m just me

My language may be different
My country
My customs
But I am also human
I’m just me

I have hopes and dreams
Wishes and desires
Though I am not of your blood
I am human
I’m just me

Trying to live my best life
In a good way
I am a peaceful person
Also human
I’m just me

I’m a traveler
An artist and writer
No more or less
Than another
I’m also human
From another place
No better or worse
I’m just me

So when you see me
Don’t judge
As I am just human
Walking my destiny
Just like you
I’m just me

After the high heat
The burning sun
When it finally cools down
Even just slightly
It’s a big relief

When the air clears
And the morning cool comes
Once again
So one can sit outside
And breathe freely
Not feeling repressed
It’s a relief

When the sky is blue
With a few clouds
Actually visible to the eye
It’s a relief

There’s a feeling of refreshment
A reprieve has been granted
From the worst of heat
Just for a moment
We are so very grateful

Sometimes we may fail
We may even feel like a failure
We may fall down or not meet expectations
Ours or others
But if we try, including new things are we?
As long as we get up and try again
Failure

People judge others all the time
Holding them up to their standards
Whether they are appropriate or not
How can one truly know about another
Without being in their shoes
Failure

If we take a risk and try something
If we reach beyond our means
If we find our own way
Even if different and unique
If we define ourselves based on our choices
Are we a failure
It’s in the eye of the beholder
Especially ours
Failure

Red maples surround the empty road
The emptiness is calming
The color of the trees is so brilliant it almost looks false
It’s beautiful
The black asphalt road is a contrast to the color of the leaves
Hints of bright green highlight the red
Almost like a painting
It’s surreal
Even the rain doesn’t dim the leaves
It creates a look like a fairy tale
Or part of a movie set
Yet it’s real
Part of the artistry
Of Mother Nature
Pure magic

Red maple rain

The Voyager

She was leaving a place
Not like home
Heading to another
She couldn’t wait another second
She was heading home
To a place she had been before
To a place she knew and felt comfortable

She would drive all day and night
It didn’t matter
She knew where she was going and why

She began in the morning with her cat by her side
She would arrive at night before the end of the day

She drove through all types of weather ending her drive in heavy rain

At times it felt like the drive would never end
Rain pounding on the road and her car
It felt like it took forever

Large trucks racing by causing her car to be bathed in water
She was leaving a place
Not like home
Heading to another
She was heading home
Nothing would stop her
This was meant to be

Then she finally saw the signs of home
She smiled
She was getting close
Almost there
She was going home
Leaving a place not like home

Once she arrived where she was supposed to be
She settled herself in for the night
The rain had stopped
The air was cool but not cold
It was springtime
Trees were flowering
Flowers all around
Before sleeping she opened the window
The aroma of the trees filled her lungs and room
She took a deep breath and took it all in
The smell was like intoxicating perfume
She felt great relief and a sense of comfort
Her body started to relax
She knew she was finally home