Reflections©

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Paths of Destiny©

The Original Works of "The Rose"

Reflections©

Elusive Wisdom

As I sit in this common area

Quietly waiting, listening

Straining to hear the mechanical tones

Sometimes unable to distinguish

Barely audible

Jumbled

Nothing better to do I observe

A study in humanity this collection

This diversity of society

Not uncommon

In their likeness

As I glance about my gaze falls

On a couple across the room

A shamefully obese man and a wisp of a woman

Methodically he rubs her shoulder

A near caress

Constant

And I wonder what he perhaps is feeling

Obvious affection laced with gratitude

As she languishes her head upon his immense chest

Eyes closed

Content

As my attention strays about the room

I see an elderly gentleman

Slack-jawed, his gaze seeming to fall

On empty air

Transfixed

And I think perhaps he is aged beyond his years

Or perhaps his years have surpassed him

I sense he lives alone now

His presence here

Routine

A young man on crutches brushes by

And takes a seat opposite me

The scars of recent injury evident

Intelligent eyes

Smiling

And look there, a young couple with twins

Nearly two years I'd say

Since she held his hand

Teeth clenched

Grimacing

An old woman sits nearby with newspaper in hand

Peering over her spectacles, straining

Her obvious years etched deeply

Legs crossed

Patient

And down the hall her life partner waits expectantly

The resignation evident in his gaze

Footsteps echoing as the physician returns

Haggard eyes

Concerned

Heads turn as the main entrance gives way

And a weathered old gentleman hobbles in

His short shuffling steps a testament

Gnarled hands

Arthritic

Decades of toiling the fields

Raising a dozen offspring off the land

And bumper crops by irrigating

With his sweat

And tears

So many turn their eyes away

From the suffering masses

Not seeing the humanity before them

Their compassion

Token

So taken with their own concerns

Never noticing a strangers silent gaze

Engrossed in their own existence

Wisdom eludes them

To the end...

The Rose 0828011025PM

A Dreamer Dreams

A dreamer dreams

Of passions past

Of bygone loves

And memories cast

With wistful sigh

through parted lips

A dreamer dreams

Of lost desire

And bathes his soul

In emerald fire

With distant gaze

As lost within

A dreamer dreams

With vision clear

Of beauty once

Was held so near

As overwhelmed

Emotions stirred

A dreamer dreams...

The Rose 102920001000PM

9:02

I once stood before a wall of memories

Where many lives were lost

And I viewed the archived images

Unable to fathom the cost

And I felt a deep resentment

That such acts could be performed

That so much innocence must pay

For misguided opinions formed

And I wrestled with emotions

Welling up from deep within

As I walked with restless spirits

Of children, women, and men

And I wondered of the aftermath

Where heroes knelt and wept

Where fortitude was tested

And now memories are kept

And overcome I stumbled

In the glow of eternal flame

You shall not be forgotten

For in stone is etched your name…

Dedicated to the memory of the victims and families of the Oklahoma City bombing tragedy.

And on this 11^th day of September, 2001

For the victims and fallen heroes and the families of today’s tragedy

We weep for you.

May God be with you

911

The Rose 91120011100pm

Cherish

To hold dear.

To preserve with affection.

This is our friendship,

And what it means to me.

So damned with desire

An affliction of mind

That brings me here

Only to find

A friend who listens

Who does not judge

Who understands me

And doesn't begrudge

Who gives of heart

And lends an ear

And shares frustration

I found you here

And should we never

Meet face to face

Always know

You have found a place

Here within

This heart of mine

Friends forever

Till the end of time...

The Rose 112401830pm

Too Soon We Forget

Too soon we forget

Few are the flags that wave now

As time dims our memory

The rage we once felt

And the anger fresh

Now stale and only fleeting

Only briefly do we pause

For news of faraway victories

Or defeats.

Too soon we forget

The thousands of souls

Those lost to hate

And the millions whose lives

Will never again be complete

The husbands and wives

The brothers and sisters

The fathers and mothers

The grandparents and cousins

And the children…

Too soon we forget

The horror and disbelief

As a nation stood silent

While freedom was shackled

Never will we be the same

Never will freedom

Have the same meaning

We have ceased to wonder

Too soon we forget…

The Rose 012720021030am

Beginnings

Green begets gray

Blends into white

Shrouded mists

Of early morn

Stream clear and cold

Descendant of clouds

Capping peaks

Like the halos of Angels

An eagle in flight

Effortless, graceful

Soaring, dipping, swaying

In golden glow

Of morning sun

Rising in the east

Giver of life

And warmth

To a world

Few understand

And many

Take for granted

Green, blue, and gold

Nature's gift

To the eyes of man

The birth

Of another day

Time

Endless and forever

Always ongoing

Never pausing

For man

Nor beast

Time told only

By fading

Light of day

Dusk

Between dark

And light

Moon rising

As a nighttime sun

Reflecting

From still waters

Of mountain lakes

Peaceful, calm

Always giving

Never taking

And the morning

Comes

Inevitably

We begin again...

The Rose

Stave's Creed

Lean on me, for I am strong

I will aid you in your journey

I will lighten your load, and ease your step

When you stumble, I will catch you

When you fall, I will help you stand

When you're unsteady, I will steady you

And when you're tired, I will support you

I will not judge you, for we are friends

Together, we will share many great adventures

041820021030am

Sometimes

Sometimes,

I sit in the darkness and wonder

Why am I here?

Sometimes,

I think about things

I wish I had done.

Sometimes,

I think I have no purpose

No greater goal.

Sometimes,

I walk alone in the night

Wondering, Who am I?

Sometimes,

The answer doesn’t come.

121520030218pm

I Remember a Time

As I sit here in the shadow of a memory

Reminiscing of an easier time

A time when I felt as a man should

Strong, invincible, and in command

A time when it was okay to feel pain

As long as you didn’t let it show

A time when my vision was clear

And my voice strong and powerful

A time when I could please a lover

And had a lover to please…

As I sit here in the shadows

I desire...

074420030305pm

Contradictions

Did you ever just sit?

And stare at the air,

Or let your mind wander?

Never going anywhere.

Have you seen the moon?

Though it’s not really there,

Seen the beauty of a room?

Though the room was bare.

Have you dreamed of a dream?

That may never come true,

Have you longed in your heart?

Have you ever been blue?

Have you ever been happy?

Or died in your mind,

Have you ever been saddened?

By words that were kind.

Have you ever been lonely?

But never alone,

Ever lived in a house?

But never a home?

Have you ever been scorned?

By the people you’ve known,

Or been loved by a child?

That wasn’t your own.

Have you ever been lost?

In a familiar place,

Or brought tears of joy?

To a stranger’s face.

Have you ever been humble?

Felt foolish pride,

Ever stood your ground?

Ever stepped aside?

Have you ever laughed?

Have you ever cried?

Ever been fulfilled,

And felt empty inside…

Ó2004 Virgil G. Richards

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