Turn around
Go right
Go left
back again
look behind
look forward
look down
look up
your life
is a circle
of events
that shapes
your soul
-30-
The Circle of Life
Growing Old
I still don’t recognize that old man in the mirror who stares back at me mockingly
I remind him that I’m still young… at heart
not some old warhorse pulling a cart
I’m still able to walk unaided by a cane
Froggie is still my knickname
in my mind’s eye
I see an entirely different guy
a basketball player and a fan
a very active young man
that stranger in the mirror
is vaguely familiar
a reflection of days past
that went by too fast
-30-
Canine Companions
Dog spelled backwards is God
bringing love and loyalty
with every doggie nod
Companions beyond compare
canines adore and protect
following you everywhere
You’re never alone with a dog
because they understand
your inner dialogue
-30-
Happy As Can Be
I’m happy as can be
being me
a guy who writes poetry
A wanderer among words
a purveyor of verbosity
I soar into skies of stories
not yet told
in broken sentence safaris
my imagination uncontrolled
-30-
Tempest in Time
Washed up on the shore of depression
barely sane
a tumultuous soul calls out my name
scratchy screams in the storm
of life
a weary survivor of constant strife
no surcease for my sorrow
no hope for the morrow
but I continue to go on
every dawn
every day
wanting to be okay
-30-
The Language of Color
The poet paints meaning into every color
each cleverer than the other
Blue is as inspiring as the sky
Purple makes people sigh
Gold is shiny and bold
Sea Green is slimy and cold
Orange is an autumn day
There’s various shades of grey
Yellow is bright and enlightening
Black can be good or frightening
Every color in the rainbow
delivers messages in nature’s road show
-30-
Essay: Religions and Promises Made
The is no highway to heaven.
Despite the spiritual myths perpetrated since the dawn of civilization there are no guarantees you’re going anywhere when you pass from this earthly veil.
With the creation of God stories clerical leaders were able to control the masses with threats of going to hell if they didn’t adhere to their rules. Control was established early on in human history and the various religions today continue that tradition of using a higher power to further their version of what people should believe.
The amusing part of this mind control technique is the promises made by various religions.
If you’re a good practicing Catholic, you will go to heaven and see all your family and friends when you die.
If you’re a Protestant heaven can only be achieved by following their six main expressions of faith.
Muslims believe in a paradise for men stocked with beautiful virgins attending to them if they held the faith for all of their life. I’m not sure what the women get in paradise, but I suspect it’s not a bunch of pool boys at their beck and call.
Faithful Mormon women go to different levels of Heaven depending upon how many children they have. Men automatically go to the highest level if they follow the teachings of Joseph Smith.
Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth, but if one wants to achieve enlightenment (heaven) and escape this cycle and achieve a state of Nirvana then they must follow the teachings of the Buddha. They don’t believe in any kind of deity or God, although there are supernatural figures who can help or hinder people on the path towards enlightenment.
So, you can see they all make promises to lure you into their control and how you should live your life if you want to go on to a better place.
I believe there is a higher power in the universe who frankly doesn’t give a damn about humanity’s fear of the unknown.
-30-
At the End of the Road
My first steps were awkward down the path of life
as I tried to navigate through the strife
As the years loped past like a frightened antelope
I learned to cope
the trail widened in time
as I hit my prime
picking my path
and accepting the aftermath
to stay on the trail
and prevail
but old age slows me down
keeping me closer to the ground
at the crossroad
near the end of the road
-30-
Riff: Deeply Aware
Unbeknown to his doctors
and his family
Brian was deeply aware
his blank stare
a mask
he wore everywhere
inside
he could hear and see
reality
confidentially
-30-
A Day in Animal Land
The Bison bellowed when he saw the dog talking with the steer
the cats who were near
whispered secrets that only they could hear
goats bleating as they jumped from one mountain to another
with ease
birds speaking multiple languages in nearby trees
a weasel whistling
a porcupine bristling
on another beautiful spring day
when the creatures like to come out and play
in Animal Land
-30-
The Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff 