The surface is calm
The calm is interrupted
By a torrent underneath
A hidden current just below the surface
That you can't see
Or can't really feel until you have dived in
Its only once you have gotten in
That you start to realize
Just how deep and just how strong the undercurrent is
It threatens to take you under
You can feel yourself being dragged farther and farther
Panic starts to set in
You become disoriented
You begin to forget which way is up or down
Water begins to get in your lungs
You begin to choke as you try and force the water out of your lungs
The cold water is like a grave
******* the life out of you as you continue to struggle
You know that if you can't get out
You just might drown
There is no one around
No one to save you if you go under
Then
Almost like  a flash
You remember that all you have to do is relax
Stop fighting the flow
Just spread your arms out
And just calmly float to the surface
As you begin to float toward the surface
Its almost like you are lighter
You can feel yourself ascending
Breaking the waters surface as you breathe in that life giving breath
You sit on the surface
Shivering and exhausted
But alive
And all you can do is just thank that inner voice
That told you to be calm
And just let yourself rise
And you feel that much more happy to be alive
And that much more whole and appreciative
Then you have at any point in your life

Your throne room glistens
I sit and listen
I can feel you calling to me
You pull me to you
I can not resist
I feel you
Breathe you
So effortlesly
I can feel you inside of me
Touching me
We become one
An act of love or an act of insanity
One may never know
But I do know that since you touched
I have never been the same

There is a tree that connects us all
A tree deep in the earth and deep
In our hearts and in our souls
Its branches are made of the
The richest of browns while
The leaves are the most
Luscious green you have
Ever seen while a single
Golden fruit lay there
Just waiting to be plucked
Giving forth life and birth
To every one and everything
The tree of life is written in our
Hearts and written in our souls
Its written in every thing on
The planet and written into
The fabric of our very DNA
We are all connected through
Our mother and the tree
Giving forth the life giving
Fruit that spawned all life
On the planet and everything
Within carries that fruit of life
That was written from the very
Beginning by our father and
Spirit and given to our mother
So that she may bear fruit and
Life on this humble and beautiful
Planet we call planet earth

The whole universe
And everything in between
Is inside us all

There is a wall inside of all of us
That keeps us safe
There is a wall that separates us all
From each other and the truth
We believe that we are all separate
That we have to hide ourselves
That there are certain things that we
Just shouldn't let other people know
That there are some thoughts
Some ideas
That we would rather keep secret
From everyone else
We can spend our whole lives lying
Putting up this wall between you
And putting it between everyone else
And never really letting anyone in
And always keeping everyone out
But sometimes you have to be willing to tear down your wall
And let people in
And stop hiding from yourself
And stop hiding from other people
And if you start to open up your heart
Even if you might feel damaged
Or even feel like people might not like what you have to say
I think you will be surprised
That if you share your heart with someone else
And you share your heart with other people as well
You will find that you are much more connected
Then you ever thought possible

The way is kindness
The way is truth
The way is honesty
They way is peace
The way is love
The way is light
The way is mercy
The way is grace
Loving people
No matter what
Learning to honor
The life
In every one
And everything else

The world is beautiful
A pearl to behold
Fashioned by two
Loving hands
Our spirits
Reside in our souls
Our mother
Resides in our hearts
Our father
Protects and looks after
The children who accept him.
Our mother is beautiful
She truly is
A beautiful pearl
Floating through space
Sharing her love
To all her children

The world as I see it is a wonderful place
Plenty of chances to learn
Plenty of chances to live
Such wonderful diversity and beauty
That we have to view
It's a wonderful place
If we allow it to be
We just need to think
About the this wonderful world
And how much this wonderful world of ours
Really is all we got
And if we take care of this world
We will be a lot better off
But this world is still wonderful
A majesty to behold
We just have to have a little more  reverence
For our lives
And for this wonderful world we call home

The world is a stage
We are all players
We are all puppets
Playing our own strings
When we try and control
And pull our strings
Too tight
We can become rigid
Out of sync
Not moving smoothly
Fighting ourselves
Getting entangled
In our own strings
When we let go
When we give up control
Is when we will find
Our actions
Are more lifelike
More real
We will feel more animated
Lighter
Smoother
Our actions
Gliding
As we glide
Through life
If we learn to give up control
Don't hold so tight
You are only
Holding yourself back
Getting stuck
In your own strings

Thinking
Can sometimes
Get me in trouble
Thinking
Can be the thing
That gets in the way
Of the feeling
But sometimes
I have to let go
And just allow myself to feel

I pray for the ones.
That are out on the street
I pray for the ones
Who I love
Who I know
Are going though
Tough times
I pray for our mother
I pray for our father
To rain down his love
Rain it on the world
So that all people
Might see your grace
So that all people might see
Just how wonderful
Beautiful
And magnificent
You truly are
Blessing
And healing
All who will believe
And receive.

These thoughts
Keep drumming
Through my head

There are truths
You learn that
Stick with you

And these are the
Truths that keep
Running through

My head that keeps
Me grounded to me
And keeps me sane

There are so many
People who are
Lost and who

Can't see the
Beauty and the
Simplicity of the

Life that is all
Around them
Life is never

Meant to be
Forfeited for
The likes of

Gain or profit
And all life
Means something

We can no more
Disregard our
Mother Earth

As we can
Disregard and
And toss aside

The animals and
Our brothers and
'Sisters that live

On this Earth with
Us and we must be
Willing to see and to

Understand that we
Are all part of the
Whole and we can't

See ourselves as
Somehow separate
Or different than

Anything else on
This planet and
Definitely not

Better or set
Aside from the
Plants and the

Animals or the
Earth and we
Need to realize

That we are all
Parts of the whole
Living breathing

System that brings
Life to everything
On this planet

And when we try
To disrupt the
Natural order and

Put ourselves above
The natural system
And try to control

Or to change it is
When we can find
Ourselves hurting

Ourselves and our
Planet and all of
Our brothers and

Sisters that are
Living on this
Earth with us

We must be able
To understand this
If we are to truly

Survive as a race
Because if we do
Not change the

Way we are doing
Things we will end
Up not only hurting

Our planet but our
Lives in the process
We need to be able

To see the bigger
Picture and see
That we all

Have a stake
And a right to
Live on this

Planet that we
All call home

Read out loud or in my head
My thoughts are always moving
Colliding and coalescing into ordered chaos
Random thoughts and ideas
Brought together in weird designs
That stir some thought or emotion
Words that are fleeting
Thoughts that are constantly winding
Never ceasing flow of thought
That seems to permeate my existence
Thoughts that come together
And flow
Shape,
And form in front of my eyes
As I put pen to paper
And as I type word to screen
The thoughts manifest
Colliding into the physical
I write and hands respond to my thoughts
Its almost effortless
Just letting my thoughts fly
Connecting them together in random strands
That seem to mean something
But maybe they don't

Time after time
We come around
Searching for the light
Searching for ourselves
Searching for our memories
A picture of ourselves
An image in the back of our minds
A whisper in the dark
That voice in our heads
That reminds us
Of who we truly are
If you are lost
Just look
And you will
Surely find
What you were looking for
What you were looking for
All along

We are living in a time of crisis
We are living in a time of confusion
We are living on the brink of disaster
Times are changing
The world is being reshaped
As we speak
But there is always hope
There is still a new dawn

We are all together
On this great wonderful planet
So many of us
And so much wonder
There is so much to be thankful for
There is so much beauty
That is hidden around us
That is right in front of our eyes
So much beauty
So much potential
To grow
To learn
To know what it is
To live
And to breath another day

Touch can be very important
We all need to be touched
We all need to feel like we are beautiful
In our own ways
Learning to embrace our selves
Embracing the warmth
That can come with a simple touch
With a simple hug
I don't think we allow ourselves to be touched enough
We spend so much time guarding ourselves
We have spent so much time demeaning ourselves
Demeaning our bodies
Sexualizing ourselves
Demonizing touch
Even demonizing our bodies
Ultimately repressing ourselves
We need to be able to allow ourselves to be more open to touching
And hugging
And just spending time
Connecting in intimate and healing ways

A train of thought
Is a powerful thing
Used correctly

Trees are amazing
Living sentinels
They protect us
Whispering
Hidden knowledge
To those who
Are willing to listen
Giving us shade
Air to breathe
Offering life
Wherever they plant
Holding each other up
Supporting each other
And everything around them
We should all learn
To take more after trees
And revere them
For the amazing
Life giving
Sentinels of the forrest
Instead of cutting them down

We all go through trials
We all have our crosses to bear
We all have those things
That we wish we could get rid of
Those old bad habits that nevere seem to cease
That seem to grab us and keep us from breaking free
Keeps us from truly letting go
We all have our guilts
We all have pain
We all have times
When we feel like life is just a game
And we are set to lose
When it seems like every decision we make
Ultimately leads us down the wrong path
When we can look back
When we want to kick ourselves
For making those mistakes
Its ultimately what we do during these trials
That really tell who we are
If we are willing to accept what is
To learn and to grow from them
Figuring out which direction you need to take
You can move through them with confidence
Understanding that its just life's way
Of kicking you when you need it
Helping you to see something
That you might not see otherwise
If you keep wallowing in yourself
Not truly accepting the lessons
Constantly making the same mistakes
You can never move forward
Never getting to a better place with yourself
Remaining stuck to repeat the same old groove
Until you finally figure out
What it is you are going through in the first place

Being triumphant
Is about facing your fears
Facing yourself
Facing where you have been
Facing others
Facing your inner demons
That try and shake you
Getting past the lies
Illusions
The troubles
The pollution that the world can throw at you
Transcending yourself
Becoming a better you
Giving back with love
Learning to love yourself
Learning how to love others
Being open enough to accept life for what it is
Being open enough to accept every other life as well
As being part of the grand scheme
Being at peace with yourself
Being at peace with where you are
Being at peace in your spirit
Truly knowing who you are
Rising up until you shine triumphantly
For everyone else to see.

Two Sisters
Delilah and
Pearl
Pearl and
Delilah
Two sides of
The same coin
Just from
Different ends
They are very
Alike even though
Though they
Spent a long
Time apart
Two parts
Brought whole
Again though
They were never
Really apart in
The first place
Brought together
By love and family
They once thought
Was lost forever
A new start
A new love
Straight from
The heart
Two parts
Of the same
Whole that were
Never apart
Begin with

Some people have ulterior motives
They hide behind their smiles
Using falsehoods
And speaking double speak
Trying to control
Manipulate
Take over
Anything
That they can
You have to
Be wise enough
To see people's
Ulterior motives
And know who
Is telling the truth

Facing uncertainty
Can drive you crazy sometimes
Uncertainty
Of how your life will end
Of how the next day will begin
How the day will end
What will happen in the next 5 years
What will happen within the next hour
Even within the next minute
It can be easy to live off of uncertainties
Living in fear
Chasing your own shadow
Come out from your shadow of uncertainty
And live underneath the umbrella of optimism
Embracing each day and each moment
Instead of fearing it

Unveiled riches await
They await in our hearts
We just have to know
How to access them
We tend to focus
So much on the physical
On the material
Focusing on money
And material wealth
That we tend to neglect
Our spiritual gifts
And our spiritual treasures
Sharing our riches with others
Who might not have
As many riches as we do
Sharing ourselves with others
Until our hearts are bursting
And overflowing
With kindness
With mercy
With love
Its when
We have
Found
These gifts
And when
We are willing
To share them with
Openly and honestly
That we will have truly
Unveiled the greatest riches of all

Another adopted metaphor

Sometimes
It can be hard
To find our own voice
Among the crowd
It can get easy
Getting lost in the shuffle
Losing your voice
Losing your self
We are all  finding our way
Stumbling along
Trying to find our own voices
Our hearts want to sing
They want to sing out
Being heard
We all want to be heard
Thats all anyone ever really wants
Is just to be heard
To sing out
To feel
Like your voice
Has a place
Among the crowd

Wading in the water
We all want to be cleaned
Our hearts want to be whole
Wade in the water for a little while
And let it wash you clean
Wade in the water for a little while
And let all the pain
The stress
The things
In your past
You would rather forget

Wading through
The daily grind
Can be tiresome
We want to float
Floating above the world
High in the sky
Away from the troubles
Above ourselves
Its so easy
To get stuck wading
Through the muck
Getting caught up
In the world
And our troubles
And ourselves

Waiting can be hard to do
It can be hard to wait
It can be hard to listen
Be quiet
Be still
Waiting for
That peace and calm
Life gets so busy
It can be hard
Just finding
Enough time
Even finding
Enough time
For yourself
But you must learn
To wait
Be patient
Be still
Let that inner voice
That inner calm
Guide your way

There are
A lot of people
Who are seeing
The light
Even as crazy
As the world may seem
People are waking up
The world is waking up
To a new truth
A new way of knowing
A new way of understanding
Connecting with God and spirit
Connecting with our mother
And all of her children
Connecting with each other
And understanding
We are all one and the same
Learning to love each other
Responding with love
And compassion
The world is waking up
She is like a mighty dragon
Waking from her slumber
When she finally awakens
Will you be ready?

I think people are slowly
Waking up
There are a lot of people
That are still confused
Are still stumbling along in the dark
But there are the people
Who actually see the light
And the truth for what it is
And don't mind sharing it with others

Walking is about
Putting one foot
In front of the other
And trusting yourself
To keep going

Walking into yourself
Can be an interesting thing
Sometimes we can become so lost
So dysfunctional
So lost from our real selves
We don't truly see
What we really are
And who we really can be
Sometimes it takes
Walking into yourself
To truly see yourself
And to understand
That all you are
Is a mirror reflection away
From being the whole
Loving
Light filled
And gifted person
We all have the ability to be

The warmth of the sun
Shines on all our hearts

There is a war of the heart
There is a war of the mind
Be ready my friends
The war is already here
You have to be strong
To make it in this world
We are constantly assaulted
Bombarded by the war
That goes on day by day
We must shield our hearts
So that we can still love
We must shield our minds
So they don't get taken over
By negative thoughts
And negative deeds
Acting out hatred toward others
Falling into the rat race
Getting stuck in the grind
We must protect ourselves
At all cost
If we don't
We will get lost
Lost in a world
That teaches us we are separate
We are not whole
We have to play the game
To keep ourselves alive
That tells us we have
to give up ourselves
To ultimately win

Wash us
In your
Cleansing water
Make us whole
With your
Everlasting love
Build us
Mold us
Create us
In your image
Craft us
Washing us
Making us anew
A little more each day
A little more like you
Washing us clean
With your
Everlasting peace
Hope
Mercy
Grace
Washing us clean
Until our hearts shine
Brand new

Our angels in the sky
They watch down on us
Giving us strength and
Protection whenever we
Need it spreading light
And love to the people
You meet and shining
Through you reflecting
Gods love for all of his
Children spreading
Peace and love to all
Who need it and
Reaching out to help
Others find their wings
And to fly as well
Soaring through the
Sky and above all trouble

No matter how lonely
No matter how afraid
No matter how sad
No matter how lost
No matter how depressed
You might feel
No matter what
Anyone else might say
Someone is always
Watching over you
Protecting you
Watching over you
Helping you
Through the storm

I want you know
We all fall down
It just depends
If you get yourself
Back up again
You can soar
Soaring above it all
Becoming free of the world
Freeing yourself
From everything that holds you down

People's lives mean something
We all have our voice
We all have something to say
We all have a spirit
That tells us who we really are
No person's life
Is any better
Or somehow more important
Than the life of someone else
We all have our own unique voice
Our own unique ways of viewing things
We all share this planet together
Every life deserves a chance
No matter how lost
No matter how separated
People might be from reality
How far away people can be away from the truth
Everyone deserves their say
No one should ever be killed
Or forfeit
Just for the sake of another
We must all be able to come together
We must be willing to appreciate
The wonderful uniqueness
That comes together in a wonderful unity as well
Even as we have our own ideas
Our own thoughts
Our own way
We breathe with one breathe
And we beat with one heart
That beats to many smaller drums
Even as varied and as different as we all are
We are all still one
Joined in humanity

We all need each other
It is very true
We all need each other
To help us see through
Enough with the divisions
Enough with the lies
We all need to come together
Of that I am certain
To make it through
The other side
We can 't afford
To continue
To hurt each other
We should be trying
To help and to heal each other
Loving from the heart
Seeing just how wonderful
And yet how fragile
We all are

Sometimes its easy
To think of someone as crazy
Thinking of them
As somehow being different
Separate from society
Different from other people
A harm to society
A harm to themselves
They must be contained
Because if we just let them run free
They might just upset the system
And upset everyone else around them
I think sometimes we need
To pay a little more attention
To the people that society
Has deemed as crazy
Or somehow unfit
To work into society
Sometimes its because
They have understood
And seen a little more of this world
Then they would really like
And some of them are just naturally sensitive
And so the world seems like a strange and foreign place
Some people are tossed out
Because they are seen as dangerous
But I think we need to be questioning
The rules and regulations
And what we consider to be normal
In our own society
Before we can start calling other people crazy
We are all a little crazy in our own ways
It just depends on how
We deal with the ourselves

We are all human
by Ahmad ***
We all have a past
Everyone hurts
We all have baggage
We all have pain
We all have memories
Or experiences
That we wish that we could take away
We all have times in our lives
When we wish that we could turn back the clock
And undo those mistakes
That we can see so obviously now
There are times in our lives
When we have hurt the people we love
Whether it's been intentional or not
There are times when we wonder
If we were really meant to be here
If we really belong
And if somehow life is just one cosmic joke
With one bad thing happening after the other
We all feel lost sometimes
And like we are just drifting on the wind
Like we don't know which way
Is up or done
Which way is right
Or which way is wrong
We all feel this way
There is no escaping it
It's part of being human
We all constantly question ourselves
And our positions in life
But it's when you get to that point
When you start to find your way
And when life starts to make sense
That you can truly look back
And understand what you have gone through
Has lead you to the point
Where you are right now
And it's with that understanding
That you can start to move forward
We are all human
We all have our drama
We just have to choose to accept it
Instead of trying to fight ourselves

Flowers grow in all shapes and sizes
They are all very beautiful to behold
There are different animals on this Earth
That serve their purpose
Whether it be from the spider to the great white shark
Everything on this Earth has it's place
There are many different people on this Earth
We all have our purpose
Our place in this world
We have many different cultures
Many different religions
Many different ways to express music
Many ways to express our ideas about God
Different ways to love
Different gifts that we were all given
We all have our place
We are all beautiful in our own ways
Just like there are many different varieties of beautiful flowers
That all serve their purpose
We are like flowers
We  are all different
We are all beautiful in our own ways
And we all serve different purposes
Just as there is no one flower that is better than another
There is no human or no being that is better than another
We are all just different expressions of the same thing
We are all humans
We all have our purpose
We all have our place
We shouldn't think of one person being better than another
Or one idea
Or one way to express love
Or even one way to express God
Is somehow better than the other
They are all just different yet equally beautiful expressions
We are all flowers in our own ways
We are all trying to grow the best we can
In the soil we were given
We just have to choose to accept the other people
And the plants
And the animals
And live in harmony with each other
Instead of fighting with each other

Even as separate and alone
As we can feel sometimes
We are all connected to
Each other in some way

This society tells us that
We are separate and we
Have to fend for ourselves
Our else someone else

Might take what I have
Or somehow take what
I own or what I have
Spent my hard earned

Money to buy and to
Obtain without thinking
About the other people
Around them who are

Needing some love and
Comfort and healing and
All they need is a kind
Word or a person to let

Them know that things
Will be ok and that
Everything will be alright
And that they can make

It one more day and
Helping each other
Where we can simply
Because we can rather

Than trying to figure
Out what we can get
From that person in
Return or trying to

Manipulate them into
Getting what we want
For our own gain and
Profit when if we just

Asked and shared with
Each other there would
Be no need for stealing
Or for wars or the need

To feel separate or alone
Because we would live
As a community of people
Actively working together

To help each other where
We needed and helping
To heal people from
The heart as well

We tend to separate and
Segregate people instead
Of acknowledging the
Beautiful diversity of

Life and of people as
Well when we should
Be celebrating our
Uniqueness while at

The same time
Understand that
We are all one
And we come

From the same
Source and that
Even though we
Might have different

Ways of feeling
Or seeing or
Interpreting things
Doesn't mean that

Someone else's view
Is wrong is just another
Way to look at something
From a different angle

Than you might have
Originally been able to
See on your own and
Being able to learn from

Each other instead of
Trying to force our
Ideas our thoughts
On another and if

We get to the point
Where we understand
We are one we could
Never hurt or harm

Or steal or even have
Wars because we would
Understand that we are
All the same and if I harm

You I am harming a piece
Of me and when you can
Get to that understanding
Of life and nature and of

People as well you will
Start to see things in a
Different way than you
Have ever seen before

Our hearts are free
We are free when we
Set out to be in our
Souls and hearts

We tend to chain and
Restrict ourselves and
Not seeing our true
Worth and beauty

We tend to lie to
Ourselves and tell
Ourselves of things
That aren't true

We are whole and
Beautiful in our
Own ways and
Our hearts know

The truth to be
Free with our
Hearts and minds
And souls is just there

Waiting below the
Surface and letting
Us know we can
Let go of all of the

Things that burden
Us and keep us from
Seeing ourselves as
We truly are

I am weary
I am worn
I don't know where my home is
I feel myself slipping
From where I know I am
I am getting tired
Feeling myself weaken
Feeling my resolve weaken
As I am repeatably battered by the storm
Just wondering when this weariness will pass
When this heaviness in my heart and in my soul
Will actually lift
Removing the fog
Opening up my path
So I don't have to fight all the time

We come in our joy
We come in our peace
We come in the middle
Of our darkest night
And our deepest turmoil
We magnify you lord
Through our spirit and
Love as we brothers
And sisters join hands
And allow your grace
And love and truth
To be magnified and
Reign upon this world
Let your holy reign take
Over and let your holy
Truth become our own
As we begin to become
More like you day by day
As we join in praise of your
Mighty glory and wonderful
Healing that you give to all
Of your children that seek
Your truth and your name
Give us strength to endure
So that we may magnify
You that much more fully
And allow our light and
Love to show to all of
The brothers and sisters
That are still stuck in the
Dark might know they
Are loved and magnified
By the same lord and spirit
That flows and magnifies
Us all if we can see it and
Feel it and truly know it
In our spirits and souls
We can begin to magnify
And strengthen everyone
Around us we become
Whole together in God

We could all use a little love
Everyone is searching for it
We could all use a little peace
To make it through the storm just one more day
We are all searching for acceptance
We just have to look inside of ourselves
And we will find everything we need right here
We just have to be willing to look
To make the effort to really search ourselves
And to get rid of everything
That keeps us from understanding
Just how beautiful
Powerful
Wonderful
And beautiful you really are
And when you get to that point with yourself
When you can really truly feel that love
And acceptance
And peace for yourself
You will have truly found a gift
That not many people gain
And you can begin to move forward
With light
With purpose
And with love

We add a lot of things to ourselves
A lot of weight
A lot of baggage
Emotional stress
Physical limitations
They can help to weigh us down
Adding more as we go along
We can start to feel
Like the weight just keeps bearing down
We can even start to feel
Like the world is bearing down on our shoulders
But slowly and surely we can begin to remove the weights
Lifting yourself and lifting others as well
Living in harmony with yourself
Understanding that your are here
That you are human
And we all have our own weight to bear
It's what you decide to do with it
That truly defines you