My Soul’s Unrest

Tags

Poem, Wisdom

The wind is blowing every day, but no longer do I mind it.
I think happiness is lost to me and I hope someday to find it.
I form emotions from the TV strings that jerk my heart around.
Though it’s a quiet room I write this in, I’m hearing every sound.

We were born to this planet naked, but we are shamed to wearing clothes.
We believe we are personally the best there is, and want no part of those.
We talk about inequality, but we want everything for ourselves.
And collecting all the world’s luxuries, we place them on our shelf.

We each only need a little bit, but we gather more and more.
And point to the power of the government to make us share all with the poor.
We love to tell other’s what to do what we would oppose ourselves.
And collecting all the world’s luxuries, we place them on our shelf.

Have we each made a single difference, or is #letsfixthis our sole contribution.
Have we blamed the government for that, when we are the real solution.
Have we become too bothered by the community where we live?
Has gathering more and more evolved to where we have nothing left to give?

Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
But should we barter freedom, what will be our next excuse?
We treat precious life so casually, and then squander it away.
Believing we need rulers to fix our world and let us play all day.

Trash upon the ground over there, do you bend to pick it up?
Don’t worry who had tossed it there. Too many blame enough.
If you see a homeless person, have you stopped to lend a hand?
Or does the thought of you as homeless force you to take a tougher stand?

We all have fears and hopes and loves, and this is my soul’s unrest.
We are so focused on what all others do, we never do our best.
In a land of “see me love me praise me!”, we all believe a fix is near.
so few of us roll up our sleeves, far too few I fear.

The wind is blowing every day, but no longer do I mind it.
I think the world’s hope is getting far away, and I’ll be happy if we find it.
We need each other to fix this world, but we’d rather hate and keep our space.
Love is what is needed most, but it’s not the right time or place.

The wind is blowing every day, but no longer do I mind it.
I think happiness is lost to me and I hope someday to find it.
We’ve created space division distrust, so we can have our space.
Love would cure our souls’ unrest, but it’s not the right time or place.

I Live In A Colorless World

Tags

Poetry, Wisdom

I live in a colorless world,
my friends are neither black or white.
They are friends or they aren’t, and that’s all that they are.
And for us we think we’ve gotten it right.

I live in a colorless world.
Where we focus on poverty instead.
We don’t cite those statistics that define us by race.
We don’t go where the racists have led.

I live in a colorless world.
Where you are an equal to me.
And we succeed or we fail on our own merits and strengths,
and we believe that this is how our world should be.

I live in a colorless world.
But there are reasons why so few do the same.
For the failures and challeges we might face in our lives.
We have nobody but ourselves left to blame.

I live in a colorless world.
And there is nobody here I can hate.
We all appear to my senses to be just like the others,
only our minds differ, which is great for debate.

I live in a colorless world
And its so easy for you to join me here too.
Replace black or white with “colorless” in each news article you read.
It’s simple.  But we still number so few.

I live in a colorless world.
It’s the world we were born to you see.
All the differences we learned are just skin deep after all.
We are still all one humanity.

I live in a colorless world.
For what is the color of my soul?
I prefer to see similarities than differences in my fellow man.
And, my brethren, that should be all our goal.

56 Reasons To Live

Tags

Poetry, Tomorrow, Wisdom

56 Reasons To Live

At 56 I realized
Someday I won’t be alive
and with no thoughts within my brain
No part of me will even remain

And so the words I write must be
the essence that is part of me
so I must write so carefully
To share my soul so you might see.

Each laugh each smile each tear I’ve cried
each door I’d opened, each path denied.
Become the words now trued and tried.
Like secrets two friends in dark confide.

The me I share is who I aspire
to project, to be, not fake or liar,
but we all fall short of who we are
life’s journey is so steep, so far.

But it’s no race its more a stroll.
A casual gate that takes no toll.
And legs can carry you on and on.
I’m 56 and will soon be gone.

The things I’ve amassed in life too few
to be called a fortune, I would not do
less for me today to save for when I die.
I squandered much and do not deny.

I’ve been to Greece, and stood upon.
a center of greek universe I’d found
and then I stood in north so high
where sunlight would not leave the sky.

I’ve wet my form in oceans two.
The other pair I’ve yet to do
And two seems to be the thing for me.
Two sons two wives Two lives it seems.

At 56 I’ve come so far.
that now I know not how we are.
The seven stages of the age of man…
at 56 I understand.

Infancy, schoolboy, and lover too.
My early years, and what I do.
The soldier came and I was there.
Not looking forward, I did not prepare.

Now I stand at the fifth bridge of life.
a justice now, with second wife.
my wisdom of life I willingly share…
for those who might read this and care.

Old age and incapacity,
are all that now lie awaiting me.
It’s a downhill slope from where I am.
At 56, I understand.

so give away is what I do.
Perhaps to make a difference for you.
my poems, my words, my lessons from life.
Celebrate my joys, avoid my strife.

Love longer than you think you can.
you were born with two, share an open hand.
Leave you neighborhood better each day.
So when you reach 56 you’ll say:

At 56 You’ll realize like me
Someday you’ll share my destiny
I’ll be gone and you will be here to claim.
The parts of me that now remain.

That Day Never Came

Tags

commitment, Love, loyalty, Poem, Wisdom

Emailed my son the other day, wondering how was life
Did he meet a gorgeous lady yet and was she now his wife?
But the moment was so poorly timed, he asked me to refrain.
He’ll get back to me when he has free time but that day never came.

Amidst the gorgeous sunsets and the mountains tall and proud
I share a lakeside log home with my wife… far from the bustling crowds
it’s so beautiful and magical here, I think my children might feel the same
So I invited them to visit me, but that day never came.

There were many reasons given, and they all make perfect sense
I hear that time is oh so precious and many come to their defense.
I would like to make some memories before the life I love is gone,
But I’m not exactly a priority, I fear that day might never come.

If you have someone who’s special, if you have someone you adore.
Or even if that someone is a person you should see a little more.
Don’t delay until tomorrow, grab a cab, a bus, a plane.
Don’t be thinking about the things that might have been because that day never came.

If I could tell you – a Mother’s day poem.

Tags

Mother's Day, Wisdom

If I could Tell You

If I could tell you it all worked out,
would that make you smile?
I’m all grown up and moved away
survived life’s constant trials.

I’m older now, perhaps wiser too,
at least I’m sure I’m not as brash.
The bills are paid almost everyday.
Some days I’m even left with cash.

I enjoy conversation now,
The kind I would not make time for.
If you were here I’m sure we’d chat
In the ways I would not before.

it saddens me that all you’ve taught
I’ve finally grown to learn
but I would not listen to your lessons, Mom.
Knowledge like this I had to earn.

So now that I would have enjoyed that chat
You’ve gone to where I cannot follow.
Perhaps in time I’ll join you there.
I’ll look forward to that tomorrow.

But for now, I hope you hear this prayer,
Your sacrifices and tears came through.
I am all that you once hoped I’d be.
Happy Mothers Day. I love and miss you.

To Alaska

Tags

A moment, Alaska, Lonely Man, Poem, Wisdom

To Alaska

To Alaska seven years ago is where I planned to go,
despite the remoteness of the life, despite the ice and snow,
My world was grey and dull and I was looking for a change
the trip gave me the chance to do a rearrange.

As I flew across the azure skies, I saw the mountains white.
Despite the 70s I left that day, the snow lay deep and bright.
It paid no heed to temperatures, it simply was, that’s all.
The first time I met Alaska, old man winter placed a call.

My first months were alone there, but in Alaska everyone’s alone.
The temperature is a constant threat, and where you sleep is home.
Pay attention to your neighbor, if they need help it’s what you do.
and ask for no compensation, for the next time it could be you.

Share your banquet freely, let others taste you wares.
Life isn’t always even, give to others because you care.
Share warm clothes because it’s cold there, but you don’t need to share the sun.
It shines for nearly the entire day, enough for everyone.

I learned that life is precious there. I learned to just look up and smile.
The mountains stood in silent vigilance, while I rested there awhile.
I learned to smile at others and then I learned to lend a hand.
Surviving demanded I do so, if you were there you’d understand.

Still my nights grew cold and lonely, despite the shining of that sun.
I knew to complete the promise, I must risk finding “the one”.
I invited and I entertained, but not finding love would last.
I almost surrendered to a hermit’s life when i gave love one more cast.

She was stunning, a true beauty, and independant as much as me.
She convinced me she didn’t “need” me but she would share my company.
I was tongue tied, and dumbfounded. This lady was more than I could want.
But it was her humor and her kindness that made me call off my hunt.

Should I marry or shouldn’t I was a question of the day.
But if we didn’t tie a knot, would she get away?
That really didn’t matter, and that alone gave me fascination.
But I’m a provider and she needed that. So we did for financial obligation.

I have since then never looked back once, i found a way to trust again.
It was a single lady who undid all those women.
it was her ruby smile on a bright yellow day that colored my world once more.
And gave me reason to place my pen to poem,
and love her all the more.

Alaska will always be a part of me, the warmth within my soul
the laughter at the end of days, when my body slowly cools,
Alaska has been my rebirth, I have been born young again.
I lost my way, and though by chance, I am once more a man.

Prose- DARE

Tags

friendship, Getting older, Tomorrow, Wisdom

DARE

When you hear the word dare, perhaps you think back to the childhood game of “I dare you, I double dare you!” where you are challenged by friends and playmates to do something ridiculous.  In our youth, we are overflowing with confidence, so we typically have no hesitation to try something new, or unknown.

As we age, we learn that unknown paths lead to uncomfortable places.  One by one, we begin to no longer dare, to no longer take the grassy path.  Rather we stick to the well beaten paths of our lives, of our choices, and of our habits.

But as we surrender to the familiar, we begin to circle in a fishbowl of our own making – a fishbowl of a smaller and smaller circumference where we circle among familiar tasks and faces.

This world moves constantly into unfamiliar settings. As we circle in the familiar, we antiquate ourselves.   We remove ourselves from the changes, and the new experiences, that are so vital to our careers and to our lives.

Recently, I was tasked with moving from Anchorage, Alaska to Spokane Washington.  I was familiar with flying, and my first gut inclination was to simply pack a couple suitcases and fly, leaving my belongings to be packed and shipped separately.  My wife and I have two dogs – one at an advanced age and one short snouted. Neither class has positive enough survival statistics in riding in the freight section of a commercial airplane.  So I had to face this issue personally.

Dare.

I had to dare.   When I had travelled to Alaska, I had hoped to travel the Alaska Canada highway.  After a week spent traversing the country, I ran out of time.  Now, some seven years older, I had a second chance to visit that ALCAN.  Older, and more prone to avoid unknown, I had to fight my instincts.  Packing my 1999 suburban of 270k miles with belongings, provisions for two dogs and one man, I set out.

But life, much like my personal journey, can only be prepared for to a certain point.  Much of life’s journey is built along the way.  There are surprising adventures, thrilling memories to be enjoyed if you dare.  There are dead ends as well, which simply require an admission and willingness to attempt a new method, sometimes built on the way.

Planning ahead is important, but flexibility and willingness to learn and grow is equally vital.  Do you still dare?  Do you dare to try something new, to go beyond your comfort zone?  Do you dare to dine at a new restaurant, shop at a new store, even take a new route home on your commute?  If you don’t, I double dare you to.

Whatever You Do

Tags

commitment, Poem, Wisdom

Whatever You Do

When the day seems too short for the work you do
when the frustration starts to set in.
if the inbox is filled while the outbox sits empty
where can I tell you to begin.

If your bills seem to come faster than the pay in your checks.
if the tears flow much faster than laughter.
sit down and prepare to reset your dials,
you have control over what you are chasing after.

How many times have you dared laugh today?
How many times have you shared a kind word?
How many time have you wished for a kind gentle world,
but refused to be that first voice you heard?

Life is exactly what you make out of it,
so be careful of what you pursue.
Chase your dreams that show kindness as you live out your life.
for you own sake it must be what you do!

Under The Ice

Tags

A moment, Alaska, Alaskan, beauty, Getting older, Glacier, Ice, Lonely Man, Love, Poem, Poet, Poetry, rebirth, Thawing Ice, Tomorrow, Wisdom

ZIORNI DISE–O12

Under The Ice

Ice is not the only thing you find under the snow
Blue crystal flowing energy from what your youth did sow
Buried under water, no feet can touch the land
But don’t freeze in dead of winter, I think we understand

Softest shapeless water, cannot hold its form
Spineless running liquid whenever it grows warm
But in the cold dark winter, distilled to diamond blue
A force that can move mountains, look what its done to you…

move that mountain, carve that canyon, repel that landslide snow
Move everything in front of you, see how the ice does grow
Chasing after fire, but the fire never burned
It gave no warmth to the glacier man, why have you never learned

Hermit Toker red hot poker don’t regret what you have done
You will never grow your glacier by sitting in the sun
To see stars with the naked eye, you must watch the sun go down
And marvel at the stars that shine when there is no moon around

your footprints were not the only path that led out in the snow
One with the snowfall, in the dark, you moved like an ice floe
Out of the light off the charts and yet the power grew
Rain fell, but did not reach and wash the soul so diamond blue

Six months of dark and cold, you drew power from the storms
And at the dawn you felt the light, but did not feel the warm
Surrounded by green and light and love, soul still the diamond blue
You survived what no one else could and have the glacier inside you.

Pilotless Planet

Tags

Lonely Man, Poem, Poet, Poetry, Regret, Tomorrow, Wisdom

Pilotless Planet

A child of the sixties, a world of so much order
We grew up in responsibility, a burden soon to shoulder
We worked towards a single goal, placed one man on the moon
The race to space and in your face, but did we succeed too soon?

A youth growing in the seventies, a world became much smaller
The world economy broke down, deflating our precious dollar
The hopes of success and do your best was losing all its charm
Replaced by protests and disillusioned youth against our war in Vietnam

The eighties were not greaties but they restored some peace of mind
The great debate to love or hate was replaced by making time
Accumulate, don’t love don’t hate, and cyber everything
Tear down that wall and watch it fall, wondering what peace might bring?

The nineties not so fine, we watched oil take center stage
The fighting hating killing way we focused all our rage
And when too much was claimed by one in distant oil fields
We marched nations side by side to fight in the mission desert shield

At Y2K we lost our way, the fear of the coming year
A new millennium and with it, 1000 years of fear
We wrestled with the planet, and we spilled our neighbor’s blood
And made civilization advance no further in the mud.

In lost mean-spirited times, our human minds returned to simpler ways
World nations turn, miss, and reminisce the kinder simpler days
The frenzy seen of going green, so many doubling back
Nobody guessed we lost our best at the 911 attack

In the aftermath of what we lost, so much more to lose I say
We have no single purpose, now we all go about our way
Better to hate and rant and debate, than agree to coincide
The narrow focus of the world has now spread far and wide…

Where are you going Gaia sphere, what is your long term goal?
What peak will man scale in its next accomplishment, or have we lost our soul?
Will we mark time and pause awhile, before we are once more on our way?
Or will hate rule all, clap when we fall, and have nothing more to say?

This lady may have stumbled, but is that fall far off?
We fight amongst ourselves and more, we choose soft over the rough…
We are quick to pledge our sacrifice, as long as it has no pain.
And as a species have we reached a point of no more gain?

Nature abhors a vacuum, and a void is clear to see
We are spinning in circles now, absorbed in our tranquility
Among the common folk the cries, between damn you and damn it
The unspoken voiceless whisper in my mind, are we on a pilot-less planet?.