Monthly Archives: June 2013

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Who AM I?

English: A homeless man in Paris Français : Un...

English: A homelessman in ParisFrançais : Un sans domicile fixe à Paris. Tiếng Việt: Mộtngười đàn ông vô gia cư ở Paris Polski: Bezdomny mężczyzna w Paryżu See

below for more translations. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I sit on the street

with my dirty feet…

my shoes are worn.

My heart is torn.

You give a sigh…

yet, you pass me by…

But I am one of you…

I know  you, I do!

I have no family

except for those who live in the alley.

I sit here by myself, alone

no food, no friend,  no cell phone…

I sit here in my ragged clothes

Do you really think this is what I chose?

Dazed eyes…no longer can I cry

Emptiness looms inside

English: Homeless veteran in New York

English: Homeless veteran in New York (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Day in…Day out

Night in…Night shouts

You sit in your room for ten-

I sit on the curb and pretend.

You throw me a dollar to spend…

But when it will ever end?

“That will help me, that will do.”

You say, “He’ll probably have a drink or two”

How you judge me, what if I do?

Wouldn’t you too?

How do you know I won’t buy a coffee,

while you go on to see your bookie?

I sit on the street…

In utter defeat.

Take me, help me get on my feet again.

Do you have that kind of time to spend?

Would you take me in your home?

Would you give me a place of my own?

English: Source: Joshua Sherurcij

English: Source: Joshua Sherurcij (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Just a corner is all I need.

Can you respond to my plea?

All that is, all that could be,

I just can’t find my way, can’t you see?

I once had a home

that I called my own.

I once had friends–

Our time we thought would never end!

Hard luck came upon me

Lost my job, my dignity, all of it, you see.

If fortunes were reversed

You could be the one who thirsts

I am one of you…

floating homeless

floating homeless (Photo credit: nozoomii)

I know you, I do!

Homeless people all the world around!

Homeless people in your town!

English: A homeless man in New York with the A...

English: A homeless man in New York with the American flag in the background. Français : Un homme sans domicile fixe à New York. Un drapeau des États-Unis est visible en arrière plan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Homeless shelters but a few…

Homeless could be me and you…

Homeless in America could it be?

Homeless in the Land of Opportunity?

Homeless man in Tokyo

Homeless man in Tokyo (Photo credit: theeruditefrog)

Related articles

 

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Apology to Mother Earth

Cree Sunset

Cree Sunset (Photo credit: John Spooner)

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.”

~Cree Indian Proverb

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as I hear the drills of fracking destroying your gift of water deep within

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as the coal puts forth more pollutants in the air so thin

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as we destroy the soil with our cancer-ridden compost

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as the grain you have given to us is tampered with and Monsanto is our guidepost

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as we litter our beaches with our castoffs

I weep with you, Mother Earth, that we seem to enjoy pollution as our handoff

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as our oceans are littered with garbage and filth, oil spills and toxins

I weep with you, Mother Earth, as we do not take seriously our actions

Mähsette Kuiuab Chief of the Cree indians

Mähsette Kuiuab Chief of the Cree indians (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I weep with you, Mother Earth as the coral disappears beneath the sea

I weep with you, Mother Earth, and hope we soon come to see your frantic plea

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Cell Phone Jealousy

What is that addictive, alluring charm?

That keeps IT held in your hand, attached to your arm?

cell phone zombies

cell phone zombies (Photo credit: freebeets)

What is that spell IT has on you?

Preventing you to see that person in front so true?

Captivating nuance at its best

Leaving your humanity to rest

Be mindful of what you are losing when wanting both

You are making a choice and telling one you loath

Perhaps these words are strong

But your action seems so wrong

For here I am to celebrate you

And you give me merely a glance, so few

 

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to the Wounded…You are LOVED

Dedicated to Cheri, my gentle friend

D

To all the Wounded…YOU are loved

Ignore the naysayers who defy you, peaceful dove

Your beauty unfolds with your gentle walk

You give voice to those who cannot talk

Honoring your voice within

Is the strength you need to never give-in

Remember…there are others who share your vision

Remember…there are others who do not want division

Remember…there are others who walk beside you

Remember…there are others who struggle too

Remember…we are there with you

Remember…we need your joy too

Remember…the Truth that set you on your path

Remember…your steps of hope are important on the footpath

Remember…you need to be your own best friend

Remember…loving yourself is as important in the end

Remember…you are the gentle wind in the grass

Remember…you are the sparkle in the sassafras

Remember…you are the softness of the morning light

Remember…you are the twinkle in the starlight

Remember…you are the cooing in our hearts sung by the Mourning Doves

Remember…you are never without our love

Remember…you are freshness of the water upon our face

Remember…your tears of strength are what gives us grace

Remember…we need your voice

Remember…always, for yourself and others, make the loving choice

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banner of innocence

so much understanding, love and a drawing out to BE all that we can BE…gentle, compassionate writing…thank you WHOCOULDKNOWTHEN

dear occupant's avatarwho could know then

thCAP42ZV1
.
‘There is a light inside you
To shine if you choose it to
There is a light inside you
To light up the world for you
Light up the world with you
As only you can do’.
.
.
oh wounded heart, and how many years
have we walked this journey you and i
the dead ends and aborted beginnings
just how many understandings have
been set aside for yet another day?

only i know your tragedy and depth of despair
because i was there with you every painful day
deflecting the blows hoping i could protect you
covering these ears not to hear words slice so deep

oh wounded heart,

please hear the words i have found for you
forgiveness, love, acceptance and healing
hear them because the bruises they all faded
it’s the words you heard and the cuts remained

these clouds and shadows you live…

View original post 286 more words

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drawn into LOVE

sometimes the force draws you in

all conscious thought dissipates

you no longer feel your hands

you no longer feel your feet

your body disappears altogether

your emotions fill your being

you forget yourself

you are drawn in towards  the other

you are no longer you

you are ONE

you are pure love

the sun is no longer the sun

you become one with the glow

the colors blend with your soul

you are totally absorbed

you are no longer you

you are ONE

you are pure LOVE

the waves wash over your being

swimming in crystal water love

you and the water become one

you are no longer you

you are ONE

you are pure LOVE

you no longer feel alone

your self has disappeared

totally immersed in feeling

you are no longer you

you are ONE

you are pure LOVE

love becomes you

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lost leads to found

i certainly feel lost today..

LOST: Holy Grail

so much has changed and i feel alone

i need a place of my own

i am not speaking of a physical room

i am speaking of that ethereal place

where i am me and there is no race

where someone is there

and can accept me bare

lost leads to found

when one is feeling left with no ground

it is the beginning of the search

a new place to perch

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My daughter, Lara, and her Peace Corps Journey

panorama de Lomé Licence Catégorie:Photos du Togo

panorama de Lomé Licence Catégorie:Photos du Togo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

indexIt is 2:15 AM and where are my thoughts? In Togo. My daughter, Lara, arrived there safely last Tuesday, June 11, 2013. She spent the first days in Lomé.

Since Sunday, she has settled in with her host family for the next two months, as she learns more about the culture, the language and the customs of the people with whom she has come to share her life. The first days were a bit of adjustment, dealing with a little homesickness–if she hadn’t missed us a bit, I would have been more worried!–but now that she is with the wonderful host family she says she is happy and more at ease.

Eventually, Lara will be teaching English and Gender Equity in a middle school somewhere in Togo. Forty-four  young people, including Lara, are in the present Peace Corps group in Togo. Amazing young people out to share in another culture and widen their understanding and perspective of the world. Forty-four light beings traveling to share their talents and gifts and who will receive so much more than they can ever imagine!

To say I miss her is to put it mildly! My heart is with her on every step of the journey. I woke up at this time and she was the first person my thoughts went to, thinking is she sleeping well, is she eating, what is her day like. By now she is well on her way beginning the day.
I went to the refrigerator to get some cold water…my thoughts immediately went to her, thinking the family does not have a refrigerator. They cannot get cold water whenever they want; she cannot get a drink of cold water when she wants.

Yesterday it was 90 degrees in Wisconsin. I had the air conditioning on. It was 90 degrees in Togo, as I was able to speak to her for ten minutes via Skype and on her cell phone, the use of  which we keep at a minimum. The first two calls were less than a minute. Yesterday was the longest. We are economizing and  I think she feels a bit awkward to have a phone, in the midst of so much poverty.  Returning to the temperature–I thought, “Yes, I can live in coolness; she cannot; the family she is living with cannot. So much we take for granted, when so many in the world live without.  Now my daughter is going to experience an entirely new level of what it means to live with less things, less convenience, less water, less food.  But she will experience the intimacy of people– that is so beautiful! People who live simplicity… 1-581910_10151461320396819_1357631649_n-1 When I taught in Kenya almost 40 years ago, that was the image impressed upon my heart — the simplicity of the people. No facade. No pretense.Yes, I miss her everyday and I think about her so often throughout the day but now I know that she is happy and following her dream and she will be okay.

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Ayden and the Fact about AGE

Ayden's 6th birthday

Ayden, my grandson, celebrated his 6th birthday last Thursday.  After he finished the chocolate birthday cake, he came up to me and said rather nonchalantly, “Nanny, I am 6 now but I still feel like I am 5. I don’t feel any different? I still feel like I am 5! Well, I guess I am just me!”

I found it interesting that he reflected upon his age progression in this way…that he thought he would be someone different when he woke up to his birthday…I guess some of us do feel that same way…even on days when it is not our birthday.

In any case, his easy-going response to himself, “Well, I guess I am just me!” is all that he needs to accept and know to be at home with himself during his journey through life!

Ayden reminds me of Ayden on his 6th Birthday with his sister, Nadia, 4... 2013Le Petit Prince. He has curly blonde hair and a sweet smile and disposition. He has a sensitive heart. On his birthday, as they were gathering their belongings to leave, and Ayden his presents, he said to Nadia, “When we get home, Nadia, you can play with my new toys…you can have some of them and we will play together.”

What a darling!