This perhaps may be a little deep in places,

and a bit more reflective for those who choose

to self-indulge upon your own demons and angels, so to speak.

I dedicate this collection to my Grandmother “Myrtle."

She always would tell me to “Go after the moon and then the universe.

The world will be waiting for you when you get back.”

Enjoy.

**********

I have talked about life nearing death

and the wisdom of my words ring on deaf ears;

mostly mine as understanding becomes harder

with each passing year.

… why don’t I listen?

I pretend to be another person I can never fully be,

and it pains me, cutting deep to the bone.

Though no blood is shed;

my flesh is stained with private horrors.

… when will I learn?

Other’s see me as I choose,

and cannot see or touch this realness.

A glass wall of sheerness is my protection,

keeping me from slipping into a frightening reality.

… where shall it all end?

A lifetime spent in fear, never knowing true friendships,

never knowing real love is my pitiful existence.

No one to blame but myself;

I know no other way.

… who am I, really?

The first year we met,

we were apprehensive,

yet yearning,

reaching out, learning,

still growing.

The second year,

we became closer,

trusting and willing to love,

learning, still growing.

The third year,

we committed,

bonded our union before God,

continued to love,

learning, still growing.

Each passing year,

we became more to one

than we did to ourselves;

with a love never faltering,

always learning,

and still growing.

To send away invisible pain,

to soothe the heat of a fever,

is through a mother’s kiss.

To feel a tremor

encompass your soul,

is through a lover’s kiss.

Then comes the kiss in the rain.

A single drop,

from only an angel you can feel.

… and you know kisses,

like love,

last forever.

I could always depend on you being there,

always a buddy, my best friend.

You clung to my every word,

and when I touched you,

your softness brought me comfort.

Oh, the games we played;

sometimes rough,

but you never complained, never cried,

even on the day your eye fell away.

We went everywhere, did everything together,

and when night was at its darkest,

you stayed awake in my bed;

a lone sentinel,

protecting me,

protecting my dreams.

I miss those days of exploration,

imaginary safaris,

cowboys and Indians,

heroes and villains.

Those days have long since passed,

and you have long since been recycled;

but like the child now a man,

I still carry our adventures in my thoughts,

and hope somewhere,

another child has been touched by you.

Thanks for the memories, Teddy.

fantasy, about you and me.

Take my hand and ride this road,

where souls can’t hide.

mystery, one day solved by us.

Let’s share the light and dark,

riding happiness beyond all heights.

life-long dream, about you and me.

Come, live within this world I give,

where hand in hand we will always live.

fantasy, about you and me.

Take my heart, hear the song from my soul.

Let us love as far as our love will go.

dream, one I awoke to about you and I.

The dream felt real, for this much I felt,

your flesh next to me I could feel.

future, because you are with me.

No longer an empty heart, no longer a lost soul,

but bound together as far as forever can go.

you came.

One of thousands

and at first sight,

no different than a rising sun,

or that of a tear slipping, sliding,

quietly exploding to the earth,

heard, felt only by one.

How were either of us to know

we would see many sun’s brighten our days,

that our tears felt, shared,

would be privately held in quiet strength.

We have run the road of life,

not away from our past,

but toward a future awaiting us.

Like a single star shining in the night,

the one which catches the eye,

one of thousands,

you came.

A warm breeze across my cheek,

a gentle rain that soothes my flesh,

the late-night glitter of a lifetime of stars;

reminding me of our lifetime for one another.

A word spoken,

to the unspoken thought readily known;

the melody of laughter,

the easiness of touch.

Days, nights, weeks, months, years,

matter not within the space of time.

Those times that will pass,

will be those that bind us together.

How to say I love you,

could be a million ways or more.

No matter what, no matter where,

you will always know, in all ways, always.

Every Saturday morning,

Mr. Carson and Dimples,

an old minature pony,

would arrive in the neighborhood.

Mr. Carson would set up his tripod,

gently place, lock and set

his camera for action,

as all the kids stood in line.

Our parents would pay him a dollar,

as we each dressed for the occasion;

but I was already dressed in black,

like “Hoppy”.

Dimples stood calmly, only snorted,

as we each sat on her saddle,

and I smiled, pretending to be the cowboy,

as Mr. Carson snapped my picture.

It was the closest I ever came,

to riding off into the sunset.

I’ve seen you in my shadows,

I’ve seen you in my dreams,

I’ve seen you in your letters;

but it’s not enough for me.

To see you in the daylight

and underneath the moon,

to have you in my arms;

but it’s not enough for me.

To have you look upon me

with your gentle eyes,

with a smile that holds a lifetime;

but it’s not enough for me.

To hear your gentle laughter,

and feel your hands placed in mine,

to wrap my arms around you;

but it’s not enough for me.

I will love you forever,

for as long as that will be;

but even forever,

is not enough for me.

Nature is such a simple thing.

A blade of grass,

a pristine blue sky,

an elm tree,

stretched in towering strength.

Quiet murmurings of a spring lake,

robins and bluebirds whistling,

and a rainbow field of flowers,

give quiet to such a beautiful place.

A rose is a rose is a rose,

none other can compare;

perhaps this time a rose is more,

when I leave you something special;

a rose, for the purest rose I knew.