"Accolades For Valor" by Matthew Johnson (1993): "She goes through life, gliding, a benevolent seer/ Stopping constantly to aid those in need, those not even dear/ I, an individual, swept up in the storm/ Of a woman, who, in search of herself, defies the norm/ As I, an outcast, fighting myself, yet daring to believe/ That if I ask her aid and succor (and possibly love) she won’t leave/ Giving her heart, mind and soul to every known cause/ Causing me to look about my selfish malestrom, and in introspection give pause/ For all her words, she won’t write about me, does she fail to perceive/ What the object knows to be true and what make believe—/ Words rarely present, presence much more of one/ Is to wish for more as good as wishing for the sun?/ Energy is precious, as I know well to be true/ And I am curious to know, Lorraine, what I can ask of you/ Names are important, they make us who we are/ Much more important than people give credit, by far/ The masses may cry “Lori!” and let them do so!/ For the numbers who call that cannot understand/ They will never know the Lorraine inside, the one crying to live/ Will be forever frustrated by those whose minds are like a sieve/ There may be those who rob her of her world, let them scratch the skin/ They are as pinpricks to the steel within/ These accolades are not exaggeration, not pretentious/ I Just want you to know that there is at least one who is conscious/ That the world is a better place for the life of a woman named Lorraine."

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Roller Coaster

Riding our Roller Coaster,
there were ups and downs;
smiles and frowns;
but when the cars stopped at the platform,
I focused on the nausea instead of the thrill.

One day, I got in line for a different ride.
I hung back from the turnstile--
allowed myself to enjoy the excitement of mere imagination.

Suddenly, I found myself awakening from a stupor.
I heard nothing but exclamations of joy
reverberating from our roller coaster.
I looked back and saw it glistening in the sunlight.

I re-faced the ride before me.
This time, all I felt was disgust and shame,
but I was fortunate
to be simultaneously blessed
with complete and utter awareness--
of the amazing nature of the roller coaster
and how lucky I was to ride it!

I raced back to our roller coaster.
The line appeared eternal; the conditions ovewhelming,
but to board the cars on that track--
any setting would be worth it!

I endured the conditions of the line.
I polished the cars and
nutured the tracks and foundation.

Finally, the attendant let me board.
An elation surged through me like I've never known.
I had never been so sure of anything before.
There was nothing that remotely compared to this ride.
I would be forever committed to its upkeep and enjoyment.

Riding our roller coaster,
there will be ups and downs;
smiles and frowns;
but each time the car stops at the platform,
I will focus on the amazing feelings I was blessed with,
and I will share my delight with the World.


May 16, 2009