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Courage
Courage is the staff of life
A well from which to drink
When sadness fills your heart and mind
And tempts your knees to sink
When rising up is such a chore
And emptiness abounds
There's still a flame that flickers there
A strength from which you’ll find
An ever-ready voice to sing
So strong and true and brave
Beyond the bounds of fear and loss
Peace, love and hope will save
As long as breath is flowing free
And there are dreams to dream
Let nothing crush the light within
Your soul is what it seems
Forgive the ones who do you harm
Let go of all that’s past
Then faith and joy will fill your heart
With actions meant to last
Face
Not about beauty
Not about grace
It’s the spirit within
That shows on your face
No matter the age
No matter the race
It’s just those expressions
Right there on your face
It mirrors your thoughts
It mirrors your soul
It shows what you’re thinking
Your purpose, your goal
We search for the smiles
We search for the praise
But we find it within
It’s the gift of our gaze
So each person you meet
Choose smiles and grace
And riches be yours
Right there on your face
Devil Downs
From time to time the spirit falls
The lights do dim down narrow halls
Heavy is the burden born
Of leaden weight, so joy is torn
The mind does reel in pain and grief
All future fades, as autumn leaf
No peace upon the heart does come
Solutions searched add up no sum
Which way to turn, be here or there
The soul is raw, exposed and bare
Yet life line is that all things pass
These devil downs cannot but last
Flow
Flow of life, what does it mean?
A phrase of truth, or so it seems
It fills our heart with boundless joy
With purpose, meaning, never coy
It happens when we lose ourselves
In love of task, creation gels
Time does fly and boredom cease
We soar on wings, as wild geese
Approval isn’t in the game
We do it for the love of same
We care not what the others think
Oh challenge is the thing we drink
Our goals are set, we know the score
It never feels like such a chore
Pain and gain does not compute
All senses keen, they’re never mute
We feel it deeply in our soul
We dare not quit, we’re on a roll
And when we find it, oh what peace
Our restless searching now does cease
But where to look and where to start
The answers are within your heart
Fear not the leap, and as you go
The rocky path gives gift as FLOW
Inspired by "Finding Flow" ...
By Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
What Lasts?
All things pass, they do not last
Not glory, gold nor fame
And loves we grieve when ‘er they leave
Will happen yet again
The fashion clothes and finest silk
We treasure, hold and wear
Are here for now to gaze upon
But fabric too will tear
The mortar holding bricks so fine
Will crumble in the breeze
The jewels of life, possessions all
Are here until they leave
Our children too are in this world
We think they are our own
But they have paths apart from us
Our soul is not their home
Yes all we love and cherish now
Like grains of sand in time
Will slowly sift away from here
As does this passing rhyme
Yet hold so tight and cling we try
To that which cannot be
For change is like a rushing stream
Towards the deep blue sea
So cling not to the things of life
Let go to ease your mind
Be present in the moments now
And joy you’ll surely find
Yes love and peace are here for you
And freedom from all fear
Your life is now, so present be
All wants are surely near
Then seek his will, in perfect praise
Your gentle heart to heights be raised
‘Tis true and tried and all you need
Yes only love will last … in deed
City Soul
Barton Springs, oh well of life
Pond aside from common strife
Peaceful waters sing your song
Ripples short and ripples long
Skies above this Texas spring
Sun or shadows, do they bring
Air so warm and breezes too
In my heart you slowly grew
Muse of many, bathers lean
Underground a bubbling stream
Clear and clean your waters flow
Edwards Aquifer below
Jewel of Austin, gem so rare
Make the people see and care
A city soul, one can’t replace
Save Barton for the human race
Purpose
To daily wake without a plan
Is not the way that's meant for man
To sway and fro from here or there
No purpose bound, without a care
Yes man was made for better things
To reach the sky, to soar on wings
To feel the joy of hearts aflame
To risk and dare, to play the game
O'er hurdles high and hills galore
We never know just what's in store
The pain is there, and failure too
But heed not fear and fear not you
For there's a force beyond the sky
It's always present, always nigh
It kindly guides us when we ask
For strength of will to do the task
So daily wake and set your plan
That's the way that's meant for man
To strive ahead with purpose true
Embrace the task and follow through
Second Half
Mid way through our life we find
A restless rumble in our mind
We wonder what will drive us on
To find a purpose, sing our song
Nature now has had her way
She’s told us what to do or say
No longer must we reproduce
Oh focus drive, now gently loose
The second half is clear and clean
A slate of white, a willing stream
We’ll paint our way with joy and find
A wealth of spirit in our mind
It longs and waits within for thee
It speaks of joy, an open sea
The moment now, today is here
A time to find your passion clear
But how to do it, where’s the way
Past failure, trial, pain, some say
It matters not, how you begin
Seek love of task, and dive right in
And as you swim, the waters show
The love of life and where to go
Your spirit soars, you’re in the flow
You’ve found the golden seeds to sow
Creation currents never end
There’s always more around the bend
You’re never finished, never there
Til heaven bound, without a care
Sensuous Cyprus
Mountain peaks, rolling hills,
Smooth and firm, no winter chills
Warm and lazy, sleek as silk
Taste as honey, nature's milk
Past the single satin sheet
Lovers there do slowly meet
Wrapped among the gifts galore
Unaware of what's in store
Maze of music, senses high
Find her there, oh spirit fly
Rise to heights n'er known before
Cyprus leaves you wanting more
Life
Life is but a rainbow
Life is but an arc
It rises high beyond the sky
On ribboned wings to help us fly
But colors are illusions
Colors we perceive
Like problems, pain and sorrow
They’re here, but then they leave
The rainbow rises slowly
O’er stubble, hills and rock
And souls can lose their footing
When clinging to the flock
For herds lead not to water
Herds lead not to life
The soul alone must find its path
Through challenge pain and strife
So climb the rainbow, rise on high
And heed your heart to bluer sky
When goals and dreams are yours alone
Sweet taste of honey, flute the tone
Yes life is but a rainbow
Life is but an arc
The colors are illusions
That bind us to the flock
So follow what’s within you
Despite what others say
And splash your paint, oh break the mold
Tis then you’ll find your pot of gold
One
Is being alone so very bad,
Or only if it makes you sad?
For sadness is a state of mind
A feeling that you need not find
The world says mingle, pair and chat
But being as one, what's wrong with that?
If in your heart creation blooms
And ne'r be darkness there to loom
Those empty faces in the crowd
Their endless chatter, soft and loud
Is there a greater joy than mine
In bringing forth this simple line?
And are we ever really one
Upon this earth, beneath the sun?
Or is there constant warmth and love
If sought in silence from above
So being alone need not be bad
Unless, alas, it makes you sad
But sadness is a state of mind
A feeling that you need not find.
Pleasure
What is pleasure, what is joy?
Not food, nor lust, nor TV toy
These be short lived, easy fare
Passive tasks that take no dare
They lead not to fulfilling peace
Creation spirit there does cease
They're just a ploy, a horrid lie
They cause the soul within to die
Some think the easy way is right
Stay in, be safe, we need not fight
But struggle, risk and effort bare
A nectar sweet, delicious fare
Relax and rest do play their part
Renew the body and the heart
Yet idle long and you will find
A restless aching in your mind
So fear not struggle, fear not pain
And light will beam beyond again
Seek well the challenge, seek it now
For this is living, I do vow
Within You
Creating is the joy in life
Creating is the way
Creating makes us one on earth
It’s in you every day
To let it out, to let it flow
To show it light of day
It’s everything we need on earth
It’s sunlight, every ray
When handed any sorrow
When given every pain
It’s the never changing face of love
Creation, that’s its name
Childhood
I don’t recall the things of love
A smile warm from up above
A tender hug, caress or kiss
Such things as these were left amiss
Where were the eyes so pleased with me?
The caring glance I longed to see,
The joy and laughter of a home
Were merely dreams and that alone
Fear and worry, pain and grief
Were felt as drying autumn leaf
No safety of the hearth be there
Mere empty souls, could not but care
As they too lacked the skills of love
Felt not the warmth from up above
So blame is futile, blame is naught
The answer to this rhyme thus sought
But somehow in these words of woe
My heart finds peace, in writing so
The lines of memory, here and there
Give solace to my heart laid bare
And pity not the current state
As that was then and now is late
To change the past or wish for more
Tis better think, of what's in store
And what's in store is great indeed
For love provides my every need
And hearts alive can surely fly
So stride, shall I, with head held high
Toil
We’re here to serve the poor and ill
To care for all and help until
Our mission here on earth is done
And we have witnessed for the son
He’s given us a humble task
And filled our soul with love to last
For spirit leads along the way
With wisdom for each passing day
Respecting all who came before
Rejoice in challenge, need not more
Creative venture, humble toil
Compassion, service, heavens soil
Accepting life, and all that's here
We’re called to do, and will not fear
For strength of purpose from above
Comes through our hands in endless love
" I have come so that you might have life, and have it more abundantly." Jesus Christ
