Journeys Ahead

Facing so much

dead ahead so many

factors and decisions

not knowing what will

truly occur.

Was it really me

that made this happen

was it the way I

was made that made

her that made this

road ahead so uncertain

in destination?

She walks down the

many roads with many

stops to make along

the way and as she

does the distractors

arise from the woodworks

before her she

stops she listens to

their lingo some she lets

take to the leaves along

the side some she offers

to join for the ride.

She knows them she

knows their names and

never forgets no matter

the time or the place

but they no matter the

good who treat her right

or the others who treat

her with contrite they all

know not her daily plight

that restricts her by day grips

her by night against which she

will not go down without

a fight despite the grim

defiant shadows she vows

each moment to take

delight she deflects their

toxins reflects her light

determined to forge a

future so bright.

~Miguel

 

Miles In Our Moccasins

We walk so many

paths some are

sunny and full of

bright vibrant colors

some are drab and

dreary more dull

darker somewhat eerie

as we move from one

life event in a whole

day or just a few hours.

So much awaits us

as we try to steer

into the winds of change

ahead as we hope and

dream to steer clear

of every unraveling loose

thread that may lead us

to destruction to end

us up dead we

desire instead to

stand at the head

navigating with momentum

not hiding out in bed

helping out with compassion

those who cannot tread

through floods that surround

them in rising waters that

could drown them as

other efforts only bound

them in a jacket of lead.

We walk a path no matter

the surface of softer rural gravel

or harder urban cement

of sandy coastal beaches

or grassy central fields

every path has its light

every scene

can be blazing

with color so bright

through eyes willing to

see that changing scenes

can be amazing

from a beautiful new

mural to a cow

quietly grazing

we cannot fix our eyes

as the sun and moon

complete each phasing

toward narrow fixed horizons

that we are only willing

to be gazing

a path outside our “comfort zone”

should not be seen as “brutal hazing”

wherever that path may lead

from Maine clear to Beijing

we cannot let a storm be

our only norm

we must open

our eyes

our hearts

our minds and

stop the senseless raging.

~Miguel

stop the raging.

A Christmas Journey

She rides alone
alone with her
baby alone
on a train
of many passengers
together making
a long journey home
home for Christmas.

She has a gaze
as she looks about
the train that puts
her mind some hundred
and more miles away
longing to be home
longing to be no longer
alone for Christmas.

The night long extending
as her baby sleeps
peacefully to the slow
gentle lullaby of the train’s
nightly flow through the
gentle falling snow as
she quietly prays
for happier days ahead.

As morning breaks
the sunlight beams
through hers and every
nearby window
projecting the radiance
of her fare blonde
beauty and bright blue eyes
with lovely art inked on her shoulders.

Time passes as do
many miles of track
as she finally arrives
home emerging with her
baby to her love
on the platform who
takes her in his arms fulfilling
her dreams for Christmas.

~Miguel

A Journey Toward Better

Through happiness
through sadness
we walk
the journeys of life.

We do not know how
we do not know why
a plague
a sickness
an epidemic
ever begins
what was it
that changed
as it was not
there before
anywhere
in Africa
just a while ago
but now it is
and how it is
we may never know.

We do not know why
the bullets are chosen
again to fly
even when the media
“tells us why”
the knowledge
does not
wipe our tears
dry
it does not
prevent
the next
who will die
no matter
how much
the hospitals
try.

Let us pray
let us hope
as we journey
together
for healing
of the body
of the mind
and a better path
chosen
by those of
the destructive
kind.

~Miguel