I left you in the morning…

I left you in the morning,
And in the morning glow,
You walked a way beside me
To make me sad to go.
Do you know me in the gloaming,
Gaunt and dusty gray with roaming?
Are you dumb because you know me not,
Or dumb because you know?

All for me And not a question
For the faded flowers gay
That could take me from beside you
For the ages of a day?
They are yours, and be the measure
Of their worth for you to treasure,
The measure of the little while
That I’ve been long away.

Apache Tear Drop

An Apache / Jicarilla Legend

Apache Tear Drop is a form of black obsidian. It is a calming translucent stone, found in Arizona and other parts of the U.S. It is composed of feldspar, hornblende, biotite and quartz. It was formed by rhythmic crystallization that produces a separation of light and dark materials into spherical shapes, and is a form of volcanic glass.

There is a haunting legend about the Apache Tear Drop. After the Pinal Apaches had made several raids on a settlement in Arizona, the military regulars and some volunteers trailed the tracks of the stolen cattle and waited for dawn to attack the Apaches.

The Apaches, confident in the safety of their location, were completely surprised and out-numbered in the attack. Nearly 50 of the band of 75 Apaches were killed in the first volley of shots. The rest of the tribe retreated to the cliff’s edge and chose death by leaping over the edge rather than die at the hands of the white men.

For years afterward those who ventured up the treacherous face of Big Pacacho in Arizona found skeletons, or could see the bleached bones wedged in the crevices of the side of the cliff.

The Apache Women and the lovers of those who had died gathered a short distance from the base of the cliff where the sands were white, and for a moon they wept for their dead. They mourned greatly, for they realized that not only had their 75 brave Apache warriors died, but with them had died the great fighting spirit of the Pinal Apaches.

Their sadness was so great, and their burden of sorrow so sincere that the Great Father imbedded into black stones the tears of the Apache Women who mourned their dead. These black obsidian stones, when held to the light, reveal the translucent tear of the Apache.

The stones are said to bring good luck to those possessing them. It is said that whoever owns an Apache Tear Drop will never have to cry again, for the Apache Women have shed their tears in place of yours.

The Apache tear drops are also said to balance the emotional nature and protect one from being taken advantage of. It can be carried as an amulet to stimulate success in business endeavors. It is also used to produce clear vision and to increase psychic powers.

Black obsidian is a powerful Meditation stone. The purpose of this gemstone is to bring to light that which is hidden from the conscious mind. It dissolves suppressed negative patterns and purifies them. It can create a somewhat radical behavior change as new positive attitudes replace old, negative, egocentric patterns.

Snow

Snow is falling A beautiful sight Snow is falling It plays with the light Snow is falling It plays it’s game Snow is falling It makes all that’s different look the same Snow is falling It’s source is storm Snow is falling It makes all conform Snow is falling It blinds all who see Snow is falling It hides you from me Snow is falling From a sky of lead Snow is falling Never mind…we’re dead Jay M. McCabe

The Hospital Window

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”

Sometimes we get sad about things and we don’t like to tell other people that we are sad about them.

Sometimes we get sad about things and we don’t like to tell other people that we are sad about them. We like to keep it a secret. Or sometimes, we are sad but we really don’t know why we are sad, so we say we aren’t sad but we really are.

(c) Mark Haddon

Survive

Looking out of the window,
as the sun slowly hides beneath the horizon,
the darkness creeps and crawls its way
upon the land;

i have been waiting for years,
haunted by memories,
going round and round,
in this vicious circle of life;

as the music fades away,
i look around to spot any familiar faces,
it seems i am here all alone,
trying to make sense of this crazy thing called life;

how long does it take?
to solve this puzzle called life?
how much more longer,
if only i knew!

like a bird in a cage,
as i sit and stare into another day,
its getting harder and harder,
to be in control yet feel helpless;

yet, i have been waiting for years,
it made no sense,
maybe this is what my life is?

as i look into an unknown horizon,
the promise of a happy ending tempts me back,
and i choose to survive
to have another go at this thing called Life!

Praveen Kumar

You Are Loved

When the road seems too long

When darkness sets in

When everything turns out wrong

And you can’t find a friend

Remember ~ you are loved

 

When smiles are hard to come by

And you’re feeling down

When you spread your wings to fly

And can’t get off the ground

Remember ~ you are loved.

 

When time runs out before you’re through

And it’s over before you begin

When little things get to you

And you just can’t win

Remember ~ you are loved.

 

When your loved ones are far away

And you are on your own

When you don’t know what to say

When you’re afraid of being alone

Remember ~ you are loved.

 

When your sadness comes to an end

And everything is going right

May you think of your family and friends

And keep their love in sight

A thank-you for being loved.

 

May you see the love around you

In everything you do

And when troubles seem to surround you

May all the love shine through

You are blessed ~ you are loved.

Roger Pinches