Shadow World II

Collected Images: The Fall & Others (circa 1970s) by ZenShadow

Moment of Ecstasy

Ah, Sweet Love, embrace me,
For my heart lies bleeding
In ecstasy of imagined emotions
Laid bare before the virtues Of my Lover.
Yes, the Wisdom of Lovers
Who know all of Nature’s secrets
In the mere touch of a hand,
Or a sly glance, that bespeak
More than words ever would.
Enchanting ecstasy, bespeak of Love;
For Love was with creation
And is in me now.
For is the Beauty of a Dawn
More than of Twilight?

Advice

Have pity on poor people
That cannot see.
For to see that you are
Really very small
And that Life will
Go on without you
Is the beginning
Of understanding
With Peace of Mind
That exists above
The worldly plane
Of Tears and Pain.

A Tear and a Smile

Oh Life, my Love, is tears
That spills upon Life’s cheek.
A crystal tear, A fragile tear.
Which seeks Death’s emptiness
And reflects shimmering happiness
In you and I.
For see the beauty of Creation
Happens now and forever
In infinite array,
And know the cradle of Man Is a Pearl,
The Treasure of God.
O Death, my Love, is a smile
That shines upon the groveling Man
Restoring faith in his tortured soul.
Oh yes, my Love, be kind
For Life Is but…
A Tear and a Smile.

Thoughts

Yesterday,
A butterfly
Flew softly
Over my windowless Mind.
Only it’s shadow
Could I find
Among empty Memories…
That became fluttering Wings,
And drifted away
To thoughts of you…
Forever and a day.

Meditations

Stare into a pool of tears
That melt upon the savage years;
For Life’s sweet song
That knows no end
And always, always
Begins again.
End upon your summer’s dream
All the love, or so it seems.
End the hate that beats the breast,
Of which the search is man’s request.
Turn your eye’s
To the rising dawn.
Entranced with the spell
That Life has drawn.
A curtain of Time
That seeks no end,
Only beginnings
That somehow blend
Into infinity.

Quicksand Dancer

Slipping through the sands of Time,
Slowly melting into liquid dust.
Shuffling motions with feet of clay,
As my eyes begin to rust,
Once again you start to play
The sad, sad song
Of a quicksand dancer.
Yes, I am a quicksand dancer,
Asking questions without answers.
Dancing upon this marshy glade
To a tune of Life that slowly fades…
Without security.
Back into the womb of my mother
Where I will seek to feel no other
With empty memories.
Desperately, I cling to the Vine of Life
As it slowly rips my mind to shreds.
Merciless, the sand reclaims the dead
That cast the shadows of their hate…
Tempting the waters of their fate…
With the sojourn steps
Of the next…
Quicksand dancer.

Reflections

You are the mirror of my soul,
A laughing smile…
A solemn tear.
Casting shadows of the past
Into the myriad shapes
Of future reflections…
That drift through my mind
As I gaze upon you, my love,
And feel the presence Of your soul.
Reflect upon me, my love,
Reflect upon my reflections.

Strangers

Lonely people, with empty dreams,
Wearing the battle scars
Of too little love.
I’ve felt the sun on my shoulders
When rain streaked my face.
I’ve heard the stars sing
When the night was still.
And I’ve smelt roses
While lying in the gutters of Man.
But strangers pass my way
Screaming to be heard
Over the obscurity of Life.
Hiding
Emotions
Behind
Masks
Living in a cocoon
Spun by the threads of Loneliness
That’s never seen the light of Love,
Only melancholy darkness
Clouds their secret thoughts.

Dream

I hear you crying softly in the night.
Lady, you know I never cry…
Even when I’m torn apart inside.
You left me standing
So, so alone
And I’m without your love
Now that I need it the most.
The long, lonely beaches
Down on the coast
Whisper your name…
Calling softly to my heart.
Memories of you
Bring a pain so sharp.
Was it a dream I once had?
A dream of love, I lost it.
Is it a dream I’m dreaming?
Living in a dream…
Dying for a dream…
Of yesterday.

Eyes of Dust

You’re a pre-fabricated man,
Living in a dream world.
Everything according to plan;
But who produced your morals?
Remember,
You can’t be me
If you’re not free
From Life’s misery.
Maybe we’re all plastic lies
In someone’s imagination;
And perhaps you just live to die…
But you can’t exceed expectations.
Remember,
You can’t see me with eyes of dust
And you can’t feel free
With a soul of rust.
Sometimes I feel like a puppet
With society pulling the strings.
Their rules and laws I covet;
And to the insanity of Life I cling.
Remember,
You can’t feel me
With a heart of stone
And your mind’s not free
When you’re alone.

Watcher

I’m only here to observe,
Wanderer within this image world;
Caught in frames of Life
Between blinks of staring eyes.
And even as the fantasies pass,
Regretfully wishing they would last,
Forever and ever,
But I’m only an Observer;
Living on borrowed time.
See it ain’t good to stare
Inside yourself too long.
For every truth
There’s one more lie.
But I know I’ve got to keep searching
For a way of life that seems right to me.
Until then I’m silently observing
The faceless crowd that slowly bleeds
Their insanity into the gutters of the city.
Hope’s been replaced by tomorrow’s pity.
Maybe one day my time will come,
The dream will fade and love will be.
But until then I watch and see
The hate in the madman’s eyes.
The tears between wordless whys.
Always deafened by humanities lies
Telling us to ignore the pain
Pounding deep within shredded brains.
While my brothers turn and walk away.

2BR02B

Wherein does the Mind of Man
Perceive itself to be?
The soul, a wispy, fleeting image
Silent shadows, wind in the trees.
Loneliness;
As a flower in the desert.
Pain through the years
Of smiles and tears.
Emptiness;
Behold the dream!
The dream is gone.
Riddles of the Sphinx.
Nothing more.
Answer me you prophets
Of Armageddon’s doom,
Whence did the shout
That scatter the nations die?
Was ever the truth a lie
That you came to believe
After forgetting why?
Silence is the heaven
For dust and bones.
The kiss of death
Your perfect peace.
Nothing more.
Time.
Mirage of mirrors in a haze.
Dandelion wine, fountain of youth.
Clock goes tick-tock,
Rattles the devil’s chains.
Dragging into a sea of senility
The crippled old men
Who’ve seen their death
A thousand times.
They turn blind eyes
Into Mother Night.
What is Time?
Nineteen Hundred and Seventy Five A.D.
Nothing more.

Reasons

Gonna lay down my life again;
Find out what’s going down.
And the pain;
It hides inside too often,
‘Till I’m searching for a way
Out of this hole.
Gotta find me some answers,
Leave my spirit in the wake
Of the flood.
Leave me, leave me alone,
Silent shadows through the trees,
Chase the sunlight.
Never knowing what it’s like to be free.
You know, you know the emptiness;
It clings around you
Like memories that died today.
“Read ‘em and weep”
Little children of the dealer.
Tell me the reason
To go on believing
In a God that keeps on hiding.
“Ace of Spades”
You’re dead.

If

If all your dreams were dust;
Where would you be?
Should you fall asleep tonight;
And not wake up,
What would you see?
Do you think?
Emotions are feelings;
Can you feel?
If I loved you;
Would you love me too?
A vision of life
Is a necessary condition Of death.
Will you die?
And if this existence
Should pass into
The end of eternal Time;
Mountains melt into the seas,
Stars not fade away!
Could I give to you my heart
To begin the new day?

Evensong

There once was a time
When I dreamed of faraway places
Where the sun never shines
Upon misguided martyrs,
And passing fantasies,
Their courses pursued.
No more.
Those days are gone.
Now I know the truth
Of life in a lonely room,
Exploring the cheap thrills Of television.
Alone. I’m forever alone.
Through nights without you,
Though I hardly know you,
You’re a part of me.
Only a forgotten memory.
Future days, lonely nights,
Starlight come dance with me.
Smear my ego across the void of space
And let me dream of faraway places
Once again. Dream everwhen.
I’ve never seen the light,
Just shadows of your mind.
But I really don’t mind
‘Cause somewhere, somehow You exist.
Will it be love or death I kiss?
We’ve missed?
Pry into my life,
Secrets are there to find.
Scatter my ego
Through the distant stars,
Let fear pound through my veins.
I’m afraid,
Even when I know you’re there.
Only mirrors reflect my fear.
And all my life’s
Just an Evensong,
I’m here, but now I’m gone.
In time I’ll lose my pride,
One day I’ll dream again
Of the distant places in my mind.
Silence is the melody
For Evensong.
Sing it when you’re down.

Mood for a Day

Black holes, sinking down.
Close to the edge;
Heaven bound.
Did you see the madman’s eyes?
Haunted shadows.
Whisper lies.
Emptiness in knowing no-one
Thought of you today.
Loneliness;
Memories stripped by pain,
Over the edge, you’re insane.
Someone bent your head
With pretzel logic,
Skins to shed.
Turn blind eyes into Mother Night,
Let the universe say it’s all right.
All right, it’s all right…
Soothe me stars, I’m uptight.
Loved them, laugh at me;
Need them, can’t you see?

Collage

When your world is slowly falling down
Do you need someone to turn you around?
Turn, turn to me
I’ll be there.
Turn, turn to me
I really care.
When everything’s wrong
And no-one understands,
Don’t be afraid of my song.
Let it go
Set it free.
Sing your song
Sing to me.
Somewhere on this crazy island
Is a love you’ve never known.
Now you’re alone softly crying.
Someone who needs
Someone who feels
Someone who sees
Can’t find you.
Now as we speed a little faster
Through the stars…

Destiny’s Child

Time was when everything
Was going right;
Gotta get back to those times
Once again, gotta know
Who’s my friend.
I’ve let you carry me on
Too long now, and there’s
A hole in my destiny…
Between the sunshine
And the icicles;
You came and then you left.
When I need the sun’s heat
To warm my aching bones,
I needed you.
Now it appears a long time
Between us, a lifetime shared
Without that warmth
Of summer love.
Gonna get back, without you,
Back to those times
When the Sun burned bright.
Gotta fill that hole in my destiny,
Gotta be free.

You (Baby Blues)

So hard growing up
When it’s all coming down
Around you, without you.
Don’t make a sound
To disturb the chaos
Around you, without you.
Give up chasing reasons
For changing seasons
Around you, without you.
The world will still go on
With or without you
Around you, without you.
Without you the sun still shines
Shine on my son
Around you, without you.
Magical mystery tours
Will still be here tomorrow
Around you, without you.
Listen to the voice within
Unknown child of mine
Around you, within you.

Passages

Raw are the wounds
You left behind In my soul
(That nobody knows).
Shallow is the sound
Of the dead winter
Wind in the trees
(That nobody sees).
Dead is the night
And lonely the dreams
I’ve awoke in fear
(That nobody hears).
Wrongs become right
In a world turned
Upside-down
Inside-out
(Did someone shout)?
Dedicated: Nobody in particular

Long Time Gone

Oh baby, you’ve been a long time gone,
‘Till I can’t find the reasons
For wanting you anymore.
And it seems like only yesterday
That I sang to you my love songs.
But it was a long, long time ago
When we shared the changing seasons
Never knowing what we waited for.
Yes, you’ve been a long time gone;
I hope someday you’ll realize
The love we shared wasn’t wrong.
It’s a shame we took
The time to wonder why;
I wonder why?
Maybe someday you’ll give up
Chasing shadows across the lonely sky.
Then I know you’re gonna come on home
‘Cause, baby, you’ve been a long time gone.
God, you’ve been gone too long.

Tiny Dancer

Sleek as a cat softly purring
Soft sounds
Of forgotten summers,
Curled lazily beside
The warm hearth’s fire
In my mind.
If it should come to pass
That they should ask
For my memories
Or dreams of you
Somehow be left behind,
What could I tell them?
Beauty in motion,
Play my emotions
To the tune
She’s softly humming.
A song of life she’s led
Tiny dancer, in my head.
I watch you,
Smooth and slender,
Yearning for the music you hear
When only silence is near.
Still, it’s nice to see
A smile dance upon you lips.
Tiny dancer, set me free
To leave footprints in the sand.
Tiny dancer, in my head.

Give It Away

What would you have of me, little one?
I’d love to give you my dreams,
But it’s no deposit, no return.
I’d love to give you my everything,
But it’s harder still to learn.
All I can give is love, my love.
Though I know it’s not enough,
Use it freely, bring it on back
When you’re done.
(I hope you can use some.)
What would you have of me, little one?
I’d love to give you my memories
But, just now they’re a little hazy.
I would if I could, I’m just lazy.
And, surely, I’d give you tomorrow.
Funny, seems I’m stuck in yesterday.
So, take my love, I’ll take yours
Build dreams of castles in the air,
Slip into magical mystery tours
Then have of me, my love, I’ll share.

21

Yesterday was my birthday
Hung one more year on the line.
Twenty-one and I ain’t got a dime.
But I ain’t worrying
And I ain’t hurrying,
I’m having a good time,
Looking for a nice rhyme
To put in my little book
And take a second look
When I’m feeling down
Feeling old, just twenty-one
I’ve been around,
Lord, I’ve shed a few tears.
Kicked it around some,
Listen to what Simon says
Still crazy after all these years.

Sighs

Inspirations a funny thing,
Pleasure slayed, depressed.
Watching wild geese on the wing,
Imagination cries, impressed.
Memories still linger
Across the painted sun,
Nerves twitching like a finger
On the trigger of a gun.
Aftertones shadow upon Life’s lies
Yesterday left suddenly
Transgress a bridge of sighs.
Sweet Sympathy
Please lead me
To exotic Fantasia.
Mother Misery
Their silent eyes
Burning to praise you.
Sweet Misery
Mother Sympathy
Imagination sighs.

All American

She waits by the window
Wearing a frown
Everyday taking longer
Till the sun goes down
Just an All American girl
In an All American town
Living her life
From stale memories
She’s found.
Yearbooks and photographs
In her graduation year
Collect dust in the attic
Till reunion is near
When she silently remembers
Her High School cheers
Lonely All American cheerleader
Hooray! Hooray!
Lead us to victory
When the band starts to play.
Now the dreams have all faded
As the stars begin to sing,
She returns to the window
Awaiting what night will bring
Loneliness and emptiness
Melt within her tears
Come on All American has-been
Give us a cheer.

Veteran

He’s a lonely young man
Fresh from the war.
And the enemy still watches;
His wounds still sore.
The jungle haunts him
In the shadows
Of this room,
Vietcong lie waiting
Hidden in the gloom.
Oh, Veteran!
No one told you
The war is over.
Poor Veteran,
Celebrate your madness
Drink yourself sober.
Johnny get your gun,
Dream of tainted glory
Kill some mother’s son.
But there’s no need to worry
For only cowards run.
Everyone knows heroes never die
Ours is not to reason,
Never asking why?

Lady Blues

Stay Lady,
You’ve nothing left to lose.
Baby,
You’re still singing the blues.
Stay awhile
I’ll make you smile
Maybe oneday
You’ll find your style
Until then, Lady,
Please stay awhile.
Baby,who brought you down?
Lady, Life is just a merry-go-round.
So stay around
‘Cause I found
Someone who brought me
Back to the ground
Oh, baby, please stay around.

Aye, and Gomorra

In silence, final and eternal
The world greets another dawn,
A burnt shell, crucible and tomb
For these gray ashes of Man.
Nothing remains, save rocks and wind,
None left to begin again,
Only death, guardian of dreams,
Console the stars, in agony, screams
“Murder”.
Echoes of a billion souls
This cold wind blows
Across an endless sea,
Their voice pleads
“Justice”.
Nay, revenge escapes those innocent
Of no crime save for living on that day
The World shook upon her mortar.
Legend returned, while martyrs burned
Within the shadow of Sodom,
Aye, and Gomorra.
A cry from the depths of destruction rises,
This spark alighted, in passage, pray “Mercy”.

Release

You, as the peace from my soul finds home,
This love emerged from fears and dreams
I had as a cold wind howling inside.
Released.
Blessed relief;
This night sings your heart.
Our song is the stillness
Borne of the music
We, alone, hear.
Carried upon the soft billows,
Gently in violence
We unite.
As wind upon the water.

Future Games

We stand together as one
Amidst the winds of change.
You and I, this song of love
Will never be the same.
In our own special way
We quietly play our future games.
My lady, mon cheri l’amour
The love I live my whole life for,
I love you, I honestly love you.
Every moment just a little more.
You touched, my heart slain,
In beautiful worlds of future games.
Time enough for love,
We seek a dream to call our own.
As a mountain needs her stones
And night in winter years
Feels the summer sun warm her bones,
For all it is the same…
Each reflecting future games.

Window

In my room I have a window
To look out and see the world turn
As the sun’s warmth settles in
I watch the pictures of the past
Projecting shadows of the future
Upon the glass window of now.
And the window is my mind
This room, my body’s space,
The world turns my life’s story.
From within, the sun and soul, one.
Sometimes shining, sometimes clouded.
Beyond it all, the universe
Reflects my fears and dreams.

Eulogy for the Sixties

Imagine us, trying to change the world!
As if anything can be done.
It’s all the same, nothing won.
Where we’re going, I hardly know
It certainly wasn’t like this before.
What happened to the love we believed in?
God help us, here comes another war.
Complete with hate, killin’ and bleedin’
If it’s all the same, I guess I’ll be leavin’
Nobody’s around to mind the store.
It certainly wasn’t like this before.
Before we knew it, the change begun
People gettin’ tired of fightin’ and guns
Making some sense, talking civil rights
Caught all those politicians unawares
Gonna begin again, gonna do it right.
We survived Nixon and Vietnam
Deeper shadows of other wrongs
Filtered through the lies we were told
No one bought the story they sold
They scarred the nation with their sham.
So, God bless the 60’s,
Rock ‘n Roll, Love and Hippies.
They’re long gone now
We aren’t the same anymore
It certainly wasn’t like this before.

Treadmill

If it’s all the same to you, my friend
I’ll cross over the Stream of Time.
On another day, another world away
Somehow we remain satisfied.
Got to keep on movin’
Don’t think of losin’
Wasted on the Treadmill of Life.
I’m out here in the meadows
Away from all the glass and plastic.
Giving up on concrete castles,
With all those power hassles
And a man can do better
Than just survive.
There’s a window that I’ve looked through,
Showing a glimpse of the other side.
Oneday I’ll be leaving,
Towards a promise…
Stepping off the Treadmill Slide.

Barstool Blues

In a smoke filled room
You sit and watch
A thousand stories unfold.
But they’re all the same,
Just another game,
It’s those barstool blues again.
The music filters through
Your beer soaked brain
And everyone holds their smile…
Only their eyes reflect the pain
Ain’t it such a shame,
It’s those barstool blues again.
There’s a girl over there,
All alone.
Strike up a conversation
About returning home.
Now you’re on your way
All you’ve got to say
It’s those barstool blues again.

Indian Summer

Leaves turning golden brown beneath the autumn skies
Of eternal Indian Summer.
Wind whispers soft, sweet sounds
With trees, in harmony, sighs
The music of Indian Summer.
Memories of love I’ve found
Knowing when she cries
Always upon those Indian Summers.

Untitled Stone

Give the space your place
Let him the world to play
With strings guiding nimble fingers
Searching, ever searching.
In the hope of new horizons,
Changing, never changing.

3:15

Have you ever stopped and asked
A stranger the time of day?
And he answered, “The time is near”…
Your eyes locked to the clock
Combating the desire to reach, to touch.
Sandcastles in the wind,
Born to sin.
This voice of the damned
Shouting to be heard
Over the wingbeats of an Angel.
With paralyzed mind, he replied…
“3:15”.

The Fall

Soon, brother, the Winter arrives
When the laws of nature command
That the fittest shall survive.
It shall come to pass
This age cannot last
The Fall is surely upon us.
See brother, feel the cold wind
That heralds the coming end
Of Man’s greatest glory
(A sad and tragic story)
Awake, summer’s nearly over
And death’s around the corner.
So, brother, take care, beware
Of the cruel and the hungry
Who scavenge in the night,
Hidden from the light.
A heart of stone awaits
The savage winter.
Dedicated: My Brothers

Haze

You know, they say it’s all gonna
Be comin’ down soon.
Too soon.
Lord, I hope you don’t have to
Watch me die, I won’t watch you.
Please hold me, I’m lonely
From a forever time.
Beyond this mellow haze
One or two have dared to cross over.
Crossed over.
Helplessly hoping.
Please, hold me.
You’re lonely.
While quietly spreading wings
Search misty haze for freedom.
Good lord, we belong
To each other’s Imagination.
All in a life.

Children

Silently watching while inwardly hoping
To cross over the bridge of your fears,
Only to find the years have gone dry
From too many nights
With only your tears.
Now we dance.
Dance at every chance.
With the struggles for freedom, we dance.
Until all your dreams fade to dust;
Stay hungry, honey, let’s dance.
O’ Come on children!
Get your heads together.
Carry on children
The time has come
To brave stormy weather.

Always, Somehow

Something’s missing somewhere.
Somehow it’s just not right.
I miss the peace of you.
Can’t go on… must go on.
Keep me strong, Lord.
With the words come pain.
We were the best of lovers
Now, we’re the worst of friends.
It’s over.
The days grow shorter.
No one said, ever said, “it’s easy”
If only I could love me.
It would be so easy to love you
If you loved you.
But something’s missing.
Somewhere.
Silence wears thin
As crowds shred my nerves.
Somehow, I’ll remember you.
Always, somehow.

Rich Man

The world she loves a rich man,
She really favors money, honey.
All in favor of the rich man
Raise your hands high,
Reach for the sky
Cause you’re being robbed by the rich, man.
Everybody’s schemin’
Tired of dreamin’
And waitin’ for their ship
To come home.
The crow, she’s laughing
At the scarecrow.
Just like the sayin’ goes.
The rich get richer
And the poor stay poorer.
If I had a say,
They’d share the load.
If I had my way,
We’d all be lords.
Everybody’s schemin’
Tired of dreamin’
And waitin’ for their ship
To come home.

Random Notes: 53

When in America
Do as an American does
Living upon a billiard table
Full of fellow 8 balls
A nice truth arises
We’re all afraid
All aboard Planetship Terran.
May you have peace
And harmony
Until your dying day.
Thank you, Fellow spacemen.
(Uh, fellow spacepersons)
Nevermind.

Poetry

Today I felt the world
Lifted from my shoulders.
Revelations fill my mind.
Clearer now, so much clearer now.
Drivin’ me. Motivating me.
Justifying what’s inside of me.
Can’t you see?
You’re a part of me.
And the dreams we dream
Somehow shelter three.
You and me and we.
That’s the way it’s gonna be.
Yesterday, run away from me!
Today, I’m feeling lonely
And Tomorrow is just ahead of me.
Gonna be where I want to be,
Come and see…
Fly high over me,
Poetry, just poetry.

Circus

With the voices of thousands
Burning upon swollen tongue
A Pen! Savage spasms
Over paper to capture
Lost moments.
No one cares.
Do you? I do.
(Once in a while)
Anyway, the music is nice
Even if the rest of this sucks.
Wait a minute…
What’s on the tube?
Wow.

Turn Around

Turn around, go back down
You’ve got to let your feelings out.
You’ve got to turn around.
Sometimes it hurts to be alive
With the morning light shining
In your eyes, it’s still good to be alive.
Turn around and find the feelings inside.
Times were hard and rough
Looking for answers to love
We sure got turned around
We sure got hurt looking around.
Dreams come and dreams go
Everyday a new day’s dream
Everyday a brand new show.
Come on, Love, turn around
Get back on down, let go!

Hold On

If you feel you’ve got nothing to hide
While the years keep drifting by,
Don’t give in, hold on to anything.
Even if there’s nowhere to go
From the world’s carnival show,
Don’t give in, hold on to anything.
Hold on to your dreams.
If everyday brings the same tomorrow’s
And your heart is full of sorrows
Don’t give in, hold on to anything.
Remember the days of innocent love
Let it carry you somehow above.
Don’t give in, hold on to anything.
Hold on for what it seems.

Ivy

Sometimes I can read you
Like an open book
Othertimes, you’re a mystery,
Somehow, always eluding me
You tangle all my thoughts Like ivy.
You give me meaning
You keep me dreaming
We fit each other nicely
Just holding on tightly
You tangle my heart With ivy.

Lovingly, Lightly

With eyes aflame,
Reflecting the silence
Of the moment, A calmness found.
Discovered fleetingly,
Lovingly, lightly.
Upon misty shorelines, Hovering…
Distantly, just beyond the horizon,
Echoes faintly, hauntingly.
Ever so lightly, lovingly.
Words, scarcely heard
Over the orchestra of feelings
Worlds enveloped, developed.
Sudden light from darkness.
The melody of time sanctioned
Ever so lovingly, lightly.
This moment I touched you
Ever so lightly.
As a fragile crystalline tear,
You shattered into my arms
Ever so lovingly.
And the moment held eternity
For two young lovers kissing…
Ever so lovingly, lightly.

The Challenge of Life (Part I)

The Challenge of Life is to live it;
With the wondrous urge to find
Within every moment something new.
The Challenge of Life is to love it;
With each breath we take, to breathe it
And to find in the breath something true.
The Challenge of Life is the hope of us all
To aspire to higher fortunes
We search for new horizons,
To honor ancient glories
And the promise of the sea.
Then the Challenge of Life holds true.
The Challenge of Life
This dream of life.
The dead of life.
This fact of life
Goodnight.

The Challenge of Life (Part II)

I love you.
But would you challenge me?
I love you.
Yes, I know.
But would you challenge me?
Yes, I would challenge you…
I challenge you to live
Each and every day
With the dream of tomorrow
For the hope of today.
I challenge you to think of me
When I’m not on your mind.
I challenge you to remember.
I challenge you to forget.
I feel for you with all my heart
The words get in the way
Does it matter what I say?
I said “I love you”
And challenge you.
Challenge me.
Give love a chance.

The Challenge of Life (Part III)

The Challenge of Life is Death.
The Secret of the Universe,
Of man and God. Of Time.
O’ Death, I challenge you!
Whisper through the ages
With tales of mighty wonders
What worlds you have conquered.
O’ Death, I have seen you.
From close and far away.
You stood, mocking,
Waiting for your day.
O’ Death, I love you.
O’ Twin of Life, be kind.
O’ God, come home, It’s time.


All poems by ZenShadow circa 1970’s