Hope for the Homeless

HOPE

I sit behind the bars wondering what I did to deserve this.
Why am I here? What did I do wrong?
Will I ever find a home?

I hear voices, I see people!
I bark, wagging my tail.
I scream out “Pick me, oh please pick me!”
But just like my luck they pass my pen choosing my friend.

I lay back in my cold, cramped cage.
Would someone come who’d care for me?
Love me?

Days pass by, continued by weeks.
Yet still I’m all alone in this pen.
I give up hope, watching as my friends find homes, yet I’m still here.
All alone.

Footsteps can be heard; they stop near my jail cell.
I look up at the friendly face.
She smiles and says she wants this one.

I jump for joy.
“Oh yes, I’m free!”
She laughs and says, “You’re coming home with me!”

Finally I found a home; sweet home.
Somewhere I can play and roam.
Now I’m happy thanks to her.
I know I’ll show her all I know.
‘Cause I never want to go back there.
Back there where I had no hope.

Rachael Ann Drummond

Thanksgiving Delights

Thanksgiving Delights

On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.

For sun to light and warm our days,
For stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And puffy clouds of white.

We’re grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound.

The list of all we’re grateful for
Would fill a great big book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look!

By Joanna Fuchs

WALK ON THE BEACH

WALK ON THE BEACH

With each of my footsteps
Upon the sand
Cool now;
Near days end,

I am refreshed, renewed
Inhaling the salt air
As the light breeze
Rustles through my hair,

Hungry gulls scan the bounty of the sea
I stop and gaze
Gathering the peace and tranquility,

Another sunset seen and I am in awe
As if never allowed
The privilege before,

A silent prayer of thanks
Upon my salty lips
And contemplation of millions of sunsets,

I am mesmerized
Tears forming in my eyes
As I hear the seagulls cry.

Nancy Ellen Crossland

The Veil

The Veil

You've lifted my veil

You look like you've seen a ghost...
Your face, so white and pale
Don't be afraid of what you see
It's just another hidden part of me.

I'm not a different person now,
My other dimension has just been found.
So I'm through with my disguise.

Unless it is too much
confusion for you to touch
You can lower the veil
And we can pretend
Without betrayal.

Author Unknown

Happy Halloween!!

(I 'built' this image myself--no photos involved)

The Witch's Hour

As a mysterious colored moon glowed above
Fog blanketed the damp marsh ground below.
Thick white images swirled about the cove, 
And haunting sounds echoed frightful woes.

Swish, a group of bats flew over the meadow.
That creepy, batty noise pierced a pain of fear. 
For, it was the night of the witch’s marrow.
No one dared to venture without someone dear.

Pumpkins and goblins decorated every lawn.
The tales of Jockey horror tapped on each door
Children cried trick or treat until early dawn
Candy filled their sacks quickly and more.

The darkness remained ever young to all.
Will Linuses great pumpkin rise tonight?
Then one wonders, how evil demons call?
Only on Halloween is there such a fright.

Once it is past the ghoul’s hour of midnight,
All mortals of foul revert to there place,
The moon above returned a normal sight,
And the smog lifted from any kind of trace.

Monica Engeler

Moon Magic

I thank  Montucky  for the use of his photo,  October Moon,  for the background.

Moon Magic

Moonbeams glide into my room,

Weaving the spell of a magic rune,

Capturing the soul of me,

Enrapturing the whole of me.

Gateway to the world of dream,

Clothed in silver all agleam,

Guide me softly with your light,

Through the mystic maze of night.

Mistress of the surging sea,

Creating tides of destiny,

Pulsing through the lives of all,

My deep self rises to your call.

O Queen of Heaven, stars form your crown,

Smile on us when you look down.

O ruler of the wondrous night,

Bless us with your gentle light.

Alan Pert

Winter Sunrise

Winter Sunrise (excerpts from)

I turn to the window, and out of a low cloud
is a brimming--over of brightness; dazzling the eye
with levelled brilliance, fiery--fresh, the sun.

As in absent thought with dreaming eyes I gaze
on sudden shadows gliding across the rime
a vision comes before me in utter silence

the earth is moving, the earth is rolling over
all that is usual all that goes unquestioned
is taken from me
wider, wider the doors of vision are opening

let me not be so stunned that I cannot feel . . .
Imagination is but a little cup
it can hold but a minim part
can a little cup contain an ocean?

My dreaming eyes return
the flower of winter remembers its own season
and the beautiful shadow upon the pale wall
is imperceptibly moving with ancient earth
around the sun that timeless measures sure and silent.

Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Simple Beauty

Beautiful Woman

Beautiful woman,

come out and play,

reveal your inner treasures.

The sparkle in your eyes,

the natural swing in your walk,

you radiate excitement and enthusiasm.

You need no latest fashion,

No expensive hair cuts,

No blinding big accessories.

You glow in your passions,

passionate in your pursuits,

you know what you are made of.

You are not easily bothered,

by the mindless opinions of others,

you know very well where you want to go.

you are a joy to watch,

an inspiration to others,

your pure soul an endless marvel.

Beautiful woman,

let your brilliance shine through,

your eyes speak of true inner beauty.

Copyright © 2007 Fion Lim. All rights reserved.

Taking a Cruise

Sailing

Flowing and gliding

The flow of the blue, fast, unpredictable running water

The hold and the power it holds over your journey and your choices

The never ending journey, the journey of your life

The wind changing your direction, making the choices

Ever further drifting to an estuary of the river

The end of your journey, your cloud nine, your seventh heaven

The karma of your world, your dreamland, your last destination

Michael James Kennedy Findlay

Changing Seasons

Changing seasons

As the leaves turn from green to oranges and reds,
I know that is the way the world tells us it is time for a change.

As the heat dissapears into cold,
we put away our summer toys,
and bring out ones to play with in the cold.

When you take in a deep breath,
there is a smell in the air.
and you can only smell it in fall and winter.

You know when the leaves turn from green to oranges and reds,
summer is over and that means fall and winter are comming.
You have been warned by the nature all around.

by Rylee 2008

Queen of Autumn

QUEEN OF AUTUMN

She is arraigned in a brilliant robe brushed effortlessly by the palette of nature,

A crown of golden oak leaves rests atop her copper tresses,

Within her hands she carries a scepter of maple branches and proudly displays her garment in quiet regal stature,

Her subject's branches bow offering leaves in homage,

While the wind's sharp chill encircles her as she passes,

She gathers their leaves embracing them like a lover,

Inhaling their pungent scent,

And as she turns, she smiles unclasping her robe

as the wind engulfs her,

Releasing the beauty of Autumn

Nancy Ellen Crossland, USA

Wept For A Dream Destroyed

 

WEPT FOR A DREAM DESTROYED

Freedom did we once enjoy
Now left weeping for a dream destroyed
The Great Spirit’s lands stolen from us
Treaties made and broken that were unjust
We wept for a dream destroyed

Forced to leave the lands we knew
Our heritage stolen, our hostility grew
Only wanted what had been rightfully ours for years
But still forced to walk the Trail of Tears
We wept for a dream destroyed

John Ross fought our annihilation for as long as he could
His devotion immense, his heart good
That didn’t matter to the president
We were still taken away from our residence
We wept for a dream destroyed

Many of us perished along the way
Walking death’s trail that swept us away
From all we cherished and revered so
It was to a reservation we were forced to go
We wept for a dream destroyed

Tears shed for a freedom we would not know again
Forced to give up all we had once been
Still we retained what was felt inside
Walked that damned trail with dignity and pride
We wept for a dream destroyed

Sherri L. Gibson, USA

Roots

 

ROOTS
     

I am like a tree -
my feet spread out to travel and embrace the gifts
and hardships
the world has in store for me.

I travel in suspension -
my growth is slow but my spirit is large.
I reach toward the sun in exultation -
my cries and whispers heard only in the wind.

I am vulnerable -
but do not appear so.
My fortress of presence provides protection for those that would rather
use others
for shade and shelter.

I dance in honor of my being -
I sway from side to side in the rhythm
of my own song.

I absorb all the sorrows,
joys, dreams, anger and triumphs
of those around me.
Twisting and turning to find my own way
towards enlightenment.

I am like a tree -
my growth is invisible
until my death
exposes my maturity and worth.

Ashley Page Bates
 

Red Sunset

 

Sunset Thinking

Do you ever watch the sunset
And just sit and think about things
Just you and the sky and darkness
Giving your thoughts some wings

Perhaps you’ve got some troubles
And don’t know what to do
Or you just plain need to get away
To spend a little time with you

Sunset beauty makes you feel as though
Your life has meaning after all
To see a sight so extraordinary
Makes you feel capable, strong and tall

It’s funny how flashes of color
Like a sunset or sunrise can inspire
It can calm your inner self a bit
It’s a scene you can never tire

The serenity gives you a chance
To put things in perspective
Life can be overwhelming at times
And a sunrise can be reflective

So when the sky lights up next time
Let your gaze do some drinking
Soak up all the amazing sights
And do some sunset thinking!

Marilyn Lott  

Pearls and Roses

 

Pearls and Roses

Your spoken words are roses fine and sweet,
The songs you sing are perfect pearls of sound.
How lavish nature is about your feet,
To scatter flowers and jewels both around.

Blushing the stream of petal beauty flows,
Softly the white strings trickle down and shine.
Oh! speak to me, my love, I crave a rose.
Sing me a song, for I would pearls were mine.

Paul Laurence Dunbar
 

I Have Tasted The Stars

 

I Have Tasted the Stars

I'm quite sure that before I was born,
I floated in space, alone and untethered.
I turned somersaults around the sun
it's not as hot as it looks
played leapfrog with asteroids,
and chased comets across the universe.
I have tasted the stars
and sipped moonlight.
A nebula was my pillow,
and sleep
oh, the innocent sleep
so sweetly in space.
I danced on Saturn's rings,
wild and free, uninhibited
because nobody's watching in space.
And I sang.

~ Sarah L. Pottenger ~
 

Apple Blossoms

 

Apple Blossoms

Of all the lovely blossoms
        That decorate the trees,
      And shower down their petals
        With every breath of breeze,
There is nothing so sweet or fair to me
As the delicate blooms of the apple tree.

      A thousand shrubs and flow’rets
        Delicious pleasure bring,
      But beautiful Pomona
        Must be the queen of spring;
And out of her flagon the peach and pear
Their chalices fill with essence rare.

      Oh, is it any wonder,
        Devoid of blight or flaw,
      The peerless blooms of Eden
        Our primal mother saw
In redolent beauty before her placed
So tempted fair Eve the fruit to taste?

      But woman’s love of apples,
        Involving fearful price,
      And Adam’s love for woman
        That cost him Paradise,
By the labor of hands and sweat of brow,
Have softened the curse to a blessing now.

      If so those pink-eyed glories,
        In fields and orchards gay
      Develop luscious fruitage
        By Horticulture’s way,
Then, sweet as the heart of rich legumes,
Shall luxury follow the apple blooms.

Hattie Howard

What is Ballet?

 

What is Ballet?

"What is ballet?" you asked!
Is it a sport?
or is it an art?
Can someone explain it well?
or is it impossible?
Truth is,
it is not a sport,
nor is it an art.
It is an unique combination of the two.
It is just as physically demanding as any other sport.
but moreover,
it is not complete without
the sense of art,
the sense of expression
and the sense of love.
And yet,
it cannot be explained,
it has to be danced!

By: Joany Macaroni

Time

 

TIME

Time is an essence we take for granted
it passes us by, we don't realize it
Time is the past some wish to forget
The future of our lives we want to collect

We go through life regretting events
we want to replay them because of repent
When a moment goes by that we fail to take heed
That moment is gone we did not succeed

When we are old we absorb the meaning of time
The majority of our lives are gone we want our youth it's not a crime
When a loved one dies we want to be with them again
that is when you realize that their lives have come to an end

Make the most of the time you will never have again
Make the most of life's experiences in every way
and appreciate every minute of every hour of everyday

Rebecca L. West
 

Lonely River

 

Lonely river
You meander like a road
Stretching out into the great unknown
With solitary movement
You're compelled and you're enthralled
As though you're answering a distant call
Lonely river
Is there a place you're running to
Or is it something that you're running from
Is it hope that keeps you going
Is it faith that makes you strong
Lonely river, lonely river, running on
Lonely river
In the stillness of the night
Your restless nature keeps you raging on
Changing courses
Shallow waters, tangent streams
Lonely river, do you wonder what it means
Lonely river
I think I am a lot like you
Winding on in hopes to find the sea
And flooded by uncertainties
The current can be strong
But drifting towards our destinies
The arm of God is long
And I believe that through this journey
'Til we're finally home
Lonely river, we will never, run alone

Wayne Kirkpatrick
 Michael W. Smith