Try  getting your feet wet before plunging into the ocean

I remember when you were a baby snuggled safely against me
Baby bird in my hand
I remember when you seemed to grow so quickly and learned to fly
I cried when you left my nest
Bird in the sky
I now see you so infrequently
I know you would rather be with your friends
Bird flying with friends
I miss you
I love to hear you sing
I'm tempted to hold unto you and tell you not to go
I need to let you grow
I hide my tears
I have memories of you to cherish of all these years
I let go and let you fly
I hope you know I will always be here if you need me
I hope you know how much I love you
My bird soar to new heights
My bird fly
I will look to the sky and watch you from afar
Fly my bird fly glide across the sky

I think I want to plant a garden in life
I want to start with beans: Beaning helpful, Beaning kind
Beaning thoughtful, I hope you don't mind
This Garden, I plan to share and you can join me if you care

Keep  in mind we need to ****: **** out Anger, **** out strife, that threatens to choke out our delicate plants

Next maybe we can try some Squash, squash out prejudice
Squash out greed by helping those in need, it don't always take money to lend a helping hand, just lend a listening ear or any special way only you can, and perhaps we will all grow in a more peaceful land  

Maybe if we call work together it will tomato to many people and they too will help us plant this garden and don't forget the water which joins us a together in this garden of life and the water is Love,
I hope to meet you in the garden, there is always room for more understanding and together we can discover what great things the garden can bring

I long for spring to warm me up after the sub zero winter chills.
I long for spring to come and take away my ills.
The asthmatic weezing is getting old as well as the snow and cold.
Spring please come my way soon I pray.
I long for better and warmer and sunny days
Spring come and please stay awhile
I know that your very presence will make me smile especially when the trees grow leaves again and the flowers bloom
The birds will come back and sing you a tune
My heart always makes room for you too.

I have not seen the sunshine in quite awhile
I also miss your smile
I miss nature walks
I miss long talks
I miss the smell of roses in the park
I miss late night movies after dark
I also miss the laughter, that's in the room when I visit you
I also miss me, because without you, I am not the same and that is a shame
I am not one to make demands
I am not going to command you to forget me not
I just want you to know that I am here if you need me

The Recipe for a good life
Count your blessings not your problems
Value people not possessions
Keep in mind that nothing lasts forever , so make lasting memories
Try to give more than you receive
Give to those in need
Have more friends than regrets
Be grateful for the start of each new day
It is a chance for a new beginning
Stir in kindness compassion and understanding
Share generously  with those you meet
Serve with a smile and with gratitude
Double or triple the recipe by seasoning it with Love
Watch it grow in yourself and others.

My neighborhood got a fresh new blanket of snow

If you were a poem
I could write you easily
If you were a poem
I would not have nightmares about you
If you were a poem
I would not be sweating
If you were a poem
I would not be fretting
If you were a poem
I would not have rough draft after rough draft
piling up at my feet
If you were a poem
I could finally get some good sleep
If you were a poem
I could keep my sanity within reach
I could lie lazily at a beach, if only in my imagination
If you were a poem
The problem is that you are not a poem
If only you were a poem instead of  being an
Essay

Sad clown i see you frown
I feel sad too

I tried writing my words in the sand for all to see
Imagine my surprise when right before my eyes it got swept away by the tide of the river in front of me
I then tried to send a message in a bottle the bottle quickly got crushed and the paper turned to mush
I must have rushed and not planed to carefully
I later tried to write something on a stone, it felt good to hold ever so carefully, despite my best plans it slipped through my hands; and landed with too many other similar stones and blended in and I could not retrieve it again
I could have let discouragement win, but I thought I should try it again, because I really wanted to share this message
I tried once more and carefully explored my surroundings
I suddenly saw a big rock I had to trend some water to get there
I carefully took stock in whether or not this rock would do to display the message , and would it be worthwhile
I smiled as I observed that it was solid and could not be  moved by the tides: it had a  firm foundation so firm in fact that it could support my weight
The son shined on it creating warmth and I felt a sense of peace, I felt a release from the struggle of moments before; the words were clearly illuminated by the suns light on the words displayed  like lighting the way for those who would receive the message; and it was good.

Opportunity may knock, but trouble hangs out at the door.

Don't let anyone steal your song.
Sing it bold.
Sing it long.
Sing it strong.
Carry on and hold on
to your song.
You know the notes to sing your song.
Let your voice fill the air,
Drive out doubt,
fear and despair.
No more troubles anywhere.

I am an optimist but under stress I am Pessimistic

If I don't greet you when I meet you; it is not because I don't want to
I suffer with  from anxiety
I worry what you might think of me
I wont offer you my hand my palms are sweaty
I find it hard to concentrate on what you say
I feel like my heart is pounding like a drum
I feel kinda numb in my arms legs and feet
I feel like I might run
I feel jumpy
I feel a sense of dread
I wish I could crawl back in my bed
I wonder if you will understand this is not always like me
I am trying to get better control of the symptoms
The next time I see you I will take a deep breath
I will tell myself there is nothing to fear
I will do my best to greet you

The distance between us at times seems to be too many miles away
Yet in my heart, you always remain the same
I take solace in the fact that you are only a poem away

If I am lonely I reread every line
My heart seems to beat in time
It reads like a spoken word
even when you have not uttered a word
Your poem plays in my mind like a verse in a favorite song
When I am weak it makes me feel stronger encouraging me to press on
because you are really only just a poem away

The distance seems to suddenly become so thin
as I begin to read your poems again
or as I personally jot down yet another line as I feel more inspired
Lifting me up much higher
It feels like a drink of cool water on a hot summers day
Yet I still at times desire some real face to face time with you
You are unique and special and absolutely no one else can take your place
For now I must slow my mind down into a more patient pace
It seems,like just at the right time, you write another line
Then you once again, become just Only A Poem Away
We are bonded by both blood and by our love for words as
You Are Only A Poem Away!

There are days when I wish I could rewind and start over again
There are days where I wish I could fast forward just to make it through
There are other days when I get to spend with you, on those days I wish I could press pause or freeze frame to make the moment last longer
Those times make life worthwhile and cause me to smile,
You cheer me up with your unique style

A week from today I have a job interview
I get anxiety when having an interview
If I am not sure what to say I tend to just spew out a random answer
I worry about what to wear
I get scared when there is uncomfortable silence and fear the worst
My hands sweat and my mouth is dry
If I don't get the job I feel I might cry
I just hope that I don't make to many mistakes
I guess I will try my best and try to focus on my strengths

There is so much noise that surrounds me everyday
Car alarms that beep as I walk by
Planes or helicopter's flying overhead in the sky
The alarm clock buzzing to  get me out of bed
The cross walk clicking  beckoning for me to cross quick
So much noise can make my head feel thick
The register beeping as I press the keys
I could get easily distracted or annoyed
I would rather think of it as the music of life, and appreciate that my heart still beats at least for one more day ; and hopefully many more , so I will embrace all the noise

Just a note to let all of you. My Hello Poetry friends, know how much I appreciate you reading and/or following my poems or posts for the past  5 years ( for some of you), Wow, the time has sure gone by quickly. Futhermore, you have all made such a positive impact on my life that I can not picture my life without you all in it. When I count up my blessings in life ,I count you all twice. You have been so nice to know! Thank You, so much for being part of this online community! You make a difference in my life and the lives of others too. Keep writing!
With Sincere Gratitude,
From Your fellow poet friend,
Ann M Johnson

Let us treasure today
We are not promised tomorrow
Let us seize the day: CARPE DIEM

Let us dance like there's no tomorrow
Let us do things today instead of putting it off until tomorrow
Let us cherish the moment before it rushes away
Let us seize the day: CARPE DIEM

Let us eat all kinds of good food
Lets eat our favorites
Let us read our favorite poems
Let us write some poems too
Let us seize the day: CARPE DIEM

Let us tell our family we love them
Let us call our friends and tell them too
Let us  create some memories and write them down
Let us not take things for granted
Let us not waste today
Let us seize the day: CARPE DIEM
My friend's CARPE DIEM

I went to the surgical center on Monday February 29th, 2016. A Polyp was found and removed by the surgeon from my lower esophagus. I am waiting for my voice to return and the for the doctor's report. I am planning on seeing my regular doctor tomorrow hopefully I will know more after then. I am working on perfecting listening skills while I am not able to talk and being patient while waiting for my voice to return.  
I am doing my best to be in good spirits throughout this whole situation. This too shall pass. Hope you All are doing Well and Healthy wishes to Everyone.

I have been looking for my poem all day
I think she may have run away
She is lost of that I am sure
The details are a bit of a blur
Her and I went on a Google search
We wanted to do a little research
We disagreed about who wrote A Poison Tree
She thought it was Frost
I thought she was wrong
The search should not have took this long
We went to different poetry sites
I went to famous poets and poems.com
I don't know what went wrong
I recently browsed the computers history
I found some reference to  Expedia
I wonder if she felt the need to get away
If I called Expedia to find out if she booked a cruise
I would not know quite to say the problem is I had not named her yet
In the future I will have to remember to name a poem right away
I never would have guessed her desire to roam
If she desires to visit you ,could you let her know she is missed at home
I got the answer for what we disagreed on A Poison Tree by William Blake
I think in the future I should not argue with a poem
I want my poems to stay at home!

The Ghosts Of Yesterday

Today I saw some fog rise up above a pond
It reminded me of a specter floating in a scary movie
It got me thinking of stuff that haunts us
I am haunted sometimes by, I should have done this
or I could have said that
or I should have done this better
The ghosts of yesterday can cloud our vision today
To live in regret is not a good way to live
We can let go of the past and our vision can be clearer
Things can get better and our emotional fog can lift away
Freeing us to have better days
Let us not be haunted by the ghosts of yesterday today
Instead, let us live in the present and live each day to it's fullest!

A poets life consists of 90% inspiration and 10% perspiration !

Don't let anyone steal your song.
Sing it bold.
Sing it long.
Sing it strong.
Carry on and hold on
to your song.
You know the notes to sing your song.
Let your voice fill the air,
Drive out doubt,
fear and despair.
No more troubles anywhere.
While you sing, Your Song

What I fear most are not the things that go bump in the night.
The things that frighten me are often times things that at first you can not see.
These things that first start with someone elses thoughts can too often be turned into negative actions. What may start as a passitionate thought, or cause can too quickly turn into a distructive action. This is why I fear insensitivity, crude jokes, apathy.
Other things I fear are people that talk without thinking about what they are saying first, or how others might interpet what they are saying.
I fear selfishness which may lead to uncaring actions.
I fear crude jokes that do not respect ones fellow man or women, because it could subtlely desensitize ones perspection of those around them. They may get defensive and say it is just a joke.
The constant violent images on the news and on television, may further desensitize others to think that volence is normal or okay, or worse still that it is a normal part of life. It don't have to be perseived as normal we can chose to limit our own exposesure to violence on television. We can let others know that we don't condone violence, whether it is on television, or in reality, or in our own community.
I fear all these things that at first hide inside the deepest parts of someones mind, long before it is publically seen. This realization of this hidden darknes,makes me cry, or scream, if I thought about it all before going to bed. I would cover my head and sleep with the lights on, and every noice would make me jumpy.
This is why I fear the things that I can not see the most.

It will be that time of the year soon for campaign Ads
I hate the negative ads that seem to  list a litany of their opponents sins
They seem to have a desperate theme as they seem to scream, vote for me
I wish the politician would have more sou,l instead of cutting someone else down to get ahead in the polls
I wish they would display more compassion
I wish they had a poets passion
I wish their words were more like Lincoln
I wish their speeches had more distinction
I wish they would more accurately the people they represent
Do you see a blue collar worker or poor politician in office?
I wish I could vote for you my fellow Poets

My emotions I sometimes stuff deep inside
I hide them pretty well for a while at least
They silently start to swell, my sadness becomes deeper than the deepest well
If you want to reach me don't preach to me, and say just snap out of it, that don't help
I know you just don't understand. I wish you would walk beside me and just be there
so i know you care
My tears overflow on the inside, you can not see them
I feel like I'm in hell, stuck in this deepest well

I asked Mr Sandman for a dream he brought  nightmares

You came into our lives like a shooting star
You dazzled us with your Amethyst light
You too quickly disappeared into the night
You made an impact on our lives
You remain in our hearts and our memories
We are forever changed because of you

Magical
The first snow fall
Sparkling like diamonds
Even though it comes year after year
It seems magical

A newborn babies first cry
The look of Love in the parents eyes
It seems magical

The excited expectation glittering in a small child's eye on Christmas Morning that lights up a room more than the lighted tree
It feels Magical

The seasons changing from fall to winter
Spring to Summer
The preparations it brings
It seems magical
The blooming of flowers after a harsh winter
The fragrance they bring to the air
Makes me stop for a moment and stare
It seems magical

The first sunrise of each day
The rays of the sun
The moon at night to light our way
The starlight sky
So beautiful I could cry
The feeling that anything is possible
It seems magical to me, does it seem magical to you too?

She met him at a dance, when he glanced her way on a Friday night.
She was trilled that he approached her instead of the other gals.
He told her later it was her eyes that drew him in, he said," they sparkled liked
Diamonds."
He took her to meet his mom once, she pulled him aside and told him, She said that," she is from the wrong side of the tracks."
They continued to see each other at the dance and did not look back, Their love was a unique romance.
One day he took a chance and told her the news, He said " Sweetheart I hope this don't give you the blues; I have to go away to war, I don't know what is in store for us."
She said to him "trust me, my love is true, I will wait for you."
She also let him know; we could write letters and before you know it the war will end, He agreed.
The time arrived to say goodbye, He held her tight and gave her a farewell kiss. He told her he would never forget her Diamond eyes, and that the time spent with her was pure bliss. He also said, " Your my Angel in disguise."
They wrote back in forth for awhile. his letters always made her smile.
The last letter she wrote said," My love, I miss you, please take to heart the poem I wrote for you:
                                          Snow Angel
                           You are were it is warm, in that war torn land
                            If you could you could build castles in the sand
                            I am here where it is cold, I could build Angels in the snow
                            I am your Snow Angel, my love warms your heart
                            I loved you from the start, always remember,
                            I am your Snow Angel
She waited at the mailbox everyday, hoping for another letter from him;
but received nothing more, until one day shortly after the war ended.
She saw a man in uniform heading her way, she rushed toward him.
When she got closer she realized it was not her Love, The man had a
letter in his hand, He said" I am so sorry, he got wounded in battle and we lost him.
He Said, with tears in his eyes," He died while saving my life"
He was a Hero.
He once, made me promise that if something happened to
him, I would deliver back to you, your last letter.
She took the letter and looked at the words written on the back of the envelope, You are my Snow Angel and in life or death, you will forever be in my heart.

I recently read a joke about a little girl and she was saying a prayer Know as the Our Father and at the end instead of saying deliver us from evil she said deliver us from e-mail.
I thought about this as I sent out on the task of trying to delete lots of e-mails that have piled up,
I say Deliver me from e-mail.
The more I delete the more seem to appear, The spam I find you can not fry and serve with eggs
I *** a lot of political e-mails, I don't know how they got my e-mail address in the first place
The other ones trying to sell my things I don't need, about one percent from some people I care about
I try to delete a few they multiply like bunnies, I sigh I get up and walk away and take some deep breathes.
I think I'm delivered from e-mail at least for today.
Deliver us from e-mail I pray