Light of My Days

Poems by Yeshim Yonter

English Translation by

Michael A. Yonter

Turkish Version – Copyright © 2000 Yeshim Yonter English Version – Copyright © 2009 Michael A. Yonter

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i am alive… i am lucky… i am healthy… i pray to my God…

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The Child Inside Me There is a child inside me, Little, happy and wild. Wishing forever to stay as such Whilst running for new horizons And flying with the seagulls Never getting tired, Sometimes reaching for the stars Traveling beyond all time… To love and to be loved is her sanctuary, And rests in her big heart a treasury Turning little joys To life-sized happiness, Ever thirsty for life Excited, innocent child… Her eyes open wide. She looks around about At the miracles parading In her world full of colors, Full of encouragement, Living faithfully her days With no fear Of unknown tomorrows, Difficulties of life Her play… There is a child inside me Running for new horizons Flying with the seagulls Sometimes reaching for the stars, Traveling beyond all time…

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I Am Missing You My dearest Mother, Father, Who taught me By living example Of limitless devotion to humanity, Unquenchable love of life And the joy of living; My belief in God. The greatness of giving Without expectations… Bestowed upon me The key to happiness… Rest in eternal light I am missing you…

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If Only Not to be scared Of the marsh that I come to. To look for a lily In the muddy waters And find it. You taught me that My Mother and Father... If only when you were alive I should’ve hugged you more...

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I am happy, Today is the first day Of my life Yet to be lived...

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Light of My Days You wanted me to awaken, my God, To do the will of all that you wanted. Silent darkness surrounds me But the air is fresh, Nature is alive, Birds still sleeping. I am feeling your immensity, This mysterious beauty... But what I like more than darkness Is the first bright light of day The sun brings to Nature… I learnt when I was little To be patient, to wait, And before long There will surely be light Following the darkness…

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Embraced Me My happiness, Is my choice… Its total warmness Embracing me again, Enveloping my essence. The reason is not significant. I can only keep on living My own life… For my life Is my creation...

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The Meaning of Life What is the meaning of life If there is no friendship? What is the meaning of love If not loved? What is meaning of friendship If there is no sharing? What is the meaning of getting cross If you don’t reconcile? What is meaning of talk If nobody listens? What is the meaning of discussion It there is no resolve? What is the meaning of being apart If there is no yearning? What is the meaning of being, If there is no happiness? What is the meaning of living If you do not let yourself live?

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Rose Bush My happiness lies in Nature Where yesterday I found it in the rain, And today on the rose bushes. Buds opened, Tomorrow they will bloom Two yellows, three reds. I thought about rose lovers First you Then others. Alas! This flower's bloom And brilliant colors, Will make how many people happy? I don't mind if it prickles my fingers As long as it will live in my vase With its beauty magnificent. The Princess of flowers Is the hand that holds, the eyes that look. A sincere note Will appraise their worth.

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My Rose Holding roses in their hands Some will say Is ludicrous. It will bring scars to some, Joy to others. Alas! Will say The scared. If it prickles me I will be hurt It may also soon die. Ridiculous! Will say The penny pinchers What is this? A weed I can’t sell. Worthless! Best to throw it away. Oh! Will say the joyous. My beautiful rose With such a fragrance Has freshened my being, Put a smile on my face.

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I love To love you. While loving you More and more I love Myself.

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My First Poem… It Is Spring Again “Happiness is not seeing the unhappiness” Wisely advised my mother and father. Happiness is the reason to live, Filling our body and soul with joy. At times it's not enough to find love When our own love rests in Spring, Everything is beautiful, all is color, The taste of togetherness and love. We are inseparable. When apart, sad and blue. This beauty should last forever, endlessly For lovers and those they love, without worry.

Why did the fragrant flowers fade? The little green leaves have fallen. Where are the eyes looking at each other Embracing arms and moist warm hands? I wonder if we forgot to water the tree of love. Did the hot sun burn? Little insects Invisible who ate away shredding First the flowers, then the leaves. It is too late, is our tree of love suffering? May be we should be apart and miss the warmth. Perhaps live through the hardships of separation And then see each other in a new light; towards happiness.

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Let cold winds not blow, Let the winter end. Spring renew us, Let our love grow with us. Strengthen And harmonize our blood flow when together. We were apart, missing each other, Learning to take care of one another and not Experiencing our Spring once again together. Our tree of love will come back to life with tenderness.

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My Prayer My God, please do not take back what thou hath given Let me enjoy the splendor of my being. Let my food be tasteless with no spice, Living with hunger and unquenchable thirst. Try me, make me poor and barefoot But, please do not take away my loved ones Nor diminish but enhance my inner beauties. If I am alone, my life becomes unlived. If I can not share what surrounds me, What I see, what I smell, what I touch Or reveal my feelings to my loved ones, What good then be the warmth of the rising sun, The tiny drops of rain, The snow flakes falling on my face?

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Children of Nature Venture out of your abode Mingle with Nature, Let the winds play Tussling your hair. Walk happily On warm sands Pebbles, Bursting with life, Fertile earth, Green grass. Let the ocean waves kiss you Let the sun give you warmth, Let Mother Nature Fulfill her longing, Let her feel in her bosom Your bare feet.

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To my grandchildren Nic, Tori and Alisa… My Baby My little baby, you are a gift from God, Every thing about you is a miracle, you little person. Your tiny hands, fingers, your feet that I kiss, Your first cries, the most beautiful of melodies; Welcome to our world, bringing joy to our home. Do you know why babies cry when they are born? They feel what is waiting for them in this world. My baby, life is so beautiful but also a race, You will hit your head when you crawl, Try to run before you can walk, your time will come. You will learn not to fall by falling first, Have to make sure your footing is firm But never lose sight of your purpose, If you look down, you will not see the horizons And never reach the places where you wish to be. Don’t worry, I will always be on your side. I will not follow you, you will not see me, I will not walk in front of you; I will not see you, Trust me, I am holding your hand. Let’s walk together, To the places where you want to be, hand in hand.

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Yet again… Difficult times do not last And troubles that come along Too long… Rain storms High winds Like the melting snow Transform to a new shape. The buoyant fly away Blend with the clouds Escape to mountains and planes When tired they get To the earth they fall yet again…

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Are You For Real? Your car, your home, your summer house. Your money in the bank and your boat in the ocean You talk about your jewelry, your designer gear. Your worth does not go up with these, Who are your friends? What thoughts of you do your family hold? You know what they say, “he is good man”, Are you one? Or a flashy empty balloon?

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Laughter To laugh is the essence of life, The only key to happiness, A remedy for illness And cure for sadness... Pain or hurt never stay When laughter is in the air, Our fears recede. If we start our morning with a smile Then beautiful emotions fill our days. How easy it is to laugh Without cost, without tax, without fuss Profits galore! A laughing man Knows no grief, No fighting for him, Crime dims.

Laughter should be our food Whilst filling our home with delight, Bringing joy to our table No cholesterol, no fat, no salt Laugh until you cry! Delicious, delightful No calories, but the sweetest Contagiousness, nature. If we could learn To laugh at ourselves, And to take the world more lightly With folks joining us everywhere, We will stay ever young Whilst living our lives.

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Because I Am Do you know what will happen If you love me as I am, With all that I have, all that I don’t have, Shortcomings, talents and flair, My scatter brain My misbehavin’? Only then Would I have the self-confidence And the mature personality A powerful self! And a strong soul. Remember my promise to you? I said, only death will us apart. You are my love, my dearest, my soul-mate. I can’t only be The way you want me to be. If you want me to be The person in your dreams, Then I can’t be me. If I am not me I would not love you the way I do. You are the owner of my heart, Allude to what you wish And tell me what you desire. Let me change myself, If only I want to. But love me, Without changing me, The way I am Because I am.

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My Today I only have today, Before is gone, later has not come. I wish only live my day today With my happiness in my hands, Live and let live Drink life's nectar From my palms.

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You Are Sleeping Where are you now? If you were here I wouldn’t have been awakened, I couldn’t have written this poem. I know you are sleeping, Quietly, peacefully. He who does not appreciate you Should stay away from you. When I am with you Delighting in our tête-à-têtes, My emotions run deep Mixing with rivers of joyfulness. You are my life’s Climbing jasmine, Your arms hold me close. Call me, I will come! I would give you my life Without equivocation. You are in my mind, in my heart, In my sleep, in my dreams. I am feeling now The quietness and the melancholy, The bittersweet tenderness Of the night. I am not alone, you are with me.

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Letter to My Children You know when you are in love Everything becomes So much more beautiful, Brighter and incredible. Being your mother Was like that For me. Every day the sun would rise Earlier and earlier To brighten my day, Being mesmerized By the light of day. To take you in my arms Was like that For me. In the evenings, the sun Would not wish to disappear Behind the mountains. All the colors of sunset With all their varied beauty, I wanted to live through this Whilst holding you in my arms My little baby. Moon light Illuminated my nights, while I was waiting for tomorrow. Beholding The light of day When you were in my lap My little baby.

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The buds in the trees Racing to burst, And the chirping of birds Were beautiful. Songs of life When you were in my lap My little baby. My life had changed forever. More important than myself Were two little people Spreading light into my days, Trusting me Loving me. When I was embracing you The hug became my essence, Your voices Were the most beautiful Of all the songs of life. When the two of you, my babies, Were hugging me.

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Loneliness If I can bring to my loneliness My beautiful thoughts, Even if I there rests by my side Not a soul. Dispersing the sad loneliness Of my loneliness. I am not alone anymore For my thoughts are my friends

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The most precious fantasies are in our minds. Most precious memories are the ones we shared. Most precious days are the ones we have not lived yet.

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I Wished That You Could Have Lived With Me The seeds of Nature blossomed inside me during my childhood, ever

increasing my love of Nature and connecting all the beauty and sadness around me always guided my human relations to meaningful ends.

We moved to our house in a suburb of Houston years ago. In our backyard,

in front of our bedroom window, there was a pine tree, green and alive that cast its shadows like a natural drape. It extended its height to our second story, offering protection to the little green plants and flowers that lay in an abundance of color, from the blazing rays of the sun.

For many years, our pine tree was in full view giving us much pleasure, as we looked from the full-size windows of our living room and from the windows of our bedroom. It often seemed as if was inside our house, sharing our days, sharing our lives.

This magnificent, beautiful tree would guard our house as it towered tall with pride. I would talk to my pine tree and smile when I glimpsed it shape through the windows or when in the garden, passing by.

My grandfather used to say, “Plants, flowers and trees are living things, they will not grow and live long if you do not talk to them."

When I talk to my trees, plants and flowers, they smile back at me, at least it

seems they do. I don't know why my magnificent pine tree over the last few months had started to loose its luster and liveliness. I struggled hard to save my tree. I cherished my tree. I wanted it to live and continue to be a part of our lives. Based on my experiences as a long-time amateur gardener, I tried to find the root of the problem. I took a few of its branches to show to the experts at a garden shop. I followed their advice with patience and confidence. Nothing helped. My tree was approaching the end of its life ... it slowly faded away.

Yesterday as the sun set, I took pictures of my now dead tree. The vivid colors of the sky were silently softening this sad event. I sat in the recliner and wrote a poem for my tree. You will read it below.

This tragic and desolate scene reminds me of love slowly fading, maybe because of not caring or not taking time to understand the reasons behind the unhappiness. A relationship between two people starting delightfully but ending in misery.

Sometimes, simple effort is not quite enough to generate happiness and

make others happy. We have to discover and understand the special needs and

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problems of our loved one and perhaps make changes in our behavior. We have to give her the silent message, “You are important for me,” and cause our relationship to blossom once again.

There is inevitable change in nature. In the end, we have to pay the price.

Our gains or losses are a harmonious continuance of a chain of events, perhaps even a new beginning.

I am looking at my tree now. Even the bright colors of the sunset in the sky cannot brighten this silent, sad picture. The wind caressing my face creates a sad melody as it passes through the lifeless pine needles. The birds and squirrels that once visited our garden to eat the pine nuts, inside the cones, are not here anymore. My pine tree's aroma emanated outwards as if there was a pine forest surrounding us.

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My Magnolia Tree Do you remember, on that cold wintery day When the lone magnolia bloomed? When I had witnessed this miracle I thought about you. The spark of life is hidden within us, Nature is like humanity Giving the joy of life to Trees, flowers… Leaves are falling. This is against the rules of Nature For magnolia to bloom so soon, Regaining all its energy Suddenly, with joyous ecstasy. Look and look again, Believe me, I am living in you. There will be many, many white Flowers that shall bloom Just for you. For the ones who love life, Will keep on living My beautiful magnolia.

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My magnolia tree blossomed in November, against all rules of Nature showing us that miracles can and do happen.

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Unquenchable Desire What artist painted The colors of the sunset? I am devoted to this beauty, That I am an essential part of, With an unquenchable desire to take in The wonder of this magnificent painting, Before the diming of colors Relinquish their places to the darkness of night, Beholding the changing of reds From light to dark I bow my head, While I am living inside myself, with God.

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Where Are You Where are the moments we could not let go? Where are the singing dancing flowers? Little ladybugs fluttering around us? The butterflies alighting on your face, your hair? I hear from a distance the singing of nightingales. You, the daughter of Nature, who lives her life and lets live. I discover a new part of you every passing day, While I share your life your beauty grows.

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Who Are You How so difficult to portray you. Your invisible wings, Your silky soft hands. You flutter about Giving exuberance to your loved ones. Never important to you Are your own troubles. Your vitality, your brightness, Lights up the world. Your radiance Echoes around you. Sadness, difficulties, Disappear instantly. You are Nature’s child Exuding kindness; a breath of fresh air, Be your presence.

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Shadow Majestic, magnificent trees, Would they flourish and grow In another's shadow? How must they reach The one in the shadows?; The sun’s rays, The tiny drops Of falling rain. For individuals, Is it possible To breath, To flourish And be happy Under the other’s shadow?

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Happiness Can’t be lived alone, If not shared It would not be happiness.

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November 19 Many years ago on this day A marriage was formed; That of my mom and dad. Nostalgia pours out from my being, Sadness lingers inside. I learned when I lost them How to embrace my loved ones, Holding them in my arms without touching. I am living again to that theme, The happy days and sweet memories. My father, young and successful, An engineer was he. Having reached the heights and honor To work with Ataturk, founder of Turkey. When having completed his project to build a dam, The Secretary of Public Works Out of jealousness, played a trick By sending him to exile in a small town Far from the Capital. My mother, young and nationalistic Then a school teacher. The principal, not liking nationalists Removes her from duty, Sends her away from the school To a small town Far from her home.

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If these seemingly unfortunate Events did not happen, How would have they met These two beautiful people? “Every malice brings a good deed.” Said our elderly, Telling in few words, Saying it expertly, Without living the events. How can we glimpse What the future will bring?

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To My Mother and Father... Alas! I wish that you could be here in my home I wish that you could have experienced with me All these beauties. I wish that I could have wiped away Your sorrows and heartbreaks Like you did for me. I wish that I could have transformed Little joys To life-sized happiness, Like you did for me. Made pillows for you Out of rose petals. Had you sleeping Under white covers Adorned with jasmines. Alas! To embrace you one more time.

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To My Inspiring Angel… My Star My God, how can I thank you? I woke up again in the middle of the night, Birds did not sing, my clock did not ring. I know now, I was awakened by my heart… I am joyful, there must be a reason, You handed me a sign, gestured for me to wake up. No reason to wait, maybe there is a hidden cause You gave to me; now it is my mission to find. I did not find it yet, searching in the darkness, May be it is the twinkling star in the distance? I did not always see when my star was nearby But now my light is not far away, it is inside me. I know now why I was awakened, I will read my heart and engrave my emotions.

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And they lived happily ever after Once upon a time There was this road called life. The prettiest, but full of rocks and hurdles… Seagulls flew over its oceans Capturing the rising sun on the horizon, Reaching the sun at dusk. One day, two beautiful people Found each other through destiny. The lass ran away, the lad followed her, But, this was not an everyday Puppy love moment. “Give me chance, get to know me I will love all you till the end of time.” The lad, always in pursuit, never let go. The lass listened to her heart, And one day in the mirror When looking into her own eyes, Instead saw her beloved: “You are mine, I am yours, We can’t be apart any more, Let’s together ride the boat of life Sail the seas, to all horizons, hand in hand.”

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My Racehorse The lives that you saved The hearts that you captured Are infinitely abundant. You have a place in all hearts My flying bird, my fast running gazelle, My pure-bred racehorse. Pride of your country Daughter of all, What kind of person you are? I can’t see your foot prints, Looking, but not finding. God carries you in his arms! Don’t you have any concern, fear… It will be over soon Ever slowly but not long… You are my racehorse, my thoroughbred!

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Happiness Behind A Veil Joy is not stronger than pain, The two emotions go hand in hand Sometimes they can’t be told apart Often, they will come upon you together. When sorrow comes into my life I feel stifled and my heart fills with pain. Would I know, that there it sleeps Hidden in my heart, my happiness. When I am happy If I only could look into The depths of my being, I would then remember One time, My sorrow of the same reason My happiness grows soon. I wonder why it is the case Sometimes when one is laughing The mood suddenly changes, Tears fill the eyes And one starts crying. My happiness Is my sorrow peaking through a veil. Once those things made me cry Why today Does it give me pleasure?

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Cloud and Moon I know a teacher So vibrant, so full of life And filled with happiness, Bright like a star In her mind, in her heart. Her students she is longing for As she hugs Those surrounding her Children and babies. Think about the white Constellation of clouds Carrying on their bosom The rain that will fall tomorrow, Bringing the world Riches in abundance. Think about the moon Illuminating The darkest night, Bright, full of light, Giving a meaning to all Nature’s beauty spread. Clouds and moon Embrace one another, Do you see it now? Bright and radiant Teacher, Claudine Moon?

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To a cancer survivor…

A Lifetime To Live We met one day You came from afar It was a cold day And dark, All of a sudden There was light And warmth.

You were lost in thought and tired, You had a long way to go. “I have to hurry, I have to catch up They would not wait, I have to be there.” You didn’t know though, The train would not leave without you. You fought back and persevered, Waited with patience. You didn't give up and tried all avenues. Sometimes you were mad at the world But you didn’t know the world was in your hands With the spring flowers Radiating their aroma.

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Storms subsided, The rain stopped. White seagulls took to flight As though gliding in water, Caught in the wind And you at the wheel. The sailboat approaching With such magnificence, Smoothly moving Cutting into the waves. You have seen in the sky The rainbow in seven colors, Now, sing and play With your guitar in your hands.

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With You I want to see those Brilliant, sparkling, White lilies Swimming on the water, Rainbow colored blooms, Fragrant Roses, In your eyes. I want to caress your eyes With my eyes. I want To share the sun, Dance in the rain, Get lost in the oceans Bubbling over and being carried away, With you.

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First Dance You came over and said “Hello”, Held my hand when called to dance. It was our first dance. You pulled me close, Looking into my eyes. I was flying in your arms, Spinning around and around Singing your love song Upon my ears. Let’s jump up high together Fling your shoes, let’s fly! I was soaring Looking into your eyes. I don’t know what happened Time stopped, suddenly. … Many years passed, our dance never ended. I often hear our song in my ears, Waves hitting the rocks ever so gently Winds caressing my face knowingly. Take me away, and we shall see each other When our eyes meet suddenly.

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First Glance Do you remember the time We did not know each other yet? You came ashore like a swan Our eyes meeting ... Before even a single word poured from our lips. Who were you? where did you come from? Where were you going? I did not wish to know, Did it matter, no! Your were in my life now From my eyes to my heart, then to my arms. Losing each other in our eyes Our gaze getting deeper and deeper. We did not talk when together, Letting only our eyes speak to one another. Children of Nature, You and I, Savoring slowly our happy life With seasons slowly changing.

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With My Heart We are at different places now, Watching the rising sun. We’re under the spell of the same magnificent feelings, The misty pink net of the early morning With ever changing colors Caressing our still sleepy souls. From the everlasting power of Nature upon waking With the bursting light of the sun on the horizon, I receive my energy and love of humanity. I feel my love seeing, touching, Smelling, hearing, tasting... With you.

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Why Did You Go? There was a new moon when I first met you. A thin slice of light without a sound Glided into my world. I could not take my eyes off you Nor away from your sparkling eyes Brighter than all the stars. You lit up my world And swept me suddenly Off my feet.

Offering me the elixir of happiness, With a golden spoon and a silver flute. With your tender glance loving me, With your soft hands stroking me. My eyes in your eyes I was high with you, I did not understand why did you go? Whilst I was sleeping like an angel. Maybe, I did not know your value. Is it that I did not give you what you needed? But I have never had before Such a precious being like you, Maybe I did not know how to make you happy.

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Fog Did I ever tell you what happened to me When black clouds surrounded my being And cold winds blew; I was shivering As the balls of hail fell Hurting as they touched my skin. I did not want to run away. I don’t know what I was waiting for. I was crying while laughing, I was feeling a bittersweet sadness. The hail storm disappeared suddenly, Gone was the coldness of the wind. Fog finer than tulle netting Surrounded my body, Ever so slowly descending The fog lifted at the center swiftly, Somebody was walking towards me. I didn’t expect you so early But that was all that I wanted. The one I longed for and couldn't have enough of, Your scent was always in my life. You were my only happiness, Who lit up my life. The joy I drank sip by sip, Your love once again Brought you back to me.

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Rain Love and to be loved We can’t have enough, That happy feeling of being alive. When there is goodness and beauty How can we feel sadness? When two lonely people touch each other, Thirsty souls quietly hold hands. If we give sincerely Then it matters not what we get in return, It will come back to us in many ways. When happiness like rain falls upon us, An unexpected pleasure fills our souls.

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Together With You White lilies Vividly Swimming on water, Roses Blooming in colors Sweet fragrance. I want to see them In your eyes, I want to caress your eyes With my eyes. Share the sun Live the rain Lost in the oceans Bubbling with the happiness I want with you.

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Game of Life If happiness is not seeing the sadness, Then it starts with us in the game of life, If we are at peace with ourselves We spread light into our being And can then spread it to all places else. If we can live a happy life Then we can spread it to others, One soul at a time... A lake is created One droplet at a time.

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Your Second Letter I asked you to put your thoughts on paper I wanted you to relax, feel relieved. My child, you misunderstood me. What is said never forgotten What is written always there. Your first letter was for your eyes only, You had to look at it a little longer, Each time you read, taking parts out... You were to write your second letter Deliberately, unhurriedly. You had to weight it carefully, Talking to your heart, Balancing in your mind. You had to think of what you would gain... Then what would you lose. You had to give thought To which side was the heavier To which was the winner. That was what I expected From you my child.

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Lioness – The Mother My father told me a story once When I was little. All animals have strong instincts And motherhood desires That allow them to love and protect their offspring. One day, a lioness and her cub Were placed in a furnace heated from the bottom, The door was then closed tight on them. Poor animals didn’t know what was going on. When the little cub started crying The mother lioness put it on her back. She loved her cub so so much, And didn't care if her own paws were burnt. The furnace got hotter and hotter, The Lioness ran around and around Her cub still on her back. She got angrier and angrier and started to roar As she her paws got burned. The powerful lioness lost her mind and said: “Who cares if I am a lioness”, “I am a wild animal”, “I have a right to life more than my cub” She threw her cub from her back Hesitated a second, then stepped on it. Her motherhood instinct, Her heroism, at an end.

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The Tale Of My Pine Tree We lived together for many a year Cared for you, fed you, raised you. Scented thin long leaves, Cones hidden between your branches, You were so beautiful. Your trunk was magnificent! Your shadow, my reading place where I rested. I sensed your sadness one day As if you were hiding it from me, Pine nuts inside your cones They were your babies. The pleasure from you I had to have, Wishing to live with you for many more years. May be I just did not appreciate what you meant to me? First the browning of your needle tips, Then your resin flowing like tears, I just don’t know how I missed the signs. You were sad, losing your gleam, Your needles were falling in huddles day after day, Your branches breaking With the blowing wind. Did you have a hidden sickness? Why, why did you not want to get better? Your trunk was still erect, standing tall, The drought we had for months -- My God, why did I not see it before? Parched was the earth around your roots!

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Gift Celebrated today “Thanksgiving Day” We lived our day With friends and family. We are in health, walking erect And filling our lungs with fresh air, We are grateful to our God. Together with our loved ones Missing and remembering The ones no longer with us, We share The happiness We have in our hands. We are captivated with Life, our existence The gift that has no equal. Let my house fill with cheer, With loved ones all around me, While living this moment in its fullness -- Enjoy My tiredness. The wonderful times that we share Are the moments we can’t have enough of, But the best is yet to come The times that we have not yet lived.

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Life’s Surprise Everybody is fishing at the shore, They gave me a fishing rod: “Why don’t you also fish” they said, I started to wait But no fish was taking the bait. “No fish today, I have to go home” said my friend, Suddenly something happened! My rod was shaking, then “Don’t go, wait!” I shouted Could not talk, I was so elated. Many hands were needed As we pulled the line together. First helped by God, then the scoop So surprised were we when we raised this large loot. Glittering like silver under the sun, It has swallowed another fish so as not to starve. I pulled the small fish out from the big fish, Then we had two fish, instead of just one.

II Life means a surprise at every turn, The key was to wait without complaint Before calling it a day. If we persevere with tolerance, We might catch the fish before it slips away. When God gives us the fish It may come with a surprise, You would never know If the surprise hid another -- One of life’s mysteries.

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I Am A Fortuneteller Why did you come to me? Did you want to learn what is yet to come For better or for worse? If I tell, relate, What I see in my crystal ball Do you really really wish to know? If you hear the worst You will suffer now, Before they even come true And live in pain what is yet to be lived. If you hear the good, You will miss the sweetness of expectations, Or enjoy what life brings you, moment by moment. Quenched too early those sweet emotions, yet to be lived. Don’t worry over the days yet to come, We will start the day at its dawn With all the joy it brings, Let us live our day today.

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Seasons of Love

Love is like a garden That grows and blossoms, Needing water in abundance. If our love, that Blooms in Spring Lives through the Summer Without burning, withering, It will be even more beautiful And will mature with us. If we could adorn it with so much love, With never ending respect And genuine concern, Patience, understanding, Enhancing it with joy, Then we could keep it in our hands As we lived together, Whilst drinking our happiness From the same glass.

Autumn is lived only by Those who truly deserve. Turning to our inner self, We discover ourselves When winter is here. We have to live through Until spring is here. We have to understand The seasons of love. If we cannot drench its thirst, Love fades away, ever so slowly. Are we questioning Nature? Then why question love? We have to jump over the hurdles Even as we live the seasons.

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My Love

I yearned for you Waited days for you Lovingly, passionately! Could not sleep a wink... Living through a new emotion, A time for joy. It was my deep need Like air, like water... I wanted you beside me Sharing every moment with you. I know you are busy, Tired, I understand You have to, you are working, You cannot quickly find the time. Please do not hurry my love I know how to wait…

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You Are My Love Do you know my love? Life is bringing us The problems and the joys. We have to resolve the problems Without delay. They need quick attention And love shows us the way. The joys are however, short-lived And not often do they even happen. Sometimes a bird flying over, Or a big shining balloon in the sky, And sometimes a rocket bursting… I would wait my love If you so wish, But these feelings, they will not.

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Paying The Price Make the effort, pay the price, Then talk about happiness. Happiness and serenity Are for the ones who strive to find them. Without making the effort Then nourishing with love, They will not survive.

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Once It Was... When I said good morning to you, Your cheerful face The most beautiful thing! Any sadness inside me if ever there was, Would instantly disappear. I missed you incredibly when you were gone. When I was cooking your favorite dishes And tidying up our home, I would smile to myself As if your eyes were looking at me. Many years have passed but I still long for you. You never tell me you love me, but you show it. Missing you whilst living with you -- You can’t imagine how difficult it is for me. I miss you my love, Hold my hand as you did before. I want to be in the same world as you -- May be we don’t have many years left more to live.

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Rainstorm Love is a never ending fountain, Like an overflowing spring. It calms and becomes a river, Stronger when it rains and snows melt. Nature’s resources bring about joy, Lightning and bolts striking. Let the thunder stay away Save for a rainstorm every once in while!

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One World If you don’t talk when I want to listen to you, If you don’t listen when I have something to tell you, If you love your own world, And don’t accept me there. If you leave me alone in my own world, Alone, lost in my own thoughts without you... How can we speak the universal language: that of love? How can we share life from the same plate? How can we live in the same world together? If we are to be happy, if we are to laugh My love, we have to be in the same world.

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Who is? They say: “Behind every Successful man There is a special woman.” Patient, understanding, Loving… I wonder: Who is behind A successful woman? A very surprised and Confused husband!

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My Moonlight What a beautiful day, I am happy again! Worries never ended, but I sold them to yesterday And escaped from the darkness, freed myself of my sorrows. I am now inseparable from the light inside me… I can’t always tell you everything I know you will be sad, which I couldn’t stand. You love me more than I do myself, What is in my heart, you can sense. Do you remember the fresh fruit we had And the wild flowers by the armful we picked? Your love is my gift, your being is my moonlight. I miss you! My sounding board, my friend.

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About You… You are so different in my eyes. They told of you in their poems With words more beautiful than the next, Songs, filled with emotions… I have the love of Nature in my essence, I will tell about you in my own words. I was waiting without knowing That I missed you terribly, From the thin horizon line Where blue sky and blue ocean meet, You appeared, first as a tiny point, getting bigger. You were coming to me from far away, You were a white horse flying. I soon found myself under your wings Then being carried upon your back. You changed suddenly Becoming a ferocious tiger, Powerful were your paws Strong were your teeth! Crushed, you were not scared Of defeat!

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Revealing You When I was sleeping under the sun, You were my tree; I rested under your shade, I was lost when I was looking for you. I walked through a wheat field, I was hungry, you became my food. I was thirsty, parched, burning, You were my spring, flowing in nature! You were my cat, playful, giving me joy, You were my dog, protecting, waiting, Not letting anyone near me. You were my bee, giving me honey, You were butterfly, delicate and fragile. I could not catch you when I offended you, You’d fly away and away... May be then I could not show you, But now I am screaming to the world, You were my everything! -- Tell me now, has anybody Revered you like this before?

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Autumn On the way home today I savored the sunset, A chilly November day. Delicious feelings Embraced me, Everything around me Became more meaningful As I held my glance. The yellow and brown embrace With orange and red becoming one. I can’t have enough of the beauty That is the sunset in Autumn. Falling leaves Of the undressing trees, Scattered around by the winds. They go all in different directions And fly around, until tired. I remember my loved ones While I live the sadness of The sunset in Autumn.

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Even if I am broken hearted My insides are all entwined, I am captivated With this cheerfulness of color. I am bubbling over Like the gushing waters of a spring, I savor this beauty While living under the fresh chill of Autumn. The leaves tearing apart and flying away From the branches of trees, This simple, beautiful décor Spreading over the sky like a fine lace. Simple Intertwining Tree branches, bare. They say air is colorless But it just turned from orange to red, Our divine being makes us live The most beautiful of seasons, Though only to those who perceive.

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What Am I Waiting For… If I knew that this was the last day of my life, If I had only a few hours yet to live, My life would pass before my eyes. I would go back to the years I lived Engrossed in the memories I could not forget. May be I would think why I did not say To my mom, dad, my children and friends, I love you so and I miss you, Wish that you were here by me now Holding you in my arms. If I am fortunate and still to live, And today is not my last, What am I waiting for, yet cannot speak, But must say it yet: “I love you.”

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Painted Paper Don’t get upset or take offense, I am annoyed with you. When you did not exist Then happy were people. Sometimes you’re clean, Other times dirty, Your name is money! In the old days People bartered, What they had on hand They did not much want, Modest was enough. They invented you then, You made it easy for them To measure the value of an item. Then again, in time, they went Madly insane over you. They worshipped you like God, Grabbed you away from one another! They veered away from the right To the wrong.

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II We’d earn in the day, Spend in the evening, You were essential to existence. Never wanted much Never liked you as such, Pleased when I earned Because, When you were to hand And more than was needed, I spread you around. Accumulating you in piles, Never providing, never contributing, Spending only for themselves. Those that don’t share, What are they thinking about?

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III Remember the last hurricane. Those who lived through the calamity And our brothers and sisters, Who lost their lives. Where is their material security? Their gleaming future? Don’t ever forget who you are, You are a vehicle, a servant. -- We pampered you too much, so You got into our blood, Muddled in our happiness Then threatened our lives! Know your place! Just get out! As your service is done. Don’t attack our self-respect, Don’t rock our relationships Don’t disarray our families, You painted piece of paper!

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Lion and Bull His immense mane Roaring boom Noisy breath, The lion. Not only of the plains But also the king of the bar. When his work is done The bar in his mind Other animals also Come and gather then. Puff up his mane Throws his tail around Takes a seat in his favorite place. One day he looks around Sitting next to him The bull with his big horns. Lights are dim, Their chitchat is so smooth Smashed they are both… Lion looks outside all of a sudden Sky is getting darken, “I have to go home, sun is setting” “Stay lion, stay a spell Lean back, get comfortable…” Says the bull, wouldn’t want to leave Drinks more, not miss home! “We became comrades then I understand you friend What would happen if you go home… You have a cow waiting I have a lioness readying!”

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My Friend When I met you many years ago I was waiting for you, longing, While sad emotions, Without reason, Filled my soul. Suddenly with you My life became colorful A friend, for everyone Is a mutually found Need indeed. Once two hearts beat the same, Souls come to terms And embrace one another, Laugh together, Cry, sharing the same emotions, Laughter and tears Mingling with each other. I would not keep you Just for myself, But share you With my loved ones. You hold the light In your hands For me to see the road in front, To overcome the storms, Scale the high mountains, Forge through the thunders And the grey clouds To reach The rainbow with you.

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Which One It was hanging on the wall At the veterinary’s office: “The more I get to know people The more I like my dog.” I also like dogs, We tell them that Which we would not tell anybody else. Our secrets are safe with them. You are happy, he is happy. You are sad, he is sad. Sharing your troubles; a friend He waits for you, all day. He doesn’t complain nor nag, Does not make a scene. No flaunts, no whims, no spending, No liquor, no gambling, no smokes. A lot of good qualities has he. But then again, I say, The vet did not come across The right kind of people.

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My Daisy God took the greatest care In creating my flower. I get a peculiar feeling When I pluck your stem Thin, erect and long, From its root. You are like a little sun, Your delicate white leaves Around your yellow heart Lining up side by side, Picked by How many lovers? One by one She loves me… She loves me not…

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You Have the Key I understand you are in darkness, We are talking, but you are far far away. I am struggling, but I cannot reach you, I must find a way to get closer to you. If you become a slave to yesterdays, If you burn and cry for the days past, The days that you lived will not change. Sorrow and unhappiness will fill your being. If you are scared of tomorrows, You can not see the future. Your thoughts will pull you To the darkness and to its beyond. You will struggle, stifled -- You will loose yourself In the wild seas You are scared to dive into And may even will drown. Each day it lessens one by one Fading away, your unlived days. Do not let your yesterdays Take you away! Your life is in your hands… You possess The key To happiness. Your dreams Will come through If only you Wish…

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If I Was A Bird If I was a bird and not a human, Perhaps the magnificent Phoenix I’d be, I would carry humans on my back To far and exotic places, Make their dreams come true Make their worlds truly beautiful. Perhaps the Mother Bird I’d be, Of all the baby birds. With my sparkling, piercing gaze, I would soar high in the sky. Once I could see the oppressed from afar, I'd take flight with haste, Not to return, before setting them free. Perhaps the Stork I’d be, Long legs and a beautiful body. Everyone would be happy to see me Cheering with hope at the end of my journey. Knowing they were waiting eagerly I would take to the wing, To bring the long expected little baby.

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Little Redheaded Boy He was late for school. The little redheaded boy Knocked on the door, He was embarrassed, blushing, As he quietly entered the classroom, “Good morning teacher, I am sorry, For being late today.” He cries “Ah!” when he sits down, Jumps up with a moan! “What is wrong my child?” Asks the teacher. He was hurting, but Couldn’t tell why The little redheaded boy. He was cute, He was mischievous, But he had a problem Which was obvious. “Stung by a bee this morning“ I can’t sit because of that.” “Tell me child, Where did it sting you?” The redheaded little boy He could not tell, For the bee sting rests Just where he sits.

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To My Love That’s the way God wanted. He created man first and then the woman, Man and woman, completing one another. Why should I defend myself When you were protecting me, More than I would myself? You always said, “To be a man is not to be a macho” I did not then understood what you meant, But you did not say it in vain. You practiced “Women’s Rights”, When nobody yet knew what it meant. Source of my energy Focus of my life, When I met you first You were young, handsome, Innocent and poor... But you were determined, There was nothing that you could not do. Forty five years passed hence, Easy to say, difficult to believe. You are now experienced, A father and a grandfather, You are still so young, handsome, Still with no money! But you are the focus of my life, The source of my love.

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To my love… My Answer Is Yes You asked me On our last anniversary Whether I would live with you For forty five more years? I would my love, most certainly. Loving you, loved by you, My hand in your hands My eyes in your eyes. But I have an important question. If then, you think and think, But just can’t remember... Who was I?

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To my love… Us You and I Became Us. While our eyes are talking Our hearts are beating in harmony, Our hands held always together. We are the two halves of Yesterday, today and tomorrow. Life is beautiful with you. Let us begin our day early Make us live longer as one. How fortunate for us That we are lovers, Also friends. If you think of me more than yourself Or if I think of you more than myself, Then there is no You and I, There is only Us.

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Why So Early I wake up early every morning As the morning sun glides Through the darkness. My husband wakes up, coffee percolating. My birds start singing one by one As the sky changes to pink from twilight, I think to myself, why Did I get up so hastily? I remember then, my mother. I miss her, my eyes fill with mist. She would say advising us, “No good would come From a rooster waking up after his owner Or from a woman getting up after her husband!”

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My Jewels My Dear God, forgive me For I love them and can’t have enough. Their fullness of color, their fullness of light, Each more precious than the next. My greatest passion is my jewels. Their beauty, a reflection of Nature, A treasure in their rawness. Immensely precious, Once worked by a master jeweler. Each spreads light from every angle Enhancing the meaning of my days, Bringing excitement to my life.

My life’s investment, The key to my happiness. My jewels adorning me, Each selected with greatest of care and love. Never ever lose one! Guard each, protect them from harm. More and more, day by day, Richer and richer I become. Get more familiar with each as days go by, The more I know, the more attached I become, As each one, newly found, finds a place in my heart. My most precious jewels, My friends!

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I am alive… I am lucky… I am healthy… I am blessed…

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To a cancer survivor…

You Will Overcome You are the apple of our eyes! You will learn once more, You will walk again my child, The whole world is behind you. I can’t look enough Into your gazelle-like eyes, I admire your never ending energy And how easily you have climbed over Each and every hurdle, one by one. We were waiting in anticipation For you to walk, First holding a cane, Then you were running Without falling over.

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Am I A Friend? I entered you life and your blood Like a living nightmare. But you were the one Who put at risk Your happiness, Your harmony. It was gambling sometimes Drugs the other times, A swindler! Exploiter! A liar And manipulator! I took all you got, I finished you good, I hurt your family Made you take the wrong turn. You couldn’t see the end And were left destitute, I almost took away Your sweet life. You lost your mind And the honor you tried to protect. Do you want to be a role model To your children like this? You lost all your friends, What happened to your conscience? I assaulted in the end Your warm, sweet home. Its spirit, your harmony. But, at long last I could not destroy you. You took the right turn And came back to a virtuous way of life.

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Will You Still Love Me? If I… Lost all my money, Wasted all that I had, If my youth left me And my beauty a mere thing of the past, Will you still love me? II If I… Lost my fame, My old glory and grandeur, My car, my house and my job, Will you still love me?

III If I… Am not an obedient child, Grumpy and cranky, Aloof and hasty, Restless and fidgety, Will you still love me?

IV If I… Am a teenager truant, A young girl Flamboyant! A daydreamer, A bit giddy, And rather naughty, Will you still love me?

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My Child I. If you learn To look at events from afar, You could guard First others, then yourself. The beauties that you observe Feeling them inside, Applauding the ones that you really like. Troubles of your own Will not stifle you then. II. Responsibility The precious load you carry Is your life-force. Before others you blame Do you ever look into the mirror? III. Your World If you live in your own world, Then trapped you will be at the center. You will fail to see What is around about And the people surrounding you, You will only see yourself, And become entranced in your own being With your own light.

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Can You See? If the world surrounding you Pulls you to its center, You would not see around you Or the people close to you. Only yourself Lost in your own light. How could you show others your substance Just by talking about yourself? If you become a slave to your anger And the greed inside, You would be left isolated Alone, no friends. It is muddy, The center of your world. If only you are present, Whilst the leaves in all their colors Fly around you, dancing. You could embrace people, Be a part of Nature, Wouldn’t you want that? If you get out of the center Of your own world Your light will resonate, Illuminating the whole globe.

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Spring Spring is here, almost unexpectedly, Nature is beautiful, neither too hot, nor too cold. Surrounding us is that special aroma Luring us to fall in love. The grass is a multitude of greens, Trees burst with buds as flowers bloom everywhere. The rains quench nature's thirst each day As birds chirrup to our heart’s content, Vivid colors galore, giving us great joy. We are embraced, holding hands, Lost in each other’s eyes. In the heart of this scene, You and I are one, The joys of our love surrounding our very being. Our only thoughts are for each other, We believe that our love is unique And that we will love each other for a lifetime. Our eyes meet endlessly Our laughter never stops.

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Where Do I know where I am going And my direction before I start my journey? Life’s road is long and confusing, Slippery at times, rocky now and then, Getting through with no slipping, Without tripping, It's not easy to go on without wavering. If I start my journey with no direction And end up going around and around, Even if I surmount the slopes that come before me And climb the highest mountain, up and down, I will get lost for sure. Never-ending is the road I follow. If I know where I am going Don’t squander my time in vain. … If I take a short-cut, Rushing through a maze With no precaution, If I forget my right or my left And sink into swamp unknowingly, What a pity it will be If I lose my life in vain. … Advancing hurriedly on my road, What if I were to stop suddenly? If I wait with no reason, If I am hot, become paralyzed, Who am I to blame then?

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Should I get to know? What shouldn’t I want To get to know about stranger? May be this unfamiliar person, The one that I do not yet know Will be my best friend. Should I try? If I eat only my favorites, What if I would enjoy the things I thought I did not like before? How would I know if I don’t first try?

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Seasons of Love - II I loved you with all my being I was scared that your love Overspill from my heart… Our love grew, blossomed, Found its place in our hearts. We were young, we did not know, Did not understand We could not see the flowers fading slowly. The Spring ended then… We had to work hard To keep the flowers blossoming Water, feed, pull weeds Take care of new saplings… Needed much care through the Summer. We were so used to easy days of Spring Rains of every day, blooming flowers, Green grass growing with no toil, The reasons of this beauty, Nature’s play. If we did not have rose colored glasses on Perhaps, we could have seen the essence of all. Love, respect, affection, concern, laughter Putting beloved before self needed in summer Tried to open your closed doors I still had the flames of my love inside me In the coolness of Summer evenings.

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Fertile Autumn If we survived the long, hot Summer Then we reach our Autumn, The most beautiful of seasons. Whilst yellow leaves fall and fly away, We will together reach New horizons, hand-in hand. We want to live for the beauty of the season Whilst the flying leaves dance their merry dance, A new love surrounds our being. Harvest time is nearing, Soon to fill our home with its fruit. The branches of our healthy love tree Are touching the ground, From carrying its ever multiplying fruits. If only we could overcome the troubles of Summer, Then we would live in abundance, In the beautiful Autumn of our love. The colors abundant surround us like a dream, As we discover each other once more. Nature may be calmer, a little quieter... But in Autumn the flower's colors are no more.

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Long Hot Summer Summer is now here, we were waiting Although the Spring was not so different, Not hot, not cool, but warm. The sun as it shone in the sky Did blaze at times. Flowers do not bloom easily As the daily rains diminish, So unexpected was this happening, And while the weeds grow The little bugs consume the precious saplings. Watering, pulling up weeds, Cultivation... The changing Nature needs our toil. We have been used to the easiness of Spring When plants grow spontaneously And the rains fall amongst blooming flowers; Source of their beauty And Nature’s amusement. If we had in the past put down Our rose colored glasses, When we looked at one another, We could have Perceived the colors of the world when real.

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to wait for tomorrows the days after tomorrow holidays vacations I do not wish... to laugh have fun to be happy… to live my today my moment now…

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It Is Not Difficult It's easy to love the good and the beautiful. If I wish to love the bad Then I will look deep inside, into the depths -- But as I look, I see The good multiplying And the bad diminishing. If I wish to love the unattractive Then I assume another point of view And the ugliness will disappear As I look deep inside, into the depths, Whilst the sun and the moon Cast their light upon The hidden beauties, they do come alive.

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Wake up Early Tomorrow Morning Wake up early tomorrow morning I said to my stars, Spread their light over you, Paint a rainbow in the sky. I said to my trees, Wake up early tomorrow morning, Tussle your hair, shake your head And the branches shall tremble around you. Wake up early tomorrow morning I said to my skies, Extend your hands towards me For it will be dawn soon, you’ll see. I said to my earth Wake up early tomorrow morning, And everywhere you will look The flowers will be blooming.