For Valerie

 Where today passes into yesterday we stand,

Where the story ends with the book closed we stand,

Yet each life is but a story in song,

And there is no song that truly ends.

A mother and a daughter and a wife,

A flower amongst flowers in the garden,

A friend and a comfort to many hearts,

Leaving an imprint on each soul with her smile.

We live a life amidst illusions in this world,

The greatest being that life has an end,

Yet the heart is a window unto forever,

Seeing the truth of love that never ends.

May her life shine through every heart she touched,

While her touch unforgotten continues to shine on,

The warmth of love will keep us and guide us,

For love has no beginning and no end.

Behind the Mask

 In the day or night surrounding,

Expressionless faces confounding,

On every street and corner,

Six feet away,

Both night and day,

Protecting our neighbors in health,

Protecting our hearts from contact.

 

Another stage in the game,

Colors of life fading plain,

Distancing form others,

Focused on ourselves,

Into our needs we delve,

Forgetting the greatest treasures,

Are walking the streets with us.

 

Looking deep into the past,

We hear the love of those who laughed before,

Look into eyes of those behind the mask,

Join hearts and lives together once more.

 

Someone has a problem before me,

What does that have to do with me?

This is a question of destruction,

Pulling lives further away,

When together we need to stay,

Taking this for the chance it really is.

 

Imagination is truly the key,

For all of our lives to be free,

In spite of the times upon us,

To reach out from behind the mask,

To form human bonds that last,

Redefining all it means to live. 

 

Looking deep into the past,

We hear the love of those who laughed before,

Look into eyes of those behind the mask,

Join hearts and lives together once more.

 

What you do is up to you,

You can change the world that's true,

Whatever the mask may be,

One of culture or of color,

Yet we are the same as every other,

Finding meaning of life in the world.

 

Nothing is impossible,

If your heart wants it to be possible,

That's how dreams become real,

From the heart into light of day,

Creation has so many ways,

Yet the eyes behind the masks are on you.

 

 

Looking deep into the eyes,

You can see the life who stands before you,

Heart of the one behind the mask,

You can touch that soul with good once more.

Equations of the Heart

Mathematics is a language,

Transcending mere numbers,

The feelings we embrace,

Are equations of the heart.

With factors beyond numbers,

And emotions beyond words,

The language of love,

Is a mystery from the start.

Poets and philosophers,

Wiseman and sages,

Muses and musicians,

Have struggled to find words.

Through all their efforts,

Volumes of pages,

The true depths of love,

Remain to be heard.

Words are imperfect,

Yet have such importance,

Holding the power,

Over life and the world.

To convey the unspeakable,

Ideas and emotions,

Bringing dreams to reality,

Creation unfurled.

We stumble in stride,

To clarify confusions,

To proclaim our love,

Through the night and the day.

Weaving heartfelt equations,

Through wisdom of feeling,

We grow closer together,

When love is the way.

Love’s Sweet Refrain

Love is a mystery,

Because to give is to gain,

Love is a mystery,

No joy without pain,

There is nothing more real,

Nothing better to feel,

And the truth to life,

Is you must hurt to heal.

The only road from darkness,

Leading to light,

Love is the way,

To make everything right.

The years do pass,

Taking their toll,

But a youthful smile,

Restores the soul.

Love’s sweet refrain,

Can heal any pain,

And with just a smile,

We are young again.

The only road from darkness,

Leading to light,

Love is the way,

To make everything right.

Our souls at times feel,

Without a hope,

Wondering where to turn,

And how to cope.

Dispelling any fear,

One may hold near,

Exchanging lies for truth,

Holding life sincere.

The only road from darkness,

Leading to light,

Love is the way,

To make everything right.

Pain leads to anger,

And anger to loss,

Which makes the heart empty,

Too high of a cost.

Our cups will always be filled,

Our hearts always thrilled,

For when others come first,

God’s love is fulfilled.

The only road from darkness,

Leading to light,

Love is the way,

To make everything right.

The Rock

 

His hands were dirty and sweaty,

Yet he was strong like no other,
He was the head of the family,

Standing tall with my mother.

The guide of my hand,

He held tight to mine with his heart,

In his wisdom and love,

By his side I found my start.

 

The Rock taught me how to stand,

Face my fears and my joys in the light,

The Rock showed me life's a great plan,

Which gave me the strength to stand and fight.

 

The years did add to my height,

As love and pain taught my heart to live,

Yet even when there was not much,

From him I learned how to give.

 Not the perfect man,

He was perfect for my mother and me,

When the world gave only shadows,

He taught my heart to see.

 

The Rock taught me how to stand,

Face my fears and my joys in the light,

The Rock showed me life is a great plan,

Which gave me the strength to stand and fight.

We have watched the years together,

Both with his children and mine,

Generations can grow strong,

Within love and passing of time.

No day the same,

We each would find something new,

Guiding my heart in this way,

Is the way love did shine as it grew.

 

The Rock taught me how to stand,

Face my fears and my joys in the light,

The Rock showed me life is a great plan,

Which gave me the strength to stand and fight.

 

There came a day his hand grew frail,

Knowing all stories have their time,

Now I was to be his rock,

With his hand secure in mine.

Time never ends,

For in love there is no goodbye,

I lean strongly on the Rock of Ages,

Until the day when our souls will fly.

The Rock gave us all His great plan,

Giving vision with his love and light,

For all our hearts will unite again,

Beyond the veil of endless night.

Hands were dirty and sweaty,

Yet strong like no other,
Head of the family,

One with my mother,

The guide of my hand,

He held with his heart,

In his wisdom and love,

I found my start.

In the fears of my youth,