You are the Reason

If you wonder why I smile

Puzzled as to why I laugh

Confused about the source of my joy

And why I never look back

You are the reason

None compare to you

You are my confidant, I am found in You

I once was lost

Couldn't find my way

Jaded by life, 

Questioning everything

Down on my luck

With nowhere to turn

Had to quit hiding

And face life head on

You are the reason for my strength

With you, I can do anything

Go anywhere

You are my light

It comes from within

Every day gets a little brighter

I didn't know that was possible

You make me desire more

Pressing past my feelings

And all I thought was right

I need You

You make everything beautiful

No more doubt

No more fear

You are the reason I live

Things my Nephew Says 2

My nephew, Mason, had brought a tape measure for me to strap up a big truck. This is the conversation that followed.

"Now let it go so it can snap back."

As I let it go, it didn't snap back. "I don't think this one will snap back," I said. "You have to just feed it back in like this."

Mason said, "I can do it."

I let go and let him do it. He started pushing it back in.

"There you go!" I said.

"No, don't talk! Du(You) make me lose the power to do it."

"Okay," I said.

He came into my room wearing a hat my brother had gotten several years ago at Mardi Gras. It is covered gold, yellow, and purple glitter with a green feather on the top.

Earlier today he said, "Ding!" while holding the big gold ball that's attached to the green feather.

"Why is the bell not dinging," he asked.

"Because it's not really a bell."

Wearing the hat again, he said, "I have a cowboy hat, a belt, but I missing sumpin' (something)!"

"I need some boots on!"

One day, I turned on Smokey and the Bandit. It's a hilarious movie about truck drivers and other characters who do crazy stuff and the law spends all their time trying to catch them. Since Mason's daddy drives a transfer truck, my mom thought he would like it.

In between watching YouTube videos about monster trucks and mud holes, he watched some of Smokey and the Bandit.

In one scene, several of the transfer truck drivers agreed to park side by side to form a bridge that the cars could race over. 

Later that day, Mason brought his transfer trucks over to my chair in the living room.

"Hold it teady (steady) while I dit(get) ano-der(another) truck."

He brought over a big monster truck saying, "Now, trap(strap) it on so it won't fall off." His daddy has to strap on each load before he heads out.

"It's not balanced yet, baby. We need some more trucks," I said.

"Hold it teady (steady).

"Got it."

He came back with a smaller die-cast transfer truck. "This will balance it!" he said.

To my amazement it worked. But Mason wasn't done.

"Let me go get another truck!" 

And so, we tried to balance a monster truck, a die cast transfer truck, and a heavy trailer on top of the big transfer truck trailer. By the end, my arms were sore, but Mason was satisfied with what he'd accomplished.

Just sharing some great memories from life with a toddler! Mason has such a great imagination!

The Toy with a Voice

All of us were sleeping 

Suddenly, I heard a drum beat.

What was that noise?

Minutes pass, and it happens again.

Now, I heard a car

Revving louder

Silence.

Finally, we have peace.

Vroom, vroooom.

Bonk! BONK!

The sound pierced through the darkness.

Was it a phone?

Was it a truck?

Mama, what IS that noise?

I don't know, but if it happens again, I'll find out.

BONK!!!
Short, loud bursts.

Vroom, vrooom.

Rawr!

It's got to be a toy.

But what makes that noise?

It's not in the living room

Or behind closed doors

Lurking in the shadows

Was an especially curious noise

Soon, it wailed louder

Mama looked for the noise.

Seeing a blue light

She thought, "Oh my gosh! What in the world?"

In the bathroom she found the culprit

It was one of the boys' toys!

Lying on the floor

Was the plastic phone 

That used to chirp and squeak with happiness

And even play the drums

But one fateful day

It was dropped in the commode.

Just a little water changed it forevermore.

Now, it spontaneously burst forth with sound

Vroom, vroom.

Rawr. Ahh!

I won't be quiet now!

"It's not supposed to work if you don't touch it," Mama said.

Interrupting sleep,

Jolting me out of bed

This toy had become a source of dread.

Mama said, "I know what I'll do

I'll take the batteries out!"

Gone are the revving engines

And ear-splitting sounds.

I've got the power now!

And so we drifted off to sleep

And my nephews were oblivious to the sounds of the night

That gave us all such a fright.

Each time you press it

It is a mystery.

Will it sound like a car, a chainsaw, a tiger?

No one knows what it will be.

The toy has a voice,

Morphing anew each time.

Muttering indistinguishable sounds 

It is sure to confound.

This simple toy 

Was begging to be heard

Understood? Never!

It's just absurd.

Detached

Internet Connect © Marquinhos Schnaider via freeimages.com

People have detached from the simple things

Want to go their own way

Noses in screens

Isolated

Agitated

Can't engage in a conversation

Detached from family

Thinking they have friends

That illusion is fading steadily

Obsessed with likes, comments, and opinions

Whatever happened to being an individual?

Inundated with the latest news

If you don't wear this

If you ever say that

You can't hang with my crew

Detached from reality

Never knowin' they're sinking

Slinking into a pit

Has a child's mentality

I want this 

I need that

Who texted me?

I missed that?!

Gossip, chatter

Can't relate

Because they make no mistakes

Vision is murky

Unable to see dangers lurking

In the electronic vacuum 

Mommy can't save you

Fake profiles, secrets, and more

Didn't someone warn you?

Addicted

Even though you're in too deep

Can't escape that screen

When I try to unplug

Read a book

The screen beckons me, "Come back. You need me. I am your drug."

Power me up.

Keep me by your side.

As long as you have me, everything will be alright.

Detached. Unaware. 

No personality.

Void of all feeling.

Evidence you are prisoner of the technology lair.

The Verdict

Balance © Stephen Stacey via freeimages.com

The balance is set

Which way will it go?

One tip and everything changes

Each side sits still

Waiting for my next move

Side to side, suspended in the air

My hands tremble. It is such a heavy burden to bear.

The verdict is coming

There is no way to stop it

Faster, faster

Life or death?

Right or wrong?

Fact or fiction?

Bond servant or free?

How do I choose?

Why can't I see?

I am blinded by my own misery

Haunted by a sense of duty

Carefully placing a coin in one side

The pendulum shifts

The mood has changed

No longer stale

Dynamic, shifting, swaying

And then, the dust settles

The choice has been made

Will I live to see another day?

Palms are sweaty

I am desperate to be rid of this weight

Flinging all of my chips at the balance, laying it all on the table

I have nothing to lose

In a moment of clarity, my eyes see a faint glow

Do I dare to hope?

Alas, I leave the pendulum

Unbalanced, teetering

I have emptied everything into a hunk of metal

Now I go

Steeling myself for the answer

Head up, shoulders back

The verdict is in.

A Poem about Truth

Truth is often sought after

Yet it is elusive

Almost within reach

But the facade and lies are keeping it hidden

Truth, I seek you

You are a comfort in the storm

Knowing that if I still pursue

I will find you

I abide in truth

Continuing to hold you in the highest regard

Forsaking the norm

Tear down the walls

Stop the mockery

The only side of the story I want is truth

Reading between the lines

No longer mystified

I see clearly

I've caught a glimpse of something real

Choosing to stoke the flame of truth

Once an ember, a glimmer, a tiny flame

Let the truth burn in me

Consume my thoughts

Guide my steps

What started out as a want has now become a need

A longing I can't deny

Tired of pretending and so many false pretenses

Can we all just be honest?

Can we all be true?

Can we all be one – me and you?

Truth requires a voice

Someone has to say something

Anyone, anywhere?

Truth calls

The echo is almost deafening

We have to be carriers

Carriers of truth

Now is the time

I've made up my mind

I will speak truth from the lowest valley to the highest peak

Because there is a place where truth reigns

A Poem about Beauty

I see beauty all around me

It's in the sunshine streaming through my window

My nephew's laugh reaches the depths of my soul

Mountains. trees. rushing water.

Deep, calm, free

I am a mountain

Standing tall despite it all

Weathering storms

Full of mysteries

Beauty is in the simple things

A melody

The song I sing, flowing free

I am soaring, flying

High above the things that used to bother me

I am a conqueror

Strength. Shield. Victory.

I am a rubber band

Stretched and flexible

Bending every which way

Bouncing back from heartache

I am beautiful

I am loved

More than ever, I know I'm enough

My voice rings clear

Stronger than ever before

I won't hold back

No, no not anymore

Pressing through

Trudging on

There's a life to be lived

And it is beautiful, precious, pure

I see beauty in myself

It's in my smile

It's in my eyes

I wanna make the world beautiful

Speaking words of life

Walking side by side with harmony

Loving purely

That's beauty.