My heart and I
Safe and untroubled
Surrounded by love
Giving back to a world
Carefully looking for all that’s good
Mindful of those who twist and squirm
Truth and purity and sell shadows as light
We glow brighter
Every minute
Together
Together
Tag: shadows
Common
Unique and distinguished
We yet share
Woe and distress
Common shame and suffering
That in shadows full of dread
We feel them larger and unweildy
Stronger and unyielding
Then they appear once in the light
There are some, it’s true
Who feel not life’s great and awful sadness
Inexplicable angst
Isolated troubles
Suffering of spirit
When life’s gone all awry
Every step is wrong
Rolling on the floor in writhing agony
Alone and yet together
All this pain of life we weather
Hoping for an end
For some peace
For something better
For anything at all to lift us out of sorrow
From the sages to the pages
Sayings written once or twice
Hang on to love
Be open hearted
One more minute
One more hour
When subjected to the fires
Flames upon each wound
A subtle transformation
A phoenix rising plumed
Hold on to love
Keep going
Take your rest along the way
Remember this is common
Part of life to grieve this day
As the tide returns to shore
One wave after another
Joy will find you in the moonlight
Joy will find you in the dusk
Joy will wake you in the morning
Joy returns little by little
In that flower startled beauty
In the clouds suspended there
In the laughter of your loved ones
In the twilight somber falling
Common sorrow
Common beauty
Will find you there upon the sand
Unique and still distinguished
Healing slowly everywhere
Mountain Song
The hike looked so much different
On the map
We climbed the husband
Left the sisters alone
There were spots for fishing
Near the wildfire zone
Black towering creaking trees
The lakes were dry
The ponds were dust
We set off seeking water
Headed to a giant lake near cliffs
And shadows
Came to a sea of grass
We searched for water
In a sea of grass
Buck meadows and honey lakes
The reflected water turned out to be
Just shadows
Just shadows in a sea of grass
He lost his companions near the driest ocean
He called for his friends searching
They were all searching for water
In the shadows
Near a dried up creek bed
They finally found relief
A small pool of water for filtering
Reunited they filled their bottles
They shared a bounty
From the sea of grass
We are all shadows in a sea of grass
Mirages tricking sight and mind
Keep going then
Until you find
A pool of water or a
Mountain lake
Set up camp near the cool clear water
In the presence of ghostly remains
Of tree stumps blackened from the fires
Under the stars
The bats and owls
Under the stars the owls
Chase bats
Reflect on your reflection
Are you water
Or a sea of grass
Are you water
Or a sea of grass
…
This song was based on a story my son, Alex, told of one of his more recent hikes with his friends. If you follow the link to his twitter feed, the most of the posts are from a trip he took to Europe some years ago.
Christmas Gift 12/18/2020
Some folks get comfort from tradition
Others thrive on bold sedition
I have a more unique condition
Finding comfort in this premonition
A starry night both crisp and clear
Under the shining moon above
After a day of sun filled skies
Hand in hand with you my love
Your heart is a gift to the world
You wrapped it in ribbons of curlicue rhthyms
Placed the whole package under my tree
On a sticker so small that it might have been missed
Written “I love you” in a minor blues riff
Some celebrate wildly with food and with drinks
Some people read quietly, and in solitude think
There are those who watch movies right on the brink
For me the best part of the season are links
To the heart of my world
To the song in my soul
To the one who lights up the darkening swirl
Of shadows which never quite leave
The losses of all I have grieved
As Christmas approaches with a potential for gifts
I look in the presence for the spirit which lifts
My eyes from the troubles I’m leaving behind
To a future of hope in my heart
And a joy in my mind
If ever there were a love such as this
I would step forward with courage to claim that first kiss
Some people look to tradition
Some people are strong on sedition
I have this unique condition
Taking comfort in this Holiday premonition
It may be next week, or it may be next year
We’ll be together at Christmas sharing good cheer
We’ll be together at Christmas sharing good cheer
