A Path From Within

Take a moment

quiet yourself

look within

to find the truth

of who you are.

It's a moment

to listen intently

to your heart

discovering the truth

of your feelings.

Bring all

that you find

to the surface

it will guide you

in setting priorities.

From this time

a path will come forth

a map

for your life

now sits before you.

Choosing to follow

the path that emerges from within

makes your decisions in life easy

but to take a path only to please others

will always leave you wanting.

To Dance

All that has gone before

has prepared me for today.

I am not afraid

to step forward

accepting that which is now.

Today is the only time

belonging to me.

No longer will I reside

in yesterday.

I have been given

a brand new beginning

I shall not deny myself

but rejoice in the beauty

of this moment.

I will allow my heart

to be filled with joy.

I will dance again today

as if I were a child.

Summer

The warming of summer

brings new strength to all things,

whether plant

or body

we thrive.

Life itself reaches toward the sun

to capture its rays

in ways that bring

a natural growth.

A growth that benefits all

through the nourishing

of our minds

and bodies.

We take the time now to play

in ways that form bonds

with others

of like desires

and interests.

Summer is not only for the young,

but also for those who are young of heart.

Can We Go Home

Someone once said

you can never go home

but there is a way

when you're quiet and alone.

Ponder the good times

spent with family and friends

replaying them over

back to those days of pretends.

The backyard boxing

or playing right field

there were so many great times

that our memories yield.

Whether jump rope or hop scotch

sometimes playing red light

just having a great time

from morning till night.

Those days of our youth

seemed to change as we grew

all the fun we were having

became something new.

No longer we saw

life quite the same way

responsibilities crept in

as we entered the fray.

The study, the work

these were now on our plates

we were becoming adults

this was always our fates.

Then for our own family

we had to provide and protect

which changed our thought process

so as to never neglect.

All fun seemed to have left us

just as our youth

but in all honesty

this was not really the truth.

While watching our children

our joy would now come

and remembering those days

when we used to have fun.

Once again we would smile

and be missing the groans

as in this wonderful moment

we've returned to our homes.

Elpis

Elpis my friend

I know you're still there

there's no reason for me

now to live in despair.

No matter the evils

sent forth from that box

or the darkness surrounding

I'll pay them no stock.

With all of the spirits

Pandora had freed

you were the only one left

and you're all that I need.

For each new day comes

and I always can cope

because Elpis you're with me

yes your name it means HOPE.

The Course

Haven't written much

and I think I know why,

it's got something to do

with that lovely blue sky.

You see under that sky

sets a scene to behold

offering me the kind of time

that's more precious than gold.

It's that kind of a place

where I can seem to kick back

and a great opportunity

for a time to relax.

The grasses so green

with some sand here and there

a place seen as heavenly

with great nature to share.

The swallows fly round me

as I advance and move on.

The deer also pass by

over there a new fawn.

The turkeys they're courtin'

I'm watching hawks flying by

I keep coming on back

and there's no wondering why.

It's the golf course you know

and it's beckoning me

so it's goodbye for now

I'll be back, you'll see.

Don't Quit

I cared

I had hoped to right a wrong

but never spoke out

my plight was never heard.

To make that difference

and reach the whole

my voice must be heard

and become important to all.

My voice

small and alone as it is

would become drown in a sea of apathy

when trying to address the masses.

To holler and scream

at the top of my lungs

attempting to force others to listen

will only come across as rebellion.

That appearance of rebellion

accomplishes nothing

bringing results contrary to desires.

You see they've never really listened to me.

Stay calm

speak softly

make them lean in to hear,

it is then that they will actually listen.

But if I stay silent

in my attempt to do good

I am sure to fail,

as I've already given up and quit trying.

It's All Beautiful

There was a time

I had two working eyes.

One was weak

but still I had two.

Seeing the world through the two

I saw many things.

Some were beautiful

others seemed to turn me away.

Then I lost one

in my mind this was tragic.

I started feeling sorry for myself
every day.

The fear crept in,

that of losing the other.

What would happen

if I became totally blind.

But then I started to see that

so many others were worse off.

That's when I realized

to appreciate what I had.

For it's not what you've lost

but what you still have

and I still had

the sight in one eye.

I've not got a problem

with walking or talking.

I can feed myself

and oh yes still play golf.

And now when I gaze at the world
everything seems so different.

I can find beauty

in just about all things I see.

Whether it's people,

mountains, lakes or the trees

each part of this earth

has something special for me.

I take it all in

being quite thankful.

As having one eye

taught me to appreciate all.

The Stones On Our Souls

Bitterness, hate

a terrible weight.

The type that steals from us daily.

No happiness no joy

these were not meant as a toy

that could be pulled out and played with on cue.

The longer we hold

these poisons of old

we continue to do ourselves wrong.

Holding us back!

Our lives now off track

all because we can't forgive and forget.

It's this inner mistake

that makes our hearts ache.

We must forgive ourselves first for relief.

For our life to be full

and our spirit made whole

it's time we remove the stone from our soul.

Letting Go

Happiness for today

cannot never be found

while wallowing

in yesterday's misery

and bitterness.

All that will be found there

will be a heavy heart.

Yesterday is gone

it cannot be changed.

There is no reason

to let it ruin today.

Lighten your heart

fill it with joy

leave yesterday

and it's drama behind.

Look at each new day

as a brand new journey

on which to embark.

Your happiness can be

around the next corner.

You only have to allow it to enter

by letting go of yesterday.

Be Careful How Deeply You Look

As you study me

many faults you shall see.

So don't study me too long or too deep.

You see, that which we study

we often consume

and my faults they can be quite contagious.

None of us are immune

and we cannot pretend

we don't mimic the actions of others.

For in this one small way

we are all quite the same.

This can be bad but it's really quite natural.

Please, just don't look at me

with expectations to see

a person any-wheres close to prefect.

I am who I am

and that's just how it is.

But you are who you are just as well.

See I’ve studied you

and you've got your faults too.

I'll admit I began to let them change me.

What I didn't do

was accept you as you.

I was so focused on those faults that I saw.

Respect was the one thing

I first should have shown.

You deserved much better, instead I criticized you.

Now the damage is done

and I can say it's not fun.

It's my fault I've lost a friend and a brother.

So before it's too late

and you make this mistake

please stop looking so deeply at others.

Though our lives are our own

we should not be alone. 

Being critical in the end leaves us lonely.

Misery, A Terrible Place

It is a coward who uses an avatar

and pseudonym to hide behind

as they bully other folks.

It is the bitterness and hate they harbor

that sucks them dry of any happiness and joy

that could be shared.

They show they have no care for others

and prove even less care for themselves.

Misery is a terrible place to call home.

4 AM

Just after noon in Afghanistan

hungry for a voice from home.

My son lifts his phone

enters our number and hits send.

Just before 4 AM

the phone next to the bed rings.

Fist thought of course

is something wrong.

Hello, and the voice of my son returns to me

relief as that voice says he's ok.

When he asks the time and I tell him it's 4

he seems to be somewhat concerned.

I say it's ok

and it is that's the truth

for we hunger

to hear his voice too.

The time does not matter

when your kids are away.

Their call says they love you

and you can send your love to them.

4 AM is a very appropriate time 

to feed your need for love.

From The Day That We're Born

The day that we're born

we drink in a new life

not knowing what's to come or will be.

We then find our voice

we can now cry out loud

and all we want is just to be fed.

Food for our bellies

play to build up our bodies

the words of knowledge to nourish our minds.

We were born and raised

and became who we are

it was from all that was fed to our being.

That feeding could often be sweet

when we look back remembering

the great times with our families and friends.

But sometimes that feeding

was way off base

leaving us to feel no acceptance at all.

Those times left us bitter

as if we'd been left all alone

where no-one cared whether we even alive.

Depression set in

self hate seemed to evolve

inside there was just something missing

But it wasn't the food or play

nor even those words of knowledge

all along what we cried for to was love.

A Creek Filled With Peace

The antelope and bison

they silently roam.

Ever in search

of their celestial home.

Resting together in the foothills

along a life giving creek.

Our creators gift

of a peaceful mystique.

A lesson to learn

a value to hold

from the day of our birth

to the time we call old.

We must find love for our brothers

regardless of race.

Looking past religious differences

and that political base.

There's no reason to hate

no reason at all.

For as history's shown us

hate has been man's great fall.

It's a terrible way

for a person to live

when their peace and joy

drains out through a sieve.

It's a bitter pill

yes, one we must swallow.

It's that lack of our joy

that makes us feel hollow.

Go now to that creek

below the foothills

to witness the peace

and drink in your fill.

You see, the antelope and bison

have shown us the way.

Through their harmonious existence

they've found peace for today.

What Has Our Bitterness Done For Us

Bitter words, bitter feelings

rob us of our peace and joy.

Anger and hate build up inside

making a man into a petulant young boy.

They pout and they snarl

getting themselves all riled up.

Affecting others around them

with their overflowing cup.

A misery sets in

and their days they grow dark.

Life itself takes direction

on which we should not embark.

You look forward to nothing

and you dread the next day.

As now what's accomplished

is you've become your hates prey.

You're hunting yourself

while bringing damage to others.

Forgetting down deep

we're all meant to be brothers.

Do I speak of myself?

Yeah, sure I've done this.

But I finally did realize

I did not like the abyss.

Leaving our anger, our hate

and that bitterness behind.

Forgiveness if practiced

can bring peace to our mind.

Our transformation takes place

in ways that others will see it.

That the changes that came

were to our innermost spirit.

Through forgiveness we find

we can emerge from the pit.

Then our joy will return

and our happiness with it.