Links to my heart

The links to my heart
You have been given.
Some are strong,
Some, brittle.
The sensations
We share
Send stimulations
Through my entire being.
Your heart
Has allowed me entrance
And given me
A place on which to rest.
Comfort is offered and accepted,
For, the truth and beauty
Found within is real,
Making the bonds
Tighter and more secure.
You are the bright side
Of my tattered soul,
And, as we continue to grow,
My love will continue to show.

This poem was inspired by my wife, Teri when we were dating. Inspiration awakens many dormant emotions and connections.

Small Smiles

Kids are funny...and precious...Here is a little piece about our little ones...

Small Smiles

For all the little ones,
Who make our lives
Extraordinary.

Small smiles seek shelter for all seasons,
Carefully choosing the cheer they create.
Light laughter from the little ones lifts us.
Tiny tears teach us to treasure happy times.
While summer shines, silly shadows share their own sun;
Breezes of fall blow, breathing beauty beyond compare;
Rented whiteness rests within the winter realm of wonder;
Newness blooms near the now quite waters of Neverland.
Every burst of energy brings better seasonal balance.
Look longer at the lasting memories of the little ones,
Create cheer to share with each tiny cherub,
So, to safely sail the shores of their souls.

Our New World, Together

We move into a reality
Much different from the life of you or me.
Nonetheless, together, we move.
Nothing is really to prove,
But this is what we choose.
Now, neither will have to lose.
The energy that guides
Also provides…
Much more than either may have brought,
Or, even thought
Was possible to feel.
As our new world becomes real,
And graced with a divine seal,
May we not lose sight
Of that togetherness, that guiding light.

As we move closer in a relationship, we become more than comfortable with being with that individual. If we do not, we may want to think of how close we really are...since togetherness is a big part of a relationship.

Almost There

My soul is refreshed by your mere presence,
As goodness and purity escape from your essence.
Inward I am drawn with no other thought
Than that of the wonder and awe you have brought.
A heart that has remained dormant for so long,
Now is vibrant, beating steady and strong.
I am truly gracious for the togetherness that we share,
And await new sensations when next we are near.
Think of all your happiness and a glimpse you may see,
Of what erupts constantly when you are with me.
Be still for a while and attempt to feel,
This amazing dream as it becomes all too real.

When you find your soulmate, the emotions you feel erupt greater than most may believe...

Find Your Inner Child, and Appreciate him...

Many times we think that as we grow, we need to forget about the past. When we write and when we create stories, we try to think too much like an adult and forget about the excitement our imagination can bring. Look for that inner child. Find pictures of yourself when you were younger and put them up throughout your writing are with the phrase, "Have you seen this child" under or above each picture. Evey time you walk by that picture, remember more of the awe that was part of childhood. Remember that imagination lies somewhere, you just have to go back far enough to find it.

The beats begin...

I watch her walk backwards slowly. Then, when she is clear of the horse pens, she turns around and walks toward her car.

I think about leaving the horses and following her. I just close my eyes, however, and see her in my mind. I see her nearing her car and stopping. Instead of opening the car door. She stops and opens the envelope, unfolds the paper within and reads:

Your Eyes
The intensity,
The radiance,
The beauty,
Within your eyes
Is amazing,
Simply amazing.
Full of dreams,
Full of desires,
Full of life.
They glisten
With an incomparable brilliance
And a youthful exuberance.
Soothing,
Comforting,
Calling.
A sole sparkle
Found within
Sheds light upon
My inner most self,
Brushing away the tarnish,
Tearing away the pain,
Allowing then to reflect.
Amazing,
Simply amazing.

I sigh and slowly open my eyes. I feel a nudge in my back and lurch forward, this time Teri is not there to hold onto.

My eyelids open the remainder of the way, and I stumble forward. I manage to spin around and see Sugarfoot’s head bobbing up and down as if laughing at me.

"Even a horse laughs at you," my little voice says sarcastically.

Part of me wants to feel sorry for myself, yet I can’t seem to refrain from letting out a burst of laughter. I lurch forward, attempting to grab Sugarfoot’s reigns. He backs up and bounces his head up and down again.

I open a gate and watch the horses enter the area. I close the gate and move toward the parking area from which Teri’s car should have disappeared from a while ago. I pick up my head and blink repeatedly as I watch her car pull away at this moment.

I smile and forget about the pain. I smile and remember how different I feel. I smile and remember how much more there is to do. Besides, the beats are just beginning.

Smiles and waiting for snow...

The thought of going back inside crosses my mind, but I delay making that decision as I attempt to remember the poem I had just given her:

Soothing Smile
Darkness is no more;
Ice dissipates into mist;
Walls of stone crumble;
The tallest buildings topple;
And, I literally melt
From the inside out.
My head is sent
Spinning, spinning, spinning,
From just one,
Small,
Simple,
Sultry,
Comforting,
Glimpse of your
Soothing smile.

I sigh as I remember the actual inspiration, the sight, the feel, the emotional onslaught...

Sometime during the wondering in my mind, my body seems to have decided to return to my friends, because I am standing next to those familiar and welcoming doors of Kirk’s. I shake my head, open a door, and walk inside. I wait for the door to close completely before moving again. As it hits my back, I turn around and look out the small panes of frosted glass. Light, white puffs fall from the night sky.

"Now! Now it snows!" my inner voice shouts.

I laugh inwardly and smile. Someone really has a sense of humor. I shake my head again and walk toward the table.

"So, when did you say you were going to call her?" my inner voice asks.

What time is it now?

Mirrors reflected...poetry and prose...

I attempt to relax and look at the first idea. I grasp the paper with both hands now. Slowly, I pick up my head and freeze as my body tenses up. I do not move or rather can not move. The thoughts have stopped. I stare straight ahead, feeling only the flutter of my eyelids as they descend and rise quickly.

Silence...
I sense the stillness.
Solitude...
I feel the cold.
Nothingness.
Then...
Wonder...
My eyes widen.
Understanding...
My body relaxes.
Appreciation...

My mind erupts.

An intense light hits my thoughts and I hear a loud harmonious note as the word "HOPE" floats in front of me.

With a flash, the word disappears.

As I readjust my inner sight, I see the word has been replaced by a vision.

It is Teri. Or, rather, Teri's face.

The sight remains for only a few seconds, just enough though to make my heart pound quicker. It moves closer and closer toward me.

Finally, the vision stops, and I can see nothing more than her large illuminating eyes.
Astonishing. Simply, astonishing.

Another flash hits. My vision fades completely. My eyes blink twice. I look around quickly.
Nothing.

Her eyes. It's her eyes that send the sparks swirling within me. It's her eyes that make her special. I have never seen such intensity, such excitement, such hope in anyone else's eyes before. Never.

For a brief moment, I feel and know that this inspiration will last. Last, for as long as the intensity remains.

I am the one who must maintain that intensity.

Write!

Without questioning or commenting, I grab a loose piece of paper from the basket, take out my pen, and write.

If I were granted
A place to gaze
For an eternity,
It would be
In those large
Luminous mirrors
That link
Your world
With mine.
Reflecting,
Glistening,
Radiating,
The simplicities
Of life,
The intricacies
Of living,
Into my
Never ending dream.

I know that I pause between lines, but other than that, the words seem to flow readily from my mind, to my hand and pen, and onto the paper.

I look over the words a couple of times, take a deep breath, and let out a sigh of satisfaction.
I need a title still. I look through the piece again. The words "luminous mirrors" seem to stand out slightly more than the rest. I stare at those two words.

"Mirrors." Yes. "Mirrors" for what?

I sit in silence, constantly staring at the recently written work.
It's not "mirrors for" it should be "mirrors of...of..."

"Life?"

No.

"Of...?"

Something inside oneself. Something deep.

"Heart?"

No.

I pause and then scribble some words at the top of the piece: "Mirrors of the Soul."

I look at the words I have just written and then scan the other lines hoping to feel that sensation, the sensation that both blend together.

"Yes," I finally whisper.

Babbling For...

Babbling For...

A mind is a terrible thing to...
Waste not want...
Not on your...
Life is not...
Easy come, easy...
Go to the front of the...
Line-jumping is not...
Permitted to run...
Wild-goose...
Chase your...
Dreams can come...
True love comes from the heart, not the...
Mind over...
Matter of life and...
Death warmed...
Over my dead...
Body, mind, and...
Soul means of...
Inspiration.

Dream and live...teach

When I was in high school, oh too many years ago now, it was made known to me that "teenagers are capable of great things given the right challenge" (Father Joseph Stroot, CSC). I believed in that idea then and even more so now. I was given the opportunity to make positive contributions to myself and my community through the school's service organization. I was given the opportunity to believe in the dreams I wished to believe in. I was also given the opportunity to fulfill those not-so-far-off dreams.

A high school English teacher, Mr. David Vandenbusch, showed us through literature and pure example that the ideal can be real, only if we want it to. It took me quite a while to truly understand and appreciate what he had to say in his energetic, wise way. He had always stressed that our freedom is through our commitment. Though this is a contradiction in dictionary terminology, I found the statement true not only for myself but for my classmates as well. By committing our inner selves, our true selves, to that intrinsic feeling of freedom we all seem to possess, can we eventually come to appreciate freedom in its purest form.

Mr. Vandenbusch also told us that "no human being will find his essence in isolation, so we must not analyze things and just be." It is when we actually live life by exploring the mysteries and straying from the simplistic pragmatic materialism our society has created for us that we grow in understanding. When we live and when we write, we must commit ourselves to being free physically and mentally in order for our inner selves to be fully satiated. He taught and I learned. Some of his points and objectives have not been realized until much later, but because of his enthusiasm and wisdom, I learned what it would be like to be free. The conclusion was his. I just followed in faith and hope.

Find that teacher in your life that connected with you and thank them...without them, you wouldn't be who you are today...

Almost There....

Almost…there

Time moves faster
As the day draws nearer
And, we are carried along
Bouncing rapidly
To these days of brevity.
Wrinkles are drawn
In the appropriate corners
Which bring us closer
Enriching entirely
Those exciting moments of revelry.
Links are enforced
Through our entire being
That allow us to grow
Blossoming similarly
On past the day we marry.

This poem spells out some of the thoughts and feelings my wife and I experienced while we were dating...

Be Human

I am not one to share political views in public, but I ran across some old mail recently with a message inside. This passage was taken from a piece written back in 1995. It was supposedly sent to 20+ major newspapers in the US. It was not printed in any of them since it was anonymous (which is a good practice), but somehow found its way into my hands. The specific regions mentioned within aside, the message still remains...Be Human...

Dear fellow human beings:

From the massive onslaughts in the Persian Gulf, Kuwait, and Bosnia, to the rampant exploits in California, Texas, and Oklahoma, I have sat by and watched. I have watched our horrible displays of humanity run wild not on other simple and innocent creatures as they once did, but on our very species. I have watched as people have gotten slapped, stabbed, shot, and seared to their very soul. I have watched these useless degrading acts of violence, and am literally disgusted by them. As human beings we are to be superiors and guardians for the rest of this now war torn world. We, as people, are to be kings and queens of this once beautiful kingdom, but we have singed, scorched, and all but incinerated this realm. We are left with almost nothing. So, instead of living long and prospering, here we must sit, in the all consuming nothingness. The world has really become too much with us.

I have just one simple question: WHY?
Why do you continue to hurt your neighbor? Why do you thirst for that evil entity of power? Do you think this will bring about happiness? Well, your assumptions are WRONG! Only by promoting peace and happiness, will we eventually achieve it. Think about it: If you want a glass of water, do you ask for vinegar? Of course not.

I beseech of you, STOP the MADNESS, the INSANITY, the VIOLENCE! If you do not, no one will, and eventually, maybe sooner than later, the weapons we have created to end our existence, will do just that. Please, stop all of your futile procrastinating and BE HUMAN! For your own sake!

Since this world is so deep in hypocrisy,
I sign this simply,

ME

Epitaph of the Human Race

Angels once before,
Now no more.
Loved life,
But only their own,
This clearly shown,
When they finally cracked
From all the strife.

Lost in space,
Lost in time,
No more reason or rhyme.
No more excuses will be made,
As too many games
These hypocrites have played.

Reflections within Placidity - Music in Motion

The feathered ones float aimlessly by
On the soft curvaceous body of the breeze,
Gently gliding amidst the white fluffy pillows
Of the brilliant blue expanse.
Those of aqueous nature meander instinctively
Upon the smooth perpetual ripples of the waves,
Silently skimming the colorless surface
Of the mystical deep.
Wide-eyed woodland creatures roam freely
Over the peaceful verdant terrain of the forest,
Beautifully blending with the other natural residents
Of the rich earthly realm.
I can do nothing,
Except become engulfed within the placidity.

So fresh. So peaceful. So Alive!

My heavy eyelids flutter and I am thrust into yet another state of being. Fragments of thought begin to swirl around and around, searching for a sturdy place on which to rest. Words literally float by, attempting not to collide. Each concept, each idea, seems to find a suitable safe haven: "Peace"…"Insanity"…"Memory"…"Loss"…"Pure-delight"…"Sorrow."

Silence engulfs me. Before I am able to open my eyes half way, one last word comes crashing down on top of the others. It is surrounded by an intense light and a loud harmonious note: "HOPE!"

The vision fades and I am left to the silence once again.

As I drift back to a somewhat conscious state, I see the conductor's arms swing rapidly upward, then fall just as swiftly. Loud clamors of trumpets and trombones erupt with each downbeat and continue with each enthusiastic sweep of the baton. Trilling flutes and clarinets manage to squeak through every now and then with their light little doodles. The pleasant sounds of the oboe and my vision, however, are no more. I frown in somewhat of despair.

Brief flashbacks to my land of wonder occur throughout the remainder of the piece, but none as permanent or as real as before. The corners of my mouth take on a more acute angle as I say to myself, "That was the most beautiful sound I have ever..." I stop myself short considering the implications of that thought, as well as the great extent I still need to hear. It was wonderful though.

The piece comes to an end and I drift back to a more conscious state. I rise and join in the applause of my fellow audience members, showing our appreciation to the orchestra. The conductor bows a few times, turns toward the orchestra, and signals them to do the same. In unison, they rise, bow, and proceed to exit from the stage. One by one they disappear. I sit down and stare at the quickly emptying stage.

Education and Teaching

It is always interesting how many schools today find it necessary to "teach" to a test. "We're behind," they say...Or, my favorite, "Well, they have to learn something..."

There are so many things to worry about in schools today. What happened to the learning component? What happened to education? What ever happened to applying what has been learned?

Educators are in the classroom in order to provide an opportunity for the students to learn while helping to prepare them for the future they will face head on once out of school. Facts and figures can be found in books. However, opening one's mind to new ideas and establishing a relevance can only be enabled by a teacher. Show the students that they can think, not how. Show the students the wonders of the mind, not the abyss of futility.

Everlasting

Everlasting

The awe and wonder we share
Astounds me always.
We grow, we bloom, we blossom…
Together.
Our bond strengthens
With every step
And intensifies incredibly
With each new inkling
Of love.
An end is not in sight,
Rather an eternal eruption
Of our own eternity
Is inevitable and everlasting.

This poem spells out some of the thoughts and feelings my wife and I experienced while we were dating...

Remembrance of Service

Remembrance of Service

Grant unto me, thou who are Most Divine,
That needed wisdom and those precious words
So I may do justice to they who served.
Humble beginnings were common to all.
Learning, persevering, growing in faith,
Aided these souls while answering Your call.
Day in and day out, they would seek to share,
Their unique insights and unsurpassed care.

We are a community left without;
No physical entity to soothe us;
No large shoulders to rest our heads upon;
No tangible being to lead the way.
Thoughts within though create their true essence,
Forever placing them into our presence.

This poem was written to remember all of those who have provided us with a little extra freedom and grace in our lives.

Before the Big Day

Almost…there

Time moves faster
As the day draws nearer
And, we are carried along
Bouncing rapidly
To these days of brevity.
Wrinkles are drawn
In the appropriate corners
Which bring us closer
Enriching entirely
Those exciting moments of revelry.
Links are enforced
Through our entire being
That allow us to grow
Blossoming similarly
On past the day we marry.

This poem touches connections between two people during their engagement

Say it with Flowers

Not Just a Rose

White is the innocent beauty,
Which you will always be.

Pink is the friendship which we share,
Showing each other we really care.

Red is the eternal peace and love,
We attempt to realize,
As we continue to touch each other's lives.

This is a nice little poem to attach to your flowers for any event...