MYSELF

I don’t want to be myself

Sometimes,
When others can’t see
The truth portrayed
And followed after,
Denying all
Beside it looming tall.

 

I can’t bear to be myself

Sometimes,
When isolation
Pulling me sideways
Into its black hole,
Denies the light
Outside it taking flight.
 

I can’t help but be myself

Sometimes,
When everything fits
The image unreal -
Yet we stop looking,
Perception trapped
Inside the mirror’s half.
 

I won’t try to be myself

Sometimes,
Because of the lies
That we believe
Before we know it,
Fair or unfair,
Hence the labels to wear.
 

I won’t show to you myself

Sometimes,
When nothing changes
In dreams transparent,
Meant not to come true
In ideal form,
Thus the mask is worn.

The Crossroads

We argued at the crossroads.
As the night set in
You lit the ancient path,
Yet I stood my ground,
Gaze fixed
In the direction
Of my longing.

We remained at the crossroads.
As my vision failed,
You waited, unmoving,
Yet I did not turn,
Heart lost
In the depth of
Vain imaginations.

I left you at the crossroads.
As the distance grew
Between our separate ways
I stood to lose all,
Tricked by
The way that seems right
But leads to pain.

I crawled back to the crossroads.
As the sun arose
You held out both your hands,
Yet I bowed lower,
In shame
At having left
The Higher Road.

You held me at the crossroads.
As the Light shone bright
Only one Way remained
Yet I clung to you,
My guide
And refuge on
The narrow path of life.

Of Course

Of course it comes down

To me and you
And why do I not see it?
You’re where the waning leads,
You’re at the end of me.
 

Of course you allow

The broken ties
And why don’t I expect it?
You alone the hurting mend,
You alone make whole again.

Of course I am wrong

To start anew
And why do I yet believe?
You instill the dark with light,
You bring hope to the failing fight.

Of course this house

Is made of cards
And why did I construct it?
You are my sheltered place,
In you I find love’s face.

RESIGNATION

When the tree is young,
Its bright green leaves,
Bursting forth boldly,
Proclaim intent to grow
With stunning focus,
Not to be challenged by
The sky’s failure to rain,
The sun’s refusal to shine,
The soil’s lack of content,
Nor the air’s stagnant heat.

Now it grows older,

Its branches turn
Careful in season,
Producing darker fruit
With timidity,
While often challenged by
The damaging winds,
The violent storms,
The incessant assault
On its viability.

In later winter

The tree resolves
To stand tall and proud,
Its calloused bark rigid
With hollow furrows
That mark its challenges
With time and attack,
With needful neglect,
With resignation
And withered, fading fruit.

                           

RISE ABOVE

Come with me

And rise above
All that is not born of love,
Come to see
And come to hear,
With open eyes
And eager ears,
The higher life
That we can live
When captured by
The One who gives
The Way to heaven
Here on Earth
Within the secret
Of rebirth...

We can choose

To rise above
All that's not in line with love,
We can think
And we can feel,
With renewed minds
And hearts now healed,
When we remember
It's our right
To choose His Way
And fight the fight
For all that's good
And in the Light
Of honest truth,
The highest height...

 

 

RESTORATION

 You'll have to feel your way through

 The fear to freedom's side,

Allowing that I love you

On levels beyond high,

And standing on this solid ground

You'll know to take the leap

When I have spoken softer words

For you in mind to keep.

 

You'll have to risk surrendering

And trust me to protect

The part of you I made to be

Responsive to neglect -

Your innocence was taken

By the force of others' will,

But I am God of what should be

And I'll restore you still.

 

Steadfast

Take my heart,

This ship at sea,
And firmly steer the oars,
Providing breath
To fill the sails
O’er gently rolling swells.

Guide my way

By truest light
On steady course to you
Who shows the path
Through stormy night
And all that threatens harm.
 

Keep me steadfast

On this keel,
No list to right nor left,
On par to reach
The promised shore
Where life abundant rests.

Set Back

Lies that we’ve believed before

Are harder to resist,
For when they knock upon the door
To give a traitor’s kiss,
We think to open wide enough
To take a better look,
Still, unable to call their bluff,
We’ll take the bait and hook.

 

So familiar are the words
That we don’t want to hear,
We fail to see they prey upon
The deepest of our fears,
For truth not spoken out of love
Might also be deceit
When the fruit it offers us
Is judgment and defeat.

 

Yet tempting these untruths can be

Considering the source,
For once we took them honestly
As love’s corrective force,
Though now we’ve learned just who we are
And purpose to forgive,
We still must bear the hateful scars,
On hearts set free to live.

Purpose

This is natural,
Being here,
Where pieces fit
Together
Serving purpose
Without trying -
Destiny reached,
Automatic,
No will to err
In pleasing other
Than the source
Of all reason
To exist.

This is simple,
To be here,
Where all are content
Together
Serving purpose
Without complaint –
None greater,
None less,
No egos to argue
For power
Over others
Under reason
To exist.