WELCOME

GIFT

It is awesome how sometimes
In the darkest night,
Out of nowhere, unexpected
Comes a brightly shining light.

You couldn't know from far away
That something had to change this day.
A loving word, a caring touch
Which helps to chase away my fright.

Yet, in our mysterious world
Thoughts travel through the mist
Connecting to the open mind
Of those who don't resist.

So, thankful for the wondrous gift
I reach out and take hold.
Thank you for your loving lift
My heart will be more bold.

J. Stormwillow
Oct 9, 98

VETERAN'S DAY

Hi ho, here we go again!
Speeches, reefs and greeting cards
about the time it all began!
Soldiers, proud in uniform
being thanked by countless names.
Yes, they fought in Desert Storm!

I remember, am I wrong?
All the gifts and caring words
, meant to make our spouses strong.
They were waiting in the sands
for a sign of love and care.
Proud to free the strangers' lands.

Controversy did arise
here and there, the voices strong!
Should our countries pay this price?
Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons,
brothers, sisters, loved ones,
all were gone for months, so long.

Now it's over, we are bless'd!
Not to many paid the toll.
Only few got laid to rest.
But is it true what I just said?
It's not over! It's not real!
I still mourn the hurt, the dead.

I was a viewer, save at home,
watching the development
in Iraq and in my womb.
A new life was soon to be,
mercifully sheltered
from the heartache inside me.

A little girl was born one day
to us, even though we were apart.
Soon, home her father found his way.
What a glorious, wonderful day!
Much happiness filled our heart.
One thing remains for me to say:

It's never over, never will.
The ghosts of combat hang around
as long as humans fight wars and kill.
Veterans are a different breed
born to battle-cries and fear.
To "kill" the ghost, they don't succeed.

What remains, you wonder now?
I will tell you if you care.
Can we change it? Can we? How?
Find love and wisdom in your heart
and pass it on to those who dare
to reach out for a brand new start!

It is against the human mind
to share, to love, to give and help.
To selfish is our "civilized" kind.
Continue working on it where you are
and it will happen, wait and see!
One day there will be no more WAR!

J. Stormwillow
Nov 11, 1998

PURPOSE

Barren lies the land of Peace and Love,
Dreary hang the skies of hope and faith above;
We're led by greed and hate and lust,
forget to share, communicate and trust.

In this time we open soul and mind
To thousand voices; as if blind.
We follow them despite the warning signs,
See not the pattern our step designs.

The prints go round and round,
The circle never finds an end!
At birth this journey starts and only death
will bring a seeming peaceful end.

But be advised - you will begin anew
The circle which imprisoned you.
Another life, another time,
Same voices, steps and same design.

So, wand'rer on this earthen plane
Take off the blindfold to obtain
The sight you need to find those voices' source
And insight in the truth you'll gain.

'Tis not the never ending circle you shall tread,
much more the inward spiral to your spirits bed,
To plant a seed in your soul's sacred ground,
To nourish it with Love and Light unbound.

From this point on go forth, oh seeker,
Fly the winds of Hope and Faith and Peace,
The inward spirals core
beginning for the outward journey is.

Now, as you wander step by step
Sow the seeds in other beings soulful mind
Replenish land and skies
That are the grounds for humankind.

J. Stormwillow
Dec 8, 1998

WILD WOLF WOMAN

A wild wolf woman I'll be,
Spirit walks my path.
Power and strength live in me,
Do not provoke my wrath.
Yet my loyal heart
Patiently friendship gives;
It's where I drop my guard
Where my freedom lives!
Wild and free I will remain
In my heart and soul.
Wisdom is what I will gain,
'Tis my life's main goal.

J. Stormwillow
Nov 22, 1998

WINTER WONDERLAND

Do you hear the silence
As it, creeping, cozily, moves into the land,
While the plant people rest
And the furry creatures without movement stay within their nest?

Do you see the snowflake's soft descent
The royal crown belongs to Winter Wonderland.
Dressed are shrubs and brush and trees
With a brilliant white and brightly shining fleece.

Do you smell the icy chilling winter air
Fresh and clearly flowing wave
Freed of dusty daily flair
It's clean, to take a breath is save.

Do you feel the windy spirit's breath
Just like soft and tiny fingers she gives you a caress
And you feel a chilled but dreamy shudder
A magic world that opens up no less.

But only if, like as a child, who tastes the winter, too,
You chase away the frightened shadows of your soul
Will you uncover that the winter spirit lives,
A living thing like you, just slightly different is.

J.Stormwillow
25 Jan 1999
translation from German original

READY TO GO

Furrowed soul and leathery, wrinkled skin,
I sit on the mountain top of my life.
Old woman, bowed with age,
Exhausted from a long and demanding journey.
From here, I overlook
All around me, to the horizon
The valleys and hills of my life.

I close my tired eyes and gurgling sounds
Of the ocean of my mothers womb penetrate my thoughts.
From the waters of my birth and the rushing rivers of my life
To the thunderous, inevitable roar of crushing, surpressing waterfalls
That lurk behind so many river bends of reality
And in the clear, refreshing, healthy springs along the paths
Have I been moved, ever changing, growing, flowing.

The lush green gardens of my youth
Beckon invitingly, calling my every childhood name.
How I would like to jump and play again
Unhindered by brittle bones.
And yet, concealed by carefree games
Are the pains of lessons learned along the way.
I have been there, no need to live through them again.

The plains of juvenile domain, no shelter
From exiting strobe lights, blinding with impressions, new.
Friendships, love and passion I name some of the different paths
That intertwined and just like labyrinths
Had dead ends, walls and new beginnings, teaching me
To stop and linger, watch and learn and in the end
Find the one path that made sense.

Now as I scan the scene, reflecting all my memories
I see the desserts, scorched from pain
And the valleys of depressions, none of which I crossed in vane.
No stone unturned, no tree unclimbed, nothing left to conquer.
I have learned and taught my share, I am ready now.
The journey has an end right here, I leave my body to the earth
My spirit soars in freedom, onward, upward into the brilliance of ALL.

J.Stormwillow
27 Jan 1999

WAITING

I am not well, torn between feelings
putting together pieces of the puzzle
only to throw away the fragments
that never seem to fit
desperately searching for .... what?

Welling emotions rule my day
Tides high and low.
The blessings I count
only prolonging the inevitable death
of all I have known.

Where is the I, I knew so well?
Drowned in tears and sorrow,
motor broken, no more gas
Strength comes from within
but where is that?

My voice is silent now
no more words form through the mist
I curl up and get still
waiting,
waiting.

J.Stormwillow
29 Jan 99

Star Kissed

I feel star kissed tonight.
Gentle butterfly wings touch my soul.
This is not the time for joy
But a time of change and the beginning
Of the Great Unknown.

Yet, I feel star kissed tonight.
A new fire flickers in my mind
Consuming the old withered wood of the past.
Reborn from smoldering ashes I find myself,
How I used to be in the beginning.

And I feel star kissed.
Happiness surges through my body,
Lingers for a while, spreads to every cell.
I hold myself proud now, my step quickens
To greet the new horizon.

As I reach out to touch the veil
That seperates me from the future
I realize, that all is born from my will
I hold the key and the responsibility.
Yes,I am star kissed.

J. Stormwillow
Feb 25 1999

Roller Coaster

Today we're bound to take a crazy ride
So pack up, dress leisurly, open your eyes wide!
We're travelling to the park of life
To ride the roller coaster of husband and wife.

Look all around you, take in sights and sounds
Watch closely the others, who've just ended their rounds.
Are you ready for the goosebumps, giggles and chills,
The screaming and laughter and the terror on the hills?

Step right up, calls the voice, luring and with joy,
Carries promise of adventure, no need to feel coy.
It's the ride of your lifetime, an everlasting thrill.
You won't regret it, you never will!

Lovers link hands and take their places
You can see building exitement on their faces.
The safety bar comes down and without further delay
Begins the trip, they show no fear, come what may!

Confidently smiling they are swept towards the first loop
Still holding onto each other they grin and whoop.
The journey gets faster, wilder are the turns,
But still, between doubts an eager fire burns.

Now, the ride has reached it's ultimately thrilling peak
Has sorted out the brave, the fearful and the weak.
As the whirling stops, slowly coming to an end
Some are still holding on, but others for their freedom fend.

You hear the question, would you like to try another in a bit?
Some will, some won't, some make a game of it.
I for one would rather walk then have been taken for a ride.
At least I choose each step with dignity and pride.

I leave the crazy roller coaster, what an unbecoming "toy",
To pick more wisely whom I trust and that which brings me joy.
If I should ever want to jointly walk again, my hand in someone's hand,
It surely will not be a trip to Roller Coaster Land.

J. Stormwillow
Mar 2,1999