If Only

A chill blows across from the coast and
leaves begin to dance in jeweled shades of crimson and gold.

I walk along the avenue, wind in my face
and forget to remember my way.

Trying not to think of you.

My gloved fingers are unsure of their place, remembering only the days when they were safely intertwined with yours.

Crawling into bed, I don't recall it being so big
and under the flannel sheets I feel so slight.

I miss you a bit more.

I lie wishing not to dream of you and the family I'd always hoped we'd be. Wondering why it just didn't go right - if only you'd have stayed with me.

It's here I remain. Still. Alone. In the darkness.

Now is when I miss you the most.

Frame my Life

This collage of images is representative of how I see myself, both as I am and how I wish to be. I frame my life by the ideas and values I see in these things:

The labyrinth reminds me to meditate and reflect. All of life is a journey and that is more significant than any destination.

Elephants are the most majestic creatures I have ever encountered. They are strong and gentile, patient, highly emotional, determined and wise, full of honor but not proud, they are great communicators and are endlessly devoted to their family unit.

A snake thrives based on the strength of its instincts. To combine these characteristics with ancient wisdom is to but scratch the surface of learning.

The eternal tree of life is representative of endless cycles of rebirth. All the potential for life exists inside a single seed which provides sustenance for all the creatures at the base of a woodland ecosystem and gives rise to the entire web of life. Nothing is life is to underestimated or taken for granted.

It may be lucky, but the cricket reminds me of a round faced vagabond who reminds me to let my conscience be my guide. Trusting my own intuition is sometimes the hardest thing to do but if I follow it I will never be lead astray.

Truth is the breath of life in any narrative. Finding, understanding, and then holding truth is a skill that few people have but those that work to hone it are the water carriers. There would be no progress without the water carriers.

There are many incarnations of peace. It’s defined more in terms of what it is not (hostility) than what it is and yet I see it as a combination of all the best things in life.

An ellipsis indicates that there are more things to come which are yet unknown.