Again and Again and Again

in the Glass Cage
By: the iHope Poet

He doesn't see the shape of his own golden scales,
his fins, or his stubby sheer tail
before it's too late. He's up against the glass again.
And again, and again, and again.
Each time, he rears back from the roadblock
and remembers, dimly, the reflection of his little fish body
that the wall of his cage reveals in the light.

Yet, in a matter of seconds, his focus retreats
and the glass rushes back, quite close to his face until -- clink!
And again. And again.

Maybe the incessant idea of escape --
of the world beyond, which he could see so clearly --
maybe it caused him to forget where he was and what he was.
And for every clash against the barrier, for every
ripple of water that faded the mirror of his essence away,
the urge to break free was reinforced;
driving his dull mind to madness.

Oh, the insanity! That final push that leaves his body
floating on the surface.
Is freedom what he tastes in the water now,
having grasped this fateful reverie?

via

Note: ever wonder why a goldfish will hit the side of his bowl, back up, and hit it again? I learned that they do this because in those few seconds that elapse between their running into the glass and backing up upon realizing they were hit, they forget everything that just happened, and then continue forward. Again.

via

The damage that this consistent forefront attack must have on their body has some pretty long-term affects,   I'm sure. It must be quite difficult to remember what's blocking their path when the barrier is see-through and their minds are suffering so.

Is it true?

Wrong

By: the iHope Poet

Anger sparks in flames of accusation,

Defiance rises in gusts of staggered blame

And when the gale collides in time to undermine the fire

One must stop to ask himself, "am I and sin the same?"

via

Fear of the Unknown

I See Cliffs.
By: the iHope Poet

Cliffs. They’re risky, and brutally honest with my line of vision. When I stand on the edge, the tip-top, slippery edge, all I can see is the fall ahead of me; the fall that could happen, but almost doesn’t seem likely – not until I actually lose my footing. And all I can think is, “My life could end right now.”  Though this idea is nearly suicidal, it’s practically settling as I face the narrow fact, looking down upon the steep reality of my situation.

But even aside from their stomach-lurching height, or the tricky games they play on my eyes and mind, perhaps the worst aspect of cliffs are how frequently they are depicted in all aspects of life.  I can often find myself leaping off cliffs that life casually carves out of day-to-day circumstances. Risks are taken; heights are either feared or jumped. Bones are broken as challenges are faced, and then limits are reached, sometimes even exceeded.
Because cliffs are so similar to many of life's experiences, I feel almost hesitant to acknowledge my anxiety, or else I’d be claiming to dread life itself. Can you imagine what people would think of such a suggestion?

So I’ll bite my tongue, because if there’s anything I do know, it’s that I love life. Therefore, I must somehow unknowingly love the mind-blowing, breath-taking and serene reality of a cliff, even when staring down from the peak of its danger. . .

"Alicia Who See's Mice"  ~ Sandra Cisneros

via

So....the Deal-io :0

The Deal of the Difference
By: the iHope Poet

What's the deal here?
Am I not working hard enough?
Sometimes, it seems,
I've literally left my head in the dark.

What does it take
To turn on the lights?
How long will this drought of mind last?
Too often, I guess,
My best isn't good enough.

Then what can I do now?
Will I ever be able
To help other people in as good a way
As so many have done for me?
Perhaps my efforts will improve...

...But as for today....
Who will make up for the difference?
(will He make up for the difference?)

one verse at a time...part 3 (final)

Just to Know - vs. 3
By: the iHope Poet

I sing a lullaby
in the key of my heart
may it carry it's tune
to the ends of the earth --

-- If someday,
I should ever turn bitter;
forgetting to sing,
Let this song
help me learn
to be fearless
and free.

Let it help me remember
that once, long ago,
I had opened my heart
and my life....

Just to know.



First and second verses, here and here.

one verse at a time....part 2

Just to Know - vs. 2

By: the iHope Poet

I know a lullaby;

it's about hope and faith

and it plays on and on

in my wake and my sleep.

Even now,

my foundation is singing --

this song of my life;

let me live...

in the midst

of a small,
silent world.

First and final verses, here and here.

one verse at a time...

Just to Know - vs. 1

By: the iHope Poet

I hear a lullaby 

so I'll open my eyes

and my ears and my heart

just to know what it sings--

--even though 

it may simply be trying

to put me to sleep,

let me rest...

on this dark

restless night.

Gray reflects Potential

The Gray Song

By: the iHope Poet

Walking on my shadow under

Deeply ashen skies

The rain is falling silver in the dark

And so it shines.

All is strangely peaceful

And despite the somber fog

There’s a feeling in the air of desperate

Hope for something more.

A sea of fallen teardrops buries

Lost and broken hearts

Mute and leaden in their color, they’re unsure

Of where to start

After all the hurt they’ve been through

All the twisted, tinted pain

Now, for once, there is a chance that

They’ll be healed inside this rain

To Be

The Pursuit of Beauty

By: the iHope Poet

I fold up in the darkness

Neither seeing, nor being seen

And alone I consider

Beauty and ugliness

As a weed I was poisoned

Plucked from the earth

Left in the barren part of the dirt

Flowers despised me

Hated my leaves

Ugliness made me as small as a seed

Now as a rose, I’m too fair to be weeded

I’m left here to grow

I’m admired and needed

I can shine in the garden,

It’s easy to see

That beauty is better than being a weed

And nothing is wrong

With becoming so fair

But my pursuit of it all

Has left me worse for wear 

As I sought to look pretty

I turned into stone

My heart had been vain

And I acted a fool

All the things that I did to become something new

It hurt me, it hurt them; and I didn’t stay true

I unfold in the darkness

Yes, now I can see

It’s not wrong that it happened

But how it all came to be

      

is it wrong?

White Lie

By: the iHope Poet

The see-through blind fold

Covers your eyes

Like a fog

But it’s white

So you still see the lines

No harm done

No swift blows

Of that filthy black dust

That would otherwise swallow

My tongue in its must

And I spoke those clear words

They were smooth

They seemed sweet

Underneath they were dim, yet

Whose ill did they meet?

Simple lies

Plain deceit

But they’re lost in the telling

It tastes good while it lasts

And my throat isn’t swelling

Wishing

Princess Dream

By: the iHope Poet

Once upon a time…

forever ago

not now

…In a land far away…

a world just out of reach

in my dreams

…there lived a beautiful girl…

could she have been me?

maybe so

Those luscious words

Of a story just beginning

Perhaps I will determine the ending

Right now

Right here

First, tell me

Was there a castle?

Did she get to go there?

Wait, stop

That is for me find out

I must finish the page before

I turn to the next.

…there she wept. Now she would never make it…

it’s all unfair

I wish the tears would stop

…and her Fairy God Mother appeared…

I love magic

we should all believe

…The white palace came in view…

wishes do come true

but maybe not always in the way we expect

If only we

Could always realize

That our chance is right next to us

All we need to do

Is look around

Not back

But here

Then it could all come to pass,

True love,

Magical tears J

I’ll wait, if I must, to have that –

Forever-ness.

…She lost her glass slipper along the way…

there will always be disappointments

I’ve learned to hope anyway

…Even so, the prince recognized her! ...

but happiness can always prevail

if we put our best efforts into our wishing

…So he rode with her back to the castle,

Where they lived happily ever after.

And we will all

Have that chance:

To live a happy ending

And tie up those happy words that began the journey –

Once upon a time,

They lived

Happily

Ever After.

   

I wrote this poem a few years ago. I  can't remember why, but I'd guess it's because I read some fairy tale or another. I thought I'd share it with you...:)

My Version

Twinkle, Little Star

By: the iHope Poet

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Why does heaven seem so far?

How I hope to one day shine

Bright as day all through the night

Twinkle, twinkle little star

What a brilliant one you are

Wish that I could have a friend

Help me let my brightness bend

Give the world a chance to see

All the wonders I can be

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Though you’re high you’re not so far

Every night I look to where

Your own sparkle seems to bear

All the space of pressure in

One small jar where light has been

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Oh, I wonder how you are

Someday I won’t feel alone

Soon I’ll be up there with you

Glinting brightly in the sky

No one else will wonder why

Heaven always seemed so far

Cause I’m the twinkling little star

Who found out what it means to shine

Like the glorious stars up high.

So twinkle, twinkle little star

Twinkle little star

little girl, BIG expectations

With the Sky in My Hands

By: iHope Poet

What will I do with the sky in my hands;

With the clouds and the birds and the light in my hands?

What will I do as I hold to what’s true

With what’s there and so “real” and so “now” and so “blue”?

 I will stand very tall

Just to reach it and all

Oh, I'll probably falter a few or more times.

But still I’ll remain

With the world yet to gain

 I’ll have to have vision; be honest and brave.

Where will I go with the sky in my hands?

Will I travel to places not seen here on land?

How will I grip what I hold in my mind,

If right now I struggle to leave what’s past behind?

Well, the universe works

With the shadow that lurks

At the edge of all colors and stars up in space.

Though that darkness is bleak

I will not be made weak

By the things which seem evil; for good’s what I seek.

Why do I think of the sky like it’s mine?

Sometimes people feel they need big things to shine.

Well, I realize now that it’s not what I own,

It’s the good I achieve that will make my worth show.

So for now I will do

All I can to be true

Like the universe, sky and this massive world, too.

I won’t try to hold things

That are greater than me,

Instead I’ll take time to reach who I should be.

The Potential

To Find Myself

By: the iHope Poet

I thought I knew my heart and mind

My constantly turning desires

But now I find there’s so much more

Many secrets strewn up even higher

Sometimes I feel at the verge of perception

Others I’m too far away

But for now I’ll be seeking

A chance to discover

My new self in the near future day

If I could be One Thing...

Patience

By: the iHope Poet

Practice peace of mind and soul

Answer trials with strengthened goals

Try to hear what others say

Illustrate a faithful way

Exceed tolerance with love

Notice blessings from above

Carefully learn to do what’s right
Endure always in God’s Light

What it Took

By: the iHope Poet

To wait for what is frail and lost

and hope despite the trial or cost 

then find that maybe all my  strength

has been but naught against the pain

I wish I hadn't sent away

the simple things from yesterday

Because of wanting far too much 

and waste my time in dreaming of such 

The patience lost in those spare hours

is what makes life's regrets so sour

and looking back I wish I'd tried

to cherish those moments before they died

 ... I would be Patient.

Things that Shine pt. 2

You do too!

Reach and Return

By: the iHope Poet 

You can catch all the stars

And eventually,

Return to the sun.

You are a heavenly being,

(Heaven takes many forms)

So reach for the stars

And back home,

Bring with you each one.

May You Shine

By: the iHope Poet

I want to tell you a story

I’m gonna tell you about me

And if it’s just too heartbreaking

So by the end you are shaking

Perhaps the words were worth saying

Because by now you’re repeating

The lessons I’ve learned and passed on

Take and use them to move on

Please know and remember

That each life is so tender

Every time you forget it

Eventually you’ll regret it

Please keep it in mind

To hold close all that you find.

And use each one to shine.

Oh, may you shine.

I want to tell you a secret

I won’t expect you to keep it

Someday you’ll carry the burdens

That you would never imagine

Others may choose to give up

But I would wish you to stay up

Oh, that you could see

As I do now, that in the end you’ll be happy.

And if you’ve kept it in mind

To take in all that you find

The secret is you will shine

Brighter than the rays 
You’ve had to leave behind

And then it will be yours 
To choose to keep the light.

Oh, that you would always remain

Oh, may you shine.