Lost

Winter

The winter vine curls around the post
frosted leaves stretch and shiver
reaching for the distant sun

The blackbirds come in clouds of

ebony iridescent wings, moving and shifting
then landing in unison on the sleeping grass

In front of the fire I sit lost in the flames
wrapped in the quiet of winter’s day
For a moment, I think all is as it should be

Without You

The sun sets in the west
and in the fading light
I see my reflection in the window
another day of my life is over
another day without you

The leaves of Autumn fall
drifting slowly to the wet earth
I look at your photograph and wonder
how many seasons will pass
how many seasons without you

The Flood

When the rain comes and it will come
will the birds sing, will the bells ring?
Who will know that it is done?

Swept away in the churning flood
carried on foam of angry crests
the dark sky rushes overhead
heavy with the black clouds of dread

and the wet trees stand
oblivious on the shore

Tattered Threads

I live in a world full of people
yet I am alone
They move around me

in a blur
as I stand frozen in the shadows
cast by men with cold hearts

Between the world of the living
and the dead I wander
a ghost passing unnoticed
through the eternal dimness
held together by tattered threads

I shout, but no one hears me
lost in the roar of everyday life
they forget the forgotten and
send me the unspoken message
that indeed even God has forsaken me

Today

The green rolling hills flash by

carrying me further away from you

great white clouds hang high

in summer sky of deepest blue

My heart desires not

to travel this road

that takes me far from

where I want to be

but we both know

that the sun will rise

and tomorrow will come

so today,

I

must

leave

In My Dreams

Lost in the dim of twilight waking
I cling to dreams
and search for you

beyond the stars
around the Southern Cross
to the end of the earth

I reach for your hand as
the day breaks
and in the cold light of dawn
I hear your voice and know
I will see you again
in my dreams

Drowning

The rope slips through my fingers
and I begin to sink like a river stone
towards the bottom of the deep blue sea
arms floating above my head
hands waving in the currents
like drifting ocean grass
the light of the sun fading
Darker and colder and deeper
the water becomes
until finally, my feet touch the sand
So soft and quiet is the ocean floor
where the only sound is my own heart beating

Guardian

Bright stars shine in skies of slate
In this place of dreams and whispers
Every wish the dark night offers
Echoes morning’s hopeful song
Love is near. (The forest sighs)
We have been waiting…
all our lives.

Beautiful Wyoming

Just returned from Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Beautiful place. Great people. Clean Air. Peace.

Tiny Angel

Yesterday, I lost a true and dear friend and member of the family. She had four furry little legs, a pom-pom of a tail, and a permanent smile on her sweet tiny teddy bear face. She was my constant companion for ten years, meeting me at the door every day with unconditional love and joy. She was happiest when she was in my lap getting her soft little ears scratched. Her expressions often made me smile, and her snoring made me giggle.

I loved her from the first moment I saw her – all 8 furry ounces of her. Full grown, she was a whopping nine pounds. She was a gentle, good-natured animal who loved everyone. She never bit, or even growled at a single soul. They say all dogs go to heaven. If that is true, then heaven just got a little sweeter. I love you Bama Girl!

Future Unknown

Run with me to the edge of reason
Sail the uncharted waters
Fly the unfamiliar skies
Leap the chasm of faith

Come with me to this strange, exotic place
a realm of foreign mystery, and fear
a land where you will never know,
what

happens

next

Toujours Provence

I'm leaving Wednesday for Provence and will be out of the country for a couple of weeks. This trip will be different from the trip last year, for many reasons. This time, there will be almost 300 people with me.

See you at my journey's end.

December 15, 2006

I carry your memory in my heart
and your death certificate

in my bag.
The women in the hall are
talking about shopping
and I want to scream at them.
I do not want to hear about
their ordinary lives when mine
has been turned upside down.
They can not see these pictures
in my head or the angel standing
next to me, holding me up.
I reach for the memory of that sunny
day in California,

a fast convertible,

and you.
The elevator opens.
Move legs.
Their high heels click on the marble floor.
Hurry,
the sale ends at 10:00 p.m.!
I close my eyes and wish
the world would spin
the other
direction.

Release Me

Release me
from these bonds that tighten
with every breath I take.
You left me imprisoned,
chained to dreams turned dark
and cold as steel.
Unable to move
I am locked forever
in this grey timeless place
Waiting for you
to set me free.

Fortress

Turn

then

twist

open slowly

and peel

layer after layer

to reveal

the hidden places

tightly

woven

over years

of pain

and loss,

until

fear

has built

a fortress

around

your

heart.

Forgiveness

I wake
to feel the yearnings
of my soul
so long sleeping
far beneath

the stone
that is my heart.
And hear the echo
of hope

once lost
fade into the

deep valley

of grief
from which

I rise.

Out of Town

I'll be out of town traveling on business until January 26th. Thanks for all the positive feedback on "Evangeline" (new readers).

Peace be with you.

Shelter

My Strength
Is
Gone.
Against the Wind
I
Fought.
And only
Now
Do
I
See,
How strong
You
Were for
Me.

If I Could

If I could

paint

your life

anew

I would

paint your sky

forever

blue
and fill your days

with golden

light

and ever

endless

star-filled

nights