Take me away
Just for awhile.
Away from worry
To a restful style.
Let the music
Soothe my nerves.
While incense burns
Into soft white curves.
Release in me
An inner strength.
To face life’s woes
No matter their length.
Let me carry myself
With grace and ease.
Although in my heart
Lie so many pleas.
Sandalwood scent
Water gently flowing.
Harp strings playing
While cares I’m delaying.
Take me away
Just for a time.
To refresh my soul
During this life of mine.

Oh, those eyes!
Bright blue and twinkling.
Daring the devil to cross her path.
A study in quick wit, yet
A soothing mother’s tongue.
A ready smile and a chipper laugh
For all who knew and loved her.
Vi was a great source of joy in my life.
I so admired her no-nonsense approach to life.
Yet her gentle manner in lifting my spirits
Provided me with much solace.
Vi was so many things my own mother couldn’t be.
But she helped me to see that my mother
Was all that she could be.
She always encouraged me to be myself.
To be true to that self, to love that self.
She pushed me to stand up for myself
Not to be walked upon by anyone.
Even though Vi is gone from our midst
She still walks beside me daily
As my guardian angel.
When I visit her resting place
I feel her strong spirit cheering me on
To complete my life work, with no fear
Of self-imposed guilt or shame.
In happiness and sadness
I can allow my tears to fall freely
In her spiritual presence.
I am reassured that she will always be there
To call upon for strength and love.
Until we meet again,
Sweet Viola, I miss you so.

- Dedicated to the memory of my dear friend Viola Dulen

A subtle breeze
Touches the long silver tubes.
Awakening each chime
In joyful harmony.
All who hear
Are treated to the mystically soothing tones.
All who see
Are witness to the tiny light flashes
Reflected as the sun warms the slender tubes.
The song swells and ebbs
As breezes come and go.
Leaving the air filled
With hymns of peace.

Perched on the wire, eyes alert.
Watching the kitchen window
Waiting for a face to appear.
There she is! She sees me!
She turns and heads for the back door.
I can hardly wait!
The back door opens and out she comes.
Always a smile and a "Hello Harold"
She thinks I’m beautiful and smart.
I love her for that
And for what she holds in her hand.
My treasured peanut!

Heavy the heart that cares not for others
Sad the soul that reflects no ones love.
Heavy the heart that lets in no light
Sad the soul that does not shine.
Heavy the heart that lets no one near
Sad the soul that endures alone.
Heavy the heart that lacks humor
Sad the soul that laughs alone.
Heavy the heart that fears life
Sad the soul that lives without joy.
Heavy the heart that sees not the rise and set of the sun
Sad the soul that suffers endless days.
Heavy the heart that cannot love nature
Sad the soul that cannot enjoy God’s creations.
Heavy the heart that dies in solitude
Sad the soul that is missed by no other.
Heavy the heart that doesn’t know God
Sad the soul that knows not yet bliss.

When emergencies arise
There is no consideration of day and time,
Of person or place.
Fate takes a front row seat
And halts all else.
Fear replaces calm,
As time stands still.
Feeling helpless and fragile,
Our need is urgent.
But YOU are there.
We look up into eyes
We must trust with our lives.
A smile to ease the terror within.
Comforting words, reassuring touches
We must believe in.
A hand to hold
Is an anchor to reality
In an unreal situation.
Every day your gift is given
To those of us in need.
It is given out of love, duty, and concern.
It is accepted with our deepest thanks
And our greatest admiration.
May God keep each of you
And your loved ones
Always in His special care.

Tears fall softly on auburn curls
Encircling a tiny head.
Sweet moisture nourishing a tiny face.
Rose pink lips part in expectation
Eyes lift, twinkling with trust.
Lord, help me love and protect
This priceless gift You have entrusted to me.
Guide me along my path in life
So that I might show her the way.
Help me to instill the love of giving
The courage to hope in the face of doubt
And always to trust in Your answers.

This is for you my friend
You, who are always there for me.
Beside me when I’m up
Pushing me up when I’m down.
Praising my talents
Strengthening my faults
Listening to me, in silence
Letting me grieve as long as I need.
Teaching me to be all that I can
Letting me fall, but giving me the courage
To pick myself up
And give it another try.
Our thoughts often cross
Before our paths cross.
We are aware of the presence of each other
On an earthly level and beyond.
As years go by and our senses dim,
It is then that we shall truly "see"
The depth and strength of our friendship.
As our hearts beat more slowly
Our souls begin to shine more brightly
Heading toward the path
To eternal friendship and love.
Thank you for sharing this journey
With me, my friend.
You have helped make the path easier to walk.
And your love and support have made my life whole.

- To my dear friend Adela (Lolly) Contreras-O’Donnell

We enter the world alone.
We leave the world alone.
We stand before God alone.
Aloneness is a universal human experience.
There is great value in standing alone.
Being aware of aloneness
And not loneliness, (which is negative)
Is a state not many of us achieve.
We fear being alone with ourselves.
We try to fill that void (avoid the void)
With distractions, people, noise, etc.
We fear the quiet path leading to our inner selves,
And the dark side of our hearts.
But, it is in such solitude that we discover
Our inner riches and strengths,
And discover too, the real person God has created.
In solitude we can find our true connection to God.
The desert is an image of solitude.
Many go there to seek peace and joy.
Our hearts are receptacles during these peaceful times
And nature can provide the space to be present with ourselves.
Other settings for the introduction of solitude
Are sunrises, sunsets, oceans, rainbows, etc.
As the flower blooms in the silent desert,
So may our hearts bloom in peaceful solitude.