Their Beauty Is In Their Eyes

The eyes

the mirrors or the soul

Within them

you see into another's heart

It is there

that the very spirit of man

comes forth

from his heart

to the surface

His love and compassion

His sadness and longing

His joy and happiness

Is on display

for all the world to see

If you wish to see mans beauty

gaze into his eyes

What you see

will be

his heart

The Days Come And Go

The days come and go

what they'll bring

we don't know

it's always a mystery

until they arrive

and one of these days

while we're still alive

we'll wake up to find

a most marvelous surprise

as we look in the mirror

into our own eyes

we'll see a great truth

and our we'll realize

our very best friend

who has given us drive

has been living within us 

all of our lives

Don't Go Changin'

Nobody likes me

Everybody hates me

I'm gonna go eat worms

So do I change for them

or do I stay who I am

Do I live in a manner

that they'll accept me

An existence based on lies

untrue to mine own self

It's sounds so much better

than the life I have now

But they still laugh

They call me a fake

I still don't fit in

There's another group I can try

maybe they'll believe my white lie

if I can become someone else

I'll no longer be left on the shelf

I'll be part of the group

be with the in crowd

accepted I'll be

and I'll shout it out loud

But that didn't work

well it did for a while

but lately when they look at me

I see a strange smile

kinda like when the others did see

the facade I'd put on

now they're laughin' at me

Where do I go

what will I do

lately I'm feelin'

like an old worn out shoe

where will I find

the acceptance I need

“try looking inside

from your heart you should feed”

The voice had come strong

the message was clear

the answer so simple

I was knocked on my ear

I remembered the start

of a song I'd once love

I could hear the words now

as they came from above

"Don't go changing, to try and please me

You never let me down before

Don't imagine you're too familiar

And I don't see you anymore

I would not leave you in times of trouble

We never could have come this far

I took the good times, I'll take the bad times

I'll take you just the way you are"

That's when i decided

it was all inside me

to accept who i was

and always would be

Lyrics ~ Billy Joel

A Book By It's Cover

Their love

short lived

for it was held in their eyes

The attraction

so strong

it just couldn't be wrong

Yet it died

The changes they thought

they could make in each other

were too many

for either to accomplish

It was like choosing

a book from the shelf

the cover was so appealing

I guess I'll never understand

why some feel

that they can change the words

a book holds inside

Never Lose Your Song

We were younger

full of as they say

“piss and vinegar”

there was nothing

that could stand in our way

We listened

to The Beatles sing

“when I find myself in times of trouble”

we found ourselves self reliant

not needing Mother Mary to come to us

We were strong then

our whole life ahead of us

nothing could stop us

from forging ahead

sometimes in a rebellious manner

The songs were entertaining

the words didn't really matter

the beat made us dance though

the music made us feel good

it gave us life

Then, somewhere along the line

we forgot our youth

we traded it in for news of the world

bringing to us the troubles

that came with the times

The singing and dancing disappeared

The love of life seemed to wane

Was this our destiny, to be depressed unto death

Was it time to look for Mother Mary to come to us

Sing on old one

there's a life to be danced to

a song to be sung

it shall lift up your spirit

once again make you young

Time and Tide

Time and tide

wait for no man

we cannot stop time

nor control any tide

yet neither can wash true love away

Accept Yourself!

Why is it we seek

the acceptance of others

before accepting ourselves

Caring more about what they think

and what they feel about us

while going out of our way

looking to please them

Lying to ourselves

Not believing

We are special

We are important

Just as we are

Those who we seek attention from

will not live with us

for our lifetime

as we will

If we wish to live with ourselves

we must learn to accept ourselves

for who we are

rather than

trying to become

accepted

Living a lie

I Live Beneath Your Bed

I live beneath your bed

my purpose to cast fear

to whisper in your ear

in the middle of the night

delivering great fright

my breath upon your face

don't bother running I'll give chase

you see there's no escape

as I always change my shape

The direction that I'll come from

you'll never know

You can fight me all you want

try to hide to no avail

as I'll find you anywhere you go

yes, I am always on your tail

So give it up, just call it quits

why not end this great frustration

there is no fear quite like what's here

alive in your imagination

Enlightening Words

There are words

that we've spoken

and words

that we've written

that have helped another to see

It's as if we have shed a new light

upon their path

aiding them

as they travel though life

This is a wonderful thing that we do

but it would be a shame

if we did not allow these words

to brighten our paths as well

Heartbreak

Once the flame dies

a smoldering continues

within the ashes

left behind in that pit

which held the fire

empty of fuel

the heart burns no more

sorrow

sadness

and pain

are all that remain

Thank God For The Drip

Morning, the rain has stopped

leaving behind a constant drip falling upon the sill

other than the creak of my chair

and the sound of the keys as I type

it is the only sound keeping me company

Without them

the silence would be

deafening  

Consider The Candle

Consider the candle

chasing away the darkness

a blessing to those who need light

at its very core is a wick

the candle only becomes useful

when its core is aflame

that fire is its life

without that fire

it serves no purpose

it helps no-one.

At the very core of man

is his spirit.

If his core has no fire

if his spirit is not alive

can he serve any useful purpose

for mankind?

Living In A Fantasy World

Moving away

from todays world

filled with it's

hate

was

and stress

I find myself

moving inward

toward a place

some consider

a fantasy world

A place

without hate

A place

filled with love

A place

without confrontation

A place

with respect

A place

with no wars

A place

of peace

A place

where the stress'

of todays world

cannot harm

my spirit

Am I hiding

you bet

for here I am safe

in a wonderful place

that's filled my heart

with joy

Ever, Never and Always

Ever and never are two terrible words

there are times we have to eat them

as the twists and turns of life

take us places we hadn't known existed.

They can be used to describe that

something hasn't happened yet.

We can see where we've been before,

but we don't know what the future holds.

Where it will take us and how we will get there

we are blind to, they are a mystery to us.

How many have said that they would never love again

only to find someone who

would renew their love.

How many have said that their love would never change

only to find that their love was infatuation,

lasting only for a short season.

I will always

I will never

It's forever

These words are a danger to us

when we let pride get in the way.

We've used them

We were wrong

We must move on

Life shouldn't be ruined

by words spoken in haste

with no understanding

of the joy we could waste.

There are times in our lives

we must plot a new course

and move to new pastures

without a hint of remorse.

For life with its twists

and its turns we will grow

as we flow with the changes

a new person we'll know.

But don't be afraid

it will be for the best

don't let those absolutes hinder

is my simple request.

Zealots

So many people

with different beliefs

man made religions

based on guilt and grief

Largely about power

corrupted by greed

your absolute blind following

is the drug that they need

Often made up of zealots

the most intolerant by far

having radical beliefs

quite dangerous they are

Pitting folks against family

pushing nations to wars

there's nothing more vile

than their lies by the scores

But they're supposed to preach peace

supposed to be about love

yet the way they present it

suggests no God up above

When will they learn

that the world is their brother

treating all with respect

it would be well worth their bother

Driven Unto Fear

Driven by his desire

for the wealth

and the power

of another

he had learned

to hate

this hate drove him

now to the point

where the end

justified the means

he accomplished his goal

he found power

he became wealthy

but remained ignorant

thinking he had it all

that he was untouchable

until he met a man

one much like himself

hungry for power

hungry for wealth

a man who could

crumble the empire

he had built

a weakness

now came over him

he now knew fear

Few Expectations, Fewer Disappointments

My neighbor just always seems happy

and me, I can't understand why

you know it's not like they've got a lot

they're just barely makin' it by

But that doesn't seem to bother 'em

they just keep on pluggin' along

it's as if they've got everything you could want

but from what I see they gotta be wrong

How come they're never disappointed

if it was me that's how I would feel

they just don't seem to expect anything

but they're happy, how can that be real

No More Self Pity

When I lost

the sight in one eye

I bawled like a child

wondering why

Feeling sorry for self,

well that was for me

forgetting the fact

that I could still see

My life now over

was the message unfurled

to me it did seem

like the end of the world

But it was only one eye,

what's happened to me

the self pity set in,

was this how life would be

My thoughts turned to fear

of losing the other

how would I survive

would I be a bother

it's not fair

why me

why can't I see

But I could still see

with the eye I had left

and then something happened

I was no longer bereft

I started noticing folks

that were worse off than I

with problems far worse

than the loss of an eye

That became the end of self pity,

the end of the fight

and I started to look

at the world in new light

I started to see

all the things I'd looked past

there was beauty in all things,

I could see this at last

Again such a change,

a new chapter in life

one that had opened

through pity and strife

It was a lesson I needed,

one I had not known I would

it opened the eyes of my heart,

it changed me for good

These lessons in life

though we hate them at times

if we wait for their reason

we won't see them as crimes

Look towards the positive

appreciate all you have

for when soothing the spirit

it's a wonderfully strong salve.

Life Is For The Living

There is a time

to surrender yourself

to that which is taking you

along for the ride.

This is not giving up

it is giving in

to that moment in life

that has come upon you.

These moments in life

have a way of taking you

to places

that are intended to mold you.

To kick against the pricks

during these times

holds you back from becoming

the person you were meant to be.

Each day brings with it

a brand new start,

a learning experience

and an opportunity to move forward.

We should not waste these moments

by living in the past

or being afraid

of what the future might bring.

Live now in the moment you have been given

to the fullest.

Life is for the living,

celebrate life.

Wisdom

It was old age

that created the sage

it was over time

that his wisdom did come

The lessons he learned

inside him were burned

then held close

to be shared with all of man

Many words the sage said

oh, they've entered my head

but did no good

until they entered my heart

What If

What if

there was no covetous greed,

I believe for religions

there would be no need.

Greed is often for power

and sometimes for wealth

and when overzealous

extremely bad for our health.

Desiring, groping

always for more

attacking our spirit

leaving it poor.

Gone to the point

where our means become crimes

bringing this world

to the worst of it's times.

But if there was

no covetous greed

and we find satisfaction

in that which we need.

The theft would then stop

the killing as well

and we might not be living

in this man made Hell.

The Loss Of Laughter

The death of your spirit!

Veterans Day

Remembering wars

only keeps them alive

often renews hate

allows bitterness to thrive

Some still hate those Gerrys

there are others hating Japs

and now it's those Arabs

will we ever let hate lapse

It'll eat at your insides

devour your soul

not giving it up

keeps you from being whole

It denies you your joy

keeps your happiness at bay

all laughter is lost

no-one should ever live this way

That's not why men died

when they fought in these wars

love of country and freedom

not just theirs, mine and yours

Today we honor these men

whether volunteer or draftee

never forgetting their sacrifice

that we might live free

Clouds

Clouds enter our lives

often bringing a rain

this can be a much troubled time

filled with sorrow and pain

heartache and tears

often filling our days

stealing our joy

in so many ways

our days then seem long

as if they've no ends

with an awful aloneness

as if we've no friends

but not all is lost

if we'll be patient and wait

those clouds will move on

you see it's never too late

with a new day will come hope

as the sun warms your soul

healing your heart

making you whole.

Will We Ever Know Peace

Will we ever know peace

will we wait till too late

how many will be left

will man wait

until he has no neighbor

a world of loneliness

only brings horrid memories

of the devastation of wars

brought on by greed

of political power

and religious zealotry

I pray man gives himself a chance

to awaken to the reality

that we must share this planet

in harmony and peace.

An Unbearable Load

Today I write

as tears flow

remembering

those who passed

thinking of those yet

to go

how I wish

we could change

and end this road

easing mankind

of this unbearable load.

Remembering War

Remembering war

visiting in the past

why

all that comes is heartache

the loss of the lives

on both sides

the cost of war

ever at the door

leaving behind

broken families

wives without husbands

children without fathers

for what

political differences

religion

the cost is too high

the freedom of a people

should not be impinged upon

Edwin Star

“war, good God

what is it good for

absolutely nuthin'”

a simple lesson

that we have not yet learned

remembering war

has not made it vanish

war still goes on

our young men continue to die

I hate these wars

I love these young men

they will live again in our hearts

it is they who deserve to be remembered.

When We Will Know True Freedom

This body, anchored to terra firma

I cannot fly as the birds

nor can I swim as the fish do

I shall not know their freedoms

until one day

when my spirit

departs this body with its limitations 

and flies free with the eagles.

Love, With Limits

Their love had its limits

it was rationed, restrained

held back from each other

to protect them from pain

they grew not together

but rather apart

their relationship doomed

right off from the start

they hadn't a chance

as they were too blind to see

that without real commitment 

it was just not meant to be.

October

October

Michigan

the air has become cool

and crisp

with all their autumnal colors

the trees decide it's time

to shed their leaves

hiding the ground

of your most favorite places

in the yard it becomes

work to be done

but for a golfer

of which I am one

the leaves in their beauty

become a nuisance

but somehow this doesn't matter

my son is home from the war

it's time to play.