Tree

One small tree.
Simple, humble, plain.
Wind blows.
Then rain.

Thrust sideways.
Leaning, swaying hard.
Roots reach
Through sward.

Ripping away
Small branches and leaves
Stays strong
Achieves.

Sun comes.
Grounded, strengthened, deep.
Roots firm.
Life keep.

Socks

Getting out of bed

Is hard enough, 

But finding socks, 

Man, that's just rough!

Frantic searching,

Up,down, left,right.

Finding matches

Is a fright! 

You might find two 

That look the same,

But to your dismay,  

Your hopes were vain.

Socks haunt my dreams.

I close my eyes 

Only to find

Socks fill the sky.

They loom upon me

More and more

Closing in

Blocking the door.

"I just want a match!"

I scream.

Waking to find

I live my dream.

Why is it such

A  painful task

To find one simple

Stinking match! 

One day, I thought,

I've had enough!

This sock business

Is just too tough.

So I armed myself

And found the drawer

"You socks will have

Power no more!"

I closed my eyes

And picked two socks.

Did they match? 

No they did not! 

But I have conquered, 

For now at last,

I do not care 

If my socks match! 

Desiderata (The Desired Things)

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

-Max Ehrmann

Touch of Heaven

The length of a breath,

The plea of a prayer.

A thoughtful small act

Of warmhearted care.

The mist of the clouds,

The fall of a tear.

A gentle assurance,

That you need not fear.

The joy of a laugh,

The sun in a smile.

Leisurely staying

And talking awhile.

The fall of a leaf,

The crunch of the snow.

The ticklish green grass

Under your toe.

Each intercource,

Every creature and cell,

Each talent and source,

Each touch, taste and smell,

All of the world,

Right down to you,

Sings out to us all,

To all hope renew!

 Everything testifies 

And manifests love.

It all shows the touch

Of heaven above.

On the Rainy Days

How do you feel when you walk in the rain?

Some might feel lonely, or sense a deep pain.

How do you feel when the clouds come along?

Scared, doubtful, worried, like it all has gone wrong?

How do you feel when you can't see the sun?

Does the fog seem to tell you, give up and be done?

How do you feel when you step in the slush?

Distressed, or angry, degrated or crushed? 

I feel like this sometimes, and I think you do too, 

But let's not be discouraged, let's try something new!

Instead of dwelling on all our bad luck, 

Or hating all reason when we're in the muck,

Let's lift up our eyes, to that misty grey sky,

And let the rain fall and wipe your tears dry. 

Welcome the unknown! Embrace a new day.

Love that the rain, washes away.

What Are We To Do?

Life sure can get complicated,

Rather discombobulated.

Often times the question's stated:

What are we to do?

Lots of worries, lots of stresses,

Fears and tears and different messes,

Darkness, doubts, too many guesses.

What are we to do?

The wind will blow us to and fro,

Take us into the unknown 

And we must decide where to go.

What are we to do?

It all might bring us to our knees 

As we beg, and seek and plead

And look to God to meet our needs,

He'll tell us what to do.

It might not all come right away.

Sometimes He'll let the questions stay,

So we can learn to find our way

And have faith as we do.

But as you try to search and find

You're way with God, a different kind

Of light will set you free, unwind,

And you'll know what to do.

He knows the way.

Walking down the strait and narrow way,
Where can we find the strength we need each day?
We cannot find the right way all alone,
Through Him, we can find our way back home.

He knows us, and our weaknesses,
He knows our own uniqueness,
He knows the way right back to Him,
And He's the only way...

We've been so weak for so long,
But next to Him we can be strong,
He carries me when I am lost,
But in His arms I know I won't be tossed, (to the side.)

He knows us, and our weaknesses,
He knows our own uniqueness,
He knows the way right back to Him,
And He's the only way...

So many wonders, so many questions,
So many people to give different suggestions,
Is this alright, is this okay,
What should I learn, what should I say?

He knows us, and our weaknesses,
He knows our own uniqueness,
He knows the way right back to Him,
And He's the only way...

He knows your thoughts, and what you find,
He knows your desires and your mind,
He knows if your truly doing right,
He knows if your following the light.

He knows us, and our weaknesses,
He knows our own uniqueness,
He knows the way right back to Him,
And He's the only way...

In His image we are made,
So don't be afraid,
Your heart knows the truth,
He'll tell you what to do.

He knows us, and our weaknesses,
He knows our own uniqueness,
He knows the way right back to Him,
And He's the only way...

So listen to what He has to say,
Don't give up right now today,
Don't loose the truth of yesterday!
He knows the way!

He knows us, and our weaknesses,
He knows our own uniqueness,
He knows the way right back to Him,
And He's the only way...

The secret staircase.

Based on a true story.

In the closet there's a door,
Its shut very tight,
Its way in the back,
Where there's not a lot of light.

By the door there's a switch,
So I switched the light on,
Then I opened the door,
To see what is going on.

The door creaked open,
And I looked around the corner,
A secret little staircase,
Appeared to my horror,

Curiosity over took me,
Up the stairs I snuck,
To find out what was up there,
Hoping I had some luck,

The ceiling was so low,
but I could jump so high,
Because what I found up there,
Was a total surprise.

A small trampoline,
I could not ever see why,
For you'd hit your head so fast,
If you tried to jump and fly.

So I snuck back down the stairs,
And shut the door back tight,
And switched the light back off,
And kept it out of sight.