Novel

Our lives get interwoven

Into many different stories.

We are a page or two to some

Or a chapter in another’s.

Many tales make us who we are;

Some pages tear stained,

Some wrinkled with laughter,

All gilded in gold.

On days like today,

Two lives blend together

Into a promise of many pages

That will yield a novel.

The words written forward

From this promise till eternity

Tell boldly, the unique drama

Of loving and living, happily together.

Blueprints

The foundation is made of

One part love, one part trust

And two parts of each other.

Mix well.

Walls are built with sturdy planks

Of  kindness and faith

For they insulate against the storms.

The roof is caring

Shingled with determination

Nailed down with a promise.

Windows and doors are needed.

The more the better.

A well lit open-air floor plan

Keeps it fresh and clean.

And a fire place is built

To keep the passion aflame

For this will warm the house

Forever.

Dreams must be wired throughout

and be kept up to code,

So the house will provide

the energy to be and do.

The decor is made of many things collected.

Laughs and smiles, tears and heartaches,

Hugs, jokes, prayers, and kisses

Add the right touch.

While quiet moments and cleansing words

Sweep away any dormant dust.

No, there is not any blueprint to look upon

There’s only a stockyard of supplies

From family, friends and God above.

The work and the comfort

Are to the husband and wife

To build and nurture a happy life.

Pounded

Pounded.

Digital images

of artificial worlds,

perfect people,

and white teeth

Pounded.

Serious faces

spew grim realities

of a world

of gray.

Pounded.

Allies say

it’s “them.”

We need to rebel

against rules.

Pounded.

Many individuals

collaborate against

the trend,

“Do it our way.”

Pounded.

Uncertain thoughts

within your head

What is right, wrong?

What is.

Pounded.

with hammers

on the soul

until weak.

Hope is depleted,

falling.

Pounded.

To the core

of being

where life sparks

and surges.

Pounded

to the dense

Essence that

will not just

sigh.

Pounded,

yet not failing.

Clawing back

to see and

stand.

Pounded

on the surface.

Strong inside,

Living,

Being.

Jump in the Lake

A cool day in July,

Breezy, bright, and bold.

A Great Lake ahead,

Michigan, waves inviting.

A young woman,

scars on her body, stands

A warrior, battles fought,

Freedom reborn in the water.

A jump in the lake,

Victory washes in waves.

An act of simple joy

is her celebration of life.

From the Heart

To sing well, she taught, “From the diaphragm.”

Let the air fill your lungs and resonate from there.

To sing, she instructed, “Open and project.”

One should hear clear crisp words of the song.

Yet, in my opinion, with a warm, patient smile,

And a glint in her eye, she said, “Sing from the heart.”

Many young voices, whether solo or quartet,

Duet or choir, learned from her skill and knowledge.

And as they stood on stage, group or alone.

She accompanied them with her piano and grace.

She sent them courage through the keys and direction.

Passion to sing, that was sent straight from the heart.

Now, with many years in and many songs sung,

Many lives impacted and many dreams chased,

The lights dim on a stage and notes softly echo

A promise that her melody will always live on.

Her music career is a crescendo of voices that sing,

Like her, with life, with love, in harmony, from the heart.