"It is not the critic who counts ... not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy course; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of great achievement, and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly; so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

More spring flowers. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

"Some things never change. Others always do. The trick is learning which ones are which."
-Manjarous from Dragons Gather

Marigold. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

Spring flower. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

Words For The Ending

When everything's made to be broken,
when all we can do is bend,
when all we have is this moment,
I want it to never end.

When darkness shuts around us,
when friends are far and few,
when all we own is burning,
I want to be here with you.

In these final moments,
we watch the nations fall.
Streets are swollen with horror,
and nobody comes when we call.

Hold me now as I hold you
as everything falls apart.
Together we'll be invincible.
We build of our lives a new start

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

Toucan at Dallas Aquarium. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

Chimney Rock. Copyright 2004 CB. All rights reserved. 

How It Works

If you fall into me,
I'll fall into you.
If you turn to me,
I'll turn to you.
If you speak to me,
I'll speak to you.
If you love me,
I'll love you.
But send me away,
and I won't be back.

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

Flowers at the Seattle market. Copyright 2004 BJO. All rights reserved.  

Mimosa blossom. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

Bird Condo. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

Another Time

We walked down a street
don't remember exactly where
maybe on Elm or Oak
maybe we wanted coffee
from the Java Emporium
doesn't matter I guess

But we sauntered on
you by me hand in hand
like some movie cliche
you were talking about
something Nancy had said
I laughed at how you put it

I saw our reflection in
the plate glass front of
Thompson's Appliance and TV
I marveled at that perfect
moment where together
was more than you and me

Do you remember?

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

Undertow

I sink beneath your waves
into indigo wonder
down where maps end
beyond safety limits

Above the sun still shines
against a pale blue sky
the boat circles aimlessly
divers split the water

But you lead on, diamond
scales sparkle in wan light
smile a flash of white
webbed hand cool in mine

And now you and I dwell
in the lovely deep dark
slow dancing as we flow
in love's irresistible undertow

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.


Coral reef off the west end of Rotan, Honduras. Copyright 2004 K.B. All rights reserved. Used by permission. 

Places I'd Rather Be

On a beach --
No, on a beach with white sand --
Wait, on a beach with white sand and the only sound the ocean --
Hey, on a beach with white sand and the only sound the ocean and a tall cold fruity umbrellaed drink in my hand --
Yes, on a beach with white sand and the only sound the ocean and a tall cold fruity umbrellaed drink in my hand as I lounge in the shade beneath palm trees and you walk toward me, smiling, the sun glistening on your wet skin as you rise out of the waves ...

In your arms.

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

"Nothing can bring you peace but yourself."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

"The first and greatest commandment is, Don't let them scare you."
-Elmer Davis

"I keep my friends as misers do their treasure, because, of all the things granted us by wisdom, none is greater or better than friendship."
-Pietro Aretino

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
-Mahatma Ghandi

Stained Glass Window, Paris. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

"Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip."
-Arnold H. Glasgow

Storm Clouds. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.  

Spring Iris. Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. 

"The tragedy in life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach."
-Benjamin Mays

Hush

This is the story
you're not supposed to tell
the old twisted story
you're not supposed to know
dirty family secrets
not seen in scrapbooks

Blush over bruises
glasses cover blackeyes
Shame folded into her soul

No nightlight in dark room
hands tearing away his breath
and his little boy clothes

Finger down her throat
can't get it all out
can't be perfect

Always outside looking in
never more than the brunt
cold razor on wrists

Hospital bed that they whisper
he deserves for loving those
who should be shunned

Wrong skin color can't change
wrong accent can't hide
wrong life can't live

These are the stories
that don't get told
the old tired stories
that no one wants to hear
Don't look back
let your tongue be silent

Don't make waves
Don't rock the boat
Don't embarrass us

Get on with your life
Get over it
Get out

Forget what
you can't change
Don't remember
what's past
Bury the words
burning in your throat

These are the stories
that sometimes get told
and the world ends
and we all fall down
but we get up --

we get up
and fly into the sky

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.

"One should never direct people towards happiness, because happiness too is an idol of the market-place. One should direct them towards mutual affection. A beast gnawing at its prey can be happy too, but only human beings can feel affection for each other, and this is the highest achievement they can aspire to."
-Alexander Solzhenitsyn

"Wishes come true, not free."
-From Into the Woods

"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?"
-Fanny Brice

"You are the music while the music lasts."
-T. S. Eliot

The Price

No one promised you anything
You chose to love
You chose to give yourself away
You chose to surrender all

This is the price
Nothing is ever free

We all pay in blood
Every tear is ours
Every guilt forged by our choice
Every muffled cry ours alone

This is the price
Nothing is ever free

We all go to sleep and wake
Each morning another chance
Each day another joy or sorrow
Each night falls into dreams

This is the price
This is the price
This is the price
of being alive

Nothing is ever free

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.