My mouth ordered “a ticket to anywhere,”
while my better judgment told me to let it go.

I should have listened to my better judgement.

a little wine
on a moonlit night
with an azure sky
dazzling with stars
can help one forget
the stress of an hectic day
to put one in a gracious mood
and a twinkle in one's eye
a sip of chardony
across the table from a lovely angel
who is ready to listen to what one has to say.

after naomi shihab nye

before i am a daughter
i am a globe.

i reach around myself
for a prayer.

there is a hole in my earth
where my dna was extracted.

no one knows
my tongue.

it is not a sea
it is the iceberg,

the fixed spine
piercing water

like a clenched knife.

I'm sorry if this is too deep,
but, I just couldn't let it steep
it'd slowly fill my mind and crush me
right now, I just need space to breathe
it won't let me go, the harsh pain
it feels like a never-ending rain
with no shelter, I'm standing there
each drop filling me with more despair
every reminder makes me fear
I'll someday drown in my own tears
before this time, I knew naught of this pain
a pain that no one can maintain
I thought, since I'm strong, I could try
but, it didn't work, and it makes me cry
I think to myself all through the day,

I. The Wrathful Wraith

My spells were justly famous.
Men spoke my name in awe.
Kings and princes hired me
to tilt their wars with sorcery,
cast darkness on their enemies,
and concoct subtle potions
to command the latent passions
of the ladies they found fair. 
I once changed a river's course. 
I made the clouds rain fire. 
I've turned some men to swine
and taught others how to fly. 
Yet even my greatest magics
could not dam the flow of time. 
The years had their way with
me and death laid me down.

He broke me and hurt me now I'm bruised I crashed but he cruised I was awakened while he snoozed I'm dying inside my soul is on a noose Lord please help me break loose My anger and pain gave the Devil a boost Addicted to numbing the pain Trying to run away I swerved out my lane Thought I needed weed to keep me sane All the shots made it fuzzy for my brain I lost touch I got out of hand I know I was slipping far from your plan Because I was too busy pleasing man Your voice was so foreign I almost didn't hear I know that you longed to draw me near Near to receive your love Near to

We all have that someone that we want here The deepest of sorrows from their absence each year Memories don't seem to help enough When you miss their voice and miss their touch When it hits home and begins to hurt too much Remember life is too short so just live it up When we cried our tears and said our goodbye's Wounds do heal just give it time When God calls them home and you ask why Remember our homes are in the Sky I lost a child then nearly lost my mind I was broken and bruised I almost took my life But God took my hand and said "it's not your time" Weeping may endure for just one nigh

All stands still
An inner silent – space
Only the heart throb, the silent beat
A time of momentary rest
Indecisiveness – spaced out
Relaxation time – think – creative ideas
Where nothing matters, even the soul rests
But you, find that inner peace
Noise and demands are shut off

Only the quiet self is listening
A personal rendezvous with nirvana
As if time and space stand still
The computer down
Active mind at rest
All can wait
Jobs, business –
Even heaven is a witness – absent
For I decide my fate, my future
Non-active

had no patience with his brothers
and their tiny-footed, anemic brides,

but the court ladies chased him anyhow,
presuming he had influence with Dad.

So he picked the ugliest prospects:
harelipped, bunioned, warty;

invited them for a night at his cottage --
straw bedding over a layer of pebbles.

Copying their simpering sisters
they boasted of bruises and battered limbs,

batted their eyes, reddened their lips
and declined his oatmeal without a taste.

One stormy night, the gold-eyed daughter
of an under-gardener begged shelter,