Cucomonga

Sometimes I have had dreams where I hear songs that have not been written.  Years after seeing the Miami Vice episode "A bullet for Crockett" I dreamed about it hearing a song from Peter Gabriel.  Upon finding the episode on the internet and watching it, I confirmed the song never existed.  Recently I had another dream where John Denver was in his late 60's playing a song on stage which he never wrote before his death.  Last night I heard this song in a dream on the radio, and this morning I figured I had better write it down.

Our lives are set from eight to five,

Sometimes we just don’t feel alive,

We pass each other briefly now,

At dusk and dawn.

While we work to have a life,

We can get lost within the strife,

We have to hold on tight,

Before its gone.

I think its time we get away…

Down to Cucamonga.

When were there we’ll find our way…

Down in Cucomonga.

We go for walks amidst the breeze,

The surf will set our souls at ease,

We will find our way…

Down in Cucomonga.

The only thing I know is true,

Is how I feel when I’m with you,

We must not loose the chance,

To make the time.

While we’re here will find ourselves,

Amidst the sand and ocean swells,

For it is our own hearts,

That we will find.

We have found our way…

Down to Cucamonga.

Where we can laugh and play…

Down in Cucomonga.

We go for walks amidst the breeze,

The surf will set our souls at ease,

We’ll hear the song of love,

Down in Cucomonga.

I can see my life within your eyes,

Where I see the sun amidst the skies,

And I remember all,

That I can give.

Let’s always sing the song of love,

Played through our hearts from above,

For within your life,

Is where I live.

In our hearts we’ll stay…

Down in Cucamonga.

Our hearts will never stray…

Away from Cucomonga.

The joy will carry through our song,

And show the way to a new dawn,

So that others find,

Love in Cucomonga.

The Caress of Fire

I wrote this in amazement of how our actions in good faith produce not only reactions, but by the guidance of God they produce reactions timed to do even more good.  I wrote "Robin's Song" for Robin Gibb back in March.  A wonderful comment came back from a young lady named Ruby in April, unnoticed by me.  When I read it this month I was inspired to send that poem to Robin's favorite Children's charities, and one responded asking if they can add it to a book they are creating.  If I found Ruby's wonderful comment in April, would it have been too early to come at the creation of the book?  These are the things that amaze me when we live to the fullest.

What is there to consider?

But the consideration of all,

How time flows together,

Combining flavors of all things,

So that actions inspire words,

And words inspire actions,

Keeping fire alive with us,

Strength beyond physical,

We continue though hungry,

We are sharpened though tired,

We have courage though afraid,

Proving the old words true,

We do not live by bread alone,

But what flows through the spirit,

From the source of all creation,

Causing me to seek solutions,

When none can be found,

Whether fixing a fountain pen,

Through use of hot coffee,

Or by showing a broken soul,

That tomorrow is a new day,

As energy poured into us,

Returns as we send it,

Coming back from others,

Blessed by our use,

As we can never know,

When a soul in the night,

Who has lost all hope,

Greets the rising of the sun,

By the touch of our lives,

As the influence continues,

From the defiance of love,

I feel the power surging,

Urging to do even more,

As I live the excitement,

In the caress of fire.

The Heart of an Eagle – For Shane Murphy

The Heart of an Eagle – For Shane Murphy

 As soon as I heard the tragic news about Shane, the son of a lady my wife works with, this is what came to my heart.  May his life soar in our hearts with everything that we say and do.  - Eric    

See News Report

Link to Memorial Fund for Shane Murphy

Not every heart,

Feels at home on the breeze,

Not every soul,

Finds freedom in the clouds,

It is not a pleasure,

It is not without meaning,

For here the heart knows,

Seeing his place,

Above the common Earth,

Below the eyes of God,

He is an inspiration,

To all who know him,

Making his dreams reality,

He is at home in any land,

Home is within his heart,

The ones he loves are there,

While the further he flies,

The more lives he touches,

When you look in his eyes,

The impossible becomes real,

When he gives you his smile,

The strength makes it come true,

And though he once flew,

He continues to fly,

For even in the hearts,

Of those he never knew,

His flight changes life,

As he soars we have faith,

A gift to continue on,

From the heart of an eagle.

Was it me? – A Child’s View of Divorce

Watching this happen to a family is like having a hose in your hand while you are seperated from a house fire by a thick glass wall.  You feel helpless.

What have I done,

To change the day?,

Mommy and Daddy,

Gone separate ways,

Nothing but yelling,

They always fight,

I hear their voices,

Into the night,

Why did it happen?

How could it be?

They did not say it,

I know it’s me,

I was not listening,

Or bad in school,

They say I’m good,

I am a fool,

It’s not my fault,

They say it’s them,

Alone I am crying,

Once more again,

It is with Mommy,

I am going to stay,

With a new Daddy,

I am going to play,

My real Daddy,

May come again,

If Mommy lets him,

I don’t know when,

I know it’s my fault,

And they don’t know,

They will be happy,

If I just go.

In Tears of Love

To touch the untouchable,
Has led to dreams fulfilled,
Flying among the clouds,
And traveling amidst the stars,
Yet everything can be reached,
With the strength of persistence,
But what is more untouchable,
Then the presence of pain?
Deep within the heart,
It can not be measured,
As it is without dimension,
It can not be weighed,
As it is without mass,
It can not be held,
As it is not physical,
Yet is is there,
Strong,
Unyielding,
And untouchable,
Within people beside us,
And also inside us,
Yet what can be touched,
Is the person in pain,
Through the ears with words,
Though a world away,
Through a warm embrace,
When just by our side,
And in the bonding,
There is a door,
It opens ubove us,
Like the storm cloud brimming,
And ready to pour down,
The door is through Heaven,
And into God's heart,
As the remedy to pain,
Is His perfect love,
Understanding unbounded,
He rains down upon us,
Quenching the dryness,
And the pain is abated,
In tears of love.

Don’t Loose Your Way

As the sun rises,

I rise for the journey,

Pursuing my occupation,

Turning and returning,

As I see beneath the tides,

Waters moving back and forth,

Carrying all that is within,

While I am observing,

I behold a small wonder,

For the fish are too small,

To resist the tide force,

Yet as the tide pulls them,

They wait for the moment,

As the grip is released,

They make their way forth,

With strong determination,

They retain their focus,

Keeping their direction,

Until they reach their goal,

With that in my heart,

I see people around me,

Those walking the Earth,

With free will in hand,

For time is so precious,

In between the tides,

To know if we are working,

With any goal in mind,

For the mark on this Earth,

Left by the living,

Is from words and actions,

Which we do and say,

As leaders of power,

May hold great positions,

But the words of a janitor,

Could change the world,

For gifts of people abound,

Like the sands by the sea,

Yet a gift that goes unused,

Is like a gift that is not there,

When pursuing life necessities,

We must pursue the reason,

We must not forget living,

Don’t loose your way.

Reflections - Written for the Youth of Norway (On the 1st Anniversary)

When I wrote this one year ago after the shootings, I had no idea what I could possibly do to reach out to the families affected by this tragedy.  When I did, the House of Norway in San Diego took great interest, and gave my poem to the Ambassador of Noway to take back to his country.  I pray it gave some comfort to those who read it.  You never know how much your words and actions can mean, so we can not hesitate to do them for others.

I see them there,
As I come around,
They are smiling to me,
Always contagious,
Very outgoing,
Your burdens lift,
When in their presence,
I feel it every time,
It hits me again,
Later in the day,
Outside in the laughter,
In the crowd I hear them,
I see them from behind,
Approaching with joy,
I want to be there,
Just to laugh with them,
Their images disappear,
Along with their lives,
Taken from them suddenly,
Stolen from our hearts,
They were killed,
With homework undone,
With hearts untouched,
Other lives to be won,
Love to be unleashed,
Felt in other arms,
Their children will never be,
All of this taken from me,
With a shot to my heart,
Yet my mind is reeling,
For why do I see them?
Is the pain too much for me?
Was this more than I could see?
Can I not accept they are gone?
I can’t keep seeing them,
My sanity begs for mercy,
Through the veil of my tears,
Yet why are they smiling,
When I see them now?
Could it be they are well?
Happy in Heaven’s fold,
In a paradise of no pain,
No memory of wrongs done,
If God is really out there,
Then they are with Him,
If they are truly with Him,
Then what am I seeing?
Why would God allow that,
If He truly loves me?
Perhaps it is a sign,
Knowing what is real,
And they are in paradise,
Is a vision I am given,
To allow me to heal,
I know they are not here,
They cannot truly be,
Perhaps it is reflections,
Accounting for what I see,
As an image bends on water,
I cannot see them clearly,
But I can see enough,
Since I can see beauty,
I cannot explain,
Why tragedy strikes,
From freedom of will,
Which he placed in existence,
So that the likes of us,
Have the power to transform,
The power to change lives,
Or bring them to an end,
If he placed such a thing,
As free will in my hand,
I will help others with it,
Those grieving around me,
To show them what I see,
So that they have truth,
Knowing life is still precious,
Our friends our in our hearts,
And as we hold each others hands,
Nothing can destroy love.