upon the earth
And taller than every doubt,
Remember
How God led you yesterday
And that today is another gift,
Pray
Like you are talking to a friend
And heed the answer he sends,
Think
Fast, kind, long, hard
And then act like you give a care,
Wait
For the moment, the place, the person
And keep moving until you get there
Reach
Up to that which will make you grow
And back to those who still fear,
Give
Back to the community of your growth
And into your better self,
Stand
Firm on your cherished beliefs
Until knowledge reveals a better way,
Study
Deep into a subject
And yield to the convictions therein,
Share
A good thought and a prized possession
And see one produce many more,
Smile
Even when it hurts
And muscle the tears away,
Watch
That you do not lose hope
And check that you are on the right path
Do
Something good each day
And something right each time.
Shake and Roll
There is no rain
Yet my cheeks are wet
I did not run a mile or train
It could not possibly be sweat.
It did not fall
Yet my heart is broken
It happened after your call
And its few words lethally spoken.
There is no rope
Yet my hands are tied
I find no scope
With you by my side.
They did not rise
Yet my feet are unbound
Once I lift my eyes
My path will be found.
It won’t be the route easily taken
While my mind grows a bruise
I will not be shaken
Unless I doubt my muse.
There is no way back
Even on a gray day
I can ride off track
Into the crowded highway.
The tollgates were a speed bump
I would have to take care
On an errand over the grief hump
To buy a new pair.
White gloves and dancing shoes
I trust the fit would be neat
The end of sad news
Spotless hands on steady feet.
Mum advocated for a clean nose
She told me once, she told me twice
I would keep her counsel close
It would carry me past a new vice.
No drama was needed
Two actors left on the stage
You and I, pride ceded
As we stepped out of our gilded cage.
Learning to sing a new song
“Forget you,” “Shake, rattle, and roll”
I must keep the beat strong
Filling my empty bowl.
If You Can Wait
If you can wait
The rain will stop
A hit song will drop
The pot will have boiled
A crime will be foiled
If you can wait
But a moment
To make a comment
For a little while
Then let loose that smile,
If you can wait
For an angel to deploy
For that coveted toy
For your soul to settle
And find its righteous mettle
If you can wait
For a lover to call
For your child to grow tall
For bonus points to accrue
The sky will turn blue.
If you can wait
To talk it over with a friend
For the weird fad to end
For a better day
And a kinder phrase to say
If you can wait
For God to call your name
For your turn to get into the game
The job will be well done
The conquest will be won.
If you can wait
For reason to restrain
For hope to constrain
For the flower to bloom
And your stomach to have room
If you can wait
The right person will show
Your joy will grow
The fever will break
The right choice you will make.
Upside Down
If you stand on your head
And don’t fall off the bed
Then the ceiling is your reach
And through the ground your brains might leach
And walking is a chore
Your hands plenty sore
Then an adjective becomes a noun
And a smile looks like a frown
Then pigs become pork
And play becomes work.
If you cover your ears
And say yes to your