I gave you all, my steady hands,

to build your dreams, to meet demands

but when I fell, when I was weak?
you turned away refused to speak.

You picked me like a flower
harmless, beautiful and trusting.

said I was special.

then tossed me aside for another.

Was betrayal always part
of your touch?

i met you almost
two years ago
i hurt you
while scrambling
through my own pain
trying to find my way
through a dark maze
with a haze of ache

you got caught
in my rage of
a crossfire
i realized
i actually liked someone
trusted them so easily

i was angry
someone actually
made me laugh
made me smile

the hurricane
was a category five
you took shelter
far away from me
my tears dripping
from the sky

two years after
the hurricane
we are just recovering
there is life again
there is growth
there is laughter
there is happiness
there is light


there is a second chance

the ring
that fell from the high heaven
to be protected and placed
on a finger to save
but it mattered to all and none
were saved

We all die, but do we ever live?
We once were children,
but did we ever grow up?
When we graduated from college,
did we do what we loved,
or did we work on Wall Street
to make millions, if not billions?
When we married our spouses,
were we always faithful,
or did we sleep with others?
When we joined the country club
that never allowed Blacks and Jews,
did we ever think we were racists?
Did we love our children,
or did we prefer playing golf instead?
When we joined the Episcopal church,
did we pray to God, or was it more
important to join the socially elite?
Did we ever come to realize
we have always been fakes.
Did we finally have an epiphany,
or did we follow our hollow ways?
I fear the latter. That's why I pray
for you every night of every day.

TOD HOWARD HAWKS

Soft Rock Music
Old and New
No social media
Fan or Air conditioning on
Cold drinks standng by in great Thermos
Phones silenced
Hugs that go into the night
Amazing and loving moments
Easy and gentle