Softly goes the winter night

Turning beneath a star lite sky

Icey wind blows upon the land

Chilling those who walk this night

Darkness bares the land of life

They run unto small caves of light

Seeking warm safety there within

Hidden from the star sky

Lonely trees stand the guard

talking softly among themselves

On the endless watch they take

The quiet is louder than any noise

It fills all space

Nowhere to hide

The sun the moon cannot be

Their lights will not fill the sky

And will not come each night to stay

Gather clouds for snow to fall

Changing land from black to white

Hiding much and showing some

All in a cold winter night

151

Oh

How my heart is saddened

At the fear that walks the world

At how few people

can go their way in peace

and not live in endless fear

How great must be the evil

the whole worlds ways to bend

to seed mistrust for all other men

Oh my sorrow as I walk

a giant among the small

To see the fear within their eyes

born only of my size

'fore I am a peaceful man

who would not hurt a fly

Ant I find great pain inside

at why they turn away

A true sweet love fills my heart

I would to all mankind give

Yet with their fear I cannot give

and I am in sorrow and tears

152

In the night

'neath dark

dim sky

As the soft

Wind blows by

As I smell

The distance rain

Feel the grass

That beneath me lay

As I wonder

Who I am

Who I am

That walks the night

In a world

Of little light

Devoid of man

And most beasts too

Quietly laids

In their beds

Who am I

Who walks the night

154

What words of love may I say to you

What songs can I sing

Of all the love I have for you

What words can I say

Can poems tell of my need

For you each day

How many books would I fill

With written words of my love

When I hold you close to me

Can you feel my love

Do my hands speak the love

That words cannot say

When you look into my eyes

Can you see the fire that burns within

The passion that you bring

How can I tell you of my love

Could words alone ever say

155

Swiftly flys the night

Fleeing before the sun

And the dawning of a new day

Running quietly across the land

Faster than sound can fly

Though its passing has no noise

But the sound of soft morning wind

Blowing after its passing

Endless the speeding race is

Knowing not an end and rest

Yet this race speeds about me

Moving faster than I have ever gone

It seems slow and without passing

To myself walking in the night

156

I watch a flower bend

Under the falling snow

One cold spring day

And I wonder if it will die

In the warm sunshine of yesterday

I found such joy and beauty

Felt such hope in spring beginnings

Within a flowers bloom

But today the soft cold whiteness

That falls so gentle and slow

From higher in the sky than I can see

Bends the flower to the soil

Its touch pulling the life from the flower

Making it cold and hard

And makes me wonder if

Warm sunshine and rain

Small flower will come to this land

Will green spring and hot summer

Ever come again

157

Lift up your eyes

Lighten your minds burden

Fill your heart with the good of life

Rise above those things that pull you down

Transend your daily cares

Fight not foes that cannot be beaten

Your good and bad

Happiness and sorrow

Contentment and dispare

Are but things of your mind

And cannot exist

Unless you let them

And will be

If you wish them too

And if you seek them

Therefore seek after the good

Be joyful and happy

For these things are but part of you

You can control them

Then

Transend

158

I have walked down mountains paths

In the early spring

When the snow is all but melt

Before the coming green

Brown and grays fade across the land

Water runs down hills and falls from mountain sides

Dark blues and purples are the trees

Giving hope of life yet coming

Bright sunlight warms the land

And makes one think of summer days

But a fleeing cloud across the sun

And winter bite is quickly felt

Now is done winters endless cold and white

Nor yet is the warm and green of summer

Perhaps now these hills are barren

No grass or leaves nor snow are here

Nothing but limbs of trees and soil of hills are

Still I find comfort here

Life's cares and worrieds drop away

And I an at peace within

159

Outside it is raining

and night is upon the land

Cool wind slowly moves

The clouds that hide the stars

Peeping out but now and then

Down upon us

And though the stars may see us

I cannot see you

For you are in our bed sleeping

And I must work this night

Yet I am thinking of you

Are you dreaming of me

Do our minds spend the night together

Though for us it cannot be

Distance doesn't dim the memory

Of you in my mind

And though we are not together

In a few hours we will be

Touching one another

In each others arms

Joyful in the morning

When the night is gone

160

Long ago upon this land

Walked a single man

He the last of his people

Fleeing an enemy great

They had killed all his people

Men and women and children too

But he had a task to finish

Given of God that he must do

So his life had not ended

Still he fled a certain fate

He had to write of his people

Of their lifes and God and fate

That forever would be the knowledge

Of all that they did and knew

Long was his travels and great his task

He walked across this land

Doing always the task he was given

Doing the work of God for man

Today we have his written works

His task he finished he did not fail

But what of him his work now ended

No one was there to write his end

How did he died this lonely warrior

Last of his people where does he lay

161

Where am I going to

What am I looking for

In there a point of happieness

Where I will be

Does the time draw near

Or lie still far away

When half known dreams

Will spring into reality

Where the goals long sought for

Will be reached and known

But do I know my dreams

Are my goals set

So I will know them

Or I am to seek forever

After things that are not

To work towards shadows

Chasing hopes that cannot be

If I am what then

Will my labors aid me not

My work earn no reward

Is my life without propose

I think not so

Because dreams and goals

Are not of a single moment

To burst into beinging

After much long work

Dreams are reached slowly

Goals are made with long thought

Most dreams are of a life time

Comming only with a life times work

Ones goals of life

Will take all of life

Often the dreams and goals

Are all that one lives for

They are that which

Give meaning to life

And in seeking after them

We grow and better ourself's

So if I reach not my goals

If I never know my dreams

They still are of worth

Still have meaning in my life

Of where am I going to

What am I looking for

Perhaps I will never know these

But I will be farther than now

162

And all these things will past into dust

The old set aside

And the new things will come into being

Thus must it be

And thus has it always been

Yet almost I would stop it

There are things

That hold my memories

Thought flood me then I see them

Or touch them

But they are not that of which my memories are

For my thought are of moments

And are not these things

Fade yet always my memories

Things now dust

Fade

163

The First Visit

And as the last night passed

Of those whose lives

Were to be taken

For listening to the old words

A voice spoke from heaven

To answer their prayers

Saying

For behold

The time is at hand

On the morrow come I into the world

To fulfill all things

Spoken of my holy prophets

And the next evening

As the sun set

There was no darkness

And their lives were saved.

164

A plane of glass

A clear wall

Between me and autumn

Not the sun

Only its light

Only its warmth

Touchs me

I look out

To see in

Before me

I see me

Upon the world

A simple thing

A picture on the glass

165

Tell me

Do you climb mountains

Or swim the sea

Race with the wind

Or float with the breeze

Smile then your happy

And cry then you're sad

Tell me

Oh tell me

Do you any of these

Do you like to put on

Your comfortable clothes

And then sit around

Doing little at all

Or get all dressed up

In your very best

And go into town

Just for a stroll

Tell me

Tell me

What about those

Do you get up quite early

To see the new day

Or stay up very late

To tell it good day

Do you like sunshine

Or do you like rain

Maybe you like snow

Or like them all just the same

166

Do you eat ice cream

With rich fudge topping

And maybe you like

A peanut butter sandwich

And a big glass of milk

For a little snack

Can you tell me

Any of these

Do you look for falling stars

Or count them that stay

Do you run after rainbows

And chase butterflies

Do you sit watching flowers

To see them grow

Tell me

Please

Tell me

Any of those

There are so many questions

And prenty of time

But I'm somewhat impatient

Tho enjoying my time

Tell me

Oh tell me

Any

Of these

167

Where is the tree

To sit beneath

Upon a hill

In golden sunlight

The waving grass

There to walk upon

The great blue sky

To graze within

To seek ones self

To see within

Knowing ones self

Is to know of all

To find that good

That is in us all

168

Dream

I bid unto myself

Dream

Look out upon the world

Lift your eyes to the sky

What does the eyes see

What thought are within me

Dream I bid myself

Dream

Cast the mind to fly

Set the mind to run across the land

Dream

Dream of that which is

Dream of that which is not

No limits set upon your mind

Bind not your self to that which is

Dream

I bid myself

Dream

169

Once,

not so far from here,

up on a solitary mountain peak,

under a single green pine,

I saw a man.

And I thought,

the mountain had no choice,

in being there alone.

The pine was not asked's

to stand the lonely vigil.

And what of the man,

a man can choose,

where to be,

and what to do,

but did he.

170

On dark paths searching

around each turn hoping

till at last

you find the one

oh what joy

life now is full

every moment together

hand in hand walking

laughing as we run

in silence sitting

i time quickly passes

our moments together fly

there is not time enough

for us when we're together

too much time when apart

together wishing to be

now that I have found you

joy should ever be mine

but only when I am with you

is joy to be mine

171

In soft forest walkin'

upon the gentle grass

golden sun beams

dance in the air

mountains are breathing

moving autumn leaves

in soft forest walkin'

upon the gentle grass

walk with me my darling

clasp your hand in mine

come walk within the forest

upon the mountain high

sweetly trees are singing

songs of love for us

all the leaves are changing

brightess colors just for us

in soft forest walkin'

upon the gentle grass

172

Tides ebb and flow

Moving things together

Then apart

Eddies hold them

Currents part them

Water cycles

Again and again

Never constant

To no pattern

Nothing guides it

Nor controls

Endless moving

Never stopping

173

Turn the circles

Set them spinning

Stand them up

And they roll

Now rest upon

The turning circles

Carrying you

Away they go

174

I came quickly

You weren't there

I was early

And you were gone

I looked on the path

No one was on it

I tried so hard

It meant so much

Where were you

Where were you

175

Time

Minutes, hours, days,

jointy flow together by,

endless passing,

around me spinning,

traveling by.

I reach out,

to touch a moment,

taste the time flow,

hear its wind.

Howling past,

screeching future,

present dead,

with no movement,

bind the present,

then sent it by.

176

What seek thee,

what would thou find,

to what do thee look,

and that would thee feel ?

For that is what thee will find,

that is what thee will see,

that is what thee will feel.

Thee will know what thee wish to know,

find only that which thee look for,

feel only that which thee let thy self feel.

and thee and thee alone,

will say,

just who and what thee will be.

177

Life

A slow passing

Thro

Endless happening

Every day

Time

For nothing

Still

For every thing

I would do

178

The Sea

Sitting with the drift wood,

beside a sea of glass,

what pieces here were shaped by man,

and which by wind and sea.

There is a rope,

half buried in the sand,

How came it to be here ?

Did it fail,

or perhaps just lost,

to fall within the sea.

Scattered shells all torn asunder,

the hungry bird to feed.

sticks and roots,

pieces of weed,

all things that came out of the sea.

Oh the sea,

mother of life,

where to,

all things return.

179

The City on the Sea.

The angry sea tosses,

waves on a jetty of stone,

at the edge of the great square.

Under a dark and torn sky,

the wind screams and moves,

lifting the waves of the sea,

going thro doors and between pillars,

tattering the banders of men.

The fallen shadows,

lintstones,

columns,

city.

The people are gone,

a city in death,

sea and stormy sky,

alone.

The traveler passing,

thinking,

wondering,

asking,

not knowing,

why.

180

Oh Arwen;

gone now is the morning,

fair light of first day,

our eyes since have been open,

great beauty have we seen,

as the noon must come from morning,

night will come from the day,

and with the light fades the beauty,

slowly will fade away.

But end not all the beauty,

nor light fades all away,

for in the day's end there still is beauty,

tho be blackness upon the land,

with no beauty there to see.

Beauty still will light the sky,

beyond the end of day.

Oh Arwen Evenstar,

your beauty light's,

the night,

beyond the end of day.

181

Flys the Hawk

Daily flys the hawk,

high up in the sky,

seeking it's daily prey,

it flys the currents,

it knows so well,

for endlessly it flys them,

to everywhere its wings can beat,

to anywhere prey may be found,

and where ever prey can be found,

comes the back the hawk,

again and again,

living each day,

as the one before,

knowing not another way,

knowing only to fly for prey,

it does not fly,

to clean its mind,

nor to purge its soul,

or because it may,

The hawk flys for prey.

182

Food and bed

roof and warmth

shoes and clothes

seem little to me

they cannot hold

nor do they guide

the paths which in

flow my dreams

they call not my heart

I seek them not

like work they are

things that must be

they fill me not

and want for more

183

Water

Clear or green,

blue or grey,

colorful yet colorless.

Flowing or still,

rushing or calm,

falling sometimes.

Alway around us,

even if seems far away,

some shows life unending,

and some Endless death.

Known thru all time,

understood little at all.

To some it has no value,

to others its life it self.

Unthinking most use it,

thru endless cycles it goes,

changed in every use,

changeless thru it all.

Timelessly it passes,

endlessly it moves,

going to all places,

everywhere it has been.

Without it there is nothing,

with it all things there may be,

184

There was a time,

then I was young,

with true and false,

right and wrong.

The cause of peace,

the force of war.

Then we were right,

and they were wrong.

And we all knew,

we would change the world.

And the world kept going,

around the sun,

the years keep passing,

my youth fades away,

now all my choices,

are just shades of grey.

Now right is gone,

add I weight wrong against wrong.

The wars never end,

people are still the same.

The world goes on,

from day to day.

But I still try,

and I still cry,

the world could change,

if the people would try.

There could be a day,

before I die,

when true is right,

and false is wrong.

185

Last night I looked up,

and you were there.

Looking just as you did,

long years ago.

And with that one look,

I knew I loved you still.

I say your name aloud,

and you looked away,

I said I has missed you,

all these years,

I said that I loved you,

now still,

after all the years,

since the day you went away.

That day long ago,

you went away from me,

without a word,

no goodbye.

I awoke this morning,

what was your name,

dreams fade away.

I love you still.

186

The sword lays

behind his shoulder

left

A simple cross

of steel blue

cold

Sits there always

blade never seen

sheathed

No one has ever

seen the blade

used

Still yet the sword

tis always there

waiting

He is a swordsman

death awaiting

still

187

Asocial

People walk

hand in hand

As I watch

I want to cry

Yet inside

I don't know why

What they feel

I know is real

How to love

all mankind

To want the best

for one and all

To have a hope

for a better day

But I can't

feel that way

Where inside

to feel that way

I do not know

I cannot find

Nor do I wish

to be that way

I do not care

if man should live

I do not want

the best for all

It would be nice

if it were that way

But if it is

or if it's not

I really don't

care either way

I am outside

but I am not sure

Just what it is

I'm outside of

188

Am I the same man

who once said yes

'cause now I'm not sure

that I would agree

To put my shame

on another's head

That he should pay

for the wrongs I did

Thro I did not force

and he wanted it to be

And I would have to pay

more than I have to give

And he can pay

And carry my weight

Now I'm not so sure

That's how it should be

189

Not while borders divide,

and guns keep people in.

Not till people want to get in,

and stop wanting to get out.

Not while armies rattle swords,

and navies fallow after each other.

Not till soldiers fight together,

and work for peace with each other.

Not for all the words said,

and while actions speak not.

Not for all the changes made,

and prisons hold those what agree not.

Not while people fight for rights,

and not never think about them.

190

Yesterdays children

cast stones at todays children

Todays children

learn to cast stones at tomorrow children

But the stones they cast

are all the same

The stones they cast

never change

The stones are their fears

fear the children will change

The stones are their fears

the children won't be the same

And children live

in a new day

And children live

in their own way

Yesterdays gone

its deeds done

Today is new

new growth allowed

Tomorrow may come

let's live for now

Then tomorrow comes

today is yesterday

Grather the stones

for tomorrows children

191

Wanting

it grows

empty

and more empty

a lacking inside

needing to be filled

wanting more

and more

needing

always needing

endless wanting

hunger

deepening hunger

unsatiable

hunger

wanting

needing

hunger

it grows

grows

192

should I fight for you

for if you want me not

then how may I win you

and if you want me

why then need I fight

if we do not draw together

then can truly forced together

if there is to be love

then let it be free

if there is to be joy

then let it not be forced

193

within my heart

there is a small but sharp knife

it moves slowly with beaten blood

my heart tries not to touch it

yet it is scared from each time that it has

for to touch it is to be cut

to bleed and know the pain I greatly fear

the unending pain that comes to me again and again

I feel that it will never leave me

that it will cut deeply into my scared heart forever

because the metal from which the knife is made

once was my growing love for you

and the sharp edge upon what once was my love

is the goodbye you said to me

the love I cannot forget

The goodbye that will not let me love you

194

Because I met you

each day is nicer to wake up too

my heart beats a little stronger

the world is a little bit brighter

and went I think of you

some how

every song I hear is a love song

195

I watch them play

with their toys

the pretty clothes

the fastest wheels

who's gone the farest

who's gone the fastest

who's the toughest

who's the boss

and who's the one

no one likes

which one know the most

and who knows the best

who is better

than all the rest

who has the most toys

and will win the game

196

The smoke rises

In a quiet sunlit room

free from the world

without the things

that fills other rooms

A bare wood floor

white walls without

pictures nor windows

nothing to think upon

I enter in

close the door

drop the world

open my mind

I carry with me

a stick of inscense

a stand to hold

a match to begin

I sit on the floor

cross my legs

calm my breathing

prepare to start

Set down the stand

place the stick within

strike the match

lite a flame

the inscense burns

the fire bright

then it flitter

flame no more

I put down the match

lean back and breath deep

rest my hands on my knees

grow quiet and watch

Smoke begin to rise

wavering and scattered

disquieted by moving air

set moving by my movement

Smoke slowly quiets

moving straighter into air

up to the ceiling

making a small cloud

The rising smoke shows

my every move

each breath

perhaps even thought

I seek to see

no movement

no scattering

no change

Just smoke rising

up and up

without change

without moving

197

Once upon a time

in a land far away

there lived a boy

he was a small boy

with curly blonde hair

his name was Timmy

he was a very happy boy

kite flying was what he did best

many hours he spent with his kites

his kites had all the colors of the rainbow

red

blue

yellow and green

kite both big and small

some with tails and some without

some had wings and some had not

every day you could find him in the field

on windless days he would lay there

and would watch clouds and flying birds

he loved all the things that lived in the sky

butterflies

moths

birds and stars

at night he would dream of being able to fly

of floating light as a cloud

high above the houses and trees

some days he would wish a magician would come

and cast a spell that would make him fly

free as a bird to fly in the sky

each day as the wind blew

he would fly his kites

and on clam days he would lay in the field

and dream of flying

198

ah, new love of youth

where is thy joys

thy bright promises

dost not thy feet fly

thy mind soar with high clouds

is not each day wonderous anew

is not thy dreams of yeserday

now your hopes of tomorrow

O joyous hopes of young love

where is thy sweet taste

199