Tolerance

Extend grace to those who don't comprehend you,
wisdom is always simple,
seeing only your place in the pattern may leave you blind to its beauty,
your knowledge is for sharing - not overcoming,
be open to what others offer,
love is a the gateway to enlightened reality,
the tool for success is kindness,
love for an enemy doesn't diminish your strength,
it makes weakness obsolete,
open ears and minds to what others offer,
and find the path to peace that all hearts seek.

Sometimes I Dream

Sometimes I Dream.

I dream I'm living a life underwater,
all of my words are muffled
my screams emerge as bubbles
my limbs are restrained by pressure
my punches fly without force
my lungs empty
I breath in water and begin drowning
panic rules this dream.

I dream I can fly,
I take a deep breath in cool air
trees and houses become playthings
the world looks like a model below
I soar apart from the earth
light and free I look on - silent
I exhale and descend into reality
breath in and return to heaven
peace rules above chaos.

I dream I'm invisible,
I wander among strangers
watch them shop, eat, chat, complain
they walk among crowds longing to be alone
they ride alone in cars wishing for companions
busy with their own inventions
they stumble through the days
they look down and worry they'll drown
they look up and dream of flying away. 

The Reminder

I met a woman the other day from Vietnam, 

I asked her how she liked America.

She told me she liked it very much, 

she told me about her homeland,

she told me how her father longed to come here,

she told me how grateful she was to be raising her children here,

she told me about the poor in her country,

how they are turned away at the hospital for having no money,

how they die in the streets of simple infections,

how they must pay in cash for justice,

how the abandoned children are left to the pity of strangers,

how food is scarce and people are hungry,

how oppression has left her country in shambles,

a beautiful place she says - but not so nice. 

I asked her why she liked America, 

does it bother her when she hears people complain?

She smiled and said she is grateful to live here,

where poor children are fed and don't have to go hungry,

where doctors are there for all who are ill,

where opportunities for all allow her to succeed,

where justice is flawed - but served to all - just the same,

She didn't understand how any person, 

could live in such a wonderful country 

and ever complain. 

When you think of your country,

what comes to mind? 

Taxes? Laws? Scandals? Just Flaws?

I think of this woman, her father, her children,

and I'm grateful that she reminded of the true value of my freedom.

Desert of Days

I wander through this desert of these days,
surrounded by others, things, small pleasures -
this landscape where I'm seen - and overlooked,
remains unconcerned with what lurks below the surface -
below the calm.

A storm rages inside me - yet I keep my peace -
control is an illusion one must master.

I wander through this desert of these days,
seeking, yet concealing my search - from me, from them, from you -
this struggle lies below the tide of thinking - in the sea of feeling -
unable to extinguish burning questions only time can answer -
I wander on.

A thirst builds inside me - growing ever greater -
waiting to be quenched by your kiss. 

Melancholy

Ache, a bruise in the throat -
a hole in the heart,
radiates to the eyes - the flow starts -
release toxic pain of loss.

Past has power you give it,
recall it,
see lessons,
you don't have to relive it.

Today's not a day for joy,
it's a time to reflect -
let wisdom gained overpower
what pain tries to infect.