Scales

Fishermen and fisherwomen on the dock
the daily catch in their hands
preparations made for the meal demands
cleaning of the scales

Scales protected the fish, of course
and caught now in their trap
preparations to cut the gap
disemboweled for the meal of another

Delicate scales protected the fish
sticking to the fishermen (and women) now
fetid reminders of exactly how
the night's meal was just tendered

I relate to the fish this morning
reeled in by your look of caring
manipulations you're preparing
cut me wide for the feast of the psychic strigoi

Casting the line of empathy
I was lured by the chance to be heard
But nary understood was a single word
your embrace negatively misleading

Lesson learned I must swim away
Avoiding the line and the hook
Spare me that forlorn unbelieving look
Fear seeks to undermine courage

Cycles of a Cloud

A white cloud floating, I
feel the air rushing in, spirit
feel the energy of the oceans, emotion
feel it gathering in, then

The balance is lost, and the storm rolls in...

My cloud is grey, from the burdens
the air has become moist with tears
the oceans swirl up in anger
and the bursting occurs

Balance returns if you let it, let the air back in...

The cloud dissapates, peace presiding
air becomes filled, spirit shining light
waters settle, smooth sailing now
and the cycle, begins again, life breathes in.

Blessings of light, life within.

The Guardians

They followed us around
goofy and smiling, bounding behind like dogs.

They followed behind us,
on the streets of Bangor; loping along

Entreating us to take their picture.
Take our picture!
Take our picture!

They followed hopefully, smiling
until we finally stopped and made them promise

They posed instantly, brothers
We snapped their picture, and they kept their word

They loped off in another direction, satisfied.
Their mission was accomplished!

Their photo, to this day
Hangs on a wall wherever I am.

Over 20 years later, my guardians
Soul brothers smiling their goofy smiles.

Close By My Heart

The window opens past my closed door
The music calls me yearning to dance
Plays in my mind often the days washed by me
Plays to my soul the lessons so taught me
Dancing steps, learning the dancing steps

Cold blows the wind of hard days behind me
Cold shoulders gone their own unto history
Running to glories, vining blessings bright blooming
Running toward arms reaching my way in the future
Dancing steps, practicing the dancing steps

Oh God, the changes blind my good senses
Oh God, help me feel my way in the dark
Blessings these, things beyond all sensation
Blessings these, felt but not seen this sunrise
Dancing steps, relishing the dancing steps

Close by my heart, dancing steps

Cousins

We were little kids
youngest ones of families two
we played together happily
visits that came far apart, too few

Just two little kids
blond hair both of us
I was the younger one who
idolized the older one, waited at the door

We two little girls
understanding nothing at the time
separated for two score years plus
by the demands of the elders, out of our control

We are a gift back to each other now
Finding that some bonds hold
even when forgotten
due to circumstances beyond our grasp

An Attempt At The Indescribable

Explanations escape me
why the blessings are so profound
able to resonate with the core of truth
adjoined with the motivation to find more
reading between lines of undecipherable time
realizing amazing ties, always there
telling a story that was previously hidden from view

There is no trading even an hour of the past
for what was gained in these years of confusion
this wondrous happiness bursting inside
like an infant safe within my own arms
whatever healing that needs to find truth
available to us now, that book opened wide
waiting for us to create new passages
our gifts only start to realize
the vast nature of the love we've been given

Cali Haiku

California-lone
Finding a path to myself
See it clearly now