Bewitched

You turned on your pagan charms

To whisk away my every doubt

And cast a spell which you

Claimed set us free.

Free to be what God intended,

Free to love in harmony,

Free to take and in return

To give back two-fold willingly.

No one said I had to yield.

No one set a limit or

Placed boundaries around our hearts

Confining our emotions.

I strode boldly through the night

Running free to catch the light

You emanated from a distance

Quelling every doubt or notion.

As the earth spins infinitely

One great constant remains true.

I will spend my life and more

Bewitched by just the thought of you.

 

Where has the time gone?

It seems like only yesterday

Our lips touched for the very first time.

I lightly brushed your cheek and

Whispered "I love you", and you

Softly echoed the same.

You took my name and started a journey

Which lasted for years through

Laughter and tears,

Heartaches and fears.

Kudos and cheers.

You kept the flame

Glowing brightly no matter

How darkened the way.

You turned it to daylight

With only a smile.

You've made every mile

An adventure recorded

In timeless song.

'So quickly' I wonder,

Where has it gone?

 

Angel Falling Down

Heaven must have opened up

Its portals for an instant

Giving temporary freedom for

An angel to fulfill my dreams.

 

Falling like a downy feather

Through the gentle air of morning,

Playing softly on my heartstrings,

You have touched my very soul.

 

And I lie captured by your spirit,

Longingly and willingly to

Do your bidding, win your favor,

Touch your scented haloed hair.

 

You approach and I surrender

Caring not for human pride,

Knowing I am only half, that

You complete me, make me whole.

 

As I pause to count the blessings

Which most certainly abound,

Not a one could be more precious

Than my angel falling down.

 

The Lake by Night

We watched as the sun sank into the earth,

Dancing its twin on the shimmering waters.

I called to the cabin to come and observe

And all obliged save for one in the shower.

 

We watched as the stars slowly came into view

Piercing the sky with the pinpricks of angels.

Blanketing Heaven from light years beyond,

Touching our souls with their awesome splendor.

 

You take my hand and we cling to each other

Tasting the night without judgement or pause.

Savoring moments too special to question

With reason or rhetoric.  Silence prevails.

 

A breeze gently rustles the lush green foliage

Then ripples the shore of her watery surface.

Tiny dances amuse the moonlight's reflection

Then silently tiptoe away.

 

Breathlessly waiting the scene to develop,

Watching the passion arise in your eyes,

A scene too precious to share with a stranger,

Enfolding our hearts in her watery arms.

 

Taking a Chance on Love

Who would have thought?

It could happen again,

Especially after that

Last chapter when my heart

Was ripped from corner to corner,

Shredded, minced

And then ground to puree.

I knew that it would be

Many a day before

Life would creep back and

Hope be reborn from the

Ashes left by a lover's scorn.

And then you entered in chapter two

Sweeping away the primordial fears,

Shaping and molding the

Softened clay.  In a single day

You rescued my soul,

Reconstructed and made it whole,

Giving me wings to fly high above,

Once again taking a chance on love.

 

Please Don't Go

You say that it's over;

That there's nothing left but to say goodbye.

But even as you say the words

A hint of denial escapes your eyes,

Which speaks much louder to my heart.

 

To think that we could be apart

Is madness, simple lunacy,

A pretext masked in rogue's disguise.

 

My failing heart could not survive

The leaving as you breach the door.

Veins constrict the flow of life

And air no longer can sustain.

 

The ever-growing constant void,

The cataclysmic emptiness

Which knows no bounds and only stops

To fill itself with cosmic pain.

 

Love is the question.

I need to know.

You are the answer.

Please, don't go.

 

You're the One.

You're the one who picks me up

When all the world would knock me down

And leave their footprints on my soul.

You complete me, make me whole.

 

Wandering through aimless seas,

I heard your sultry siren's call,

Found your island in the mist,

Tasted lips as yet unkissed

By one whose heart could claim your own.

We became a single soul

United by a pledge so sure,

So strong that it must long endure.

 

Other eyes may tempt and tease

With peacock feathers fluttering,

But there's no chance that I might yield.

I've no desire to play that field.

 

My love for you can't be undone.

No contest.   You are the one.

 

Knockdown-drag out

So, we disagree…. Big deal! So what!

Let's not make it World War III

A knock down-drag out mugging

With but one survivor when it's done.

 

Let's not say those hurtful things that

Anger brings to lesser minds,

Firing darts into the heart,

Emptying our verbal gun.

 

I have so much love for you,

Seeds of honor and respect that

I'll not seek to desecrate the

Firm position that you hold.

 

Instead I'll seek to use your eyes

To see your view, to stand your stand.

Seeking out the humble piece

Of common ground our hearts enfold.

 

Knock down. Drag out. Winner takes all.

That's no way for lovers to be.

Compromise is easy when you

Look to see what others see.

 

Fair Weather/Foul

Life isn't always peaches and cream.

In eating its fruit we sometimes taste

The pits and find it bittersweet;

Not so easy to endure.

 

And you have been there through it all,

Sharing the bounty along the way,

Sharing the load, laughing the laugh,

Crying when sadness raises its head.

I loaned you my shoulder and you took my hand

As we stood together united as one.

No one could cut us to make us bleed.

Nothing would part us this side of heaven.

I shall take your laughter to my grave

In fond remembrance of your face.

But more I cherish friendship's grace

Through weathers fair/weathers foul.

 

You Win

Life's too short for arguments.

You win.

Let's not cross that restless stream

Again with all its heartaches

And abysmal lies.  The tearful eyes

Too proud to say I'm sorry or

Excuse me for not listening.

Sunlight beaming, gleaming

Upon the rapid waters edge,

Both feet dangling from the ledge.

I regret not telling you

More often how I need your love

To guide me through the murky trials

As life reviles and shuns my name.

Why I could not give the same

Undying trust you gave to me is

One of life's great mysteries.

It will not occur again.

This I vow.

You win.

 

Life is an Adventure

From the moment of birth

When an innocent child shares

The same air with its mother,

The adventure begins,

And the flight doesn't end

Until ashes reclaim what they gave.

 

Front seat on the roller coaster

As it slowly climbs the hill

Topping the crest and

Plummeting down to a certain death.

 

As wave after wave of

Adrenaline gushes through

Over-stretched veins,

Eyes growing too large to see.

The mind become mush as

The body grows limp and

Legs fail to carry their weight.

 

Ready to heave

Once the hassle is over

Promising "never again".

Yet knowing full well that

You've caught the addiction

That no force on earth can abate.

Life's an adventure, ready to wear,

Traveling in circles, awaiting the dare.

 

Second Chance

I've been hoping for a second chance.

You've been holding me off at a distance

Ignoring all my calls.

You've been out there with some other someone

While I'm sitting here night after night

Staring at these four walls.

 

He says he wants you and that he'll always be true.

But you know deep inside that it's

Foolish for you to agree.

Your heart is breaking because you know the truth.

You're really alone

And you'll only be happy with me.

 

You walked away because I was afraid

To give all my heart.

You were exciting but I wasn't ready to dance.

Now things are clear and I know without fear

What I need is you.

Say you'll forgive me and give us a second chance.

 

I've been praying that you'll see the truth.

You can only imagine the Hell you've

Been putting me through.

But I won't mind it if in the end I find

This long dusty road is the pathway that

Leads me to you.

 

 

I Know That Song

That's the song they played

The very first time we danced together.

That's the tune we sang as we strolled

Hand in hand along the beach.

That's the song we listened to

The first time that we shared a kiss.

That's the haunting melody we heard

The night we fell in love.

 

Life's great moments often are

Reflected in a single song,

Coupled with a memory which

Takes us back to yesterday.

Private mini-celebrations

Dance around inside our heads

Stirring up emotions that are

Sure to bring a smile our way.

 

It could happen any time

As life's great journey strolls along.

The airwaves stir and you reflect,

"Ah yes! I know that song."

 

Empty Nest

This house was once a teaming, screaming,

Rowdy loud menagerie.

Sometimes it seemed a thousand feet were

Pounding floor from dawn to dusk.

At times my own voice cracked as I related

My displeasure with

The maddening annoyance

Singing, ringing in my ear.

Praying for a moment, just one

Minutes peace to calm my nerves.

Wondering if it would have been

Wiser to be celibate.

Settling disputes with the diplomacy of

Solomon. Finding commonality to

Wash away all doubt and fear.

Now there's such a peaceful calm

Surrounding every moment that

I feel as though my life is truly blessed.

And yet at times I find myself reflecting

On the sweetness of the life we knew

Before our empty nest.

 

Love's Consequence

You would have me change, but

I don't want to change.

I like myself.

Just the way you see me

Is the way that I intend to stay.

You keep saying you've made

Your concessions just

To be with me,

But your confession isn't what I need

To make me change my way.

 

Haven't I expressed to you

I love you just the way you are?
Wouldn't have you change a thing

Or make you sing a different song.

 

…Except for just a few annoying habits.

Oh! Such little things like

Always being late.

You know I hate to have to wait too long.

And what about the way you jump on

Every little phase or fad?

 

…Hold on just a second.

Maybe change is not so bad.

 

A Lot Of Work To Do

Listen to the lovers as they

Bicker, tease and pine away

For what they haven't yet achieved

In their great quest for total joy.

 

Dreams laid often by the wayside

Waiting patiently their turn,

Battered, shattered, beaten, broken,

Like a child's forgotten toy.

 

Brave hearts will pick up the pieces,

Mend the break and carry on

With hope renewed and vision

Rising over that of lesser men.

 

Goals revised and redirected,

Spirits bolstered and renewed.

Never minding failure, finding

Favor to begin again.

 

If a dream is worth pursuing,

Always keep it within view.

If perfection is our goal,

We've got a lot of work to do.

 

"Goodnight. I'll See You In The Morning"

How many nights have I slipped in beside you

After the trials of the long day are done?

Nestling in for a well-deserved respite

From all of the cares that the world has laid on.

 

Cold winter nights where the nip of the air

Bites the covers as you snuggle close to my side,

Hearing the heartbeat, which lulls you to sleep,

Seeking the warmth that our bodies provide.

 

The cool of the spring when the windows are

Finally open and we hear the sweet serenade

Of the nocturnal creatures who lulled us to sleep

And then woke us at dawn with their vocal parade.

 

Summertime heat can be quite overbearing,

And drives you away to the bed's other side.

A quick goodnight kiss and you scurry away

Wishing the bed was again twice as wide.

 

Of all the seasons I think I love autumn

The most, when all of the world heaves a sigh,

And you start to snuggle back into my arms.

I never complain… never ask why.

 

We end each evening with a kiss and

A solemn promise; not a warning.

Touching your cheek I softly pledge,

"Goodnight. I'll see you in the morning."

 

Butterfly

Flittering, fluttering all about

The garden on your silent wings,

Gathering the nectar of each

Flower's welcome bloom.

Pacing never, racing ever,

Bothering no single soul,

You dance your dance and

Weave a spell upon your magic loom.

 

And I become a witness as

You search the world in your brief time.

I watch as you emerge

Breaking free from your cocoon

In burst of brilliant colors which

Could rival Pharaoh's treasures,

And then disappear to darkness

All too soon.

Time escaping, passing by,

Watching with your painted eye,

Stopping not to question why.

Fly my little butterfly.

 

Starlight

The sun fades in a distant west as

Twilight caresses the evening sky

With its' gentle colors of passionate pink,

And tiny pinpoints of starlight ensue.

 

Time grows weary and all the concerns of

The daylight dim as the sun settles in

To the tree tops, resting but a moment,

Offering promises old and new.

 

…And you fill my evening well into the night,

Holding my hand as the starlight appears

To capture the Heavens, filling the darkness

With all its' abundance of elegant grace.

 

Treasures abound in the evident spectacle

Born in amazement, meant to be shared.

But diamonds and gold can never compare to

The wonder I find in your sweet loving face.

 

No matter how long I may walk on these beaches,

No matter how wondrous the luminous prize,

Nothing on Earth or on this side of Heaven can

Outshine the starlight in my lover's eyes.

 

Angels Weep

The raven stalks a sleepless night

As silent darkness blankets all

The landscape of a troubled world

And destiny prepares to call.

 

Truth comes hard to those who wait

And wonder far beyond the day.

The silence catches unaware

And leaves a bitter bill to pay.

 

The only solace is a trusting

That the end brings yet a new

Beginning of a better making

Freshly born of morning dew.

 

Still the heart cries out in anguish,

Passions rising from the deep.

Prayers of longing and remembrance…

Lovers mourn as

Angels weep.