We each have a wild nature, a part we learn to lock up in order to get by in the world, and to keep our heart anchored and at bay. We also have our struggles in life, those times when temptation comes calling out our wild side and we must choose between the life we have carefully crafted and one that skirts the dark side...
Read MoreSo much in our lives goes unnoticed and many precious moments that pass by in the rush of life may be held somewhere inside in forgotten arms. This poem served as my intent to speak to the heart to a group of poets at the Monday Sacramento Poetry Center where I added my name to the list for the open mic....
Read MoreI wrote a draft of this poem before finding the Mandela quote about dignity at the beginning of the post. He devoted his life to freedom, to ending apartheid, and to elevating the lives of Africans. Freedom is a question of how we relate to the greater forces of life, forces over which we have little control, and forces under which we often suffer. I think Mandela's quote hints at the true nature of freedom.
Read MoreBecoming adult often means quelling our passion so that we can live in the world and get along with others. The unfortunate trade-off is that many of us suppress all of our passion, not just the anti-social impulses or unruly behavior that arise out of passion. Maturity reclaims passion and channels it into productive activity, creative work, and spiritual development, but this sometimes means leaving the social cruise because only a lifeboat can take you to your dreams...
Read MoreA simple search of the internet will yield a thousand formulas for success, each with its own claim on truth and promises to heal our wounds, to kill our stress, to lift us out of impoverished lives, and to land us in happily ever after. I am not immune to the power of these promises and have spent thousands on gaining access to the secret. My life is an unsolved mystery; but I have a strange sensation that I am also the only detective who can "solve it." This is my poetic ode to the mystery!
Read MoreOur lives are truly nested in greater forces, forces over which we have no control and that often carry us along in life, whether or not we are aware of the ride, and regardless of whether we accept it or resist it. These greater forces are "what brought you here and what will take you on the next leg of your journey." Developing a relationship to these greater forces is one of the great tasks of life.
Read MoreFor most of us, a simple mental scan of the body reveals a lot of unnecessary tension that we carry in the form of tensed muscles in our everyday life. This poem considers the question: Why do we humans "struggle to relax" when all other animals do so easily and naturally, even after the most stressful events?
Read MoreAristotle said, "The beginning Is more than half the whole." How we start our day often sets a tone or mood that we carry with us into the night. Why not start the day with the sweetness of life...
Read MoreA lighthouse warns of danger, serves as a guide, and stands present whether we succeed in our journey or fail in the effort. It is both a beacon of light and a tower of forgiveness. We may be at the mercy of the world, but this poem asks: Are we the lighthouse? Are we present and accountable to all things in our life?
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