Dark looks the same to me;
Long nights, short nights,
Summer or winter,
Outside my childhood window
Or just last night.
Dark is dark,
And it all looks the same.
But then the sunrise comes,
Every morning different,
Hazy purple clouds,
Brilliant streaks of pink and gold,
Aqua, peach and tangerine.
Sometimes it slowly creeps
Hand over hand to the horizon’s edge
While I sip from my mug
And ponder the spreading ripples of day.
Next morning,
A rip in the clouds and it bursts with speed
That takes my breath away.
Sometimes no painted sky at all,
Just light filtered through clouds,
But light nevertheless.
The dark times of life all look the same,
No shades of black, just black.
Then God has a way
Of sending the light in different hues
At different speeds
At different times
For different needs and different pain.
Dark is always dark,
But the sunrise is legion in its joy




Next tag - stains

Stains...
visible reminders of a spill of juice,
or a tumble in the grass,
or a muddy tackle....
recieved while having fun with loved ones.

Stains...
invisible reminders of a sharp word,
a hurtful stare,
a mocking laugh,
a face turned away...i
ntentional or not... leaving marks on the soul.

Stains...
some lessened with bleach or soda water or a good scrubbing...
some lessened with apologies and forgiveness and sincere hugs.

Stains...
some easier to wear...
some easier to bear...
seen or unseen...
on your clothing or in your heart....
fresh or faded...
but there.


tag -you're "it" - try 'web'

WEB


It was only a tiny fib at first
To show me a step above the worst,
A filament so slight and fine
I barely noticed its arm on mine.
The next spun quickly, without a thought,
Lay next to the first and hindered me not,
A tickle on skin, and a gossamer one
That I thought quite pretty and rather fun.
The next and the next spun stronger still
And I smiled that I could produce them at will,
Proud and smug as the delicate strands
Wound through my fingers and clung to my hands.
As strand after strand glowed brighter and brighter
I missed the change as they slowly grew tighter,
‘Til I started to choke as they covered my face;
I tripped then fell as they shortened my pace.
I tried in vain panic to brush them away,
But now they were legion, and woven to stay,
A tangled web of deceit so tight
That I couldn’t wrest free with all of my might.
As light as a cobweb that fragile first lie,
But now they are cables and I am the fly.



Next tag: Sunday

Hello, i am back but just for a little time.:grouphug: this for everyone!

I am going to try this out, here we go:(:(

SUNDAY

Seven days and seven suns. I don`t understand
Now, how these days are done.
Are we suppose to wonder, for
Years around to figure it all out??

This sounds stupid or awful to me, sorry.:o


Next Tag : New Years

New year,
New day,
New beginning...
Old body
Old problems
Old attitude...
I can’t go back
I can go on
I can hold on...
God is able
God is good.


Next tag: Nostalgia

Tag: Nostalgia

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
a bit tattered

a bit scratched

a little faded

and a little cracked

a little torn

a little patched

a little of this

and a bit of that

sometimes the little is quite a lot

that can't be restored

and has to be trashed

but the feeling is always

fuzzy and warm

soul's a blazing

with memories past

faded photos of my dad

scratched up records of his past

little torn shirt of nana's time

extra warmth as blanket top

blowing dusts off the arenose frame

grandpa's smile's just the same

til this day I still do wear

the jeans my mama neatly patched

one day I hope to be all of that

my grandkids' cracked, patched, dusty mug...

I hope when they hold

their grandpa's past

nostalgia will warm

hearts

forever last...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

tag: left and right

I look to the right
But lean to the left
And not just politically, either
It’s one of those symptoms
They say is atypical

Even left-handers were made to feel different in the 50’s
The 50’s were so uptight
No wonder it took the 60’s
To make the wrongs right

To be left is the worst feeling
Worse than being alone in the beginning
Even left standing on the curb when the yellow turns to red
And the crowd walks ahead leaving you there, feels significant

Left, Right, Left, Right
The slow wipers swing
Lulling me into momentarily forgetting
about the beginning and the end
And everything bad in between

If you have been left
To your own devices to cope
I will try to be there for you
And help you find hope


It's right to be here
It's right to be me
It's right to be them
And it's right to be you

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:


next up: oh gosh, too much pressure. How about colors and reasons...take a wild card and pick 2 words you like.

colors as reasons I can think of a few things
the autumn beauty,so brilliant, to your heart it sings
songs of beauty and splendor nature holds deep in its soul
creating images that from your mind shall never go
slowly autumns colors fade as the winter gets it grip
a colder dawn with barren tress and to the air a nip
then the colors change again as we get a blanket of snow
so pure and white so soft and sound
a blanket of purity covers the ground
snow angels snowman and ice castles too
snowball fights snow forts perhaps a day off of school
the melting comes slowly showing us another change
spring time weather approaches as winter wanes
slowly the brownness turns to green as the flowers awake
natures cycles a blessing, as the ices melts on the lake
krokus and daffodils spring forth from the ground so stout
the air is warmer the snow is less your so happy you shout
shouts for joy, over comes your heart with the changing of the seasons
thus you know when colors change, yes there is always a reason


tag you is it


"picnics"

It's not my turn yet, but I have to take the picnic one!

A picnic is my favorite fantasy
Sitting on a blanket with my one true love
Food in the basket long since forgotten
Feeling so full when we leave
I won’t need to eat for weeks

A picnic with my sweet little girl
She helped me make the finger foods
Grinning at me through a peanut butter smile
She says momma, “ I want to be just like you!”
Hoping I can be worthy

A picnic with my robust boy
He’s rolling down the hill, too busy to be hungry
We laugh for awhile and throw sticks
Give blanket rides to each other and end up
Throwing the food to the ducks

A picnic with my mom and dad
Long gone on their journey to heaven
But still here in my mind and heart and life
Saying all of the things we said long ago
But even sweeter now with the retelling

A picnic is a lovely feast
There is something about the conscious thought
Of putting together one’s favorite foods to share
With chosen ones in a chosen spot
That makes the partaking almost ceremonial

Hand squeezed lemonade and crunchy chicken
Pots of cheese and bread with olive oil for dipping
Only the finest (read that cheap, cold, and sweet) wine will do
And most of all, to my picnic today
I wish I could invite all of you

:grouphug::hug::grouphug::hug::grouphug:

Next up: serendipity

wow that was good Sue, I liked the i want to be like you mommy through peanut butter smiles, i could actually picture her,:)

there are no turns or at least thats how gladys and i started it, I have not been about as much lately, so that may of changed, who ever wants to take on the tag subject, go for it

tag is still serendipity

tag game - topic colors
 

I just happen to belong to a local poetry group that meets every 2-3 weeks and one of the meetings requirement was to write a poem about a color.
I chose red. this poem I wrote is a bit long for this thread - but i thought you might enjoy it. Here it is: oops - I forgot to pass it on - the tag topic is - SWIMMING

red

I can’t make up my mind about the color red
The negatives & positives have me confused
Just when I have, my mind decided – instead
I find it even more difficult to choose.

Red is the color they say the devil is
But red is for true love and Valentines
Once, Russia had bunches of red communists
But red-blooded Americans blood is red, most of the time.

Lack and failure on tests are usually marked in red
And working in the red is - a high ratio of debt
But the red necks that fuel the red hot coals of industry,
That crank out new red sports cars for the “Indy”
Santa’s red suit, red bag, roll out the red carpet, please
These red things are deemed signs of success.

We see red when we are angry, (but not really)
And taking the red eye, leaves us feeling sleepy.
Is the ruby red shimmering of the hummingbird
More beautiful than the powerful red hawk that hunts her?

When we say red skins, we could mean potatoes
Or ball players, or the Natives (that were here before)
And neither ball players nor red Indians, (at least not most)
Come from India, nor do they have red skin, (of course.)

Not even Superman’s red cape or Spiderman’s tights
Could sooth annoyance of red tape or red stop lights
The Red Cross, and candy stripers give helping hands
But we don’t say that we caught them red handed.

When the red sky warns of a storm
Where do ladybugs and robins go to stay warm?
No trivia herein of red so far has had the impact
Or importance understated in these last four facts:

The bloody results left by some words can’t be un-said
Like “you’re HIV positive” or “I’m pregnant”
And it was a future sacrifice illustration
When blood over door was first-born protection.

So there you have it, a silly synopsis on the color red
And “ways of speak” that I bet you hadn’t thought of
Did you get a kick out of the language threads
But then, that might hurt, and I never got to the bottom of.

Red

those are all great, folks!

I did see that the next tag word is: serendipity

:)

serendipity...
once in a while
it makes me smile
remembering
old friends.

going back
takes longer now
while up ahead
it's shorter

elusive things
those memories
wiley in their absence
but once in a while
if everything works
I really do remember.


tag......the word is frog

frogs are quick to ribit and leap
in serene ponds that are knee deep
with tongues so strong and stout
snagging flies as it reaches out
multi colored skin so bright
singing their songs as day losses its light
their call carries over the swamps and waters
their silence means they dont want to be bothered
so remember frogs are indeed pretty cool creatures
so many colors and some with cool features




ickk lol I tried ok keeping the theme

next tag "Lilly pads"

There's a theme? :confused: *grin

Tag...lily pads

lily pads

we all need a lilly pad to rest our weary bones
a place to go when we are tired and tired of being tired
we all need a lily pad to rest our troubled minds
a place to go when we are sad and tired of being sad

if we don't have a lily pad, and don't know how to get one
we can always ask our friends and they will loan us theirs
if we don't want a lily pad, and have run out of courage
again, just ask an NT friend, they will loan us courage.

I don't really like this poem, but I like it just enough not to delete it.
Maybe someone can fix it or write a better one about lilypads.

tag: emoticons

Tag: "Emoticons"

~~~~~~~~~~~~
: )
8)
; )
*)
X(
: (
:P
:O
:/
:|
xP
xD
:S
:3
:E
:X
:-*
>:O
>: (
>: )
0: )
<3 or x3♥
</3
:'(
@}->--
%-)
%-(
8-)

OK, but seriously...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

how can a blank piece of paper
be chockful of emotions

how can one cyber friend
show support for another

typing "smile" might help
but seeing :-) is even better

sometimes words get misconstrued
ending with a :-D or a ;-) makes it lighter

who knew a few lines and a few dashes
can make one's day brighter...

colons become eyes
while semi becomes winks

while emoticons reveal expressions of the face...
a$$icons, well, I rest my case...

so here's a ^_^ to end this tag
and dare I tag the next word: "drag"

It is truly a drag
When I feel like a limp rag

Down the stairs I creep
Can't find my friend - sleep

It is truly a drag
When I hit this snag

With the coming of light
This mind will be quite a sight

Oh, that this pain would fly away
How I pray

For, then, I could find
That sweet nursery rhyme

And dream, lightly dream
And not be in this drag
That will leave me like a rag.


Tag = dream or dreaming

ahhh...d.r.e.a.m.i.n.g....
I think it is bright colors and flashing forms
with a story to tell
not sure
I do not dream

I do know it happens nightly
to some people

Some say it tells the future
and some feel it heals the past
does each part really have great meaning
do the pieces fit together at last

what are you dreaming
does it have the makings of a good suspense story
are there lovely heroines or heroes or both
and do they let you have a part

do you wish that when you are sleeping
John Mayer would come to you in a dream
to sing “Dreaming with a broken heart”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NZZ6tXCuO8


Tag: "take one for the team" or "a team of one" or "it takes two"

It Takes Two --BMW-
It Takes a ME
and takes a You
to safely make it
all the way threw.
So when I fall
gather my pieces
and fix me as you wish .
Glue me together
like a broken dish
I am for you and
your are for me.
It takes two
Oh God
It takes a ME
and takes a YOU.

- - - -- - -- -- -
Tag is Spiders

spiders scared the bejesus out of her
made her cry and shake and shhhhhivvvvver

so why did she put a spider in an old mayonnaise jar with holes punced in the tim lid with a penny nail and a hammer
holding her mouth just so and with a defiant flip of her hair
stand on a tipsy stool to shove the jar far back into the dark of her closet

during the public celebration on the television
while her mother chided her to come watch for pete's sake
she tiptoed back to her room several times
checking on the little black guy
at least she hoped it was black-it did not look gray-
and it was darker than brown
oh yeah it was not brown
certainly not brown

brown was the color of the spider who had killed her cousin
she had seen everyone crying and knew her cousin had gone to Jesus
But no one would tell her why
and once she heard one of the aunts whispering to the other one
"be sure you don't speak about it in front of the c-h-i-l-d, you know how dramatic she gets and how she will just add this to the list of the things she worries herself to a frazzle about"

but finally she broke down her mother's will
she had enough practice doing that after all
and her mother had told her-a spider bit your cousin, Sweetie and God called her home

well, how could her cousin die at a time like this
with the 4th of July parade next week
and they had both already decorated their bikes
and their moms had sat together under the tree in the back yard and picked out the wanuts for the cookies to take to the park after the parade
wait? what? what? a spider? one of those leggy, crawling things that her mother had always told her were n.o.t. dangerous
so sit down, and be quiet
it was dangerous? it took her cousin away from her, and worst of all made her cousin have to get put down in a hole in the cemetery, their worst shared nightmare

so why is the spider sitting in her closet?
why does she leave the closet door open at night in the dark?
why does she will herself to look at it again and again in the daylight?

does she know somehow that only by facing it again and again and again and again
she will finally be free of its danger?


~

Tag: tools or toys or keys

Isn't this one great?

The Spider Strikes Again.
(by Farrell Hope)

The spider came in leaps and bounds,
it's beady eyes agleam.
The little boy began to run,
his voice a gargled scream.

He got unto the garden gate,
there he was dragged flat.
The spider pounced upon him,
and squashed him like a gnat.

The next day on the ground,
the gardener chanced to see,
a thing that looked as if it had,
once been a boy of three.

He got his rake, he got his hoe,
and scooped it in his barrow.
The bones were light and hollow,
for the spider'd sucked the marrow.

The gardener did not chance to see,
the spider lurking near.
It scuttled out and grabbed the lout,
and dragged him to it's lair.

With vicious blow of fist and toe,
the gardener soon broke free.
It was for naught, he was recaught,
and joined the boy of three.

Toys

Beautifully wrapped gifts piled high under the tree.
Each shiny bow waiting to reveal what is waiting inside...
The lastest toy that was bought after waiting in line for hours;
Seen on TV a thousand times over until convinced it was a necessity;
Purchased on credit because the electricity bill, though a smaller total, was due to be paid.

Expectant little hands ripping the colored paper from the box;
Eyes bright with excitement;
Lifting the batteries-not-included gadget out of it's prison...
Then setting it aside after a few perfunctory "thank you's"
and crawling into the now empty box that has become the true object of delight and imagination.

Keys to the heart
Can give us such a start

Painful memories
To overcome
Tear down the walls
Let love encompass
Do not stall

Life is short
Time waits for none
Please do court
And find the sort
To feel like the sun

A warm embrace
Hand held tight
Love exchanged
Is a mighty flight
Into realms of light

It can bring pain
But, oh, so sweet
Please don't
Hold back
For love is worth
Any heartache
Better than the lack
And empty space

Please let them know
By your embrace
That love is bright
And will fill that place
And still your ache.

Love is being
A place so freeing
A healing balm
To all its bringing

So make this day
An everyday......
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
EVERY DAY!

I forgot to leave a tag.....
~ light ~ or ~ sunlight ~ :)

Light of my life
Heart of my heart
Hostages to fortune
my father called them.

You have to have one
to understand one..
and even then they'll
break your heart.

a mother is an easy target
because she'll always love you.
but even that gets old in time
self preservation kicks in.

Light of my life
Heart of my heart
still hoping for the fortune.

**************

tag Pride

Pride-A Necessary Attribute

Ironically, held high by Aristotle
And praised as a virtue
But demonized by the Canon
As one of the seven deadly sins

possible to have without hubris or narcissism
can bring hope in things yet unrealized
gives us the courage to build and endure
can bring comfort when reviewing endeavors
enables us to feel entitled to all good things


Tag: boundries

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

self-pride~~~I am 59 years old and still struggling to find it. Like a 3 year old child who knocks down his 2 year old brothers blocks, disease and unrelenting pain can do a thorough job of busting up the fragile threads of self-worth.
But we have to fight and fight and not quit-because if we do not fight for our rightful place, we will cheat ourselves out of many good things and pleasures, feeling they are unearned by us. We have earned pleasure by being alive and by not intentionally harming others. We do not need to be healthy and be accomplishing "work" to earn the right to be happy. I give this little speech or similar ones to myself everyday. Why is it so hard to believe it, feel it? I want to paint. I have brushes, canvases, palettes and paints-but cannot paint anymore. I don't think I deserve to use the time and energy for something that will only bring joy. But I am going to try to take baby steps to start painting again. Does anyone else share this struggle?

Boundries

Whether it's an invisible fence
to keep the dog in the yard

Or a line in the sand
drawn to keep the hurt at bay

or biting your tongue
to still the words

boundries are necessary.

Tag: wants vs needs

dragonfly
 

wondering from where you come,
how you know I need to see you
never fearful, never in fright,
I am still, waiting, wanting you to alight

so fragile you are
fills me with wonder,
It's like were old friends
so trusting of each other.
your precious wings bring me a sign,
I know it is their love,
those crossed over
those home in Heaven above

tell them I was here to greet you,
a smile filled my heart,
I'll look everyday for you
their love for me will never depart

(for my Mom who sends me dragonflies :hug:)


tag: songs/music

MUSIC-BMW-
Beneath The Music
Is the rhythm
An electronic prism.
Beneath the music
Is the soul beating
My fears retreating.
Beneath the music
Answer to my wonder
Booming loud as thunder.
Beneath the music is
You you you
Me me me.
Beneath the music
Peacefully
Free free free.
- - - - - - - - - -
TAG is LOST or MISSING

pages organized by days at first
then weeks, then months, then years
as she grew older

an album full of firsts
first bath, first tooth, first trip to the zoo
every celebrated birthday and holiday
documented by pictures
the story of her life unfolds
then stops
and the missing pages are glaring in their omission
making it almost too unbearable to look
at the pages leading up to that day

but they make themselves look
she deserves the remembrance
of sunny days spent on the swings at the park
lazy days of reading together by the fire
and happy days filled with laughter and love
so they look and remember and after awhile
they barely notice the missing pages
at all...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

tag:brilliance or luster

The brilliance shone for all to see
Causing not just a little jealousy.
Shouldn't that bright luster
Have been saved for me?

Never wanted to share
Wanted you all for myself,
The world does not own you
Or need you like I do.

Why put on such a show
To impress all of them,
when my heart sits her waiting
To be your true friend, my friend.

Next tag: Serendipity or interruptions

Finally a moment of silence, I might get some work done today!
But mommy, mommy it's so nice out can we please go play?
Out in the yard with mud pie picnics and pretend tea,
Getting lost together in the cloud watching world of make believe.
Lists of chores, errands to run, a million things to do
Look mommy I colored a picture just for you
Work will have to wait until the little one is tucked in bed
Because life's interruptions are here instead.
Tomorrow she will be grown, and you'll wonder how
Life's interruptions you should always allow.


New Tag: leprechaun

Just wanted to say hello an i is back. :D this is for everyone i know:grouphug:

hope everyone is doing ok?




TAG STILL IS : leprechaun

Hi Nana1-nice to meet you. Thanks for the hugs!


some picture a leprechaun
a happy little man
but he's kinda spooky, ain't he?
kinda dark and spiteful
playing dirty tricks, for all to see

legend is if you catch him
your troubles are gone
but he's a slippery little guy
and hard to pin down
it's hard to see him with your eye

you gotta slide in beside him
and play your own trick
make sure the light is dim
and before he knows you are there
put one over on him

so now you have his gold
feel a little sorry for him, don't you?
so should you give it back
or joke and gloat and run away
and spend it on a Big Mac?

That is one weird little poem! (But not as weird as the first 2 I wrote!)


Tag: luck or chance or choices

Choices

I have a choice to see you
or pretend not to see.
which one will help me...or hurt me?
It is all about me, right?

I have a choice to go on or stop
or to not choose either
to just stay in limbo
holding my breath.

You have a choice to be close to me
or far away, but just remember
if you choose to be far from me
who is left to be close to you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choices

Oh gosh, the agony of choosing
rivulets of caramel covered with hot fudge
or chocolate covered strawberry blizzard?
soft scrumptious sweet vanilla
or brow-freezing raspberry slushie?

tongue-tripping taste senastions
soaring examples of love in the fast lane
no "to eat or to not to eat" choice here
only sane thing would be to inhale
Oh gosh, the wonder of choosing...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choices

It's scary to think
how many "choices" really aren't...
fate or chance plays a much larger role
than any of us want to understand

Where we live, what we do, where we go
we think we choose
but do we? Or do circumstances
throw the dice?

One thing I know-on this earth or the next
fated or not, smart or not, convenient or not,
My choice is You
For me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag: Wild Card-Please share a poem-your "choice" of subject

wild card:

PAIN

The cool breeze caresses
My fevered brow.
And I wonder why
And how?

What is it
To lift another?
To feel their heart
In love and pain?

To let them know,
Someone,
Won't turn away,
Someone will stay,
By their side!

Tears flow freely,
Pain wracks,
Body trembles,
But don't turn away.

Hold a hand,
And lift!

And what would you say,
If I helped you to stay,
Within encircling love,
Bestowed by God-

The indweller
Of all hearts-
I reach for
Him there,
So you will know
His love and care.

Tag = twilight

twilight

twilight, so awful, so scary, so glum,
always remember it was called "gray death"
by my mum

named I guess from accidents
caused by people not turning
on car lights soon enough

but what lights can I turn on
that will be bright enough
to deflect the pain

mornings are a struggle
that's for sure
but night is bad in a scarier way

the dark is so permeating
so dense, so opaque
very much like the burning pain

so sometimes when morning comes
and the pain is still there
at least you know that the light is there, too

twilight-not welcomed by me
but I'm sure some of you are delighted
by it (I hope)