The Prophets said Life was Beautiful

Love lies hidden even in the quietness of the rocks.
And on beaches where no one has yet walked,
or even touched with their dreams.

Love is hidden in cloudy days
and darken skies
just waiting to be discovered
by young lovers, huddled up
in the warmth of each other,
under the branches of an old oak.
They do not need windows to see
that love is a cousin of the wind.
It can be felt but not easily seen.

Look within.
Mysteries are not always solved by looking outside.
There are things that we need never understand
and places we do not need to see or be.
The truth is everywhere - crying out to be found!

The faithful earth
has seen many sunsets
and many dark periods,
yet it keeps spinning around
ever searching for the sun.
That the gift of light,
that forever waits
on the other side of our darkness.

We should be more like our brother earth.
Regardless of how dark it may seem,
we must keep moving towards the light.
Truth will wait for us patiently,
as if, time was not real
nor mattered.

Love, my dear friends is the only truth.
The only light worth turning towards.
The only thing that is real!

by Bill McDonald
Copyright © 1998 Bill McDonald. All rights reserved.

Crossroads

The second half of my life will be black

to the white rind of the old and fading moon.

The second half of my life will be water

over the cracked floor of these desert years.

I will land on my feet this time,

knowing at least two languages and who

my friends are. I will dress for the

occasion, and my hair shall be

whatever color I please.

Everyone will go on celebrating the old

birthday, counting the years as usual,

but I will count myself new from this

inception, this imprint of my own desire.

The second half of my life will be swift,

past leaning fenceposts, a gravel shoulder,

asphalt tickets, the beckon of open road.

The second half of my life will be wide-eyed,

fingers shifting through fine sands,

arms loose at my sides, wandering feet.

There will be new dreams every night,

and the drapes will never be closed.

I will toss my string of keys into a deep

well and old letters into the grate.

The second half of my life will be ice

breaking up on the river, rain

soaking the fields, a hand

held out, a fire,

and smoke going

upward, always up.

- Joyce Sutphen

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I am looking forward to it...

If I Had My Life to Live Over

If I Had My Life to Live Over

a letter written by Nadine Stair at age 85

If I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax; I'd limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dance; I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies.

*******************************

This isn't really a poem but the first time read it, I was able to relate instantly with Nadine. Although I have yet to reach the prime of my life, I've known long ago that I'd really rather stumble and fall a thousand times than be left in the dark or stare dumbly as I see my own life pass by.

I want to live my life to the fullest or to quote Wynona Ryder in "Little Women," become a great many person. I think life isn't just about getting a degree, or working, or keeping yourself and your house immaculately clean... I think it's more about exploring your horizon, getting to know people, making lasting relationships, trying to make a difference, loving unconditionally and courageously, fighting for a cause, hugging trees, and yes, picking more daisies!