Where Am I Taking Me

Which path shall we take

to where we would go

we can't ask another

or expect them to know.

It's our path to choose

not theirs to decide

it must be what we want

down deeply inside.

If we can't locate it

and don't have a vision

then our lives will flounder

through our indecision.

We have to look deeply

to see what is there

sit down and reflect

as we haven’t a care.

The answers will come

if we sit down and listen

then the paths will be made plain

and our decisions will glisten.

A Power to Give

The power you have

to give life over death.

With a camera

instead of a gun.

Lets your prey bless another

with a presence so close

allowing a share

of the fun.

For nature has given

to all of us here

the creatures we see

to love and not fear.

There is nothing wrong

in the hunting for foods

but to kill just to kill

only ruins our moods.

So camera it is

let the creature live on

we must stop the slaughter

before they're all gone.

What A Wonderful Life They Must Have

I see the house across the way

new siding

new roof

new windows.

The trellis with morning glory

showing itself off

climbing to the top

opening its blossoms.

The shrubs lining the yard

green

trimmed

in perfect rows.

The lawn mow'n short

pure grass

edges trimmed

no weeds.

The drive brand new

with shiny new cars

basketball net

and hopscotch court.

Sunday mornings they all leave together

to their church

then return

later on.

They seem to me to be

the perfect family

yet I've never seen

what's indoors.

Feeding Our Spirit

Total quiet

of heart

of soul

brings peace

tranquility

and harmony

to the life

we've been born to.

Our spirit

is fed

and nourished

it grows

giving us

the comforting

knowledge of

who we are.

We become one

with our surroundings

part of nature

and of all things

as we dive

deeper

into ourselves

to our very core.

Here

in this

time

and place

of quiet

we learn

to love.

To Be Grandparents First

If we could only

be grandparents first.

We might just understand

our kids and their thirst.

They need to see love

they need to be heard.

The fact that they matter

and not placed in third.

They ought to come first

in all thing that we do.

Without showing our love

it just won't ring true.

We've got to start listening

to things that they say.

Opening our hearts

showing the way.

But as parents we seldom

can see what they need.

We surrender to wants

instead of planting a seed.

Then when we have troubles

we must take the blame.

The kid just wants attention

our neglect is our shame.

We haven't been listening

ignoring what's said.

We think we know better

and send them to bed.

But to gramma and grampa

it's all so quite different.

We've seen the mistakes we made

no longer indifferent.

We've learned to take time

to sit down and listen.

And when we look in their eyes

they seem to just glisten.

Here For You

Lay it on me,

an invitation to you.

Lay it on me,

let your hurting come through.

That's why I've been put here,

and my troubles are few.

I've been blessed with broad shoulders,

and they'll be here for you.

Whatever your burden

whatever your care.

I'm here for you brother

so do not despair.

We'll team up together

attacking your trouble.

Making it seem as

you could stand a double.

For what are friends for

if not just to be there.

To help and support

to comfort and care.

Come see me my friend

we're truly a pair.

Lay it on me my brother

I'll always be there.

The Winds of Change

Stay the course of who we are

or ride upon the winds of change?

That is the question we must face

from birth thru golden age.

As the world around us moves

we must make our choice.

Stay behind, get lost in it

or add to it our voice.

As people we seem to fight change

rejection is what we show.

But this path we share with others

is there that we may grow.

Our life cannot grow stagnant

not even for a minute.

Look back at life before they came

without the changes in it.

Your life would not be wonderful

not even in your mind.

If you rejected all the changes

choosing to stay blind.

For it's the changes that gives you sight

of great things yet to be.

So grow with changes along your path

give them time, they're good, you'll see.

Variety

If apples tasted like oranges

and steak tasted like potatoes.

Whatever then would be the use

of different kinds of tomatoes.

If we weren't born with different tastes

there would only be one dish.

We'd only have one recipe

for different food we’d have no wish.

But thank God that we're all different,

none of us just alike.

For this is what has given us

variety, the spice of life.

Without it we'd find life boring

a terrible way to live.

So we chase away monotony

varieties gift to give.

With each and every one of us

being different deep inside.

Our lives are made much better

our horizons broadened wide.

We learn to share things that we love

opening ourselves to others.

Accepting their ways their customs and selves

we now have found new brothers.

The difference between us

has brought us together.

And has given us a lift

thru the darkest of weather.

It's all because we have liked something different

and been given a chance to see.

Our lives have become fuller we've grown more complete

credit this to variety.

Quietude

In quietude we wait

the silence takes us in.

Our hearts and minds come open

then words flow from within.

They're left upon a paper

but most often on a screen.

Time now to share our inner thoughts

with friends we've never seen.

We inspire one another

with the words we tend to use.

You wonder where they come from?

That thing we call our muse.

We are here to serve each other

to give strength and edify.

To ultimately lift some-one

and make their spirit fly.

So take some time for quiet

let it take you where it will.

Your friends here will be grateful

as you'll give to them their fill.

Depression

emptiness surrounds me
consuming my inner self
darkness refuses to retreat
there is no escaping the mire

this life is filled with troubles
the troubles cause great pain
depression follows, no way out
your feet have been put to the fire

your fears grasp hold
they won't let go
but down deep
there's a fighting spirit

it's time to rise and heal yourself
to fill the hole you find inside
your life alone is worth the fight
get up rebuke the lies

don't let the bastards beat you down
you're worth much more that they
they're miserable inside themselves
forcing others to play their game.

go find the road that leads on high
walk on it toward the light
the darkness flees, depression lifts
that hole fills up within.

it doesn't have to last
it can soon be passed
there is no reason to stay this way
for emptiness has no substance.

Dreams

Sometimes they're for planning

and often for fun.

Some say they're for children

but we've all more than one.

For when our dreams come

we are often not sure.

Just what was its meaning

and what it is for.

Is it there for direction

of the way we should go?

Could it be premonition

of things we should know?

Could they be our deep wishes

of our inner most self?

Are they there to be pondered

or placed on a shelf?

Have we pushed them aside

as if we don't care?

Wait, if they're not important

then why are they there?

The dreams of our youth

and those things yet to be.

Tend to build futures

for both you and me.

Hope

Hope can last eternal
giving to our spirit life.
We should not let it falter
during periods of strife.

It's something deep inside us
that says things will be alright.
That nothing now can stop us
whether by day nor during night.

No-one can take it from you
they cannot steal your hope.
But if you give it up to them
throughout your life you'll mope.

It doesn't have to be that way
there's a better way to live.
Don't treat your hope as water
letting it drain out through a sieve.

Hang on tight, hold it close
you'll always seem to cope.
As long as you don't give away
that precious gift of hope.

When Your Sunshine Goes Away

When your sunshine goes away

and sadness takes it's place.

You whimper and cry in darkness

while tears flow down your face.

The darkness seems foreboding

as your hurt seems there to stay.

You wonder if you're crazy,

why won't this go away?

Life's rain then falls upon you

your world seems in total shambles.

You just don't see an end in sight,

and now continue to ramble.

These dark days bring the heartaches

emotion we’d rather not face.

They seem to hide the pathway

that puts peace and joy in place.

But patience is a virtue,

so sit quietly as you wait.

The new day dawns, the darkness goes,

there's new sunshine on your plate.

You must take care, relax, chill out,

don't let life's demons burn.

For with the dawn new life begins,

inner peace will soon return.

The Cloud

The cloud rolls in

yet no storm comes

still you feel one's on its way.

The dark surrounds

it closes in

and you seem to lose your way.

Your troubled world

now beckons you

it wants to hold and own you.

The storm draws near

it's all around

you know not where to turn to.

You're all alone

there by yourself

no pathway for your feet.

Quiet your mind

have some faith

this cloud shall soon retreat.

Now if you look

within the cloud

you'll see a lining silver.

For the lesson that

this cloud has brought

will prepare you now forever.

Life's Rain

The rain

it's plain

falls often

on our lives.

The times that come

the moments that go

interrupt the way

of life's perfect flow.

These times of trouble

that we often find

only exist

in a muddled mind.

But never the less

this rain is real

and always affects

the way we feel.

We hurt inside

and shed a tear

but this is not

our greatest fear.

We're afraid that others

will think us weak

when the tear we shed

is at it's peak.

But what goes on

inside of us

is a cleansing from

an emotional fuss.

Just as the rain

from heaven above

our tears they renew

the lives we love.

The troubles then seem

to fade away

and behind them leave

a refreshed day.

So when the rain comes

and leaves us hollow

rest assured with its cleansing

comfort will follow.

The Heart of Man is All He Sees

Though heads are bowed

and eyes are closed

it really doesn't matter.

Our needs, our wants

we take to him

with words that sound a clatter.

We act as if

we are afraid

we look away in shame.

Then he reminds us

he is God

and has not forgot our name.

All he asks us

is trust

that he will meet our need.

If we will open

our heart to him

that he may plant his seed.

So when in need

and not really knowing

just how you ought to start.

Quiet yourself,

look upon him

and give to him your heart.

From Here to There

The road that we travel

brings us our life.

Imparting its knowledge

and showing its strife.

Its pathway leads from our birth

to the present.

Often to places

we should circumvent.

It will bring some sadness

and often pure joy.

I seem to have learned this

when I was a boy.

But the road offers twists

and turns with each day.

Changing our hopes and our plans

on its way.

We meet up with others

along the same road.

Sharing our wisdom

sharing our load.

We strengthen each other

give our spirits a lift.

That's why we've met

yes, to give a great gift.

Sometimes to receive

and sometimes to give.

For that is our purpose

as long as we live.

These gifts we can use now

to show us the way.

Along our life's road

to our last resting day.

Tomorrow

Molding tomorrow

we cannot do.

We can hope and plan

and look forward to.

Whatever it bring to us

we'll know when it's here.

We'll only find what comes along

on the road from there to here.

So look for it

and for what you'll see.

Your hopes and plans

weren't guaranteed.

Please have some faith,

be patient wait.

Tomorrow will come

with blessings great.

Yesterday

Yesterday is past,

never to return.

It has shaped and molded us

toward paths that we must turn.

The lessons it has given

were there to make us strong.

Not only that but also

to show us right from wrong.

We cannot go and change it

to make it something else.

We must accept it as it is

as it has formed our inner self.

We shouldn't try to bring it back,

just let it live within.

It will awake in memory

allowing us to grin.

So yesterday has given us

the tools to form a plan.

That we may live in harmony

with earth and all of man.