Souls in a glass jar

glass jars lined on shelves 

all the way to eternity

each one with a soul 

to live a new life in mortality

an angel picks up one of them

and with a kiss and prayer

slowly twists the cap open and

empties life on the earthern ware

these souls are not just of people 

but of animal flower and tree

for every little thing has a soul

to live on earth a free

and when its done its term

of birth and life and death

an angels flings it to the sky

to shine on thru the depth

so little soul shine thru me

soulshine thru a darkening day

cause it is not too much to ask 

if it helps another soul find its way 

Easter

The stone is broken.
Spring sings a new song. 
Victory over the grave taken
And hope for ever is born 

Heaven

God carefully dusted colour on the butterflies.

He let the rivers dance through the mountains

And hand painted every sunset and sunrise.

Into the mouth of every bird he placed a song.

Shaped out every creature small, tall and long,

With eyes to see the wonders of the earth they belong.

He flung stars across the skies to light up the darkness.

Bent the back of the rainbow with coloured droplets.

Gave breath to the wind and planted the great forests.

Seeing that it was all good, he finally created man and woman.

They then looked around at this wonderful intricate magic woven

And said " This is all very well, but we'd still need a heaven".

Where the mind?

WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where the cry of hunger is always answered
Where politicians behave responsibly to the nation and not only to themselves
Where the law is one that is followed and not circumvented
Where our children and God are more important than our cell phones
   and laughter is real and not televised.
Where the playing fields are level
Where one understands his own religion first, before questioning another
Where we grieve the killing of trees, of the innocent and the farmer
Where greed exists in the want of knowledge and not materialism
   and respect is garnered from deeds and not wealth
Where progress is not commercialisation but satisfaction through simple activities
Where our every action is to help another, irrespective of religion or position or quid pro quo.
Into broadmindedness and limitless boundaries
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let me and my country awake.

(Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore)

The Brothel

Lips smeared red, dark and swollen
Eyes shining black and bordered
Her hair held loosely by a pointed pin
A large red dot darkens her forehead

Hips sway in emphasized measure
Her breasts full, ride on bashful waves
Every step pattered with pleasure
Her arms hold many a man’s embrace

At the window, strutting, a little dove.
She smiles, looking over her man’s ear
Little bird do you know what is love?
Will I ever find any of it lying over here?

They laugh together, loud and mocking
Each recounting her nights so clear
Clapping out depths pained reckoning
Their laughter hides many a tear

And then she sees him down below
Swaying around, high on contempt
A face forbidden at that window
Cause for him her heart was spent

Years ago
when the sun its rays had smothered.
When she had surrendered to hell
A child she had picked up and nurtured
From the doorstep of this brothel.

Soul

A lady cried out ‘Souls'
At the gate of the Mayo Hall
With neither begging bowls
Or open palm for coin to fall.

She cried out Souls again
'I have souls to sell, want one? '
I decided why try and attain
When you can buy, oh what fun.


Now I got two of them for fifty
Kind of a deal, she said, comes in pairs
I'm saved, but I don't feel so thrifty
My Sole  now protected from wear.

River of life

One. Just one at a time
Drip by drip begins this song
First one drop and then the other
Searching for its feet to stumble along

Meandering across unknown ground
Shaky, crawling, eating up earth
Falling, bouncing, rolling over
Joys untold from a stream at birth

Dashing its way across the land
Learning, feeling, seeking, tasting
Little pearls of wisdom and vice
Reflected through the dark and lighting

Bouncing across rocks unafraid
Challenging every steep and climb,
Dying with every fall to live again
Riding with the flow sublime

Threading its way on lower plains
Youth has shifted to slower gear
Responsibility cloaked in maturity
Drifting cautiously, slow, unsecure

Dying into the sea of the world
Becoming one with earth and heaven
No sacrifice, regrets, loss and tears.
For in giving of oneself there is no end.