Poetry by Pam

Sweetness drawn from the strength of a lion Suggestive and playful with a twinkle in his eye selected card that was the queen or just plain luck of the draw potential energy transferred to kinetic privacy overpowered by sheer will like the sunshine censored by the overcast sky only trained eyes revealed their secrets Helpless beauty trapped in the unknown while the mind strains to contain the logic that oversteps its bounds or accept that this is just the way things are

The sun arose to greet the sky with a kiss Then held hands so the birds could see to travel The birds sang to awaken the grass The grass arose to a warm fresh shower of dew The dirt prepared for a long leisurely drink The worms crawled to jump on top of the bed The dirt received a therapeutic massage The grass inched up a little higher The birds ate a satisfying breakfast The sky and the sun hugged up together and smiled brilliantly as they finished the day

Opposed to the majority, an outsider, a rebel seeking to take advantage of the indifferent Punishing the uncompromising, withholding optimism celebrating the guilty, convicting the innocent Ignoring the journey stifling fresh approach constricting eternity into a well behaved box Applying limits learned from youth never allowing entrance into the door that locked Eyes that hold like a piercing, accusing finger focused on dark, dreary nights alone A mouth down twisting and angry ready to ignite the echoes of a fiery tone Refusal to change until all that is left is an abundance of sand in a hot, dry, desert ending in an unfinished symphony of bittersweet regrets that never obtained an audience

Reaching back Into the limitless deep pulling out the potential To cast into the future Quietly nestles on the ocean’s shoulders Slowly sinking into the vast bodies of water And wrapping around the catch

Large but minimized Valid but illegitimized Open but blocked Started but stopped Available but scared Undaunted but reserved Focused but disturbed Empowered but limited Excused then accepted Organized but overwhelmed Outspoken but hushed Thorough but rushed Quick but weighted Loud but understated Free but occupied

I had no idea my daughter could rhyme she places her ideas on paper like mine this time it caught me by pleasant surprise for the first time I looked into her eyes and I saw the image of myself When she first captured my attention I respectfully gave a mild reaction but she grabbed and twisted until I finally submitted and she inspired me From then on I could only trust from the shoulders of those before us that faithfully given opportunity she would become her own identity and we would incite a war with words

Somehow the light extinguished I was submerged in darkness The security feature was missing I was unsure of my footing It bothered me tremendously I couldn't appreciate air I couldn't breathe I felt lost and confused What once qualified as an instrument now makes no sound as if the darkness took its voice too I tried to replace the bulb Written November 29, 2006