The Gardner and the Flower

Once upon a time, there was a flower beautiful to behold.
Full of light in a dark kingdom the flower bore the seeds of love.
Her seeds had the power to grow in the heart of the beholder.
Together the flower and the beholder would wait for the sun to
appear over head, for the sun is the source of sustenance.
Without him there could be no love, no warmth, no life.
Sometimes when the weather is cloudy it is hard to see the sun.
It was during these times that the flower and her friend would
assure each other that the sun would be out again soon.
The flower swayed in the breezes while her friend sang.
Whenever the hard rains came the flower and her friend
stood by one another, and although it was difficult to bear up under,
the flower would raise up again soon after the storm. This
then, is the story of how the two became friends.
The man first spied the rose in a field of roses. He was
awed by her beauty so much, that he almost bumped into a tree
branch while gazing at her. She was quiet and bent over for
that day had been cloudy and wet. The man left the field
that day and had almost forgotten the rose, but an enchanted wind
arose and carried one of the flower's magic seeds from the field
a great distance to the man's house and planted it in his heart.
Along the way from the man's house to the field where the flower lived,
were a great many obstacles; swamps, wild beasts, and thickets of thorns
to block his path, but the flower could not come to him
so he traveled to the flower's field. The seed
once planted worked in the man's heart and grew into a powerful
vision of the flower. Now, it seemed to the man that even if there
were Lions in the way of getting to the field, it mattered little.
Indeed as the man drew closer to the flower he realized that she
was more beautiful than his memory's telling. The flower called out:
"I have thorns that may hurt you and the journey is difficult for you
to make." For the field was a dangerous place, and was the flower
to place trust in a stranger when her life was held in such a delicate
balance? Also, there were other flowers to consider. Might
the man in his clumsiness and haste not trample under foot some
of those which grew very close to the spot where the flower stood?
Or might he try to pull me out and move me elsewhere? Again she
called: "My roots are entwined with many of the flowers close to me,
If you take me away others may be injured or lost. " So she closed
her petals into a bud and thought on these things, while the little flower
prayed that the sun might shine. The sun did come out.
His rays shone and reflected through droplets on the flower so
that she appeared radiant and faceted about with diamonds.
It seemed to the man that the sun only shone on the flower.
Soon the man arrived and was careful of the other flowers so
that he did not injure them.  He brought water for the flower
and tilled the soil at her feet. As he kneeled beside her, the
man noticed for the first time the flower's intoxicating fragrance;
it washed over him like an ocean wave. The orange and jasmine
blossoms saw this and were jealous, for all the blossoms of the
field could not compare. Every day, and sometimes at night, the
man came to visit the flower, either in body or in his thoughts.
But thoughts were never like being there with her. So it was
that the man became more and more like a gardener, until it was so.
The flower absorbed and reflected more and more of the sun in
her glorious petals. The gardner and flower became friends.
Then it happened, they began to see that they were made with
the purpose of caring and being cared for. In doing so they
both became stronger and better at caring
so that they began to care for those around them and all
things great and small that lived in the field. He with the
skills of a husbandman and she with the power of love.
The two became very close so that the flower no longer
afraid, opened up again in full bloom. The gardner loved
the flower and she in turn loved her friend. He began to
notice how intricate were the flower's gold tipped
and scarlet petals. Soft to the touch and blinding to
look upon. Also her slender stem and waxen leaves,
which alternately shone in the sun or danced with dew
in the moonlight. She gave shade to all passing below;
From her heart came pollen and nectar to humming birds,
butterflies, ants and bees of the field. The friends
were happy in this newly enchanted place and let
their dreams take flight, for both knew that winter
season would come some day. The season of ice
when all things must sleep. The gardner and flower
shivered at the passing thought. But the sun
shone strongly upon them through the morning mists
and a rainbow comforted them with these words:
" Be assured little ones below, the sun rules the sky
and seasons, he is always shining even in the
darkest winter, and the hand of ice has been
broken forever so that spring may come again,
and so that the flower, her friend and all that live
in the field might dwell in his warm light for evermore ." 
So it was, and so they did. So that this story might be told.
And so it is that they lived happily ever after.

Love - with audio

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Love
Beyond the mountains
Hovering in the gleam about the snow
Splendid rushing waters of the sea
Salt crystal on a fingertip

Love
Creation in majesty
Abounding in the clouds
Within the forest's ancient trees
Seasons shimmering leaves

Love
Through the veil pours a sunburst
See the pollen of a blossom
Softer than a kiss
In the eyes of a child

Love
In the gurgling waters of a brook
A fleck of mineral on a crayfish
As the fresh unseen is captured
Then given in reflection once again.

Love
In you, and me
Much greater than the furthest star
Love fathoms the Universe
A lightyear in our sigh

Summer Night - with audio

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Emerald leaves
In motion
Unfolding
For the night
Mounting waves
Of ocean
Pulled
By moonbeams bright
Nova
In the vapors
Bursts
Into Nebulae
Little bird
In the Sycamore
Singing on
As if to say
This heart
Is with yours
Sky,
Sea and forest
Pearl
Of my vision
Glowing
In my eye
My heart
Is young
Share your love
With me
Or I
Shall die

Nature and The City - with audio

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Listen a bird is singing
Look a sundrop in your eye
Glistening grass parting
A hawk dives
Beyond the fields a dog is barking
Thank God for that bothersome bug
Snakes and lizards in the yard
All the thriving wild and beautiful things
Are much better than the concrete coliseums
Plastic flowers, Teflon humanity, electric buzz,
Dirty streets and sooty honking incense
Which permeate everything
Everyday, when living in the big city.

Dear Miss - with audio

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Dear Miss Dobee
Sweet daisy assured
We love you though
It be hard to say
Sister, friend any day

We do not use you
We would not bruise you
You are so kind
To your kinder  * (from Yiddish or German)
Do not let your heart be bitter

We all love you
Not for convenience
Though our actions may not
Show love's response
We get caught up

In busy jet streams
While running to
Chase life's dreams
You are patient
Dobee so kind

Please don't be
Of troubled mind
What can we do
Ask us please
Our words be unwise,

But will not tease
Doing our best
At your appeal
We all care for you
Some with hidden zeal.

Morning Moment - with audio

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Whippoorwill wind
Pink sky in the morning
Pine tree straight and tall
Motorcycles rush by
Cold fingers
Florescent light
On the wire
Mourning doves
Tan and brown
The heater is working
The bicycle parked
A dairy truck hums loudly
Can't seem to write the correct date
Unconcerned walkers stroll to work
Wastepaper basket scrapes
Grating on the concrete floor
Telephone sits glaring
Electric reflection
The day goes on.

SMILE (show-tune:) - with audio link

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When your day is dull and dreary
And your mind won't seem to clear it
Just seems everything's going totally wrong
When the boss is out and in
You've done something wrong again. Again?
Why did it all have to happen to me?

Well let me ask you just one question
Afore I tell you the solution
Lo, give you absolution
For your soul that's dark and dreary, dearie
When you got up out of bed this morning
Did you start to contemplating something?

Or did you just smile, just smile?
Do you wake up in the morning
Just sitting there frowning?
Or do you smile, just smile!

When you hop out of bed with a smile on your face
Your teeth shinning all over the place
What a fine example for the whole human race
That life ain't so bad after all!

You've got to smile through the day
Fly your colors, your own special way
Drink your coffee, crunch your toast the way,
The way you want to

Smile, no matter what the luck
Honey, there ain't no if, ands or buts
Just remember to smile,
and say: "I love you!"

Smile away, when you're on the freeway

There's a mad traffic jam, and horns are honked at you
Because when you smile it’s a free day

Smile and you show the way
Smile, even if its just to say
Hello, goodbye

You've got to smile through the day
Fly your colors your own special way
Drink your coffee, crunch your toast the way
The way you like to

Smile you're the hero,
its your epic story
Dearie, we'll all revel in the glory
When you smile, and say I love you

If you do all these things
You'll hear the birdie when he sings
Every day is like spring, you've sprung
The sun is shining brightly
The breeze is whistling lightly
Your heart is young and sprightly, you see?

When you smile where you are
You change the world
near and far
Smile, because
That's just the way you are!

You've got to smile through the day
Fly your colors your own special way
Drink your coffee, crunch your toast the way
The way you love to!

You've got to smile through the day
Fly your colors your own special way
Drink your coffee, crunch your toast the way
The way you want to!
Smile

Fall Into The Sky - with audio

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The sky
An ocean
Where birds swim
Clouds play and
Man longs to be
There in spirit
In thoughts
Purest essence and
Drifting temperament
The starry sky
Humbles all
Captured onlookers
She is unfathomable,
The vast unknown
Just as the heart
Of self or another
The trees reach up
To touch her
To praise
Something unseen
Singing songs unspoken

The sky
Although High above,
Never condescends
She is the court of a king
Where the planets
Are dancing, and the
Stars' burning hunger
Keep eyes glowing
And souls warm
The unhappy hide
From her face
Afraid of what
Might be read there
A happy spirit
With raised visage
Lets loose, setting free
Balloons of laughter
Announcing the news
Of life's joyous breath
Given and taken
Between the heavens above
And the spinning shores below

Such are observations
Of a child
All who look
Upon her beauty
Fall into the sky
At a glance.

Autumn (ditty) - with audio

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Run on now in the wheat, oats and barley
Cold air comes, Fall color is here
My friend what do you see?
 - no time to spare...

All around the leaves are falling

Leaves are falling from the trees

Red and yellow leaves are falling

Leaves are falling down on me

 

Fall right down and touch my sweater

Twirl and flutter in wispy sound

With friends around it seems much better,

Seems much better on the ground

(chorus)

Rolling through fallen leaves

Tearing up the elbows of my flannel sleeves

Rolling through fallen leaves

Muddying up the knees in my old blue jeans

Get right up its started raining

Raining down the cold gray sky

Away from you the rain is falling

Rain keeps falling from my eye

(chorus)

The wind's blowing Autumn air

Singing meadows recall your wavy flaxen hair

The wind's blowing Autumn air

Cuddling by the fire in our favorite chair

On misty morning I'll be calling

Calling you in cold night air

In your warm heart I'll be calling

I'll be calling to you there

(chorus)

The wind's blowing Autumn air

Picking out a pumpkin at the county fair

The wind's blowing Autumn air

Kissing in the cornfield without a care 

(chorus)

The wind's blowing Autumn air

Baking bread and apple butter beyond compare

The wind's blowing Autumn air

Planting jars for the winter down our back stair

Drinking up, dancing down

Full of love songs, hearts resound...

And fresh, so fresh...

(deep breath) ... hmmm
Is the Autumn air.

Too Much Information - with audio

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War in other Americas
War in the Middle East
Somewhere down south
At our abstracted backdoor
Suffering people valued least
Its all foggy in my head
A vague string of pictures
Dirty little phrases
The TV newsman said
I can't understand it
Its so very hard to grasp
Oppression in Africa
We don't expect to last
Famine in Ethiopia
Conflict in the Congo 
Destitution in Somalia
To say the least, but go on

Slavery in Sudan
War in Iraq
Protests in Irae
-->

Bury the cornucopia
War in Afghanistan

Countdown the clock
In the Arabian sea.
Somewhere over there

Broken teapots in the UK

Plastic rifles in the UN
Primitive in my memory
Crazy dying madmen
Dictators in Asia
By the Mediterranean

Nuclear Korea

World consternation

Ballisitc Baltics and Russia

Over Pakistani pacification

Chessmen in China

Thoughts of India’s decimation

 

But Here in America
In favorite magazines
The advertisement reads
Have what you dream
Can you hear the screams
Of dissidents in the pillory
Don't know the pains
Of the man in agony
Let him call upon family
Not much we can do
Got a bad economy
Work very hard
Job is all my life
I got a nice car
A house, kids and wife
We ain't got much
Sounds the common cry
Burdened with stuff n such
But we get by

See the boy
The cardboard box
He wants money
Look away now,
And the woman
Outside the window
The sign reads her plan
But I'm entertaining,
Table set, dinner in the pan
Flat screen complaining
War on the planet
War in the heavens
See a fire, fan it
Dainties on the plate
They say it's cosmic UFOS
Perhaps a Communist plot
IRS Tax NRA's IRAs
Capitalist Imperialism
Militant radicalism
Religion's special-ism

Don't bother me, I don't know
He's Just one little person
She's just Living out a scheme
Too much information
Nightmare vs dream 
Toward a quiet cluttered space
Plucking out bad verse
In a dirty little place
Unaffected, by the universe
Quiet the hands that pray
Others steal away
Broken vessels of the day
Orphans and widows
White lab-coats and waste vehicles
The dead of night speaks
A black cry of landfills
While vigilant Mercy
Contemplates a fullness of weeks
And bids the heart be still
Comforting the gentle and meek
For love lives on, but fear kills.