Faraway memories

Across a new shore

Crossing an imposing mountain

The dust on his shoes never seem to settle

Scruffy cap, hoarse whisper, misty eyed

‘Am I really here?’

Just yesterday a known solace disappeared

The refuge burnt down to the ground

The words spoken were shun

Lyrical language met with harsh discordant sounds

Symbols of ancient culture scoffed at

Believe in the new law of the land

Freedom! What a stupid idea

Creation of your own homeland- ridiculous

Landless, starving, stripped and voiceless

Silently he marches across the valley

Looking at the treacherous peak ahead

A challenge! A measure of hope!

Across that pinnacle is there a light?

Are new beginnings only the ideas of simple fools?

Just yesterday, the army brought out their weapons

Guns, knives and words as harsh as steel

Lies were spun, blows were struck

Surrender to the nation, surrender your belief

No land of soulful mystics this- just cold faced policy

A place of mythical ethereal beauty- now struck with a smell of a bleeding chemical

Small steps into the future

Will anyone understand?

Will someone accept us?

Will someone hear our silent cry?

How to move this monolith?

How to change its stone cold soul?

Will Tibet be ever free?

Will we be ever free?

Glass Princess

From a crystal clear view window looking out into the hazy distance

From a strong steel built fortress, looking into a straw house

From pleasing comfort, gazing into murky reality

From looking afar, to looking inward

Glass princess – is it your time to break?

From softness and protection, looking out into desolate isolation

From satisfaction to the depths of despairing want

From pleasant memories to haunting nightmares

From accepted love to wanting to be loved

Glass princess- is it your time to break?

Reality, comes crashing down

Glass princess, you are drawn in

Reality encompasses you and the dirty waif

Bridging illusion, myth and fact

Barriers that blind – will be broken

Light, love and dreams can unite

Glass princess- it is your time to break!

It’s time to let truthful emotion in

It’s time to reach out and act

Glass princess- break, break, break!

Free Spirit

She was born wild, a child of the hills
The morning star and the midday sun
Wildflowers, orchards and a gushing brook
Fountains, Fireflies and Firesides she loved

The dawn of the morning, the dew on the leaves
The wild lark’s tune she hummed
The brook and the waterfall
Her grandfather’s voice, his wisdom and love
Took her through canyons, boulders and mountains
With a carefree smile and a whisper of love

The stars in the night sky, the comet’s trail streaking by
The moon in her brightness
Casts a shadow on the lake
The silence is broken as the rain begins to fall

Life has its mysteries
It beautiful vistas
Its unexplainable challenges
Inspire us to be born and to live free.

Famine Rampant in our Soul!

Vacant Parking lot

Graffiti stained wall

Discontented glare

Hunger.........

Famine rampant in our soul......

Emptiness

Chasing slippery dreams

Treading on unsteady ground

Grasping for elusive reality

Famine rampant in our soul

Uneasy calm

Lit by a pale street light

Trying to avoid someone

who's ready to fight

Yearning...

Still famine rampant in our soul

Soft creature comforts

Folded in bubble wrap

Cannot feel the fall

Mosaic of bliss, dreams, fame, money

Yet...

Famine continues to be rampant in our soul

Seeking somehow, seeking somewhere

Can't escape simple platitude

Need a drastic change in attitude 

Grasp for something HIGHER

Grasp for the TRUTH

Reach out for the LIGHT

It's within our reach!

Come on now- just give it a try!

In the midst of a sultry summer

In the midst of a sultry summer

As smoke rises off a scorching pavement

Warm breeze blows

Not a single leaf flutters

The ground's hardened and cracked

Seems like an unforgiving desert

Until.....

The skies burst forth

Cold refreshing dew drops fall

From heavenly skies

Suddenly the world seems refreshed

There is a new spark of life

Sweet melodies whisper in your ear

A new song springs in your heart...

Lend your voice

I could be the voice of reason
Maybe the voice of doubt
Sometimes saying something
Before I've thought about it
I want to speak the truth
But, sometimes a lie seems right
Many issues worth a fight.
But, where do I lend my voice?

So many stories
Of pain, hurt and lost love
I have a voice, so let me use it
To question injustice,
To challenge policy,
To hold authority accountable
I have a voice and must therefore speak
No more indifference for Darfur
No more silence for the poor
Our voice is our strength
I know there is so much wrong
But, it is my time to do what's right

I cannot simply watch in silence
And let another child die
Dreams abandoned
Memories so painful
Waves of apathy riding high
Powerful pure messages
Stifled by corporate greed
Have to remember Tienanmen
Speak out against injustice like the Mahatma
Listen to the voice of Dr. King
And pray each day
That justice will run down like mighty waters
Peace flow like an everlasting stream

So speak out against oppression
Speak out against tyrannical moghul rule
Speak out against hate
Let's talk about LOVE

Let's lend our voice for the starving child in a Mumbai slum
For the homeless man, shivering on the corner
Of Peachtree and Tenth Street
For the single mother abandoned by a man she once loved
raising three young children, working two unrewarding jobs
just to make ends meet.
Let's lend our voice for for every verdant tree, babbling brook, majestic mountain
And every creature great and small...
Lets lend our voice against burning food for rampant suburban sprawl.

So speak out for what you believe in
Your voice is your instrument , your shield, your weapon
Make democracy happen,
Your voice will be your story
Your legacy and your soul....

************************************************************************************

As the Water's Rise

As the waters rise
A long line of people begin to flee
Rushing and Shouting, Crying and Pleading
Leaving their homes and memories
Abandoned schools
Empty graveyards
Washed away dreams

As the waters rise
There is a shrieking wail from the village priest
He will not move
For who will tend his temple?
Who will oil the lamp?

As the waters rise
doubts surface
where to from here?
Government greed
the Bank's putting pressure
The farmer stands alone
His field is so fragile
the water will engulf it
No more grain
No more life
As the waters rise.