I sit and look over the Basin of Minas
Still waters reflect as fine as an optical mirror
The Cape juts out as the prow of some ancient ship
Eternally pushing its way through the long, slow tides
Acting as a wall separating Fundy from the Valley
It stands silhouetted against dark clouds that may hold rain
A white blanket of fog wraps itself slowly over the Cape
Standing out as bright as clean, white cotton
Molding itself over the land
As a blanket molds itself over a reclining person
Emotions are relaxed by the sight
Calm enters the soul with this view
Eternal beauty for all to see
Overlooked by the many
A sense of belonging envelopes me
Just as the fog envelopes the Cape.

Dan Gray

The shock arrives one day.
A parent is gone.
After a time,
You will find, for no reason
Emotions will overflow
No rhyme, no reason.
It may be a smell,
It may be a sound,
It may be someone on the street.
Memories carried in heart and soul
Trigger tears.
For a time you will cry,
From deep within.
Slowly they will moderate.
Special days, a picture
Some things will always bring tears.
This is natures way.
Always remember,
They are a part of you.
If you are still and listen deep
They are there.
Memories help you along.
You are the total collection
Of the genes of those from before.
As long as you remember,
They are never gone.

Dan Gray

I’m back in my dark, safe place.
Familiar after so many years.
When I next leave it,
I will be clothed in my armour of a fool.
The best defense is to make it appear you have no offense.
Be the fool - you are not a threat.
Be the fool - who can take you seriously.
Be the fool - people don’t notice if you’re around.
Be the fool - make them laugh; you’ll not belong anyway.
At the end of the day I go to my safe place and remove my armour.
I am alone, it’s safe.
I pour a drink and read, escape with my mind.
I am alone, it’s safe.
I watch TV, I’m board but,
I am alone, it’s safe.
I go outside amongst the trees, I stare longingly at the stars above,
I am alone, it’s safe, I cry;
I am all alone.

Dan Gray
-years ago

Those long, thin, intertwining threads of loneliness
Twisting, turning, expanding
Slowly enveloping the free spaces in ones heart
From where joy and happiness spring.
Floods of feelings stopped and dammed
By that wall causing separation of self
From those you want to embrace, feel, love
Hold, spend time with, grow with
Be one with.
You are trapped into thinking
That darkness is a safe place to be
So you sit there and watch the world go by.
Missed chances, missed people, missed life.
This is the product of loneliness.
As you come to realize this,
Some can cast off the dark cloak.
For many this is as casting bread upon the water
Their loneliness grows seven fold
Taking them deeper in the trap.
It is one thing that expands, thrives
Feeds on the dark.
For that is where you sit in loneliness.
It is insidious.
So I’ll sit here in the dark
Remembering the happiness
Trying to find the will and strength
To claw myself out of the darkness
And back to the light
To once again gamble on the outside world.

Dan Gray