Sunlight and Shadows

Finding poetry in star dust, sunbeams, and passing clouds

  • Darkest Hour

    No one else feels this hurting pain

    That pummels at me from within

    No one else knows the sheer despair

    Of getting stuck alone again

    No one else hears the cries for help

    So silent in this agony

    No one else sees the deep regret

    That this again is destiny

    But I can feel the ray of hope

    That warms me through the waves of pain

    But I can know that I will rise

    When I get through the storm again

    But I can hear the bells of love

    Chime faintly through the din of hate

    But I can see that just one day

    Does not determine my life’s fate

    I can’t avoid the storms of life

    Or dodge the rain from every cloud

    But in it, if I listen, still

    Hope will rise and sing aloud

    ,

  • Year in Flowers

    Crocus popping up through the snow

    Heralds spring with purple glow

    Rich-hued iris follows soon

    Bluebells play a pastel tune

    Wild roses, lilies frilled

    Poppies, pansies fill the field

    Bleeding heart and columbine

    Hang like jewels on the vine

    Sweet lavender, bright snapdragons

    Rainbow roses fill the gardens

    Ornate carnations to celebrate

    With baby’s breath so delicate

    Summer goes with forget-me-nots

    Exotic orchids fill winter’s pots

    ,

  • Hope

    Hope cries like the bird at night

    Starting to sing before dawn

    Fighting the dark’s chains of doubt

    Finding a limb to cling upon

    Undoubting the fact of light

    Even when the last star is gone

    Hope fights like the ship at sea

    Rowing just as hard as they can

    Unwilling to admit defeat

    Despite the great dark ocean span

    Fixing on the beam of light

    That promises there is still land

    Hope stands like the flower strong

    Beaten down by the pouring rain

    Seeing through the endless storm’s

    Driving torrents and crushing pain

    Still holding its head up high

    With faith the sun will shine again

    ,

  • Sculpture

    This fragile sculpture made of glass

    Trying to hold in my hands

    Sometimes sharp though beautiful

    So close no one else understands

    Afraid to let the pieces drop

    Who knows what happens when it lands

    Turning it round and round to look

    It changes shape before my eyes

    The light comes in – so different now

    Intense emotions fall and rise

    I can’t tell when I’m touching real

    What is this object’s shape or size

    I’m told to shelter, watch it grow

    Just focus on what’s here today

    But it feels out of my control

    So hot it’s hard for me to stay

    That heat is molding, fusing bonds

    Look through the glass to see the way

    ,

  • Weakness

    When the world is crumbling beneath your feet

    No path to go forward, nowhere to retreat

    Plans go up in smoke, life’s not what you know

    Where do you run to, where do you go?

    When you’ve fallen down so many times you can’t count

    Too tired, too broken, but still battles mount

    It feels like you’re losing more fights than you’ve won

    Where do you find the strength to keep on?

    When the road just keeps turning and winding so steep

    The obstacles mount, it’s near too big a leap

    You wonder if you’re even on the right road

    Where do you find new speed when you’ve slowed?

    There’s only one place of sufficient grace

    He’ll walk with you, whatever you face

    ,

  • Moon Rise

    Great shining orb ascending

    Painting clouds with a rosy glow

    The flaming light breaks the horizon

    Caught in slivers by waves below

    Emerging by seconds into the sky

    A perfect stone of reflected light

    On an ever-changing trajectory

    To project the sun into the night

    Reflected glory of a greater light

    Freely showered on us here

    To guide the creatures of the night

    And remind us that day is near

    While echoing across the waves

    In beams so silent and so strong

    The moon yet faithfully shines down

    To hold our dreams the whole night long

    ,