The Illusion

In the fight…

   The Illusion

It seemed like an illusion
She was already halfway across the bridge when it began to fade
The cars ahead dropping out of sight one by one made
Her slip into confusion

Then a chunk of concrete hit her windshield and
She thought she would die right then
But her van tipped down

She prepared to pound
Into pavement and to be hammered again
But she hit water and didn’t slam into dry land

Floating she realized she suffered no bad contusions
But considering how to get out she prayed
Could not swim but would die if she stayed
So she rolled down the window and swam.   Was that the illusion?

   -gl-

From   –   Bridges Don’t Fall Down: Stories from the I35W Bridge Collapse

From the Beginning

In the struggles of life…

Excerpted from   –   From the Beginning

…Sure we took her home to die
There were no doubts in our minds but neither could say, “No”
Not speaking our thoughts we didn’t know
Each one couldn’t say no, not bearing to see the other cry

Of course it grew worse
Once we were home and nurtured her for a while
And became so much more attached. We would love her so…

   -gl-

From   –   A Warrior’s Love: A Book of Love Poems

Some Day Honey

Of love and commitment…

Excerpted from   –   Some Day Honey

…Oh some day honey we may just get it right
And then darlin’ we’ll sail clean out of sight
Without any need to wonder where the good life’s gone
But in the meantime we’ll just keep strugglin’ on

I’ve heard it said that tough times never last
But these that we got sure ain’t goin’ fast
Dead in the water or just sailin’ round and round
As for progress, we might as well run aground

But some day honey we may just get it right…

   -gl-

From   –   A Warrior’s Love: A Book of Love Poems

The King We’ll Make

Of redemption…

Excerpted from   –   The King We’ll Make

…Bruce offered the Red a simple deed
Help me to be king.  I will grant you my estates
Or grant me all of yours and you the king we’ll make
So it was they agreed…

   -gl-

From   –   Robert the Bruce: A Warrior’s King

Footsteps He Trod

Of holiness and nobility…

   Footsteps He Trod

The Christ Child is born
Whether of man or God
Not what really adorns
The merit or holiness of footsteps he trod

It is the message rings true
Not the details of his life that should matter
The love and tolerance that were his way have been lost

By so many that insist others should pay the cost
On and on they go with their endless patter
Speaking as if they still knew

The innocence of God’s
Way and were not shorn
Of compassion nor awed
By the creator’s benevolence. They’re forlorn

I Sit Here Alone

Feeling the weight…

   I Sit Here Alone

Fear grips me and I freeze
The time has come and I am so scared
False is the calm my facade declares
Now disgusted at this fear I feel so diseased

I find I cannot think
Normally calculate
The risk, then making the decision, accepting the results

But now I feel nauseous.  Will my stomach convulse?
Not sure this time I can bear the weight
Here now, right at the brink

Pitiful.  I feel as if I’m down on my knees
For this decision I do not care
I do not like it, it does not seem fair
Let it be alright, please

Gone through so many doors
Facing the night’s horrors

But this time
The danger was not mine

Giving the word, putting down the phone
Sending them in, I sit here alone

   -gl-

From   –   A Warrior’s Battles: A Book of Struggle   (Not Yet Published)

Lines Get Crossed

Of love and commitment…

   Lines Get Crossed

Lines get drawn and lines get crossed
Why do we forget what brought us together?
Just looking for more and thinking we’re clever
It’s in this way friends are lost

Perhaps we could bear in mind
Our futures depend on how we choose
Brash words and hasty choices made can lose
Good friends are so hard to find

   -gl-

From   –   A Warrior’s Love: A Book of Love Poems

Children of the Stone

Of redemption…

Excerpted from   –   Children of the Stone

Gaza
And for the children of the stone
Intefadeh
Comes now after children dying alone
Silence
As he kneels here to kiss the ground
Years of penance
Forty six years have brought this moment around
Joyous
The cheers now in place of wailing
Delirious
The crowds.  They, their returning chief hailing
Old square
Where parliament sat long ago
Not quite prepared
For seventy thousand wanting to know
Facing
History still lying heavy here
Events placing
Here.  The blood and misery of those dear…

   -gl-

From   –   A Warrior’s Battles: A Book of Struggle   (Not Yet Published)