The Gift of the Horsemen - Written for Horsemanship for the Handicapped in San Diego, CA

The Gift of the Horsemen

For Horsemanship for the Handicapped

San Diego, CA

2002-2012

This is a program that has touched hundreds of lives and families.  As it is closing, I wanted everyone possible to know how many lives were touched forever, and what it means to me.

Article:  Horsemanship Closes 

Video: Horsemanship for the Handicapped

Article: My Daughter at Horsemanship

 

It takes one heart,

To start a fire,

They began with few,

The idea of course,

Putting child on horse,

Was beautiful and new.

As the fire spread,

Burning heart to heart,

The volunteers did come,

To help the children,

Through various problems,

Their beauty is second to none.

With child upon horse,

Minds came into focus,

As two bodies moved as one,

I watched windows open,

To reach through to souls,

Miracles under the sun.

We came as parents,

Requesting their service,

As our child could not speak,

And upon that first horse,

She smiled the first time,

Awaking passion from sleep.

We came there as parents,

We came there as children,

There for a common cause,

Finding strength in each other,

Giving hope to the children,

In spite of all of our flaws.

Some could not walk,

But strength in their legs,

Returned with all their rides,

Some would not talk,

Until joy rose within,

A flame burning in their eyes.

The horses took part,

So gentle and kind,

As if knowing children there,

And the children responded,

Kissing their manes,

 Thankful for the care.

Like beautiful stories,

Which we all have heard,

Have endings as we know,

This story of hearts,

Creating miracles,

Has also come to a close.

Yet so many lives,

Touched and changed,

Forever have changed paths,

For the gift of the horsemen,

Will always endure,

For love forever lasts.

Stones of Fire

Stones of Fire

For Gay James

On her Eightieth Birthday

What is light?

Does it shine down,

From the sun?

Do we see light,

By our eyes?

Within the night,

Do we not feel light,

Through the heart?

From the source,

Light shines forth,

From the sun upon all,

Reflecting and refracting,

Bringing color and motion,

While the light of love,

Shines from the source,

Blindingly compassionate,

God shines on us all,

Refracting and reflecting,

From each of our hearts,

On to each other,

Keeping us young,

For we are all young,

From different times,

Uniting past and present,

As energy and wisdom,

And in her eyes,

I see this truth,

Faith abounding,

With love resounding,

For all who know her,

Are inspired to smile,

All encouraged by her,

Are inspired to continue,

For the path of life,

Is lighted and clear,

As souls like her,

Show others the way,

An example to me,

For the path of God,

Upon his mountain of truth,

Is lit by stones of fire.

For Joy – In Memory of Nora Young

I wrote this for a lady that my wife knew from work and who I never met.  Her force of life reached out to my heart through the many souls she touched there.



We were always in her eyes,

And her smile in our hearts,

Out there among us,

Of the best of us,

She was using her hands,

To give gifts of the heart,

Working beside us,

In every way,

She made our days,

Just being there,

That was enough,

Just being where,

She could be felt,

Love could be shared,

For just seeing her,

Brought a good smile,

Even in darkest days,

For those were her ways,

As constant as the wind,

Though wind may cease,

The breeze blows again,

With the morning sun,

For the wind was her song,

And it carries her song,

For there is power,

Greater than death,

Which appears as loss,

Yet we all have gained,

For love never dies,

And her heart beats on,

Within our souls,

For the song,

For life,

For joy.

If,

We do,

All we know to do,

We can,

Fly.

When,

We feel,

All that is real,

We see,

Truth.



The Bridge of Love - In Memory of Kathy

Previously in my blog you have read about Kathy, a coworker, who suffered a major stroke and has been trying to recover.  I have just recieved word that she had another stroke and passed away last night.  Please keep her family and friends in your prayers.

Kathy's family has asked that donations in her memory be made to The American Stroke Association

How could it happen,

When I am young?

How could it happen,

What have I done?

I was at home,

Doing what I do,

Then I was out,

Nothing more I knew,

Then as if dreaming,

I heard voices,

Some were toward me,

Others making choices,

I could hear my family,

I knew they were there,

They were reaching to me,

I could feel the care,

And friends beyond the circle,

With voices still unheard,

Raising hope in prayers,

God hearing every word,

My eyes began to open,

And through a blur to me,

Some familiar faces,

I began to see,

I could not lift a finger,

I could not say a word,

Yet what I wanted most,

Was them to know I heard,

As they were reaching in,

I was reaching out,

Their strength from the heart,

Became my proof and clout,

Knowing I would make it,

Moving more each day,

Smiling to my husband,

To hear what he would say,

Forcing every movement,

Taking every step,

Fighting back to freedom,

Back to the life I left,

Unto the day I can speak,

And I can walk again,

Sharing my new joy,

Of life and love again,

For all the friends and family,

And our God above,

Whom rescued me from darkness,

Across the bridge of love.

The Gyre

“I realized that looking upon the Gyre would cause madness,

Yet I could not turn away from its beauty.” – An Unknown Sailor

Sole survivor of the storm,

Sails useless,

Tattered and torn,

Days uncounted,

Hull listing,

Nights uncounted,

Ship a drifting,

No wind or wave,

No way out,

Uncounting,

Unconscious,

Unnoticed,

I lay upon the deck.

A deafening sound of nothing,

A complete stilling,

Utter chilling,

I come to in the darkness,

And unto the light,

Then engulfed by the darkness,

My mind succumbing to silence,

No sound but myself,

I am becoming entranced,

By the darkness itself,

The sea as still as glass,

Becomes a perfect mirror,

Light bending imagery,

Mind bending reality,

The moon and stars above,

Perfectly reflected below,

I look down upon a perfect image,

Lunar craters below my feet,

The stars below as a mirage,

My deck outlined in black,

Surrounded by the stars,

Above and below me,

Neither up or down exist,

I doubt my own mortality,

As I walk upon the stars in space.

Through rushing clouds,

The moonlight breaks,

A silhouette deck touched by light,

A deck alive with sea snakes,

Amidst I stand a gasp,

Trapped within a nightmare prison,

The moment quickly passes,

As the clouds pour like sand,

Across the face of the moon.

The writhing motion fades in the dark,

And all is still again,

Alone in the dark a cry for help,

As the motion overcomes me,

Then I open my eyes in peace,

Surrounded by good men,

In good care,

Aboard the very ship,

That rescued me from the Gyre.

Unto Deliverance

 

I went up to the Cuppa Cuppa drive through coffee shop today.  It is on the corner of the street where I work, and I have often sat outdoors and written poetry there.  Today I had no clear idea though I knew I have written about hardship recently.  After I started writing it occurred to me that hardship is ALSO a prelude to one of the most joyous times of life.  The birth of a child.  Shopping for our daughter tonight I met a young lady pregnant with a baby boy who proved that joy to be true.  It is what we make of it with faith and love.

Life can be hard,

Moments of pain,

So much can happen,

And fear takes hold,

As doubts intrude,

Shaking our confidence,

If we will get through,

Yet fear and pain,

So often occur,

When one life,

Brings forth another,

And the joy of birth,

Leaves all else forgotten,

So see it through,

Hold on to your faith,

Use your imagination,

So the trials endured,

Will bring forth new life.