Emotions
Feelings live within our soul,
If we keep them inside, they dig a big hole.
Feelings are meant to share with others,
Our friends, our kids, our sisters and brothers.
Love feels so good, to give and to get,
Love is endless, on that you can bet.
And peace is so calm, like a smooth lake at dusk,
Quiet like the mountains, it smells like musk.
Happiness, joy, makes us smile ear to ear,
Like playing with a puppy, or petting a dear.
Along with these feelings, sometimes we might find,
We feel sadness or pain, but I really don’t mind.
Cuz I know that when the sadness goes away,
I’ll feel good again, it will be a new day.
Those feelings of grief or anger or rage,
Are soon gone, I can start a new page.
So embrace all your feelings,
The good ones and bad,
Don’t push them away,
You‘ll end up being glad!!!
Feelings live within our soul,
If we keep them inside, they dig a big hole.
Feelings are meant to share with others,
Our friends, our kids, our sisters and brothers.
Love feels so good, to give and to get,
Love is endless, on that you can bet.
And peace is so calm, like a smooth lake at dusk,
Quiet like the mountains, it smells like musk.
Happiness, joy, makes us smile ear to ear,
Like playing with a puppy, or petting a dear.
Along with these feelings, sometimes we might find,
We feel sadness or pain, but I really don’t mind.
Cuz I know that when the sadness goes away,
I’ll feel good again, it will be a new day.
Those feelings of grief or anger or rage,
Are soon gone, I can start a new page.
So embrace all your feelings,
The good ones and bad,
Don’t push them away,
You‘ll end up being glad!!!
The high
I’m buzzing I’m tingling my body is alive my brain won’t stop thinking!
How will I survive this burst of energy, ideas and much more?
I have so much I want to explore.
I am driven all day til I drop to the floor, I can’t keep up this pace, can’t do anymore.
I want it all done, right now, today!
Don’t want anything to get in my way.
Not the kids or the house
Or the car or the spouse,
Just full speed ahead!
If I keep up this pace I’ll soon be dead.
I’ll try to slow down get a grip, take a rest,
Then I jump up, my brain is such a pest.
“Shut up!” I say, calm down, go to sleep.
Then I rest for awhile, have a dream, count some sheep,
When morning comes, I am up with the dawn
My energy sparking, how can I go on?
I’m afraid if I stop I’ll crash into the wall,
I’ll curl up and die, I’ll take a big fall.
There’s no middle ground, its either up or down,
Help me live with this! I no longer want to frown.
2001
I’m buzzing I’m tingling my body is alive my brain won’t stop thinking!
How will I survive this burst of energy, ideas and much more?
I have so much I want to explore.
I am driven all day til I drop to the floor, I can’t keep up this pace, can’t do anymore.
I want it all done, right now, today!
Don’t want anything to get in my way.
Not the kids or the house
Or the car or the spouse,
Just full speed ahead!
If I keep up this pace I’ll soon be dead.
I’ll try to slow down get a grip, take a rest,
Then I jump up, my brain is such a pest.
“Shut up!” I say, calm down, go to sleep.
Then I rest for awhile, have a dream, count some sheep,
When morning comes, I am up with the dawn
My energy sparking, how can I go on?
I’m afraid if I stop I’ll crash into the wall,
I’ll curl up and die, I’ll take a big fall.
There’s no middle ground, its either up or down,
Help me live with this! I no longer want to frown.
2001
They…
They know what they want. I waffle.
They make decisions. I torture myself with options.
They stand up for themselves. I don’t know what I stand for.
They have a best friend. I have acquaintances.
They have a place in the world. I am still searching for mine.
They enjoy what they have. I dwell on what I am missing.
They express their feelings. I don’t know what mine are.
They are happy. I contemplate what happiness really means.
They enjoy the moment. I am too busy thinking about the next one.
They relate to other people. I am closed up in a box.
They laugh at themselves. I analyze myself.
They are surrounded by family. I am isolated.
They are content. I am unsettled.
They are predictable. I am constantly changing.
They are boring. I am interesting.
They have no vision. I see all the possibilities.
They paint their walls white. Mine are all colors of the rainbow.
They see a flower. I see a masterpiece.
They haven’t questioned the meaning of life.
I will not rest until I find the answers.
2004
They know what they want. I waffle.
They make decisions. I torture myself with options.
They stand up for themselves. I don’t know what I stand for.
They have a best friend. I have acquaintances.
They have a place in the world. I am still searching for mine.
They enjoy what they have. I dwell on what I am missing.
They express their feelings. I don’t know what mine are.
They are happy. I contemplate what happiness really means.
They enjoy the moment. I am too busy thinking about the next one.
They relate to other people. I am closed up in a box.
They laugh at themselves. I analyze myself.
They are surrounded by family. I am isolated.
They are content. I am unsettled.
They are predictable. I am constantly changing.
They are boring. I am interesting.
They have no vision. I see all the possibilities.
They paint their walls white. Mine are all colors of the rainbow.
They see a flower. I see a masterpiece.
They haven’t questioned the meaning of life.
I will not rest until I find the answers.
2004
Poem from art “Death of Marat” Jaque-Louis David
Life is over, I move on to a better place,
My body will no longer take up earth space.
My spirit is free to go where it may,
I have so long been waiting for this day.
Life was great, I had lots of fun,
But earth is restrictive, so to my head I put a gun.
I begin my journey, where it leads I know not,
I am ready to explore, I bet I’ll learn a lot.
I’ll finally know what God really is,
What happens when you die?
I’ll know the answer to this quiz.
First I’ll take a trip to eternity and back,
Then I’ll go visit my dead uncle Jack.
I am weightless and free,
How I wanted to be,
Why the world exists, I will now finally see.
I’ll know all the answers, I’ll be open to is all,
I’ll no longer have to worry about if I’ll ever fall.
Don’t have to worry about how to do my hair,
Or where to live or work, I just won’t care.
No more sunsets at the beach, no more sand in my toes,
No more sex in the morning, that’s just how it goes.
No more sadness or pain, no more tears in the dark,
Just peace and love and joy, like a walk in the park.
2000
Life is over, I move on to a better place,
My body will no longer take up earth space.
My spirit is free to go where it may,
I have so long been waiting for this day.
Life was great, I had lots of fun,
But earth is restrictive, so to my head I put a gun.
I begin my journey, where it leads I know not,
I am ready to explore, I bet I’ll learn a lot.
I’ll finally know what God really is,
What happens when you die?
I’ll know the answer to this quiz.
First I’ll take a trip to eternity and back,
Then I’ll go visit my dead uncle Jack.
I am weightless and free,
How I wanted to be,
Why the world exists, I will now finally see.
I’ll know all the answers, I’ll be open to is all,
I’ll no longer have to worry about if I’ll ever fall.
Don’t have to worry about how to do my hair,
Or where to live or work, I just won’t care.
No more sunsets at the beach, no more sand in my toes,
No more sex in the morning, that’s just how it goes.
No more sadness or pain, no more tears in the dark,
Just peace and love and joy, like a walk in the park.
2000
A Sad Day
When death feels close, it’s a welcome relief,
Just want to curl up, they would cringe in disbelief.
There is no other escape, from this darkness and pain,
I just want to run outside in the rain.
I want no more to do with this thing they call life,
I don’t care anymore, too much strife.
The black of the night is all that I crave,
I can’t deal with this world, I need a dark cave.
Why bother fighting these feelings of dread,
I am sick of hearing the voices in my head,
I hate the whole world, I even hate me,
I want to go away so I will no longer be.
I’ll just disappear and then I’ll be cured,
Won’t worry about what’s happening in the world.
I won’t feel dread or sadness or pain,
Maybe peace and relief will be what I gain.
“But wait” says the voice that sounds like a cat,
“What if death is not what you think, what of that?
Suppose for a moment, that you still feel blue,
The feelings don’t go away, but stay with you?”
“Then what will come of your nights and days?
You might always feel bad, living in a haze.
Maybe death won’t take you where you want to go,
There’s no turning back, so just take it slow…”
But I’m not fit to be here, not fit to go on,
I don’t deserve love, not from anyone.
I should just be alone, not cause others pain,
Sometimes I feel, like I might be insane.
I get through each day, just barely intact,
I need more control over how I react.
For now I will sleep,
Tomorrow’s another day,
Will I make it through?
It’s hard to say.
2001
When death feels close, it’s a welcome relief,
Just want to curl up, they would cringe in disbelief.
There is no other escape, from this darkness and pain,
I just want to run outside in the rain.
I want no more to do with this thing they call life,
I don’t care anymore, too much strife.
The black of the night is all that I crave,
I can’t deal with this world, I need a dark cave.
Why bother fighting these feelings of dread,
I am sick of hearing the voices in my head,
I hate the whole world, I even hate me,
I want to go away so I will no longer be.
I’ll just disappear and then I’ll be cured,
Won’t worry about what’s happening in the world.
I won’t feel dread or sadness or pain,
Maybe peace and relief will be what I gain.
“But wait” says the voice that sounds like a cat,
“What if death is not what you think, what of that?
Suppose for a moment, that you still feel blue,
The feelings don’t go away, but stay with you?”
“Then what will come of your nights and days?
You might always feel bad, living in a haze.
Maybe death won’t take you where you want to go,
There’s no turning back, so just take it slow…”
But I’m not fit to be here, not fit to go on,
I don’t deserve love, not from anyone.
I should just be alone, not cause others pain,
Sometimes I feel, like I might be insane.
I get through each day, just barely intact,
I need more control over how I react.
For now I will sleep,
Tomorrow’s another day,
Will I make it through?
It’s hard to say.
2001
GUEST POET: Manuel Shipwood
FIRST TIME
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
When was the first time,
time
was the last thing you were thinking of?
When was the last time
you were grateful for that one aspect or person in your life, for the first time?
When, do you think, you will have
time
to do all those things you'll do one day,
when you've got more time?
When was the last time,
your heart tuned into the rhythm of a drum, dancing, on fire, wild and beautiful?
When was the last time,
you allowed all your feelings and emotions to be as present as they want to be, using them as a well of wisdom instead of breaking waves at the shore.
When was the last time,
you allowed your mind to be free like the wind? Soaring above the clouds?
When was the last time,
you experienced unlimited gratefulness
for mother earth beneath your feet,
holding you, nourishing you,
protecting you, even in times you don't protect her?
When can you be sure and know,
which moment will last for some time?
When can you be sure and know,
which moment will be your last?
- It's time!
So,...when will be next time,
you do something for the first time?
- Manuel Shipwood
FIRST TIME
When was the last time you did something for the first time?
When was the first time,
time
was the last thing you were thinking of?
When was the last time
you were grateful for that one aspect or person in your life, for the first time?
When, do you think, you will have
time
to do all those things you'll do one day,
when you've got more time?
When was the last time,
your heart tuned into the rhythm of a drum, dancing, on fire, wild and beautiful?
When was the last time,
you allowed all your feelings and emotions to be as present as they want to be, using them as a well of wisdom instead of breaking waves at the shore.
When was the last time,
you allowed your mind to be free like the wind? Soaring above the clouds?
When was the last time,
you experienced unlimited gratefulness
for mother earth beneath your feet,
holding you, nourishing you,
protecting you, even in times you don't protect her?
When can you be sure and know,
which moment will last for some time?
When can you be sure and know,
which moment will be your last?
- It's time!
So,...when will be next time,
you do something for the first time?
- Manuel Shipwood
