Sleep Without Dreams

Keeping up appearance,

Dancing the dance of the socialite,

Hanging on shallow words

Meant to impress,

Breathing the corporate mantra,

Hmmm… ya ya hmmm… ya ya hmmm.

Day in

Day out,

Days flow by unyielding.

Not my own…

Someone else’s vision,

Someone else’s profit.

Someday soon I’ll spread my wings,

Plot my course,

Find my way.

This nine to five existence

Is like sleep without dreams;

Restores the body

But does nothing for the soul.

But I want to dream…

I have a dream,

And someday soon…

Someday…

Soon.

Waking Up

I know I had a dream last night,

But can’t remember it at all.

No details. Not a single one.

Just a happy glow that left me warm.

 

Spectrums filled with glowing light.

Images both grand and small.

A first class flight into the sun

With hands that keep me safe from harm.

 

Something in it feels so right

Answering the siren’s call.

A million treasures to be won.

No resistance to her charm.

 

Landing safely from my flight,

Eyes wide open, standing tall.

Sweet dream lady, come and gone,

Leaving me to sense her charm.

          

Escape

Tortured by the husking fruitless

Daily crush of energy marauders

Vexing, ever vexing and

Flexing brawny sinuous flesh,

Flaunting faux powers in feckless faces.

Pity the fools.

 

I close my eyes,

Lower my expectations and

Wait for sweet dreams

To invade my property.

Oft times comes easy,

Approaching angelic.

The bully backs down

Looking elsewhere for folly.

Prison bars soften and the gates open wide

As velveteen breezes offer their wings

Leaving me free to escape to Nirvana

Where honey flows free

And roses e’er bloom,

And thoughts are but whispers

Born on the wind.

 

I will linger here a while to

Follow the dream,

Seize the ring.

No misgivings for time well spent.

 

Wishes and Dreams

I had a dream

That spurred a wish

That led to a thought

That inspired a plan

That created an outline

That became a blueprint

For a brand new project

Fraught with obstacles

Resolved through tenacity

Then brought to fruition

With a sense of accomplishment,

A shining example

Presented to others

Who also

Have a dream.

 

Where Dreams Sleep

Rest in silence, Sweet Dream Maker.

There is much for you tomorrow.

Sleep until your name is called

And you can rise renewed, refreshed.

 

Visions visit in the darkness,

Become clear with light of day,

Seek fruition once your passion

Fills the mind with clarity.

 

It is you who holds the spark,

Quick the human breast inspires

With vapory wisdom, reaching deep

To grasp at fleeting fantasy.

 

If only I could find your lair,

Touch your secrets, dark and deep,

What untold wisdom could be found

To know the chamber where you sleep.

 

…Perhaps To Dream

Do I want?

Will I go?

Could it be?

Might I know?

In my sleep,

In my mind

Thoughts abandon

Fleeting time.

Rounding corners

To arrive in

Places where

Sweet hope survives.

Softly sliding

Into slumber

Where no fearful

Giants lumber.

Lying by her

Gentle stream

In solitude…

Perhaps to dream.

Hope

Lighter than freedom on feathery ferns

Dancing on tiptoes in bright balmy breezes,

Higher than hilltops on heavenly highways,

Her mountains, her valleys

Both filled with delight.

 

Bid me go forward,

Offer me comfort,

Fill me with confidence

Else I should stumble.

Lift up the veil,

Place a kiss on my forehead

Making me blush…

Keeping me humble.

 

Younger than springtime,

Older than winter,

Longer than always and

Sweeter than wine,

Hope floods my heart with

The laughter of sunshine

Leaving all doubt,

Every sorrow behind.

 

Another Day

Gentle wishes…

Sweet air kisses…

Schemes and dreams and

Pony-tail swishes…

Air-brushed memories,

So delicious,

Dare to take my breath away.

 

Table scapes of

Comfort dishes

Flood the senses

With delicious

Sweet sensations,

Bold temptations,

Begging me come out to play.

 

Out of scope…

Filled with hope…

Dangling carrot from a rope,

Trying desperately to cope with

Trials that try to block my way.

Knowing that the prize awaits,

Even when I tempt the fates,

I see beyond the garden gates

There lies another day.

 

It’s Time

No more watching

No more wondering

No more sad mistakes and blundering.

It’s time.

The work may never be complete

Wrapped in ribbon nice and neat

All laid out at Fortune’s feet but

It’s time.

Time to end procrastination

Time to forego reservation

No more thought or hesitation.

Let it go

It’s time.

 

Dreams are whispers in the wind

Somewhere up around the bend

Waiting like a trusted friend

It’s time.

Time to question

Time to be

Time to let the whole world see

It’s time.

 

To The Children of Saint Jude’s

All you ever have to do is look into those eyes

And a million inspirations flood your soul.

All the hope and wide-eyed wisdom

Reflected in a smile

Of a child whose fate is destined to unfold.

And you see behind the curtain

All the pain that is denied

As they suffer to find hope and hold on tight.

Another day is another gift,

Another battle to be won

To take away the darkness from their light.

 

Surrounded by the ones they love

And ones who come to love them,

Given every hope there is to give.

No false expectations,

Knowing all the odds,

They only seek the opportunity to live.

 

And many here will overcome

The demons that have plagued them

And leave to grow and fill their hearts desire.

And those who fought the valiant fight

And lost their final battle

Are heroes in the hope that they inspire.

 

An American Dream

I wake up every morning, rub my eyes and ponder

On the wonders that the day may hold in store.

Knowing that the truth is there to stare back in my mirror

And the challenges that wait for me just outside my door.

Robins watch me drive away to capture new adventures

Just before the sunrise trickles in

To chase the moonlight’s beams,

And America comes back to life

With banners raised and hope revived

And skies unfold as multitudes go looking for their dreams.

 

It’s an American dream

Where every wish can come true

And the weak can be strong,

You can right any wrong

And your faith can shine through.

An American song that is just as it seems.

It’s a song filled with hope,

A song filled with joy

And American Dreams.

 

Heaven loves an optimist,

And glory waits for those

Who build their hopes and dreams on faith and peace and love.

I believe with every breath that this great land is over-blessed

With those who get their guidance from

A power up above.

 

It’s an American dream….

 

If Heaven’s Not Out There

I’m not really sure that Heaven exists

In the way that you hear it described,

Streets paved with gold,

Pearly gates open,

And a book where my name is inscribed.

Billions of angels in white robes and wings

Looking down at the people below

From their place in the clouds

Where life is forever

In a house where God cares for each soul.

 

But if Heaven’s not out there,

Then why am I here?

He gives me hope to live in His light

And to die without fear.

I’m taking my chances.

My faith will be strong.

‘Cause if Heaven’s not out there,

Then everything’s wrong.

 

When I was a child I studied His book

And believed everything that I read,

Listened on Sundays to teachers and preachers,

Soaked up the words that they said.

Tasted of life, lived through temptation,

Now that my race is near run,

I have to believe that the time’s getting closer

To capture the prize that I’ve won.

 

But if Heaven’s not out there….

 

Crystal Ball

The crystal ball is broken,

Shattered in a thousand pieces,

Scattered on the basement floor

Just waiting to be swept away.

 

A thing of beauty in its day,

Filled with hope and aspiration,

Forward seeking, always searching

For that temple in the sky,

 

Looking for an alibi

To hide the fear of taking chances,

Falling victim to the winds of change

The fates are bound to bring.

 

Still the sirens softly sing

Their subtle songs of dreams fulfilled,

Beckoning to press their will,

Rekindling the fire within,

 

To pick up pieces and begin

With hope reborn to start anew,

New decisions, new directions,

New crystal ball to gaze into.

 

Constant Eyes

A mother’s love is unrelenting,

Impervious to compromise,

Often silent, always open,

Vigilant, with constant eyes.

 

Nothing else holds more importance

Than the safety of her child,

Every hope, every dream,

Every trivial trick or trial

Are met and dealt with confidence,

Weighing all the evidence,

Dealing out the consequence,

Both prosecutor and defense.

 

I grew up in a home of love,

No pretention or disguise.

All that I am or hope to be I owe to

Mother’s constant eyes.

 

Long Time Ago

Had a lot of druthers

In those early days of youth,
Back before reality revealed
The ugly truth.
Could have done a lot of things,
Most anything I wanted.
No one there to dash my dreams,
No memories that haunted.
Could have been a singer,
Then my voice began to change.
Could have been a cowboy
Riding on the open range.
Could have been a lawyer
Out there fighting for a cause.
Could have been an actor
Only fighting for applause.
But over time fate has a way
Of calmly stepping in,
And though sometimes it knocks you down
You get back up again.
Looking back without regret
It now seems clear to me,
What happened then to bring me here
Was surely meant to be.

 

Until Tomorrow is Today

Each reality of today

Was someone’s dream of yesterday.

Perhaps unknown,

Unfelt,

Unseen,

A feathered angel lost in sleep.

Stealth shadows from another world

That slowly seep into the mind

And brighten with the daylight’s touch

Until tomorrow is today

And we can see her rosy cheeks,

Feel her warming gentle touch,

Hold the hope that she inspires

And taste the nectar

In her kiss.

 

Rainbow Rider

Wistful, waxing rainbow rider

Chasing after stormy weather

Wrangling the hope that follows,

Kissing every childhood dream.

 

Saddled upon colored horses,

Rising from a distant land

From horizon to horizon

Spreading joy to every corner.

 

Leaping color upon color

Sweet magenta fades to blue

In disappearing majesty

To find the hue of sunlight’s glow.

 

Sweet, the arc of your bright bow

Quickly fades from mortal view.

Happiness is in your mount

Touching hearts in your brief time.

 

Hope Rises

From the ashes of despair

          On a wish

                    A dream

                              A prayer.

Thankful just to be alive,

          Vision quest

                    Renewed

                              Revived,

As the air comes wafting in,

          Scented breezes

                    Gentle friend,

New directions are revealed,

          Untold secrets

                    Unconcealed.

Lift the darkness from my eyes,

Clear the way so hope may rise.

 

Yes, I Can

They didn’t start out with intent

To shatter every untold mark,

To set a new goal to attain,

To reach the crest of Everest,

To pass the dark side or the moon

And go beyond the Sun and stars.

But somewhere there along the way

Someone took notice of their deed,

Pointed toward a lofty goal

And set a process in its place.

It became like Joltin’ Joe

Clipping fast to fifty six,

Or Ripken’s ironman marathon

As he reached the unreachable.

No one claimed that it was easy.

No one said there’d be no pain.

No one even saw it coming,

Just a happy happenstance.

Was it from a childhood dream?

Was it even in their plan?

Only one thing is for certain.

When asked,

The answer,

“Yes, I can.”

 

Pray for Tomorrow

Okay, so today was not so great,

Weighted with tribulation and trials

Til it seemed that it would have no end.

But it did end,

And I survived,

And what, at times, seemed that it might destroy

Only tended to make me stronger,

While burdens offered became lessons learned,

And blessed relief made the journey worthwhile.

 

Now, as my head touches feathery pillows,

Now, as my eyes cleanse the harsh light of day,

I peacefully pause to reflect on my blessings

And pray for tomorrow

With hope born anew.

 

Don’t Give Up

Sure, it’s hard.

No one said that it would be an easy ride.

Roads are long

And filled with potholes, detours, roadblocks and asides.

Is it worth

The consequences of decisions you abide?

Can you take

The pain you must endure to finally win the prize?

Questions,

Always questions must need answering so dreams survive.

Onward,

Always onward, looking upward, keeping hope alive.

Pausing only briefly for a sip from Inspiration’s cup.

Pressing on with head held high

Determined never to give up.

Best Laid Plans

Time again for the boys of summer

To start a journey that will last into

The depths of autumn ,

Dwindling down to the final two…

The final one.

 

But now, right now,

Everything is even,

Everyone is champion;

Number one.

Plans and schemes and drafts and trades,

Every scenario,

Every projection has laid a path

To be clearly followed.

All are winners at this early stage.

 

And we will follow

With pencil and passion

Living vicariously to the end.

Some heroes will fall.

Some dreams will fulfill,

Our only duty:

Enjoy the ride.

 

You’ll Never Know

Comes a time in every life

You’re standing at a crossroads

And you just can’t decide which way to go.

Do you turn right?

Should you go left or

Just go straight ahead?

Do you walk alone

Or just go with the flow?

 

I’ve heard it said the brave die young

To make their way to Heaven,

And I’d surely like to live beyond my prime.

But if I must make the sacrifice,

Then it’s just a given, and 

I’ll have to give it up before my time.

 

Are you afraid to take a stand

And be the only one?

Would you dare to spread your wings

And fly into the sun?

Happiness is standing close,

It’s just a smile away.

You can turn away or stand and watch it grow.

Do you turn right?

Do you turn left or

Just go straight ahead?

Unless you make a choice you’ll never know.