He had Never Cried Like this Before

As a little boy he was taught
to hide those tears away;
toughen up and be a man
'cuz real men don't act that way.

With a gentle side and a bit shy too,
he didn't like to fight at all.
His dad would get the boxing gloves,
and engage them in a brawl.

He tried his best to be the boy,
he thought his daddy wished for;
Threw punches back and forth,
Until alas he'd hit the floor.

Get back up with a bloody nose,
and tears held back real tight.
He wanted to be close to his dad,
but he didn't really like to fight.

Years flew by and this same boy
toughened up in his own skin.
He traveled a bit of a rough road,
lessons to learn, places he's been.

Made it through to the other side,
rough and tough much like his Dad.
The Cats in the Cradle was their song,
but with their own memories to be had.

The years were hard and took their toll,
leaving Dads body weathered and old.
His boy next door watched this man,
aging quickly yet still strong and bold.

Many years before his time,
His dear Dads health started to fade.
He'd had a very tough life,
There were dues that he had paid.

The time came and dad began
to fade beyond all hopes of return.
His poor body was tired and weak,
and his soul was tired in turn.

The day came the boy saw his dad,
ask for peace and fade away.
Then one early Monday morning,
he took his last breath on Earth that day.

The memorial day was met with sun,
beautiful blue with clouds in the sky.
And at the service he held his daughter,
as tears for her Grandpa fell from her eyes.

This boy so tough and now a dad,
was overcome by his little girls tears.
He hadn't expected it to take him over,
but he felt tears for the first time in years.

He held his baby girl as she cried,
comforting her in every way.
He knew his Dad was finally at peace,
no more pain for him today.

Looking back his Dad had taught him,
everything he needed to know.
Strength, love and determination,
and the will to learn and grow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inspired by my Dad (07-1950 ~ 07-2009)
And my brother John and my niece Jade
At my dads memorial on 08-01-2009

Even Happy Cries Sometimes

We all lose our happy,
it happens from time to time.
Sometimes without a reason,
we find we've lost our rhyme.

We dig deep inside ourselves,
Trying to figure it out.
Searching for the answer,
to rid us of our lonesome pout.

In the midst of having it all,
a tear trickles out of our eye.
We don't always know the cause,
or have a reason why.

We just know we fell so empty,
and that we've lost our spark.
We know we should be happy,
but tell this to our heart.

These moments only last,
as long as we allow them to.
But we too have the choice,
to stop being sad and blue.

We wipe our tears and smile,
then bravely start again.
We choose to find our happy,
and turn tears into a grin.

The Voice of a Lady

Mother Nature speaks to us;
Listen to her whisper in the wind.
She dances in the fallen leaves;
and coerces the tree limbs to bend.

She shines in everything you see;
her touch is everywhere.
She sculpts canyons from rivers
and breathes wind through the air.

She births a new life every second
and absorbs for rebirth what is dead.
She sings songs through the chirp of the birds,
and provides food for all to be fed.

You'll see her in everything you see,
like that immature hawk perched there.
Even in this land made from man.
Look and you'll find her everywhere.

Embrace the life that lives with us,
in everything we do and see.
Every life breathing blade of grass,
the leaves of each and every tree.

Remember we animals share together,
a world that lives and breathes;
With respect for our friend Mother Nature,
and the miracles all that is living sees.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inspired by a twitter photo prompt.
A picture taken of a immature Hawk that had landed on a deck.
From: @kitterztoo

Every Day is a Blessing

Each night I lay my head to sleep,
with your love in my heart.
It's always there inside of me,
even when we are apart.

I love the way it warms my soul
and fills me to the very brim.
This kind of love helps one grow,
and shine from deep within.

It helps a person be oneself,
when a love is given completely.
This kind of love embraces the heart,
holding it so soft and sweetly.

I drift to sleep with loving thoughts,
of all that makes my life complete.
My life is living outside of the box,
not always so tidy and neat.

Yet when my morning eyes awake,
I know they'll find you in it.
Because of this I am so blessed,
And thankful for every minute.

Up, Up and Away

Sometimes we get so excited
that our wings start to flutter,
and we no longer touch the ground.
We start floating just a little,
and don't even realize it.
Then imagine our surprise
when something knocks us to the ground.
They say things happen for a reason,
I believe this to be true.
Sometimes we need grounded,
to remind us where we came from.
But just as importantly,
sometimes we need to float,
to remind us where we are going.

Regrouping

Sometimes we give so much,
that for just a moment,
we are empty inside.
It's wonderful to reach out.
To embrace and give,
with your very heart and soul.
To pour yourself in;
to fill a vast void in someone,
and to help them heal.
The feeling that comes from this,
from being there for someone;
it touches like none other.
At the same time though,
one must be careful
not to become too empty.
Because nothing at all
can come from nothing.
So when you feel that feeling
of emptiness inside,
take a breath or two.
Refocus, regroup and refill.
Then give again.

The Adventure of My Life

A few years ago I ran across Tut.
It was a pivotal moment in time.
I was searching deeply for meaning.
Tut spoke the rhythm of my rhyme.

Tut sent daily nuggets to inspire.
To help you glow within your skin.
Daily affirmations of being all we can be;
of skipping through life with a happy grin.

Tut was a place for adventurers;
for the seekers of the Universe.
The ones who's minds were vast
and who's hearts sung in verse.

And the truth is, that is all of us.
I didn't know that at the time.
All I knew is that I too wanted more.
I wanted to write my own rhyme.

To tell my story in words poetic;
and to touch peoples lives.
I wanted to find a life-long love;
To share with me a life of happy sighs.

I stated in my adventurers log
that these were my ambitions.
Watched the years go ticking by
and saw dreams taking positions.

Pieces clicking one by one,
carefully into their place.
With life's speed bumps along the way;
Its always quite a touch and go race.

But bit by bit my dreams became
something close to reality.
With determination and intent,
I'll make it all be the best I can be.

This is the beginning of everything;
and the end of nothing at all.
I'm delighted, excited yet humble too.
And ready to answer my life's call.

~~~~~~~~
Inspired by my decision to quit my day job doing accounting and pursue my dream to write for a living. :)

And the TUT I refer to is http://www.tut.com/ ~ check it out!