Story Fever

John Masefield wrote 46 poems and this poem - Sea Fever - is my favorite of all time
I received a book from my Aunt for a Birthday called Stories to Remember.
This book took you to all parts of the world so you'd have a small glimpse as well as an introduction to mythologies like Hercules holding up the sky and Pandora.
I still have this book and treasure it.
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I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Since then I've been introduced to many fables, stories and myths and it made my world for me.

People lived exciting lives all over the world. There were many mysteries in the world, many excursions one could take to explore, to understand, what it is we were really born for?One must live many life times to experience everything.

The world really is a stage, full of magic and miracles, sadness and joy, Danger, evil and goodness. One could literally burst from all the knowledge one could grasp and learn from it and yet still die totally stupid and ignorant.

As I read the stories, I wanted more.It is easy to become a drifter, a collector of stories, a collector of minds and memories.It is easy to see why the wise men would follow a star not knowing where it would lead .

And then, when the myths and stories come to life..... well.... then it becomes mind blowing.

Here in BC the aboriginals believe in the crow as a carrier of their ancestors' spirit.It is almost taboo to kill such birds and we see so many of them.They leer at you and make you feel most unwelcome as if we are not supposed to be here.

Pirates on the other hand had the same beliefs and superstitions when it came to rats and the albatross.If rats left the ship, they took it as a bad omen . Rats also knew about sickness before people did.The albatross was associated with both good and bad luck at sea.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote a poem called The Rime of the ancient Mariner where both sides of the albatross can be seen. The albatross was a good omen if seen in dense snowy fog. It was said to be the restless soul of a dead sailor, so if one killed such a bird, it would be tied to his neck and the sailor would be tied to the main mast until the storm was over, without food or water.

At length did cross an Albatross,
Thorough the fog it came;
As if it had been a Christian soul,
We hailed it in God’s name.
It ate the food it ne’er had eat,
And round and round it flew.
The ice did split with a thunder-fit;
The helmsman steered us through!
‘God save thee, ancient Mariner!
From the fiends, that plague thee thus!
Why look’st thou so?’--With my cross-bow
I shot the ALBATROSS.
And I had done an hellish thing,
And it would work ’em woe:
For all averred, I had killed the bird
That made the breeze to blow.
Had I from old and young!
Instead of the cross, the Albatross
About my neck was hung.

Other myths included:

The Kraken, in Iceland and Norway were giant squids which took ships down

Gryndilows in England - were water demons who would drag children into the water.
People told their kids about them so they wouldn't swim in cold water

Ceto, a Greek invention, was a sea monster with a husband and children consisting of gorgons, sea nymphs, medusas.
She became all sea monsters.

Ashrays were translucent creatures resembling sea ghosts, in Scotland.
They melt in light so you only see them under water at night.

Chessie is a sea monster found in Virginia and Maryland. She's a serpant like creature with scales
and flippers . There is one in Lochness and Lake Champlain as well.

Kappas are from Japan and they have monkey like features with long noses and yellowish skin. They lure children into the water so they could drink their blood.
They lose power if their heads get filled with water and then loses it.

Blue men in minch from around shiant islands near scotland . They had blue skins and swam around ships conjuring storms to wreck them Some call them fallen angels or mermen. They have a leader and to save your ship you had to solves their riddles and rhymes and have the last word.

Bäckahästen had to do with a brook horse in Scandinavia
Anyone who found her near a river in foggy weather and rode her would be drowned

Bunyips come from Australia and are found by swamps creeks and waterholes. They eat humans
and have flippers walrus tuskshorse tails. They also spread disease in the water.

Charon is the mythical ferryman who takes you to the underworld through the river of woe, Acheron. Only the souls of people buried with a coin in their mouths was taken I guess to pay their way lol No souls ever left because the three headed hell hound, Cerberus, guarded the exit

Dragon Kings exist in China. They are made up of 4 dragons ruling over 4 seas.
They were shape shifters living in crystal palaces guarded by crabs and shrimps.

Fosse grim comes from
Scandinavian mythology. He is a water spirit that played enchanted songs on the violin, luring women and children to drown in lakes and streams. Some stories speak of him as harmless only entertaining men, women and children with songs. According to myth Fosse grim fell in love with a human but couldn't stay because he had to be near water.


Jengu
These were water spirits in mythology of the Sawa, an ethnic group in Cameroon . The resembled merpeople - gap-toothed, with long, woolly hair. These spirits act as an intermediate between the living and the spiritual world, could cure disease, and played an important role in some tribal rites, for example when a child entered adulthood.

With so many mythological dangers in the oceans and seas, one wonders why men would ever sail into them but they do and sometimes the spirits favor men and sometimes they don't.
Men like to race and beat the devil. lol
Men like to live on the edge and it is because of these kind of people full of spirit, searching for answers, people have so much to entertain them with, learn and progress.


Have a great day :)

Christmas Countdown

Time to decorate.
Spic and polish
Fill your home full
Of jam and relish
The lit candles in the window
Festive table, golden geese
It is time to move
No time like now
No excuses , no boo hoos, no sob stories
come what may
Open windows to a clear night sky
Expose your self
To everlasting life.
Fill your lungs and breathe so you can feel
Love it.
Embrace it
And Thank God!
Cause you're Alive!
A Lady's Life

red shoes

Sandy, writing in faith, talked about red shoe poetry so here is mine :)

she is a red gypsy
with red tapping shoes
which tell the old stories
as well as the new
through morse code if you listen
through passion and flair
through frills like no other
those shoes tap to the fools
they all listen with envy
to red shoes all aglow
the red shoes dance to melodies
none of them know
they hypnotize all
who dare look their way
they burn through the memories
discreet, mysteries
So beware the red gypsy
and those glossy red shoes
they tell all the secrets
while she dances in style.
A Lady's Life

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Have a great day!

Petals So Delicate

While the world is in turmoil, my flower blooms

With petals so delicate as to make angels swoon

Transparent, a soft light envelopes them

and allows us to wonder, while under its' spell.

A beautiful flower blooms in the dawn

While the world continues to plunder

Under a wailers' song.

A Lady's Life.

My poor flowers keep blooming year after year all on their own.

and surprise me every time.

I try to buy the wild varieties since they require the least amount of care.

Some gardner I am lol

Today William and Kate are arriving, in a Canadian airplane, used to jet the Prime Minister.

With England waging protests over pensions and having to work an extra year to get them,

I guess England cannot afford their own plane to fly Royalty anymore. lol

Gorgeous William is being protected as he is Englands' prized English Rose, inheriting his Moms' foot steps. His beautiful wife Kate, helps as well. She is HOT!

The rest of the world is haggling over the cost of living and bankruptcy while the rich are still helping people spend.
So apart from all the mumbo jumbo people are being fed,
Where is all the money?
As one greek man said, spending has to be stopped.
Thank fully Kate an Wills 9 day trip will not cost very much but make a lot of people happy.

Have a great day! ;)

Entranced - I Can't Sleep

I heard you call
Like an echo in the wind
I heard my name
Like a whisper on a breath
So warm and breezy
Caressing curls in my hair
I felt you

I heard you cry
So deep in sleep
I saw your dream
Our noses touched
I heard my name
I saw the tear

And you were mine
So warm, our cheeks caressed
A whisper on a breath
An echo in the wind
I heard you call
Entranced, I came running
To keep you safe
So you could sleep.

A Lady's Life






Calgary Herald - Time to Change Tune of Official Multiculturalism.

If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it considered a hostage situation?

Instead of talking to your plants, if you yelled at them would they still grow, but only to be troubled and insecure?

================================

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS Mexican

His first name was JesusHe was bilingual
He was always being harassed by the authorities

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS BLACK

He called everybody “brother”
He liked Gospel
He couldn’t get a fair trial

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS Jewish

He went into his father’s business
He lived at home until he was 33
He was sure his Mother was a virgin,
and his Mother was sure he was God

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS ITALIAN

He talked with his hands
He had wine with every meal
He worked in the building trades

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS A CALIFORNIAN

He never cut his hair
He walked around barefoot
He started a new religion

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS Irish

He never got married
He was always telling stories
He loved green pastures

THREE PROOFS THAT JESUS WAS A Woman

He had to feed a crowd, at a moment’s notice, when
there was no food.
He kept trying to get the message across to a bunch of men who just didn’t get it.
Even when he was dead, he had to get up because there was more work for him to do.

===========================

I think now, you know it all :)

The news said it is healthy to sleep with your pets because they give you a sense of well
being. I agree. I can't imagine a home without man's best friend.

The wind storm left some houses without power and pushed open my front door.But all is well and so we will enjoy a brand new day.

Take care:)

Japanese Fir In Peace and Light

Ever since we moved to our house, I loved this tree. Just a three foot sapling, This Japanese fir, grew soo tall over the last 15 years, which seems just like, a blink of an eye.

So many memories have been made in this house.

Last night we had snow and at 1 a.m. my son and I decided to enjoy the peace and freshness of this powdery display with the dogs. We were up anyway thinking, do we shovel or let it snow?lol

So we went outside and ran the dogs uphill and they pulled my son down hill as if he were on skiis. So nice to be young and to enjoy such liberties.

One big dog and one tiny dog had the best time ever and really did not want to come back inside.
As predicted, this morning it is all melting away.
We didn;t need to shovel. lol
:)

Alfred Tennyson - Character

With a half glance upon the sky
at night, he said -"the wanderings
Of this most intricate universe,
Teach me the nothingness of things."
Yet could not all creation pierce,
Beyond the bottom of his eye.

He spake of beauty ; that the dull
Saw no divinity in grass,
Life in dead stones,or spirit in the air;
Then looking as 'twere in a glass,
He smoothed his chin and sleeked his hair,
And said, the earth was beautiful.

He spake of virtue: not of gods
More purely, when they wish to charm,
Pallas and Juno sitting by;
And with the sweeping of an arm,
And a lack lustre blue eye,
Devolved his rounded periods.

Most delicately hour by hour,
He canvassed human mysteries,
And trod on silk, as if the winds
Blew his own praises in his eyes,
And stood aloof of other minds,
In impotence of fancied power.

With lips depressed as he were meek,
Himself unto himself he sold,
Upon himself did feed,
Quiet dispassionate and cold,
And other than his form of creed,
With chiselled features clear and sleek.

Whispering Sweet Nothings

This is a work in progress, although I am so far, not very fond of it.
Thinking of chucking it.
Have to put a lot more effort into it if it will get a passing grade for effort.
I love Renoir and this picture he painted in particular.
I am not doing it justice at all.

He didn't turn out so bad but she turned out horrible and it is the woman and her eyes
that really count.
Is it love?
He says it is but she ain't buyin it lol

Forgive me he says. For you are my turtle dove.
I am not impressed Monsieur. lol
Shame on you for trying to .......you know.......seduce
a young woman. lol
Fool me once, shame on you
Fool me twice... shame on me.

But such is the life in the artist world.
One loves and is loved.
Life burns with passion.
Once you feel it, you will never want to live without it.
Your cup runneth over.
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Burn bright oh love and
let me cover you
with the soft feathers
of my bed.
Let me kiss your bright red lips
and feel their softness
on my breath.
For I have never lived till now
And ne're more will live
If it were so
Ne'er to feast upon
Your clear dark eyes
And exclaim my passion through them
To your soul.
For what is life without the touch
of your soft, cool hands' caress across my brow.
Even now, I feel the tenderness, in so light a touch,
As to make me drunk with stupor
In delight, to be so loved
By such as thee.

A Lady's Life.

lol
:)


Sister Mary Ann, who worked for a home health agency, was out making
her rounds visiting homebound patients when she ran out of gas.

As luck would have it, a Texaco Gasoline station was just a block away.

She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas. The
attendant told her that the only gas can he owned had beenloaned out,
but she could wait until it was returned. Since Sister Mary Ann was on
the way to see a patient, she decided not to waitand walked back to her
car.

She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas and
spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient.

Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann carried the bedpan to the
station, filled it with gasoline, and carried the full bedpan back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptists watched from
across the street.. One of them turned to the other and said,

'If it starts, I'm turning Catholic.'!!

In God we trust!

Christmas Fun

Three more eggs and I will have my two dozen to put away to dry for a year.
In the mean time, they make a lovely postcard, do they not??

I can add as many eggs as I want to make a heritage collage
of my own stuff and am enjoying seeing them turn out lol

Here's a
WINTER Poem Someone wrote.

ENJOY!

It's winter in Canada
And the gentle breezes blow
Seventy miles an hour
At thirty-five below.

Oh, how I love Canada
When the snow's up to your butt
You take a breath of winter
And your nose gets frozen shut.

Yes, the weather here is wonderful
So I guess I'll hang around
I could never leave Canada
Cuz I'm frozen to the ground!

Have a great day...:)

Cinnamon Warrior.

This warrior was made in Singapore. Its is nothing but wood and water.
The joss stick companies take saw dust from wild cinnamon wood,
add water to it to make a dough. This dough they knead and then roll out into
thin sheets. They they use it to make so many different things.
This art has been a family secret for years but since it's a dying art, the family
wanted the world to know how it's done.
When you go to this shop, you can ask them to make anything you want and they do it for you.
I have a set of warriors and a few other things that are still packed away.
The Singapore American School took all its students to see this done and each kid got a bag of sawdust to take home to try out. What fun. :)

The True Hunter

Dancing Cossacks flirt

With death on the horizon

Their hefty steeds stand breathing

Through flaring nostrils

Their wild eyes see the swords flash in the light

Of a crackling raging fire which

Sends sparks into the whistling wind

Flying out into the darkness.

Across the field another group

Sits hungry eyed and lean.

All dressed in black, they hide in

Mountain caverns, cold and clean.

There is no fire, no mirth, or sadness,

Just determination, to win the battle.

Close at hand, against trespassers of nations.

The lone wolf stalks the grassy turf with

Pangs of hunger eating at his gut

The nervous steeds lift their feet and whinny at his scent

The Cossacks search the midnight air

In hopes to find what ails them.

They do not see the lonely wolf,

Hidden in the grasses.

The Black eyed groups sat in caverns,

Well hidden and discreet,

Impatient for the break of day

There would be no retreat.

The smell of blood was in the air but one could not determine

Who be the hunter and who the prey.

Tomorrow had the answer.

At dawn, the soaring Eagle’s cry,

Awoke the hunting parties

Both sides rode to meet the fate

Destiny had written.

They fought a gallant battle.

They died a gallant death.

Just causes were united, in

Dirty bloody fields.

The lone wolf was the winner. Had trophies all around

He howled into the cold wind to call his friends to come

For here they would have plenty, to feast on and to share.

Thanks to these just causes, which brought this prey here.

True hunters hide in grasses, they prey upon the weak

True hunters are the watchers, hidden and discreet.

A Lady's Life

One may buy a house ....but not a home
One may buy a watch.......but not time
One may buy a book......but not knowledge
One may buy a position .......but not respect
One may buy a doctor ....but not health
One may buy a soul .....but not a life
One may buy sex ......but not love.

Some things money can't buy.

Have a great day!

Besa me mucho - Tony Lovello
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8EKN6YYqSw

Serenity

Serenity growls
Intruders alert!
Hold onto the peace
They try to avert.

Serenity puts up a quiet revolt
Against the intruders
Who start to recruit.

Serenity barks,
The weapons are armed
It waves out its' arms
Its' stock piles are full
Intruders acknowledge it
For what it is.

Serenity? Ya!
And they retreat
Serenity growls
And lies down to rest
Untouched by the noisy
Intruder's alert.

A Lady's Life

Love Nana Mouskouri

Cracks In My Tent

I saw a star shining through the cracks of my tent

I saw it glimmer and I smiled

The smell of dew covered mint in the coolness of the light

Colored my world with the freshness of night

The blackness seemed brightened by lights all around

And the mint smelled of flowers, like those found in the sun

And life, being lived and sought for, to survive

I thought, no one sleeps with the changing of light

The day changes to night and the night to day

There is no time, to sleep or to day dream

One just keeps on going and smelling the world

As it rolls around thunder and weathers the storm

And then when the stars come and show us the way

We still know the east from the west and the north from the south

And peace reigns by night as it reigns under the sun

We can see it’s rays from the cracks of my tent

We see peace glimmer through to our eyes.

So we can sleep with a peaceful smile,

While living our lives through cracks in the light,

Smelling the mint in the freshness of night

A Lady's Life

Living Sin

To live without sin, is to live without food ,water, or air.

Without basic needs, we may well die.

Leading a life of sin, may lead us, to more, than just physical death,

Death, would be only too easy an escape, from a battle,

that requires winning.

Sin, leads to the crucifying of the soul, which then hangs there uselessly, bleeding,

At the mercy of them, that hung it. The living dead, is the result of its' work.

One wonders, why we are so affected by sin, to hurt them who sin,

as well as ourselves, as sinners?

We live.

We have air, water and food,

And we also have sin, that walks, alongside us.

So why do we frown upon sin?

We do so, because we also live at the feet of Mercy.

Mercy, is not a physical need, we require to survive.

It is controlled, neither by heaven nor hell.

Mercy, is governed by knowledge and wisdom,

beyond man’s comprehension.

Everything, we require to live and survive,

Lies at the feet,

Of Mercy,

Which seems to forgive sin and everything else,

over and over and over again.
Mercy carries no sin and we were blessed, to have a teacher, to show this to us.

Mercy survives and mercy does not bleed.

Mankind should be so merciful and…….

Sin,

Find a new meaning.

A Lady’s Life.

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Need to stop an accelerating car?????

http://video.consumerreports.org/services/player/bcpid1886192484?bctid=48234862001

And .......All Is Good.

And as we sat on the old park bench, we took sweet liberty, to enjoy the oak trees,

Which were much older and in good health, showing off their acorns.

They greeted the same sun, at every dawn, while saying good night to old man moon,

With the same bow of honor, as one would expect given to a King or Queen

The little birds were tucked away in their bushy branches.

A sleepy chirp was heard, as they nestled away into dream land .

The old wiry gray dog, found its’ way to the foot of an old trunk

Whose roots made a nice hollow for a comfortable bed.

All was well in the old hidden green glen,

and yet the path to it

Was well known by the feet who lived there.

As I hold your hand, a hand I know so well,

I always know, that we were meant to be together.

No matter where, the wind would blow,

It would blow us, back home.

Your once black, now white curl, fell across your wizened brow,

Covering lightly, the well loved, hazel eyes,

I kissed so tenderly, when we were young and still kiss today.

They haven’t changed, for I still see myself in them,

As clearly as the day we fell in love.

There never was a kinder dearer friend than what I found in you.

Together, we watched the world live and grow and die and live again

And shared in its’ despair and grief and promise and

Oh! So much joy!

We thought our hearts would burst.

And today, as we sit, on our own park bench, reflecting,

We can say, we know the world well, and the world knows us......

And all...... is good.

A Lady’s Life.

Tread Softly Glory

Tread Softly Glory so my Eyes can see
Love and Peace
Haloed in Life and Dignity

Tread softly Glory on paths softened
By Faith and Salvation
Tread softly Glory so we remember
Our battle for truth justice and freedom

Tread softly so we can smile and
Touch the tails of your skirt
For posterity.
Tread Softly Glory
In humbleness and awe, in
Honor of God's kindness, guidance
and forgiveness

Sing Loudly Glory so we can hear you
Through all of Heaven's hail storms
And follow in your eternal blessed footsteps
Wherever they may lead us.

A Lady's Life

A Golden Lady

I thought, should I pick her and take her home?
Or should I leave her where she was born?
Should I let people smell her or tell them to leave?
Is she there to remind us of beauty and love?

I thought, should I pick her from ground so low?
Should I count the petals eenie meenie meinie moe?
Should I tear them off asking if he loves me or not?
Tell me Golden head, what are your thoughts?

The flower looked up into the sun
Her flowery scent was blown by the wind
The flowers all crouched and looked up to her
I couldn't pick, a golden lady, in prayer.

A Lady's Life

A House Full of Stuff.

You cannot put order in another mans house until you put order in your own.

I see my house as unkempt.
It is not a show house.
It is a house where I live and do my things in.
It’s a lived in house.
It has stuff in it, smells and it is full of people who are of different opinions.
It is a house full of sounds.
This is the house I live in.

I go to another mans house.
Its is clean, with a show room appearance.
No one can walk in there with shoes.
The floor is cold.
It is full of laws, discipline , order.
It has no smell, no stuff, no books,no people who dare offer an opinion.
The house is quiet.
This is the other mans house.

If I had a choice between these two houses, I rather live in my noisy pig stye,
than in his clean house of peace.
Because in my house I find joy, creation and freedom,while in his
Sadness and no will to live.
I live in a house with no order.
People visit me there and leave happy.
Why should I want to put order in my house
to live in his house of tyranical peace?

I cannot keep order in your house, if I cannot put order in mine
but if I had a choice between our two houses, I'd rather live in my house than thine.

A Lady's Life.

Guitarists Song.

We sing to music to express our passions
We pull strings in our hearts
And from somewhere deep within,
A melody ventures
To bring forth tears of joy or woe.

We sing to bring the world together
We sing to march to a different tune
We play to pass time in composure
Remembering something we left behind

We sing to lift up our spirits
We sing to have a good cry
We sing because of boredom
We sing to have a good time

So play guitarist,
Play your tune
Play for fortune or
Play for doom
Play to live or
Play to die
Tell your story
And I'll tell mine.

A Lady's Life

Withstanding Change of Time

The world is change

And we change the world

Nothing ever stays the same

Controversies and debates

Over justice rights and wrongs.


Today it’s blue and tomorrow green

Ideas, like colors, are to blame

They affect our souls our DNA

Until one day, we have to say

Hey! Don’t color my world gray!

Don’t paint my walls black red or brown


And you get, CHILL Man, with a frown.

You don't like it cause you’re gay."

And this, my friend, is the new trend,

To use expressions that mean two things.

Confused, so no one understands.


An internal smile caressed my lips

To hear them argue, as I did.

That this is something that will stay

The black and brown and red paint spray


Well, my world is full of painted flowers

Beiges, pinks and baby blues

My life has been a pretty airy journey

And these colors made my dreams come true


My world is full of love’s desire.

My water clean and pure

Rainbows fill some pretty clear blue skies

And the soil is rich from dew


My world is full of laughter

From a sweet child’s milky breath

As it looks at pretty colors

From crystals, high above its' bed.


The world is change

And we change the world

Ideas, like colors, are to blame

Some things need to stay the same

For life to breed and claim domain.


Those who choose to live in darkness

Will one day wake to a brighter world

They just need to change the colors

In the rooms that they reside.

A Lady's Life

This poem is about how life is like colors. Our moods, personalities and ideas can change . They can be black and stormy, Passionate pink, brown,gray and dull, or bleed red blood, A little more deadly. Many people suffer in winter because of this and we are told to put on bright lighting in the house to cheer up the spirit.
:)

Scavenged Treasure

I waved to the waves as they crept closer to the cliff’s edge

Exposing their churning white teeth .

Their clashing drenched my face and hair from the foggy spray

Which covered the area like a shawl from heaven

I assumed the look of a soggy wet dog, dripping, in the face of the wind

Black clouds gripped the sky crawling along it’s blue hue

They pelted over each other as if in a race towards where….

The end of time?

I wondered…..

In the howling wind I heard the voice of my ancestors

Beckoning me to step forward and yet…..

Warning me

The old man Sea knew his job

I was mesmerized by his embrace

Covered in his soft, wet kisses and

Floating in his power,and warmth

As he reached out for his final embrace, I awoke

From his overwhelming, salty breath

And begged him to let me go

For I thirsted for a breath of life

I was not his Queen or his wife.

He had many already

I saw his face and it took command

Lovingly enshrining me on a pedestal of his devotion.

He was cunning and sharp

What do you want……..he whispered in my ear

What do you want????

And as I screamed NOT YOU!!!!

He hurled me out onto the shore

In a ragged torn heap as he does all his rejects.

To be collected by scavengers

Seeking treasure.

A Lady's Life.

Feather of Freedom

Feather of Freedom work in progress.

A soft white feather off a sparrows breast

Landed on my lap.

And I gently picked it up

So careful not to squash and wrinkle the beautiful

Puffy Array of downy vanes arranged around its delicate quill.

As I looked closer, I tried to find the tiny hooks which connected the soft barbules together,

so they could stick to each other, creating the smooth surface treasured by all feather collectors.

This feather molted and was replaced by a new one to keep my sparrow

Warm, dry and camouflaged from harm.

As I was caressing this feather, my sparrow, fluffed up on an apple tree,

Was also cleaning himself, with his beak piercing between the barbules and rearranging his feathers again

Into a strong surface which could carry him high into the sky.

As he cleaned himself he looked at me with a mischievous twinkle in his eye,

As if to say:

"Take care, for I still have a journey ahead of me."

And as I kept watching him, I was affected by his cheerful disposition.

I smiled back at him, secretly wishing him well.

As I lifted the feather to thank him,

Showing him my gratitude for sharing his life with me,

He flicked his tail and flew off into the horizon

As if in a hurry to reach his destination.

Sadly, left alone, I searched to find an old discarded perfume bottle and thought:

"Feather, your job is to fly. Not to be left behind."

I cut out a tiny cork ship which I slipped through the mouth of the bottle and glued it to the bottom.

I then gently pushed through the feather and set it up high and proud, into the deck, so it would sail and fly forever.

Once my bottle was securely sealed and ready to be viewed, I slipped a knot around it's neck

And hung it outside by the branch where my friend, the sparrow, could find it.

There it hangs,

Sailing through green branches, pushed by the wind, with no particular place to go.

Every day I sit on the porch, waiting and hoping to see my sparrow again

Every day his feather brings me joy thinking about him, the places he is visiting and the cheer he is bringing to all who see his carefree, mischievous sparkling eyes.

This Feather of Freedom,

Off a sparrow's breast,

Is on a journey, to the far off west.

It will sail forever

It will always fly

It has so many uses

But not enough time.

This Feather of Freedom

Touched me today

I wish I could use it to fly away

But my life is grounded and

I'm here to stay.

My freedom I found in a Sparrow's eye.

Who's chirp I hear up in the sky

A downy feather was his gift to me

And with this feather, he set me free.

A Lady’s Life