Let us summon the Name of Everyone and Everything.
An accolade bestowed upon His greatness,
Where doves soar to the valleys of wisdom
Seeking for wonders love by Him.

Put a tune, or a note
To a song of faith
Is here to guide you in...
  
           "Gotta keep soaring high
             Keep climbing mountains,
            ' Till I rise my Heart
              Never gonna hold back
              Never gonna stop
              You know I won't give up
              It's the Spirit You put in me
              And the fight is to believe
              Oh, I'll be chasing clouds
              'Till I reach the edge of Life"



Take courage and have faith
For God is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

gulls squawk angrily on our roof
they argue about survival
forgetting they carry the souls
of drowned mariners

we argue in our bedsit
penned into a miniature life
fighting for identity
the right to be ourselves

we could be by the sea
but those angry squabbling scavengers
have never seen a wave in their lives
just gulls not seagulls

forgetting ourselves
we spar around the furniture
you are southpaw
I am orthodox

they root through *******
scattering it everywhere
no use to man nor beast
disease ridden vermin

wrapped up in life
forgetting how to fly
but we can all soar
if we ride the thermals

When we're kids,
we see dinosaurs and dragons that make our imagination soar.
When we're teens,
we look at our peers differently than before.
And, as an adult, I find it harder to embrace any changes at all anymore.
I don't like the world I see. So tell me, what should I do?
First, know you're not alone.
Then take my hand, and together, we'll make it through.

Love Is Not Love
by Michael R. Burch

for Beth

Love is not love that never looked
within itself and questioned all,
curled up like a zygote in a ball,
throbbed, sobbed and shook.

(Or went on a binge at a nearby mall,
then would not cook.)

Love is not love that never winced,
then smiled, convinced
that soar’s the prerequisite of fall.

When all
its wounds and scars have been saline-rinsed,
where does Love find the wherewithal
to try again,
endeavor, when

all that it knows
is: O, because!

Published by The Neovictorian/Cochlea, The Deronda Review, Better Than Starbucks and Stremez (translated into Macedonian by Marija Girevska)

Keywords/Tags: Love, zygote, binge, mall, soar, fall, wounds, scars, tears, persistence, hope, fetal ball, sob, sobs, sobbing, shake, shaking, throb, throbbing, wince, wincing, smile, smiling, convinced, prerequisite, wherewithal, endeavor, just because

Above cliffs a condor soars.
Through its eyes I scan the world
My inner being in flight.

Chains of my own design
kept me from the divine.
Two good legs I was given
with wings to touch heaven,
but my mind made shackles
added weights to ankles.

With awesome wings I crawled,
so lost I forgot I’m called.
I added other’s chains
to bury my own pain,
but I wasn’t okay
mind gave heart no say.

Back to where I soared past
these distractions don’t last,
I wanted my freedom
struggle left me bleedin’;
even though I held the key
fear kept me from being free.

No way to cross the goal line,
forced to admit I’m not fine.
My past mistakes forgiven,
I gave myself permission
to let the chains unravel,
so I prepare to travel.

My progress no longer stalled
I remember that I am called.
Chains given to the one who reigns,
who was with me in the pain,
so I take it day by day
my mind is given less sway.

Where I belong at long last,
my resolve is now steadfast.
I am free in the kingdom
to remember mom’s wisdom,
don’t worry I can be carefree
fear can’t keep me. I am free

I can soar on Eagle’s wings
And see the wider view it brings
My heart in happy triumph sings
As I prosper daily

I can see with keener eye
From my vantage point on high
I can bid my doubts goodbye
As I prosper daily

I can answer freedom's call
And with my acts give help to all
No true harm can my way fall
As I prosper daily