Patterns of Life and Love

Victory Over Self

Our quarrels, sorrows and defeats,
Grow small and smaller, when compared,
With all the whole of Time's expanse,
But still to each defeat, we bow,
For ev'ry sorrow, bear the mark,
For quarrels old, we hold the grudge,
Aware that Time will clean the slate.

In Time, the history books will tell,
Of battles fought and battles won,
Of heroes brave and statesmen wise,
Of deeds of courage, not of fear,
But still the world will never learn,
As long as we admit defeat,
It will never disappear.

It takes great courage to go on,
When all the road looks dark ahead,
And ev'ry friend insists "Give up."
But that's the road to victory.

All Dreams

Sweet dream, sweet dream, 'tis all a dream,
Could ever love so blest be mine?
Faint earthly heart, you could not stand,
A love so brave, so great, so fine.

But not a dream, 'tis not a dream,
The pleasured idylls, sweet desires,
The solemn, silent, yearning wills,
That bound, unwilling, passion's fires.

Yet if a dream, 'tis dream so fair,
Bewitching every lonely thought,
So solemn sweet, a visioned love,
A wraith-like thing, so barely caught.

Treasure

Although you bare your fangs at me,
Most cruel Fates, you cannot harm,
The treasured symbol of my love,
Is in my heart, secure and warm.

The blessed joy of other days,
Your careless hand did seize and break,
The broken bits I gathered up,
A hidden treasure hoard to make.

So now a newer toy is mine,
A shining, gleamin little toy,
Enchanting, charming, somewhat dear,
A simple thing that gives me joy.

But in my bitter loneliness,
I seize upon my past, proud dream,
That stronger bond than hate or death,
And prove it's worth in life's own scheme.

Stoicism

All pleasure here are temporal,
All joys illusionary dreams.
The pains we bear, the sorrows share,
Alone will count on Judgment Day.

Philosopher, forget that creed,
That calls for pleasures undenied,
Remember now, eternity,
And wish not for a life of ease.

Why cry for moments quickly spent,
When you can have eternity,
With all it's blissful peace and joy
And know that it will never end?

Of aught, but one will stand the test,
Of whether good or whether ill,
It's name is Wisdom, blessed joy,
Of all who who know it's saving grace.

Selfish Heart

I looked upon all loveliness,
And wondered how it could be so,
When in my heart, I felt no joy,
But only gloom and answering woe.

"You foolish, selfish child," I thought,
"You would deny these beauties here,
To everyone, because you're sad,
Now, go and hide that bitter tear."

Renunciation

Come, miser, here is yellow gold,
Enough to satisfy your heart,
Come, greedy girl, here are some jewels,
Some diamonds worthy of a queen.
Come one, come all, who love the show,
That speaks an empty heart and soul;
Now what was that, you said to me?
You say that I have nothing left?
Oh, silly child, you are so wrong,
I have the best beside me yet,
Come here, my own, and hold me close,
Our love is better than all that wealth.

Peace

The sky was a star-flecked tapestry,
The earth, a dark'ned stage,
That night I walked and dreamed of you.

My heart was a bitter chaos,
My soul was so bitter, too,
But they gave such pleasant ministry,
That soon I was peaceful, too.

Destiny

Nor angels of Heaven nor minions of Hell,
Can keep me from my destined Fate,
Though I be just a fetter'd slave,
If destiny decrees my rise,
No power on earth can hold my soul,
And though I live in mansions large,
If Fate decrees my lot be poor,
Then there is naught will hold my wealth,
And if I am to be unloved,
No matter what my beauty be,
There shall be none to hold me dear,
But if I am to knoow true love,
I need not fear when old age comes,
It will not change that faithful love.

Soap-Bubble Dreams

Soap-bubble dreams are all I have,
They glow so iridescently,
In all the beauteous color schemes,
A single moment, then are gone,,
They shimmer, shine and glisten, dear.
But then when I feel sure they'll last,
They burst in tiny water-specks.

Moods

My heart has roamed despair's dark depths,
And felt the clammy hand of fear,
Upon it's brow.

My heart has scaled the dizzy heights,
And stood so god-like on the peak,
Of sudden joys.

But all despair and all the joys,
Were brought about by you.
Your gen'rous heart and kindly soul,
Are all I love so true.

Useless Love?

The years are bridged, the time has fled,
Since when our wond'rous love was born,
And what if all the dreams were vain,
If each from each our hearts were torn?

Is that good cause to claim our love,
Was valueless, a heart-worn fraud,
A childish dream that sapped our strength,
And stole our youthful faith in God?

You know, I know, that is not true,
Perhaps we did not gain our dreams,
But which is best, that dream or this,
Our deeper wisdom of life's schemes..

Etching

By acid tears, your name is etched,
Upon the tissues of my heart,
By sorrow's pen, your features sketched,
To last forever in my soul.

Lost Idol

My dream has died a painful death,
And healing Time receives it's corpse,
It feels no prick of jealousy,
It cannot feel, it's heart is stilled.

Yet once that dream was all my life,
It slept and ate and breathed with me,
When I awoke. it greeted me,
And said "good night" before I slept.

It warmed me when my flesh was cold,
It gave me comfort in my pain,
And lighted all my darksome way,
With beacons of a hope to come.

But now I have no comforter,
A vacant shrine, a vacant throne,
Are all I have, reminding me,
That once this happy dream did live.

How?

How kill a love that bloomed so strong?
How rend the dream that was it's hope?
How end with mournful notes it's song?

Can it be done - this cruel thing?
Tell, can you really kill a love?
But will it not in echoes ring?

If you can really hear his name,
And not a twinge of pain to know,
You may, perhaps, have quenched the flame.

But if you have one thought of him,
That brings an aching, lonely hurt,
Your chance to conquer love is slim.

I search my heart and find that I
Have not succeeded in my wish --
You still can cause my heart to cry.

Death in Life

Without your love, my own dear one,
My life is just a prison-house,
Wherein my soul resides awhile
I talk, I walk, I eat, I sleep,
But all as in the vaguest dream,
I cannot feel a single thing,
I speak to people, laugh and cry,
But nothing means a thing to me,
Not one emotion breaks the calm.
Of passionless and quiet dream
Then death will be a kind release,
But very little of a change,
'Twill only be the end that day,
Of automatic motions that,
Have kept my body still alive.

I Ask You

If I should say I love you,
Would you love me, too,
Say my name in accents tender,
Hold me in your arms,
Neve let me leave?

Or would you seek another,
Spurn all I have to offer,
Lured by gloss and glitter,
Toss your head and walk away,
While I watch in silent sorrow?