‘Dwelling’s ‘Back Then”

Move Forward: Body, Mind and Spirit, and Leave the Past In the Past

A sample from Book 8

 Dwelling’s 'Back Then'
 
we lived back then
‒our biggest season
living in young
everything’s begun
never still...sitting
‒moving in the constant
of run
having class
having fun
our communion
‒our glittering sun
 
reminiscing
reliving‒
our mind’s on-going reunion
‒a slight prison
caught-up spectrum
indulging...believing
our past
our best, truest companion
 
turning needles to diamonds
quarts to gallons
each new past
remembering sermon
grows
consumes‒
our present moment’s devotion
 
staying stuck
good...bad
all problems, experiences‒
abstractions
‒digging deep
our use-to-be fund
concealing
present’s affirmations
 
it’s done‒
time for a ascension
new’s dimension
 
the past‒
our firm confirmation
holding on‒
constantly living
in its circulation
‒caught in its dreamy emotion
keeping us in equivocation
bypassing present’s creation
 
it’s done‒
our back then
 
it’s time
make the incision
no longer in young
but still living
in fun
willingness to run
 
keeping our retrospections
but allow in
new manifestations
all else‒
move to preservation
 
it’s built us
gave us qualifications
for now’s implementation
 
stop dwelling on
back then
start living
in now’s skin
 
new moment’s begin
heightens
ascends
new memories
creating a foreign spin
awakening
now’s life
we’re in
 
allow the transcend
build new mountains
‒from young
to older...wiser
within
 
then‒
sets a new trend
that day coming
age sets in
on porches
breathing in fresh winds
under summer suns
in chairs
rocking
memories
unpacking
easily spoken
story-telling
of live in living‒
not broken
not stuck in young’s brethren
 
instead‒
a put-together rendition
of a life lived
in total contribution
 
let go of back then
awaken
in now’s innovation
live‒
new moments
in motivation
new memories
adding to collections
 
for in aged years
recollections
the spices‒
our truth’s personification‒
the new young
can’t get enough
with us
lost in conversation
Continue reading “‘Dwelling’s ‘Back Then””

‘Use It To Be It’

What ‘Not’ To Do When It Comes To Your Past!

A sample from Book 8

 Use It To Be It
 
it happened‒
look back there
once, twice, thrice
‒don’t stay there
 
turn that wayward stare
towards something rare
 
turn that experience
into deliverance
 
he may have gotten you
clouded your view‒
that hidden abuse
that traditional muse
 
demanding traits of you
change your clothes
‒that too
so subtle, so quiet
 
you went along
after all‒
you had a home
someone
to call your own
 
time ticks
‘til matters click
change comes quick
 
only for you‒
 
he’s his own game
inside...the same
hiding from you
‘til open...wide
clear becomes the view
 
you fell hard
that knife
beyond sharp
 
but here you are
wearing
a survivor’s star
wondering‒
lies where
your somewhere
 
from back there
turn that clouded stare
‒things begin to clear  

don’t put that past
totally in the rear
 
take it‒
use it with class
bettering you
pave an avenue
 
‒there’s no excuse
only you
had the view
 
share it‒
help others
overcome it, too
 
that place
out there
elevates
what he tried to kill
 
now
you’re headed somewhere
while
he’s stuck back there
 
there’s nothing to it‒
it’s just fair
 
his childish control
becomes
your gold
Continue reading “‘Use It To Be It’”

‘Pity-Party Me Not’

Don’t Fall To the Devil’s Trap and Lose Yourself to Pity!

A sample from Book 8

 Pity-Party Me Not
 
save your grace
‒me crying in your face
maybe it's best to walk away‒
not have your good spirits replaced
with my selfish-daunting embrace
 
don't let me crowd your space
in a lost self-pitying race
I have to find my way
backward steps
not to trace
get up
move forward‒
there's a dream to chase
‒a gift
in my heart
God† did place
 
in all that oh-poor-me lace
‒wasting day after day
I put aside what's great
for others' self-demeaning fate
‒those who lost faith
not giving time of day
to words God† had to say
 
that day after day
turned to year after year
willingly serving myself up‒
a circling, dead-horse tray
my own bed made‒
self-pity's prized bait
 
around and around
up and down
burying my I
around, around, around‒
a circling maze
‒down, down, down
in self-pity I laid
 
to whomever'd sit and listen
I'd saturate‒
serve self-pity's cake
jump in with pleasure
without thought‒
bathe
smothering my I in hate
on self
adding burdensome's weight
 
flying free
in the greatness of unease‒
my eyes‒
lost in sedate
‒shielded behind bondage's tape
over my happy‒
anger's blackened cape
misery's base
I did drape
 
I closed all gates
let the sun's ray
slowly sink to night's blackened gray
‒down, down, down
in a mercury-ladened lake
'til I laid in waste
seemingly sealed in a darkened cave
 
I held on tight‒
my wilderness-mentality trait
fighting against moses' trusting faith‒
doing whatever it took
‒forget heart's break
with constant play‒
attending every sinful date
‒hearing God's† words
refusing to obey
falling down, down, down
not caring what's at stake
from reality‒
wanting to separate
losing to evil's webbing spray
 
everyone turned‒
from me
ran in haste
'til self-pity became my only mate
 
then came the day
deep inside me‒
God's† hand began to vibrate
my wavering faith
evil couldn't take
‒mixed-up signals
my heart began to translate
at first
a slow rate
raising from a bottomless crate‒
I began harder to pray
 
through all my mistakes
for me
God's† patience did wait
cradling me
as I lay
‒drowning in self-pity's tears
softly patting my back‒
knowing how slow this I operates
telling me:
 
it's going to be okay
take your time

it's your way to make
no matter the pace

it's never too late
‒whatever the case
I'll† help you break

evil's enclosed vase
 
harder I did pray
hearing clearer His† words
stronger became my faith
'til that magical day
His† light alone‒
out of that darkened cave
my way
He† did pave
 
here and there
self-pity comes, says hey
for moments‒
again
I lose my way
but as light as a needle of hay
He† lifts me
‒His† light pours within me
an abundance of rays
blinding evil's come what may
filling me with gentle's taste
‒oranges, apples, grapes
fruits of my labor
the brilliance of grace
my truth in faith
proving to me
nothing stands in my wake
 
so, each time
self-pity‒
I seem to embrace
just give me space
let me alone face
find my own way
backward steps
less and less to trace
each new day
faster and faster
I replace‒
that wilderness-mentality trait
‒evil's webbing embrace
oh-poor-me beckoning date
soon to disappear
without a trace
 
the deeper I pray‒
quicker and quicker
I re-find my way
 
with purer, stronger faith
realizing
it's not just a dream to chase
it's a gift‒
in my heart
God† did place
 
so, my self-pity
please don't embrace
turn away
give me my moments
to pray
my special one-on-one date
just me and my Lord†
‒heavy in faith
immersing my I
in words He† has
to say
 
‒no time limits placed
on days I pray
just know when I emerge‒
I'm stronger
heavily armed in His† way
so each tomorrow
I'll easily face
for I'm endowed‒
smothered happily
in His† amazing grace
Continue reading “‘Pity-Party Me Not’”

‘Bringing Her Back’

She’s Inside There. Go Get Her!

A sample from Book 7

 Bringing Her Back
 
she took a step off the curve
her mind racing‒
which way to turn
 
the wind blowing in her hair
pulling her coat tight‒
she wandered for a while
then just stood there
 
frozen
listening
 
people were talking
kites were flying
cars were passing
behind her a soft rustle
she turned
to someone jogging
a squirrel sitting, staring
in the distance‒
a dog barking
then she felt it
‒no longer the need for dying
 
she felt life‒
she deserved
her heart beating
there was so much more to learn
 
she smiled
not a big smile
no, not one just anyone could see
it was an inside smile
on her lips‒
the hint of a small curve
 
she closed her eyes
enclosed herself in her arms
held her head back
her feet began to move in a tiny circle
I'm coming back
the gentle voice in her head
she heard
 
suddenly but gently
she stopped
opened her eyes
there before her...a path
not knowing
if it was the way she wanted to go
or the way she needed to go
she just began walking
her smile noticeable to all
she was now free
‒no longer a caged bird
Continue reading “‘Bringing Her Back’”

‘Codependent’

The Codependent: Make Yourself Happy First!

A sample from Book 6

 Codependent
 
I've tried to help
in ways
that didn't help
 
I've said yes
then no
to my self
 
I've avoided
hurting others
only to hurt myself
 
to trust my own feelings
I've been afraid
 
I've believed lies
then betrayed-
I often felt
 
I wanted to get even
punish others
for putting me
on a shelf
 
I often
became smothered
in anger and hate
-wanting to kill
not feeling safe
 
I've fought
for others' rights
when they didn't know
how the law swayed
only to be left
alone
like an abandoned stray
 
I've often settled
for others' worth
-left my own
to grow another day
 
I became
the reaction
to others' anger and hate
instead of listening to self
walking my own way
 
I became
less of me
for others
to be set free
 
I've lost myself
to dependency
on how others felt
without seeing
my own need
to be free
to be just me
Continue reading “‘Codependent’”

‘The Hanging’

When You’re Caught In Silent Abuse

A sample from Book 1

 The Hanging
 
the heart thumps
a thunderous bolt
tightens and roars—
wrapping, squeezing
like a sailor’s rope
 
hunger escapes
while sleeplessness eludes
jolted and battered—
feeling the vapor
of a flowerless fool
 
shaking
with rupturing chills
cold and hot—
not quite understanding
this weathering thrill
 
voice over voice
cloud the mind
yes or no—
eyes turn cold
moisten
then go blind
 
searching for light
yearning to yell
craving an escape—
this pending doom
to a bottomless hell
 
beneath there’s bound
to be salvation
somewhere to run—
‘til then
there’s only damnation
Continue reading “‘The Hanging’”

‘Hold My Hand’

Men: Just Do It!

A sample from Book 5

 Hold My Hand
 
when I'm lost
― confused
wanting to give up
will you hold my hand
 
when I doubt
want a way out
will you stick around
 
when I'm angry
―scream
call you names
will you not place blame
 
when I cry
lost in sadness
will you change my mind
to live and not die
 
when I hate
my vision clouded
will you be my guide
tell me my life
is not a lie
 
when I want to run
leave all behind
draw a heavy line
will you walk beside me
―hold my hand
take my feet
from the sand
plant them
on solid ground
 
when I'm alone
lost in darkness
make you want to leave
will you forgive
help my eyes to see
everything
I want to be
 
when I'm here
cold...closed up inside
will you stay
give me space
help me see my way
 
when I want
to give up
will you stand by me
take my hand
help me be free
help me to see
what it takes
to be happy
Continue reading “‘Hold My Hand’”

‘A Woman’s Strength’

You Deserve Appreciation and Love!

A sample from Book 5

  A Woman's Strength
 
did you think of me today
no call came my way
underneath my smile I sway
no words do I say
I thought of you all day
as I rushed through my filled plate
 
early I started to bake
not long the house was laced
with the smell of your favorite
chocolate cake
 
the kids were at play
a new toy
one did break
one became the prey
the other screamed hate
peace...I had to make
clearing the haze
putting smiles on their face
anger left no trace
but it was too late
the cake―
I had to throw away
 
ring phone ring
I did pray
hoping you'd call to say hey
 
then the dog did stray
I had to move in haste
apologies to convey
the neighbor's yard―
a garbage-strung maze
after an hour's pace
a cleaned yard
done in good faith
 
I reentered the house
noticed it was only eight
my day―
moving at a slow rate
still no word from my mate
 
breakfast I did make
then the taste of toothpaste
the cleaned dish plates
no time to wait
everyone dress
screamed hurrah
 
to the babysitters―
who monthly I pay
to take my place
a goodbye kiss
a last minute wave
off to work
my smile...fake
 
then I remember
I hadn't ate
my eight-hour day
drove its heavy weight
still no word from my mate
 
rush-hour traffic
a nerve-raking state
thus beginning the evening chase
babysitter, supper
no flirter's bait
comes my way
sent the children
off to bathe
finally you call
again...you're working late
a quiet evening to waste
long, restless night
again...I must face
until you're home
and I feel safe
 
did you think of me today
no call came my way
underneath my smile I sway
no words do I say
I thought of you all day
as I rushed through
my filled plate
Continue reading “‘A Woman’s Strength’”

‘The Experience’

Your Anger Turns to Lust to Move You!

A sample from Book 5

 The Experience
 
I'm your past
I'm what
didn't last
I'm what
could
never last
 
I'm the passing blast
to move through
really fast
with the quickness
of a kisser's dash
 
I'm the wine glass
wearing a mask
making
my on-stop splash
 
I'm your past
leaving you
in a gasp
easily slipping
from your grasp
in your mind
thoughts are cast
in my heart
the debris
of a failed lover's task
Continue reading “‘The Experience’”

‘Anger’s Brethren’

Don’t Use the Children!

A sample from Book 5

 Anger's Brethren
 
its face is ugly
peeking through
little by little
building its soul
one small piece at a time
 
vulnerability
it patiently waits
then the attack
increasing the heartbeat
clouding
a once throughout plan
wilting the roses
rains replacing sunshines
beautiful language
turns to spiteful vengeance
over ruling logic
hardening
closing open hearts
 
its face is ugly
destroying all good
taking its time
taking all time
closing doors
'til love exist
no more
Continue reading “‘Anger’s Brethren’”