Note: This is one of the first poems I ever wrote; as such, it holds a special place in my heart.  Since the GAIA community too holds a place of its own in my heart, I thought I would share my poetic birth with y'all.

Elena

A beautiful night

A beautiful sight

Of little candles in the sky

Flicker, flicker, burn high.

Watch the white face

Smile and embrace

A friend of all ages

While the sun silently rages.

Fill the night

With light, bright white

Oh, Endless Moon

Come to me soon.

Bring me your peace

Bad times to cease

Shower me with your light

Your wisdom and right.

A beautiful night

A beautiful sight

Of little candles in the sky

Flicker, flicker, burn high.

Pills

Pop another pill, Little Girl, and tell me what you see.

Is it figments of fantasy or fragments of fear?

Trust me, Little Girl, nothing here will harm you.

Any world is better than your reality.

Pop another pill, Little Girl, and tell me what you hear.

Are the church bells ringing Hallelujah, or are voices whispering in your head?

This old world isn't out to get you, Little Girl.

It just feels that way sometimes.

Pop another pill, Little Girl, and tell me what you taste.

Is it the sweetness of chocolate-covered-cherries or the bitterness of blood?

It doesn't really make a difference, Little Girl.

They both taste the same in the end.

Pop another pill, Little Girl, and tell me what you smell.

Is it delicate, thorn-covered roses or the burning embers of the last fire?

Both will turn to dust in time, my Little Girl.

Nothing lasts forever, not even you.

Pop another pill, Little Girl, and tell me what you touch.

Is it the soft fur of a newborn pup or the rough bark of an old tree?

Whether it cuts your hand or warms it, Little Girl,

They'll both hurt you all the same.

Pop another pill, Little Girl, and tell me what you feel.

Are you happy as a Christmas child or sad like a rambler in Suicide Alley?

No matter what it is you feel, Little Girl,

I have felt the same.

Nonexistence

There is no heaven and no hell.

There is no God, no Son, no Spirit.

How did we ever come to believe this?

"Satan's greatest trick was convincing the world he didn't exist."

I mention this old truth and hear nervous laughter.

"You're not one of those 'God' freaks, are you?"

"The devil's just an ideal. You don't really believe he exists, do you?"

Slaying demons is a figurative expression.

Praying is an exercise in futility.

Why have we been taught these lies?

Is it too scary to believe the truth?

Fighting Satan and his demons is a life-long war!

Victory over him and his hordes is a place in Heaven by Our Father.

The world believes that denying Heaven will make Hell unexist.

The soul knows better. Why else do those closest to death cry out for their Father and His mercy?

I don't know if Hell is full of fire and brimstone, but this I do know:

All good things come from God and the absence of God is the closest to Hell that can be encountered on this earth.

"We are the evil of the world." If that's true, then where did we come by inspiration?

Pick up a newspaper and read about the child's body they pulled out of the water.

She was raped and smothered before being tossed in the river like a broken toy.

Look at her and tell me there is no Satan, no demons, among us.

"We are the good of the world." Again if this is true, where is our inspiration?

Turn on the news and see the family that was kicked out in the streets with only the clothes on their backs.

Watch as ordinary heroes take them into their homes, clothe them, and feed them, and give us all hope.

See this and tell me there is no God, no angels, in our lives.

There is a Heaven and there is a Hell.

Where do you want to be?

The Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit live.

Will you let them in your life?

We believe and we hope and we pray.

Will you keep the faith?

The above photo was taken in Jacksboro, Texas, last year.  A small business owner chose to wish fathers a "Happy Farter's Day."  My dad got a kick out of it as did many other fathers he e-mailed the photo to.  With Father's Day on the 15th (only 5 days away), I thought I would share this humorous photo and offer some Father's Day gift ideas.  The following list contains favorite Father's Day gifts as chosen by random dads:

--Scooby-Doo boxers

--John Wayne framed poster

--Digital photo frame

--iPod and/or iPod accessories (don't forget the iTunes gift card!)

--Full cleaning of his vehicle by his child

--A child (This dad had a very special Father's Day when his son was born that afternoon)

--Chihuahua (It takes a confident man to own a Chihuahua.  Every male in my family has one.)

--Grand Theft Auto San Andreas video game (For a gamer dad this year, look for GTA IV)

--"The Last Picture Show" DVD

--Coffee maker and a bag of Starbuck's coffee

--Hunting rifle

--Surprise visit from adult children bearing his favorite dishes

--Leather wallet

--"Blazing Saddles" DVD

--Fishing pole

--A Johnny Cash greatest hits collection CD set

--Car stereo system

--"Lucky You" cologne

--X-Box 360 gaming console

--Theme park trip

--Recliner

--Handcrafted leather belt

--Entertainment system

--Western decor

--Vacation to London

--Electric razor (This dad just adds, "It was SOME razor!")

--Outdoor grill

These are just some dads' favorite Father's Day gifts.  If you have a favorite Father's Day gift or know of your father's favorite gift, feel free to add a comment!

Have a Happy Farter's--I mean, Father's--Day!

Poet's Madness

I've got angels shining around my head

And demons dragging down my feet.

Temptation's Siren is calling my name

But Salvation's knocking at my door.

This old world moves faster and wild.

I can't stand in this place forever.

There's Opportunity opening doors

And Fear slamming them closed.

The voices in my head grow louder

While my voice is reduced to a hum.

I should scream for Sanity's sake,

But what's one more cry in this cacophony?

I confess in ink and paint portraits with tears.

Try to sell my soul with fake smiles,

And have it returned, cracks painted over.

Obey my voices and I deny myself.

Cauldrons boiling over in my skull

And tarot cards at my fingertips.

A Holy Bible by my bedside

And a prayer dancing on my lips.

A contradiction of a new conception

And an emanation of confusion.

An example of poet madness,

I am my Muse's warped reflection.

Broken Wing

The silence rings loud

As I lay still

Wrapped in Her shroud

Forgotten in this place

My heart pounds

And a tear caresses my face

My bones rattle from Her chill

Cradled in my flesh

Forever until She has Her fill

With my now broken wing

I cannot fly

To hope I must cling

Someday my mind will clear

My soul free

As I dry my final tear

15.  "Imaginary" as performed by Evanescence

14.  "How I Feel" as performed by Kelly Clarkson

13.  "Where Did I Go Right?" as performed by Hilary Duff

12.  "Lord I Hope This Day Is Good" as performed by Lee Ann Womack

11.  "Stronger Woman" as performed by Jewel

10.  "X-Static Process" as performed by Madonna

09.  "Straitjacket" as performed by Alanis Morissette

08.  "Hello" as performed by Evanescence

07.  "Heaven Knows" as performed by Anouk

06.  "Girl On the Verge" as performed by Sarah Hudson

05.  "Good Is Good" as performed by Sheryl Crow

04.  "Eight Easy Steps" as performed by Alanis Morissette

03.  "Cut" as performed by Plumb

02.  "Journey" as performed by Corrinne Mae

01.  "Leave the Light On" as performed by Beth Hart

Beth Hart (photo from official website)

How to Find Nowhere

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

My heart bangs against my chest.

I am running to nowhere, fast,

To embrace nothing, no one.

Boom-ba. Boom-ba.

My sneakers slap the ground

In a frantic struggle to go, get away,

From everything known, understood.

Hah-huuh. Hah-huuh.

My breaths come in gasps

Trying to fill lungs but no air, no air.

Oxygen is scarce nowhere, here nowhere.

Click-clack. Click-clack.

Claws strike in harmonious chaos.

Claws belonging to no creature, no animal,

Running behind me now quick, strong.

"Easy. Easy now. It's alright."

I fall into consciousness alarmed but you're here.

With soft words and gentle kindness, soothing,

You bring me back from nowhere, nightmare.

10.  Sleep.  Take pills.  Repeat.

09.  Watch TV.  See how many episodes of "Law & Order" you can watch before you're ready to break the law.  My personal limit is 14.

08.  Read books that won't cause injury if they fall on your face while you sleep.

07.  Watch B-grade movies.  Try Lifetime Movie Network--they've got lots of them!

06.  Countdown the time until you can take your next pill.

05.  Eat healthy foods since you really can't taste anything anyway.

04.  Ponder the great question "How many glasses of orange juice can I drink before I turn orange?"

03.  Play Solitaire.  Play many times.

02.  Make a rough draft of your will.  (This is usually done on the worst day of the illness when you feel like you're at Death's Door and you're ready to drag yourself through.)

01.  In between naps, write a new blog entry!

Presence

I hear your voice from a distance.

I still feel your breath on my neck.

I see where you have been in my home.

You flicker through my vision when I pass.

You stand sentry at my front door.

Items go missing only to be found where nothing ever was.

Jewelry falls from the ceiling in a lonely house.

Batteries drain and power is fickle when you are near.

Pops, bangs, footsteps and taps herald your arrival.

Dogs avoid you as they cannot understand.

I have known you from my crib,

Yet still I do not know your name.

Will you stay with me, a Guardian Angel perhaps?

Or must you stay on in this haunted abode?