The Sublime Roundabout

Leaving the comfort Of the warm and safe In a rush of water She was born Leaving a world of darkness Entering a world of light and joy And pain and sorrow But of growth She stepped into the woods This timid child Unsure of what she'd find Bare feet treading on soft moss And damp leaves She entered a world of delight And imagination The dappled green canopy Shined down on her long tresses She sought for the unknown And found it The next room was full of light The sounds of music and laughter Called invitingly What went on in the next room She wondered As she peered in She saw swirling gowns Of satin and lace Silk shoes and stockings and gloves Men in waistcoats and tails Some standing like pillars of manhood Others stepping lightly with their partners Whirling, whirling She stepped from the darkened anteroom Into the bright ball Her eyes met those Of a tall handsome man As he walked over To ask the favor Of a dance She stepped again From th

The ships stood off the shore Surrounding the island fortress Impenetrable Stark Alone But safe Bombardments came and went Yet still the strong fortress stood A bulwark against the tide Of evil intents and natures But one would come who Could cut the Gordian Knot Who would later be called the Great And he breached these defenses And let himself in Not with firepower Nor with mighty naval force But by building a causeway From his own firm territory Out to his heart's desire And thus did Alexander Conquer the island of Tyre

Sunlight sparkles on the crests of waves Frosty mornings glisten with a blanket of diamonds Velvet black night skies studded with twinkling stars Prismatic refraction shines from dew drops on blades of grass Cityscapes shimmer in summer's evening heat Fireflies dance and glow above darkened fields Car headlights dazzle as they move past Dappled patterns of light and dark crisscross forest pathways Campfires' flames draw the gaze of the weary and cold Angel's wings flutter with celestial glory But the light that shines brightest The light that brings the most warmth The most joy Is the light that shines in your eyes The fires of your soul

She stood on the hill alone She'd traveled so far from home Though she knew not where The wind in her hair Whispered of things to come Life's journey for her had been rough Its answers had often been gruff Yet she held on to hope At the end of her rope That she'd never be called on her bluff Alone her paths she'd trod Alone under lash and under rod She'd wandered here and there Until she'd been everywhere She'd had her feet on foreign sod Yet as she stood on this hill Standing strong, but ever so still She felt the sweet touch And got a slight rush From a hand, slipped into hers, a thrill She was no longer alone She felt she'd come home

My dearest love, The stars lined up that day. I know it sounds cliche, but they really did. It was as if a thousand angels had worked a thousand years to make sure everything was just right. Their angelic wings touched everything, turning all into a dream of goodness, purity, and light. But nothing could match the light that comes from your eyes, dear one. Your eyes - so full of wonder and glory and joy. Your eyes - like pools of deepest contemplation. Your eyes - in which I find reflected all the hope I have for the future. I see the intelligence that brings light to my life, like a summer rain to desert landscapes. I see the hope that reaches across the chasm of the eternities and fills the immensity of space with light. I see, most precious to me, I see the love that is reserved only for me. And it is wondrous to me. Then you smile, a secret, sweet smile that warms my very soul. A smile - that simple gesture that means so much - a smile that breaks down years of unseen and

Just dump a little more They said These men in plastic suits Wheeling drums of waste To the waters edge Just a little more And our profits will increase The river will purify itself No one will know Nothing bad will come of this Now a little more As the choked river dies The land's life blood Devoid of life Smothered and smoldering Add just a bit more The river can take it! Once clear waters Now turbid and oily Murky and deadly The flames started Who knows where or why Across the water they sped Sending black smoke upwards Polluting above with the pollution below How do you use water To put out a river on fire?

the earth moves beneath your body as you lie awake in the early morning light that half-light that is not fully day but is bright enough to perceive that this day is going to be different because the earth is moving wait how can the earth move the earth is stable is hard and firm and yet the vibrations the moving the shaking are undeniable you begin to hear other movements around you people calling out crawling under their beds for shelter when the danger is not just above them but below as well because the whole earth is shaking rattling noises from trash cans and metal containers on the tile floor people clattering and crying out in fear you find your own way under your bed but you feel no fear only excitement and vibrations that echo in your mind as your body moves on the floor the trembling quivering earth continues to shake for what seems an eternity although it is really just a short time before the shaking stops almost as abruptly as it began on this clear Sunday morning and you

Anger and fear Greed and avarice Ignorance and apathy Strength and power The games of the Colosseum Play on Rome burns While Nero Plays on Christians and lions Love and lust Human tragedy and loss Faith and despair Exultation and ecstasy People vie for power Never realizing The power Lies Within

Spanish moss hangs Like old men's beards From the branches Of bald cypresses And live oaks Trees stretching their branches Blocking the wind Blotting out the sun Fetid odors escape From underfoot As putrid lands Become disturbed The absence of oxygen The lack of light Has turned My nasal passages Into a swamp