What Would I Do? If the Sun...

If the sun did not roll around the sky,
If birds did not wing it, flying so high,
If rainbows got mixed up painting their hue,
Without a tomorrow, what would I do?

If all of the world was turned upside down,
Everyone laughing was wearing a frown,
If raindrops stopped sparkling and snowflakes too,
If love disappeared, what would I do?

If there was never a Valentine’s Day,
If love songs were lost, with no time to play,
If passions ignited, were all burned right through,
No one knew Cupid, what would I do?

A lot of things are taken for granted, including Valentine’s Day.

A Foggy Morning: The Icy Intersection

At the icy intersection,

An accident waiting to happen.

No one could predict it.

The fog rolling in over the hill
Brought the whole world to a standstill,
Or so it seemed.

Thick enough to cut with a knife,
A driver almost lost his life,
But it was spared.

Thick fog had hidden the black ice
That waited for him like a vice.
It was his fate.

The moment he applied his brakes.
Just one false move is all it takes
To roll a car,

It spun, then landed upside down;
Ice water pooling to his crown
In the deep gorge;

A school bus wending on its way;
Its driver took the time to pray.
“Is he alive?”

With help from all the students there,
The driver cut the seat belt where
It held the man.

The students helped him from his car.
He looked up for his lucky star.
It was not there.

“A foggy morning, yes, I see.
Thank you to all who rescued me.”
A police car came.

“Do you know that you saved his life?
He can go home now to his wife.”
“We’re late for school.”

A bus driver and students help to save the life of a driver in an accident.

A Healthy Life: Captured Forever

A retiree, captured forever,

With one eye on God, spiritually content.
An active lifestyle of cleanliness and godliness,
Taking good care of one’s own person hood,
As well as being there for many others.   
Alert to the excitement of the rapidly changing world,
With an optimistic, astute outlook and attitude towards the future.
Motivated in a positive, constructive direction,
Ready and willing to be proactive.
Always a twinkle in the bright, aging eyes,
Going gray, maybe becoming bald, too.
Wrinkled and weather-worn,
Yet, happy, cheerful and fun loving,
Playful and delightfully, mischievous, at times.
Great to be with, 

Ever wanting to share a good time,
Yet concerned about family and friends,
As well as children of all ages.
Loving and kind to all,
Wise and wonderful,
Philanthropic, compassionate and caring,
Willing to give and share,
Inherently good, not evil.
Standing tall among the crowd,
A natural born leader of men and women.
Intrigued by nature’s fathomless beauty and mystery,
Loving and enjoying life to its fullest,
Finding time for whatever, whenever.
Open to new ideas and suggestions,
Intellectually sound, truth-oriented.
Academically inclined,
A mentor, perpetual teacher,
Financially secure,
Independent by nature.
Willingly and able to
Participate in the joy life has to offer.
Physically fit and surprisingly active,
Emotionally stable, mentally ‘with it’.
In tune with life’s realities,
Eating well, sleeping ‘like a log’.
Free from the vices of abuse.
Always seeking new challenges
While accepting change graciously.
An engaging attitude towards aging,
Living in a state of continual health and wellness.
Determined to stay forever young at heart,
Sound of mind, body and soul.
A healthy life and lifestyle,
Surreptitiously, captured forever,
As the portrait of a retiree.

A healthy retiree depicts a self portrayal.

Deafness: Cacophony

A cacophony of irrepressible silence,
A flood of silent, pounding thunder,
The muted rhythm of hundreds of hammers,
Their vibrations inwardly magnified, multiplied.
The repressed sound of a raging, roaring river,
The dead whispers of a breeze blowing in the trees,
A soundless v-formation of geese heading northward,
The silent crackling of burning logs;
The movement of human lips, anticipation of understanding,
The sudden silence of children's laughter,
The relentless blackness of a dark and lonely night,
The lack of gentle music to soothe the soul;
The empty, peaceful lapping of waves against a shoreline,
The mocking twitter of nesting birds, unheard,
The slamming of a snow flake against a rock,
All one and the same sound;
Nothing recorded by the human ear.
"Can't you hear my agony?"

The inner screaming of a deaf man.

I Can't Reach You: The Blind Man

The blind man waves his white cane

Back and forth repeatedly,

Cautiously checking his wilderness pathway.

He wipes a tear from his eye.

"Why have I been visited by this affliction?"

He hollers at the top of his voice,

But it seems as if there is no one to hear.

"I can't reach you."

He stops abruptly,

Inwardly sensing danger;

He waits and listens.

Nothing happens.

The darkness and loneliness of the night,

His constant torment.

Moving ahead carefully,

He feels the ground softening under his feet,

Gradually it gives way, but only slightly.

Suddenly, his feet feel cold and wet

As they sink into the mud,

He loses one shoe.

Using his white cane,

He retrieves it.

Reaching down for it,

He tumbles face downwards into the mud.

"Created out of mud,

I return to the mud."

The blind man almost loses his white cane, too,

But finds it again.

Getting up carefully,

He brushes the mud off it.

He gazes skyward.

"I must be a sight, God.

Can you not see my agony?"

Storm clouds billow overhead.

Rumbles of thunder resound.

A sudden deluge of rain

Washes away the mud.

The blind man taps his white cane repeatedly,

In his search for solid ground.

"I must return from whence I came."

He retraces his path homeward.

"One more adventure in my dark night;

There are no rainbows in my darkness."

A blind man tries to reach God.  

Meeting of Minds: The Meeting

The deaf man, blind man and the man, who could not speak,

Met at a Y in the road

Seemingly, by coincidence.

"Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil,"

Whispered the spirit in the wind.

"Glorify God."

Each man understood and went his own way.

Man understands when God’s Spirit speaks.

Mystery Man: The Man Who Could Not Speak

The mysterious man who could not speak
Stood silently and gazed upwards.
"I am dumb, God,"
He admitted.
"I don't understand.
Why do you not allow me to speak like others?
Have you kept me silent all these years
So that you could speak through me?"
Huge tears rolled down his cheeks.
Thunder resounded and lightning lit up the sky.
"I can hear your thunder resounding
And I see your lightning flashing."
His thoughts seemed overwhelming.
"Wise is the man who remains silent
And lets God speak through him."
He waited.
"But I cannot speak, God.
I am dumb.
Speak to others through me
With power and might."
He waited again.
"God are you dumb, too?
Can you not speak to me in my agony?
Please speak on my behalf."

A man who cannot speak asks God to speak on his behalf.

We Are One: Solitary Dreamer

Solitary dreamer,
With nature, we are one,
With life’s cycles, we are one,
With autumn leaves, we are one;
Fluttering like huge, golden butterflies,
Each leaf destined to find its own niche,
A place in time to fulfill its destiny,
Its quest for the meaning of life fulfilled.
Dream on, solitary dreamer.  

Man is one with nature, even though he often dreams alone.

Senryu about joy: From bondage to bliss

One joy filled moment
Man not a slave forever
From bondage to bliss 

One joy filled moment, as man realizes he is not a slave forever.  

Absolutely not: Two November Rose Buds

Absolutely not spring;
Pink petals, soft and tender,
Unannounced and unexpected,
A miracle of new life,
Simultaneous explosion of pure beauty.
Two rosebuds gently unfolding 
Like identical twins;
One rosebud larger,
Seemingly more dominant;
Lovingly and silently
Growing side by side,
Remaining faithful,
Strengthening each other;
One patiently waiting for the other;
Two rosebuds seemingly unaware
Of the chilly November world;
Absolutely not what they expect.

Rosebuds can blossom unexpectedly in November.

Longing for Light: A New dawning

Longing for light,
The empty soul
Dwells in suffocating darkness.

Longing for light,
The desolate man
Lives a life of quiet desperation.

Longing for light,
The troubled couple
Battles a cyclone of marital woes.

Longing for light,
The dysfunctional family
Wrestles a tsunami of social concerns.

Longing for light,
The hungry community
Struggles to avoid mass starvation.

Longing for light,
The warring country
Fights to prevent total annihilation.

Longing for light,
The entire world awaits
A new dawning for humankind.

Longing for light leads to the anticipation of a new dawning.

It's Easy: It May Be Easy, But is it Wise?

It's easy
To toss your life away,
To follow the pessimist of the day,
To fill the blanks with nothing much,
To leave your heart open to such,
But is it wise?

It's easy
To ignore the word of truth,
To not insist on finding proof,
To let the world just go around,
Without the peace you could have found,
But is it wise?

It's easy
To suffer pain so silently,
To not fight back so you are free,
To break the heart of fellow man,
Simply just because you can,
But is it wise?

It's easy
To join the pack that rules the world,
To just ignore a flag unfurled,
To stand for nothing but your self,
To place world history on a shelf,
But is it wise?

It's easy
To forget the words your parents spoke,
To let your life go up in smoke,
To forget all so near and dear,
To walk right past a small child's tear,
But is it wise?

It's easy
To become a better man,
To strive for good while you still can,
To make the world a better place,
To show love for the human race.
Now that is wise.

Life offers many choices, but the decision is ours.

We Never Had a Chance: The Power of Love Controls Passion

The power of love was far too strong;
We never had a chance,
Though we tried not to fall in love,
Pure love began its dance.

The moonlight and the twinkling stars
Dispersed across the sky,
Before we knew it, we held hands
And time flew quickly by.

It was never our intention
To give in to desire.
The yearning, burning of sweet love
Set both our hearts on fire.

And then the moment right was there,
Just too much to resist.
Before we knew it, we were trapped
And then, alas, we kissed.

With wine and roses, chocolates,
Love's fury to enhance
And love's pure passion in control,
We never had a chance.

Love's pure passion is subject to the power of love.

A Slight Disaster:What is a Disaster to You?

A slight disaster, so they say;
Disasters happen day by day.
A dress that has a fallen hem,
A flower with broken stem.
A cup that's shattered in the dark,
Two brothers fighting in the park.
A child who loses his pet toad,
A fender bender on the road.
A puppy all alone, so lost,
Insurance that won't pay the cost.
The things that don't go well at work,
A father, who his task would shirk.
Disasters of the day are found,
Where expectations do abound.
A make-up tip that's gone awry,
A satellite falls from the sky.
A flood, road access that's denied,
A leader, who it seems has lied.
A trail of death because of wind,
The fate of humankind who sinned.
Love heals disasters all the time,
Sometimes through poetry and rhyme.
Perhaps it takes a mother's love,
Or greater power from above.

Slight disasters occur daily in our lives, but love has the power to bring healing in any disaster.

We're Not Kids Anymore: But, If We Were...

We're not kids anymore,
But if we were...

When we were kids, our world was free,
Or such was our reality.

It was a world of two-plus-two
And a,b,c, "Dick and Jane", too.

Our lives were filled with wondrous dreams
And hand-me-downs with lengthened seams.

A world where crayons played their part,
Paint box and brushes, paper, art.

New, home-made skis to roam the hills
And skates to learn some different skills.

Another baby on the way,
New bassinet just for that day.

Bright, sunny days with berries sweet,
New shoes to fit the largest feet.

Piano music filled the air,
With Christmas baking everywhere.

From child to child, the boots passed down,
Along with a soft, granny gown.

Fishing for rainbow trout was fun
And swimming in the summer sun.

The one-room school was right next door,
Square dancing on the waxy floor.

Whispering in the dark of night,
A children's world of pure delight.

But we're not kids anymore….

The days of yesteryear hold fond memories to reflect upon.

To Hear His Laugh: Red Boots From Santa

Red boots from Santa would be great,
But do you think, perhaps too late?

With Christmas just one day away,
What do you think that he will say?

To hear his laugh would be such fun.
"Ho, ho, ho," then I might just run.

A letter to Santa, I will send.
When his elves get it, rules, they'll bend.

I've not been naughty, really nice.
I'll make cookies, cinnamon spice.

What kind of boots, leather or silk?
I will leave Santa some warm milk.

Red boots to play out in the snow;
I'll be happy, my best friend show.

Leather for outdoors would be best;
Silk slippers too, just for my guest?

The postman's coming. It's getting late.
I hope that we don't have to wait.

Is it ever too late to send a letter to Santa?

Hold Out Your Hand: There's Someone There

Hold out your hand. There's someone there
With whom you can your troubles share;
Someone to love, someone to care
In your deep, darkness of despair.

Look up. You'll see a shining light,
A wondrous glow in darkest night
Sending forth its power and might;
A star that's filled with sheer delight.

Just trust. The Christmas star you see,
Is still today's reality.
The shepherds and the wise men free,
Knew the Savior, the babe would be.

Walk in faith. Soon joy you will know
And you will wear a special glow.
Towards you, others will soon go.
Hold out your hand. Let your love show.

The poetic Christmas message of old is still valid today.

Haiku About First Snow Flakes: Autumn's First

Nature's pure, white veil
First snowflakes, floating, dancing
Tree trunks shivering

The beauty of nature is coupled with the transition in weather.

Fond Memories: What Do They Really Remember?

Fond memories
Linger in their hearts and minds.
Words no longer come to them,
Or if they do,
They are indistinct, incomplete
Or cannot be expressed,
Meaningless to anyone
But themselves.
For most,
A long, dedicated life
Filled with love
Expressed in its fullness.
Lives well lived,
Now being relived,
At least momentarily.
Vague recollections of yesteryear,
An inaccessible treasury of
Fleeting joy and sorrow.
Their soft, pale skin,
Wrinkled faces, silvery-white hair;
The glow in their eyes,
Reveals fond memories
Still alive in their hearts.
Their smiles reflecting
An inner quietness,
A blessed peacefulness
Words cannot express.
What do they really remember?
Perhaps no one will ever know.

Fond memories can still fill the hearts and minds of those with memory loss.

Flaws and All: The Beckoning Call

Feathery, pure, white snowflakes
Fluttering to frozen ground,
Landing like young butterflies,
With never even one sound.

Sparkling, foam tipped, sheer waves
So gently bowed right o'er,
Rhythmically rolling steadily
Towards yon sandy shore.

Busy, red-headed woodpeckers
Hammering at wrinkled trunks;
Forests, fields, rickety fences
Hiding the deer and skunks.

Knuckles of a gnarled oak tree
To be harvested, as a log.
A ghostly masked, dark sunset
Wearing a dense robe of fog.

Majestic, shiny, glacier peaks,
Snow melting with icy drops.
Early morning sun reveals
Smog's veil that never stops.

Ancient log houses, barns and sheds,
Too many worn out farms.
New signs of global warming,
Both young and old alarms.

Oil spills that begin to clog
The water pipes and drains.
Greed and graft continuing, 
Fear and terror reigns.

We can all claim ownership.
The universe is ours,
The earth, sun and the moon,
Along with all the stars.

Complete, imperfect, yes they are,
Yet loved for all their worth,
Beautiful and not beautiful,
All longing for re-birth.

Such is the world we live in
Complete with flaws and all,
Thus too, responsibility,
So, heed the beckoning call.

The beautiful and the not beautiful are both our responsibility.

Hiaku About the Man in the Moon: Man-child

Forever man-child,
The man in the moon winking
Is nature's mischief.

Who is the man in the moon? No one really knows for certain.

Sijo About Decorating the Christmas Tree: Christmas Tree Dilema

A dilemma, real tree or artificial? Which shall it be?  
Tree decorations, large or small? Something that could beautify all?
I know. A Christmas tree that can be planted in the garden.

The choice of an environment-friendly Christmas tree can please everyone.

Sijo About Holiday Shopping: The Perfect Gift

The joy of holiday shopping, children's laughter, Christmas presents,
Sales, bargains and the inevitable question of what to buy;
Music, the timeless quest for the perfect gift is resolved

The quest for the perfect gift is often resolved with music.

Do You Really Believe That? Spiritual Blessing

"I saw an angel,"
The man stated in sign language.

"He has a history of mental illness,
Schizophrenia," said another.
"His sign language was garbled,
Did not make sense."
"How did he ever get past security?"
"He never should have been allowed on stage."
"He is an embarrassment to the country."

Or is he?

"I saw an angel."
"I am sorry."

Sorry for seeing an angel?
Sorry for being momentarily overwhelmed?

Angels have appeared to man
Since the beginning of humankind.

One man seeing an angel may be a sign of spiritual blessing for a nation.

Sijo About Santa's Elves: A Million Tasks

Santa Claus has a million tasks. Can he get everything done?

What about Santa's elves, so small? Toy makers, tinkers, carpenters,
Christmas elves enjoying their tasks in his workshop, at the North Pole?

Who will help Santa Claus?

If I Had One Hour: One Hour

If I had one hour, I would swing from the morning star,
Bask in the light of the full moon,
And revel in the symphonic majesty
Of the wind enticing
The majestic, northern lights to dance.

If I had one hour,
I would flit like a hummingbird,
Freely exploring the heart of every flower,
Gently sip on warm, sweet nectar,
Awaken each blossom to new beauty
Beyond the realms of nature's power.

If I had one hour,
I would ride on a gentle, rain drop,
Or soar with the snow flakes
Wherever the wind would blow,
Perch on the highest mountain peak
And enjoy the beauty of the world.

If I had one hour,
I would touch hearts of others
With tender love, innocent and complete,
Elicit expressions of true humanity,
Satisfy longings, dreams and desires
Never experienced, known or understood. 

Imagination can take us any place we want to go.

This Could Be Easy: It Could Be Harder Too

If there is a way to do something,
Man will find it, though it may take time.
He may search his inner thoughts knowing
Possibility is at its prime.

Oft a traveled road seems easier,
But it may not be a direct path.
An un-traveled road has barriers;
Discovery, as its aftermath.

This could be easier, he might decide,
There's not as much work along the way,
But a struggle has its own rewards,
Not always evident in their day.

Where there is a will, there is a way.
It oft takes man's ingenuity
To stay motivated and succeed
But, in the end, the results he'll see.

Whatever the task, give it a try,
As that is what a wise man should do.
One way may not succeed; try again.
This could be easier, harder too.

Where there is a will, there is usually a way.

Ninette About Advent: Celebrate Advent

Joy
Coming
'Adventus
Parousia'
Messiah's coming
Ancient longings
Christ returns
Alert
Joy  

The return of the Messiah brings joy.

Christmas Caroling: Caroling on Christmas Eve

Birth of Jesus, time to celebrate,
To welcome the Christ child on this date.
Christmas caroling, joy all around; 
Church bells chiming with a happy sound.
In each home, see candles burning bright,
People singing, showing their delight.
Soprano, tenor, alto sounds ring,
Deep bass voices too, a time to sing.  
Christmas Eve, excitement fills the air.
Joyous music comes from everywhere.

Listen for the joyous caroling on Christmas Eve.

That's It: A Blessed New Year

A blessed New Year to you everyone;
Enjoy the dawning of the rising sun.
Resolve to know the truth and thus to love,
As God Himself has shown you from above.

Expect the fullness of God's blessings pure,
And know that your salvation is secure.
Seek His Word and guidance every day
Remembering to take the time to pray.

Work with your hands to always do His will
And listen to the voice that says, "Be still!"
Thank God for blessings and you too, will find
Your happiness is multiplied in kind.

Just know there'll be a day you'll see His face.
Rest in His peace and glory in His grace.
These New Year's resolutions just might be
The way to help your spirit to fly free.

These New Year's resolutions offer the answer to the question of how to set your spirit free in 2014.