The Poetry Marathon

She stares at the bridge, as she’s done years before
As memories across time come back to the surface
For once, she was younger, the foliage the same
As their timeless love story began
A young Marine and a seamstress in waiting
A summer romance gaining wings
That carried the pair across miles and years
Through whatever life tossed in their way

As she looks at the trees, she remembers his smile
In that sweet and yet, subtle request
To spend each forever, together as one
The start of their life ever blessed
Through trials and tears and all the good years
Their lives intertwined through it all
In memories, he’s there even if years removed
As the distance between becomes small

As the water bubbles and kisses her feet
She feels his warmth pass on the wind
She knows that still soon, her own life is complete
And for her, the angels he will send
To carry her home into his loving arms
Two hearts brought together once more
Together, as one, where the sand meets the sea
Reunited within Heaven’s Door

A long run at dawn begins with a purpose
Where sunlight and courage last meet
Smiles through the tears, as feet hit the pavement
For all those that accepted defeat
Each sunbeam from Heaven, a gift from beyond
With angels carrying the runner with grace
Hope, struggle, faith and of course, bravery
The runner finds strength in his pace
As the morning goes forward
The sun beats down hard
Blistering on the runner below
And yet, he goes onward as if it was winter
Dedication for those now passed on
They were babies and daughters
Nieces, nephews and sons
Each a grandchild or a loving friend
Innocents in this world, dealt the toughest of fates
That battled gallantly til the end
This run at dawn, unlike so many before
Held purpose much greater than life
For this time, the journey meant oh so much more
As he ran for the kids, dealt the strife
Of battling cancer when only in youth
Babies stacked up against a life’s fight
Each step that he took, a journey of truth
To bring each unwell child the light

He rides off into the sunset once more
A journey filled with some regret
A trailblazer, of sorts, that rode shore to shore
He thinks back to those that he met
The dreamers, the doers, the crazies, the plain
The strangers, the divas, the friends
But come this day’s end, now never again
Will the road be where his life depends

His saddle shall be hung by fire at day’s parting
His boots by the door, at long last
His eyes shall point towards a future that’s dawning
With just memories of days in the past
Awaiting, his love, ever patient and kind
E’er grateful his journey concludes
For tho, she has always been on his mind
Distance oft marred their life’s interludes

The day and the cowboy shall ride off at last
Tho parting is not left in sorrow
His time from his love is now all but past
And he looks towards a brighter tomorrow
A place in the clouds, nestled warm and dry
Where, at last, he shall always remain
So much can be said for that life that’s passed by
As the cowboy rides home once again

You’ve loved and lost
You’ve been broken and hurt
You’ve lived elation and doubt
You’ve seen and done it all
I know some days, you struggle
The bad outweighs the good
And you feel lost in outer space
Thinking you’re misunderstood
But, through it all, I’m always here
And here, I’ll always be
Your heart is ever kept with mine
I hold it safely near
I’ll hold it tighter when you are hurt
Or riddled by unspoken fear
Our love is forever in the making
Tis meant for all my days
And with that train of thought in mind
I’ll be here always
I’ll see you through the pain and doubt
I’ll cheer you with the highest praise
But most importantly of all
I will never give up on you
You mean to much in my life
Without you, I’m not whole
You’ve left your footprints on my heart
Etched in concrete, paved with love
So even if you’re riddled in doubt
Take this one to your grave
I’ll be here forevermore
And I’ll never leave your side
We’re in this thing together
Good or bad and right or wrong
Because through it all, we’re what matters
And that, we’ll always be

In this life, I’d rather stand alone
Than next to people that hide
In the shadow of their insecurity
My heart is true and beliefs strong
I’ve a strong sense of wrong and right
But, if acting on my beliefs
Means I must stand alone, so be it
Complaining, whining and not acting
This changes nothing
Actions speak louder than words
By acting on my beliefs, I know
Change can and often does occur
Is it brave to stand alone – sure
But, I would do it each and every time
Regardless of the friends it may cost me
In the long run, I’ll rest well at night
My heart will know peace
Nothing else matters besides that

You have been gone almost six months
And I find this unreal
In that short time, you’ve missed so much
I still struggle to heal
I think of you each Sunday morning
As I stop myself from calling
The phone just rests there in my lap
The tears can’t keep from falling
I miss the tales of cats and fish
I miss your laugh and smile
But yet, I know, our dearest friends
Are here but just awhile
I find such peace in knowing you’re well
Resting peacefully on high
And still I’ll sit and talk with you
Sometimes when day is nigh
But it is truly not the same
Though selfish to admit
I wish that you could call my name
If only just once more
But instead, I’ll keep you in my heart, always
til we meet at Heaven’s Door

There’s something so fascinating
Watching the meteors at night
Shooting  ‘cross at lightning speed
A streak of the whitest light
I could lay on my back for hours
And watch the meteors streak past
The aura in this cosmic super show
Brings memories made to last
For many years, I lay on my back
Along the riverbed
And watched them streak across the black
Directly o’er my head
Each mid-August night, I stretched out mesmerized
By something close, but far away
If I’d the chance to do so again
I’d do so any day

For there’s still something iconic
About this great light show
That brings to mind how small our planet is
And how little we still know
About the universe in whole
How blurred the lines remain
Sometimes, we see only the earth
When there’s much we can’t explain

The beginning is the starting point
A sign of things to come
Always filled with hopes and dreams
A future bright as morn
While beginnings can be scary
The future being ever uncertain
Without new beginnings, life cannot progress
And goals cannot be achieved
If you frame each new beginning
As a new chapter in life
Good or bad, right or wrong
You will have the chance to write your own destiny
No one can write your story for you
It is yours and yours alone
Your story begins with one  word
So grab a pen and make history!

I’ve found a little hideaway
Nestled in the trees
A wayward, working Western ranch
Where one can feel at ease
From the second that I first arrive
I know my soul is home
As I stroll past the cows that come
To visit as I roam

Moving on, a hidden path
A cabin near a lake
Hidden deep within the woods
Heaven, each step I take
A winding path with trees each side
A gazebo with a swing
My heart feels happy and at peace
With all the future shall bring

One day this little hideaway
Will be where I change my name
Surrounded by family, the lakes and the cows
Simplicity, the name of the game
Combining my love for nature and him
This hideaway shall always be where this journey begins
For despite the hardship that led to the now
We’ll prove love always wins

Go ahead and make a wish
Today is your day to shine
You deserve all the best in life
The world is yours to behold
You are a good person
With a heart made of gold
Worthy of all the dreams
You long to achieve
So reach high and find the stars
It’s your day to grip each in your palm

Because you make the world a brighter place
Allow the joy of your birth anniversary
To repay your kindness to the world…
A million fold