A3 Assignment -- My Bully Project (Love Conquors All)

The Ancient Ones

one gone gone
the life we knew
Gone gone gone
So many so few
Gone gone gone
Where once was sun
Gone gone gone
The ancient ones

Hunters we are
We have no home
Rootless we are
Sinew and Bone
Travel we far
From hill to plain
Taking our lives
In meat and grain

Plentiful was
The new green land
Generous with
Stream and sand
Gave us all
And growing we
Took them all
And set  it free

Gone gone gone
The plant and stream
Gone gone gone
To dust and weed
Gone gone gone
The land was sown
Gone gone gone
Now ash and bone

Stretching out
Shore to shore
We ring our kivas
Save our stores
Taking all
The land will give
Moving on
So we can live

Gone gone gone
The wood and bine
Gone gone gone
This land of mine
Gone gone gone
No water flows
Gone gone gone
To live we go


Stealing caves
From fox and bear
We learn to live
Above the air
We build our towers
Strong and tall
Encamp our children
Fill our hall

With legs grown strong
We climb our homes
Our dusky desert
Colored tombs
Strong and fierce
We’ve made our way
We are the captains
Of our day

Gone gone gone
The trees and streams
Gone gone gone
Our hopes and dreams
Gone gone gone
Our fertile vale
Gone gone gone
Again we fail

One last look
And then we go
Our father’s strength
Our present woe
We cannot live
There is no life
And so we move
To stay alive

Gone gone gone
Our day is done
Gone gone gone
To our new sun
Gone gone gone
Our temples bare
Gone gone gone
But who knows where

Gone gone gone
Our life our sun
Gone gone gone
The ancient ones
       

everyday heroes
live everyday lives
doing
everyday things
sunrise to sunrise

everyday heroes
clean dishes sweep floors
pick toys up
and kids up
work - play - and then more

everyday heroes
are here for a while
they love us and cheer us on
mile after mile

everyday heroes
unsung not unloved
we'll see them again
when we all meet above

everyday hero
i'll never forget
you gave all you had
now you're gone
and we're left

Inspired by  "Once Upon a Gypsy Moon" by Michael Hurley ... you rock!

under a gypsy moon
I lay beneath the stars
Polaris smiles upon my bark
as it carries me to the stars

under a gypsy moon
where the wind and the waves sublime
carry me far from home and then
return from that salty brine

under a gypsy starry sky
under a moon so bright
and a ocean so deep and long and still
that it ever steers me right

let me take that gypsy moon with me
in my pocket nearest my heart
and I'll sail the seas to the end of the world
where day and night depart


and the second one is:


once upon a gypsy moon
with the sea blowing wide and high
cradled on my rocking deck
I watch the stars go by

time stays its hand
that moonful night
winds whispering soft and low
while all lay slumbering in their beds
in eons far below

once upon a gypsy moon
she sings sweet, cajoling still
calling me to return once more
to her windswept misty hills

copyright haikujin 2015

Wake
It Is time to
Wake

Hear
It is time to
Listen

Heart beats
Single rhythm
Hand in hand

Wake ... Hear ... Know

Distant drums
Call
The highest hills
Resound
Souls awaken
Struggling to hear

The sound
Love

Memorial Day

Who can measure
The sacrifice
Risking all
To protect freedom

Freedom
Such an elusive tale
Freedom to extend
The boundaries of humanity
Freedom to pursue self
At any cost

Freedom to return
Dragging the bodies of
Soul shattering anger and hate
In their wake

The victims leaving their victims
To lie
Weeping on that hallowed ground
Of freedom
For all


What have we done
To our children
Their innocence shattered

What have we done
To our inheritance
Its riches squandered

What have we done
To our to ourselves
Gifts scattered to the wind

When will we
Learn that sometimes
The price is too high

And the time has come
To turn
And return

Today I will

I am not perfect.  I know my limitations and they increase daily.  I know that most people try their best … But … Knowing that does it excuse being cruel?

Clouds creep softly through the trees,
dipping their toes into the soft earth
Leaving damp footprints,
 as they step lightly along the ground
Thirsty roots nudge their beds aside,
 sipping the cool air
Until relieved of their burden,
Their  tendrils,
 cotton candy soft
Joyfully Rise to meet
The sun


Misty musty
Feather dusty
Dip your toes and more
Sweep the floor with tasty lore
Until the senses cry for more
Then sated
Fade away



What is the price of
 a smile
A hand
Condolence
Shared pain

What is the cost of
Compassion
Sympathy
A shared laugh

What is the loss of
Love
Mercy forgiveness

What is the proof of
Humanity

Be Still and Know that I Am God

Be Still ... Quiet ... wait ... don't do anything ... listen ... breathe ...
And Know ... Be aware ... consider ... take it in ...
That I Am ... The beginning and the end ... alpha and omega ...
God ... Loving father ... King of kinds ... Lord of lords ...

What if ...
  my great plan is to rest, to enjoy God's peace
  my great purpose is to be His child
  my great task is to worship him and love His children
  my objective is to share joy
  His plan for my life is to be saved

I think I can do
  that....

I can feel the breeze tasting my skin ... 
I can smell the dew scenting the air ... 
dogs tail wagging hellos ... 
the soft ground glides under my feet ... 
notes in an unsung melody ... 
art is art is art

So it's 9:30 on a Sunday night. I live in a 30+ year old middle income community, aging fairly well. There's a knock at the door. I open the door and see a young man standing in my doorway, holding a pack of papers with a list of magazines that he is selling. I step outside, "What's up?" He steps closer and points to the papers, "Would you like to buy a magazine?" He steps into his spiel. I wait, and then note, "Well, it's kind of late." He explains, "I'm trying to pull myself up in the company, working extra hours, getting more sales. I want to be like you". I say, "old"? He smiles, "No, I want to be well off. "You're not old till you're cold." I smile back. "Will you bill me?" His smile drops an inch, "No, cash only" he pauses and his voice drops, "or donations". He's fairly well dressed, not drugged up. I put my hands in my pockets, two days before social security hits ... "All I have is $2.00," I give it to him. He sighs, "thanks". I give him a hug, and he hugs me back, "hey good luck." He turns, "Thanks Ma'am." He walks away, I shut the door. My husband walks up behind me, "Who was that?" "Someone who needed help." "Did you give him anything?" "Of course." "Good."

Your stories
Awaken
Something sleeping
Deep within
That needs to live
Again

Today I'm feeling forgiven .... so if I have hurt any of you by my words, actions or lack ... I am so so sorry ... please forgive me....

the longer
I live
the more mistakes
I make

the more mistakes
I make
the more I need
to say
I'm sorry

not for what you did
not for what you said
but for what
I did and
for what
I said

when I release
forgiveness for
myself
I free you
and
I free me

because

your behavior
doesn't dictate
my response
I do that all
on my
own

Epiphany

In the final scheme
of things
it won't matter if I
was justified
in what I did
and what I said

what will matter is
if I apologized
for my wrongs
to you
and to
me

and you
will have to
take care of you
yourself

We who were
More
Are now less
And by being less
We are more than
Enough


Numbers

First just one
And then just two
Three and four
Not just a few

Minus one and then two more
Three come in
One out the door

Makes for four now five now six
One is gone
One can't mix

Full house
Only one way to go
One by one they grow
And go

Now just two
And life is sweet
Full or empty life's a treat

I have
Three sisters
And a mom

I was one of four
Girls

I was one of three
Younger sisters

I was one of two
Middle sisters

I was one of one
Disowned

I have sisters by choice
Not by birth
I am not
Alone

Today
We've been married
44 years
Today
My sister moved
Out
Today
I slept in
Pulled weeds
Ate cake
And tuna sandwiches
Because today life is grand

time to let go

holding on too hard
and too long
the past is past
wrongs still are wrong

time doesn't matter
when hurt stays strong
only letting go
will right some wrongs

its not giving up
its not giving in
its not saying
sins not sin

its just giving back
dignity for pain
its just giving back
sun for rain

sometimes it takes
a lot of rain
before the sun
can shine again

a season for anger
a season to grieve
a season for a heart
to grow and live

now is my season
now is my time
i pray that you know
when your time is mine

today is forever
and for today
I can hold you and giggle
I can put you in my lap and cuddle
I can stroke your furry softness

and for today
I can breathe in your soft breath
I can hide in my pillow from your doggy kisses
I can revel in your funny grin

and for today
I can race you to the chair
I can save the cat from your wrath
I can watch as you scout out the yard for danger

because today is forever
and tomorrow
tomorrow is not yet to be





I am growing older
and I can see the number of my days
but not yet

They are formless
hinting at a greater loss
but not yet

they dream of shorter steps and
runless days
but not yet

they promise only less
not more
but not yet

because today
is the day of life

and it is the day
I celebrate
not yet

made and unmade

made by my mother
unmade by her pain
made by my father
unmade by disdain

made by my friends
unmade as I grew
made by my voices
unmade by them too

made by my lovers
unmade when love fled
made by my husband
the unmaking I dread

made by my children
grandchildren
and more

made by myself
now I'm no longer
poor

The house
Windows drooping in sleepy
Obedience
Doors whisper to their jambs
Stairs give up their burdenous day
Creaking with heartfelt sighs

Tomorrow may we be filled
With laughter ... Love ... You
Again


sun drenched doves wings
Gaily play
With blue hills racing by
They tip their wings
At seagulls
Shades against the sky

The pull of tide, the sands warm breath
Draw seas and shells ashore
They'll sit and watch eternity
As we do evermore


The bright moon is my nightlight
The stars they light my way
They fairy dust the night time sky
And wander wild and fey

The wind directs my footfalls
As I join their midnight play
Until the morning steals their light
And moonfall fades to day

For you Carolyn

My first short story of, well, a long long time.

The rock fell onto the cold, dusty floor, trembling layers of paneled walls and oak floors, finally ending with a dull thud against concrete, four floors below. I stood, trembling as well, waiting for the angry voices, threatening shouts and hoarse footsteps deafening the rocks clumsy descent … nothing.

Bored of waiting, I wandered out into the hallway, stopping at the window seat across from the banister curving down through acres of wood. Glancing briefly at the car in the drive, I slowly raised my eyes to encompass the forest surrounding the glade cradling a long curving drive and disappearing into a sea of cypress, oak and pine. 

“Where did you go?”

At first it had been exciting, the angry voices, the slamming doors. The “never coming back,” echoing through the early winter air, first warmed and then chilled my soul. They couldn’t mean it. After all, I belonged to them, bone to bone, inseparable … or so I thought. Maybe not.

I slumped down on the dusty seat, glaring at the wind inspired particles now drifting in the air. They tried to leave, they really did, dragging suitcases dripping arms and legs of cashmere and cotton, thrown hurriedly in the trunk, slammed shut. Car doors slammed, less enthusiastically and then the errrr cough ... errrr cough ... errrrrr of a misfiring engine. Silence.

I pushed up on my elbows and stared again, remembering. Angry voices, escalated and I felt their shattering stares through the glass, shards piercing my soul. A moment later, stomping away from the immobile car, the blaming, complaining dimmed in the distance as they stomped, then strode and finally seeped away down the drive into the forest; the echoes, “it’s only a mile or two, come on.” fading into their distance and finally disappearing altogether.

It had been four days. They had not returned.

Alone again … well I was well accustomed to being alone, but the loneliness, that was interminable. Fading through the hall, gliding down the stairs, I picked at remnants of white sheets tucked into alcoves, ready to spring forth at a moments notice, rocks stacked in dim corners that could echo throughout the house their agenda as hidden as their location, maybe I had overdone it a bit … but it had been so long. They seemed to enjoy the tension of not knowing, the fear … at first.

I stepped away from the house, the front door hissing behind me, "don’t go too far".

"As if I can," I hissed back, invisible footprints marking my progress.

Stepping into the clearing I stared at the car, encouraged the engine into life and ordered it into the pond at the back of the house … it was getting full. At least the car wasn't afraid of my kind ... I guess 'ghost' was close enough. I felt my skin sizzle against the closeness of the trees, turned and glided back into my sanctuary … my safe, secure, sanctuary.

Alone, lonely, again.

the silence within

loudly it proclaims
 my humanity
softly it whispers
 my mortality
shouting it proclaims
 my indignity
quietly it whispers
 my identity
but when I fill it with
the business of noise
I cannot hear who I am
at all