Happiness is a state of mind and
love a condition of the heart
Without which man is an empty shell
awaiting life’s meaning to start.
RAINFALL ( 1963 ) 2013/04/27
There are no words to help explain
My God, how I do love the rain.
These feelings that surge deep within
Which from the depths inside begin
Are tonic to my ailing verve
And power grant these gods I serve.
The thought occurs often tragic
That life slips by without magic.
Grubbing bird, hungry chick rejoice
While mist and I till dawn converse.
I could not live in climate dry
With nought to hide the fears I spy,
Impatient thoughts laced with chagrin
That weigh the scope of origin.
This rain that falls in rhythmic beat
Upon each valley, hill and street
And every other breathing thing
Elate that sweet refreshment bring.
Gone the fit of winter rigor
Greet the sudden rainfall’s vigor
Pause while earth accepts the blessing
Needing drink with grace caressing.
To each and every dying thought
Since man to life has hoping brought,
Neglected aims, now wilted grown
Feel with the rain, excitement known
Shall store away resentment’s girth
Believe that time may force rebirth
MY PLEA ( 1998 ) 2013/04/25
Therese of the Flowers will you help share my load,
May we walk hand in hand by the side of the road?
Can you tarry with me along time’s weary way,
Will you grant me some peace in each troublesome day?
As I bid you good morn, please smile kindly at me
Till my worrisome life in the end is set free.
In the hush of night’s dark when we two softly speak
I sense tears in your eyes and a flush on your cheek.
Oh little Therese as you wait silent and still
I can guess that you’ve tasted life’s cold and death’s chill.
Have pity on me, ease the dull hours of my days
With your sweetest of prayers in the smallest of ways.
Therese of the Flowers help me carry my load
As we walk hand in hand by the side of the road,
You may tarry with me along time’s weary way
Till we rest in God’s arms at the end of His day.
COMMENTARY ( 1952 ) 2013/02/20
This loud vituperous generation
Bred of wealth and moral degradation,
Abusive seedlings of decadence sown,
Wanton youth, in lack of awareness grown,
Floundering, for want of clear fortitude
Drowning in the flow of visciditude,
Expressing blame in terms most coarse and vile,
Censure holding, and decency defiled.
Poor wasted youth in sad afflicted plight
That knows no pledge nor holds a promise bright
They having days with but little merit
Some future, this lunacy inherit.
OBLIGATION ( 1955 )
What shrinking cloud or blinking star
That careless flung on fateful night
Shines both on two, that dwell afar,
Apart from each with shared insight?
Love’s concert flown on broken wings,
Within the cresting of fanfare,
Where wishful thought forgotten sings
To utter this unflinching prayer:
“ Vigil keep with torch of duty,
Remain steadfast to idylls old,
Bind true faith to inward beauty
And treasure that one romance gold.”
DEEP MYSTERY ( 1972 )
The smell of pine so heady on the evening breeze
Reminding me of night’s communing with the trees,
The cushion of dry needles covering the ground
I walk upon with lagging step makes lively sound
It matters not what wistful hours the heart has spent
Observing nature’s complex scheme and complement
Forevermore a wonderment this world must be
All sight and sound to witness night’s infinity.
When all those eyes that stare from dark and distant space
Constant staid from beginning time within their place,
Deep mystery when I myself cannot recall
Oh what flat spot my fleeing footsteps did last fall.
Of all the thoughts that race within the agile mind,
Search and never such accomplishment to find,
As needle, cone or sturdy tree, this fancy strike,
Numberless will bloom and grow with no two alike.
Great blessing that deep wisdom ruled since life began
Including this unspoken pact twixt God and man.
DISPOSITION ( 1977 )
Oh little man possessed of smaller mind
Where have you left your rigid fears behind
Or do they walk with you, your waking hours
To assault you with their secret powers,
Or follow as you weave your careful way
Through the monotony of every day?
Oh grim despairing soul that has no hope
Within darkness you taught your heart to cope
Perhaps you’ll teach your mind in time to think
Thus live midst emotion raging succinct,
And dreaming dwell upon a flagrant kiss
And planning maintain devotion amiss.
Oh grieving heart, how can you bear the pain
And never know the why or cause explain,
But wander on the loss accept with ease
Hapless craft adrift in unwielding seas?
Too sad for lack of spirit need comply
And basic mortal code for life deny.
Oh fears that pursue, limits that tarry,
Escape leaden weights that practice carry,
One nourished on an indigenous pride
Engaging fate with a challenge inside,
Deep loss that suffers lackluster concept
Inadequate values, manner inept.
How now, to greet the coming of the years
In kind with normal passage of brief tears
And accepting thus that time may deal unkind?
For wit that hope is neither deaf nor blind
But dwells with faith and modest dignity,
Spurn false ideals and feint complexity.
