Lilacs

Oh, the freshness of a new spring day,
the birds chirping their songs of love
while bees hover over sweet blossoms.
Frail butterfly wings flutter silently flickering 
over all things bright and beautiful.

With a slight current of the breeze,
a fragrance cruises past the senses
It arouses in its wake a heavenly vision.
Breath-taking soft palattes of white and lavender
that draw you helplessly towards their blooms.





Quite suddenly you are held spellbound,
firmly entrenched in such a provocative aura.
Behold in their drooping, delicate bouquets 
that dangle like teardrops from their perch,
while they beckon silently to embrace them.

The pure essence of lilacs is so joyously empowering. 
How easy it is to surrender to their mysterious energy,
just close your eyes and inhale their sweet perfume,
immersing yourself so deeply in to such a celestial aroma.
Oh, the clean heaven scent of a lilac is like no other.

Keepsakes of the Heart

Love once had and now lost, unveils the heartache.
Melancholy moods of anguish, left behind in its wake.
A solitary box of keepsakes is all that now remains.
Photos and letters, splotched by random tear stains.
Blissfully reminiscing of that long ago romance,
reliving twinkling snippets, taking a backward glance.


Those many years ago, when fate was ever so kind,
bringing us together, fortuitous in our mutual find,
the spark was ignited, rekindling the soul's own fire.
An exhilarating time, basking in the heart's desire.
Always creating time for one another's needs,
pleasurable, generous acts, even random deeds.


So many different journeys, travels to exotic places,
dreams were made real, radiating smiling faces.
For those long months duty called you to the sea,
your poetic writings affirmed many thoughts of me.
Happiness and satisfaction were abundantly clear.
Those were enjoyable moments, year after year.


Abruptly shaken from those images of the past,
painful words echoing; startled and left aghast,
shocking revelations, a heart broken in two.
A decisive final act, unforeseen, not even a clue.
Recollections of what was, now evokes a final tear,
those keepsakes of the heart shall remain forever dear.

Winter's Illusion

When the day has finally ended,
and all is quiet and serene,
I pause to gaze intently
upon the setting sun of another winter's day.

Like flakes of snow caught in a gust of wind, 
the flurry of activity finally draws to an end.
In the pristine whiteness of a recent snowfall,
there are only shadows of a wintry gray.

As I peer out through my frosted window,
nightfall blankets the land.
I sit so warm and toasty by my fire,
awestruck by the visions I do see.


The moon is mirrored upon the crystals of ice,
and a quiet hush is heard in the trees.
What a sight to behold, this glorious event,
sparkling white diamonds litter the land. 

The hours pass into the bitter cold of night.
The wind beckons and wails an eerie tune.
An intense shudder, an unwanted invitation,
I search for warmth in those last burning embers.


With quiet determination, I roust myself to bed,
mumbled curses at winter's indifference to my plight.
My teeth chatter as I quicken my steps
I leap, hiding from this nightmare called Winter.

The Illusion of our Dreams

 As we ponder upon the blackness of the night sky,
we peer into the stars and ask ourselves, why.
In the echoing silence of our dreams,
one's hopes and desires are in disguise, it seems.

Our lives and loves are forever intertwined,
in these our quests we are often blind.
Intricately wrapped like vines in the morning dew,
that which we seek is not always true.

What was not within our grasp, soon we will come to know.
Through the years, we will learn and we will grow.
Soon, the time will come to look upon what we have done,
then it will seem like yesterday that we had just begun.

As each day passes and draws to its end,
the time will come for those broken dreams to mend.
Then, as tomorrow's dawn begins to brighten,
so too, will our knowledge begin to heighten.

No longer should we ask ourselves, why.
We mustn't believe that our lives will pass us by.
Believe always that your dreams are something,
for not to believe, is to have nothing.

A Short Story

Like the shining of the noon day sun,
we are often blinded by the glaring lights of hope.                            
The passage of time and the dawn of a new day,
visions of tomorrows and what dreams will bring.
The beginning of a story, an unread book.

Days, weeks, years are all a jumble.
Our destiny lies in wait, preying upon our weaknesses,
yet, fortifying our strengths.
Like a puzzle, piecing together each moment,
narrating the story from the beginning to the end.

We tell tales of courage and bravery, timeless sagas.
We mock and condemn our own shortcomings,
frightened by the prospect of what might have been.
Always intrigued by what could have been,
never seeing the story as it truly was meant to be.

A lifetime can be held in a mirror,
reflecting all that we have achieved,
revealing the truth in all of us.
Never falsifying and always consistent.
Not just a story, but our own personal journal.

Like the fading light of a summer sunset,
yesterday's memories are now but a glimmer.
No longer attainable, gone from within our reach.
Nothing left by the chronicles of our lives.
The story has ended, the book now closed.

Life's a Gamble

So many things happen in a person's life,                                    
there is happiness, grief and strife,
Good times, hard times, and hectic paces.
Different emotions, people and places.
Some are easily forgotten or lost with time,
others can be memorable, if not sublime.

But time passes at an accelerated rate,
its swiftness never seeming to abate.
Always there is something to endure,
many things of which you are not sure.

It keeps you compassionate and strong.                       

At other times, just barely trudging along.

Then, just when you think it's all too late,
along comes an opportunity to alter your fate.
A roll of the dice, a game of chance,
something more than mere happenstance.
While you listen carefully to your inner voice,
you weigh the options and make a choice.


Deals were struck and the groundwork laid.
Wanting no regrets on the decision you made,
you played it safe and close to the vest,
all the while you hoped for the best.
Ever so cautious in revealing your hand,
never knowing where you might stand.


Like walking a tightrope without a net,
you ventured forth and made your bet.
Continually mindful of what's at stake,
always fearful of making a mistake.
Life's a quest to conquer every game.
Win, lose or draw, it's never the same.


Decisions are gambles not always wise,
but gamble we must if we want that prize.
Lady Luck shined brightly on you that day,
the odds were slim, but you just had to play.
Fortunately for you this was quite the find.
Such riches you've acquired, one of a kind.

The Sea of Blue

So many have gathered together, people you don't even know,

Brothers and Sisters alike, who have all suffered a blow.

They have come from near and far, so many different places.

Among this sea of blue, exists nothing but somber faces.

While you stand at attention, so rigid and so numb,

you never wanted to believe that this day might come.

How you hoped you would never have to be in this line.

These indelible images, that will be forever frozen in time.

The line that serves and protects is always true,

a line that will never be anything but long, thin and blue.

Each one that wears the badge upon their chest, 

knows that they are a breed unlike the rest.

Badges of silver and gold, adorned in black mourning bands,

all are spit and polish, white gloves on their hands.

Assembled together, paying homage to one of their own.

Always they will stand together, but today, they stand alone.

With precision steps, the honor guard will pass by,

and then skillfully, they will point their rifles to the sky.

In deference, rigid arms will be raised in salute,

while twenty-one shots will signal silent prayers of tribute.

Almost immediately, the soft whines of the pipes will commence,

praising our fallen hero with its melodic song of reverence.

As "Amazing Grace" reverberates it woeful tune in to your heart,

none will find solace when the sea of blue has been torn apart.