Down a long forgotten road

Down a hazy field
of dew covered grass
there sits a little white house
through a lonely old pass

It's windows closed
to keep out the night
The woods creeping up
around it so tight

With creaky floors
and musty smells
Abandoned pictures
hang on dusty walls

What once was filled
with love and light
Is now dark and cold
throughout the night

But a wisp of time
has wiped all away
the warm glowing hearth
has faded to grey

The tattered old house
seemingly yearning for more
perhaps to shelter an old friend
Through it's weathered, worn door

But as weeks pass into years
and the garden runs stray
Those who once lived and loved
Have all blown away

Until a time-withered  traveler
All reminisce
Treads up the long path
To a place dearly missed

The memories await
where dreams were formed
down that long forgotten road
where her soul was reborn

She gapes in disbelief
as the house comes to sight
her safe sanctuary dissolving
into the night

Her mind retraces
Her grandmother there
sitting on the porch
to greet her with care

Hobbling up to the swing
That creaks with the breeze
Suddenly her cousins surround her
swinging with ease

Her worn little hands
Push the old heavy door
and heavenly smells
waft to her once more

Apple pie on the windowsill
The freshly washed clothes
The kids in the meadow
and biscuits baked in the stove

Her fingers drift along
The dusty bookshelf
As her eyes draw tight
She remembers herself

A young little girl
All timid and meek
A kiss from her Granny
adoring her cheek

A handsome boy at the door
with a blackberry can
Waiting just for her
To give him a hand

A light returns
to her pale blue eyes
The memories so close
she wells up inside

This house may be old
and tattered and worn
But the love in this place
Continues form

Around all those that lived
and pass on the love
and sing the same songs
and send prayers up above

The light that once shown
Through the windows with care
shines still in the hearts
Of those who have slept here

Time passes quickly
And possessions do fade
But Faith, Hope, and Love
Never will wain


By:  Amanda Mae Ruiz

-In dedication to my favorite place in the world
And my Granny who's memory will never fade.

Dance

Thump, thump, thump
Pounding to the beat
Body pumping beneath the feet
Carrying on this rhythmic retreat
Time passes, bodies merge
Melting together into the serge
Sweltering heat burns through the air
Lips meet through a long lusty glare
Seducing rythms, fixed stares
Twisting, twirling, long legs swirling
Tilted embrace through heavey breathe and beating heart
In the crowd there is but one...
One grasping another, in a silent embrace

Purpose Through the Tears

Purpose Through the Tears

(read "Unknown" below then read this)

This is the night

For this I breathe

The song in my soul returnith

The drum beats wildly as the unceasing cadence pushes me on

A kick of my heels and the wind is my friend

My crouched body moves in rhythm

My wild hair slips from behind its’ cover and whips freely behind me

My eyes pierced on the lights in the distance

My mind drifts to the journey behind me

The lonely tears that fell in the night

The slip of my foot and my trembling grasp on the Cliffside

Trudging, crawly, dragging slowly through the marsh

Always hoping the next hill would bring me to this place

Only to find mountain after mountain in the horizon

Only to find a new challenge to overcome

Only to hear… more silence…

Is this truly the end?

Or will there be another battle to fight

Another trial to keep me away

Away from my destination

So close …

I can feel it,

Almost see it,

Almost believe it

Oh Lord, let this be the night I rest

On a soft bed of white linens

And sleep in the safety

Of your warm love

Let me wake in the morning and BE

Everything this journey has made me into

Everything your hands have molded me for

Let my hands be shaped to do your will

I am ready…..

I am ready now…..

The Unknown

The Unknown

By :  Amanda Ruiz

What makes a heart cease from its constant yearning?

What calms the weary rider?

How vast are the fields,

Laden with miles of hardened earth?

Which road leads me back home to you?

My steed grows restless in the thorn filled paths

He rears back his head as if to say no more

My body falls limp upon his back

As I succumb to the journey

Oh the longing of my soul,

To taste of it once more

To breathe it in

To lay back in the tenderness

Draw my eyes closed,

…and rest

I feel the rhythm of his stride

As he wisps me away once more

Sensing my will defeated

His strength will now endure

I throw my lifeless arms

About his long, strong neck

And thank my good old friend

For his faithfulness …to the end

When the trail seems most dark

And he can carry me no more

He rests upon the grass

…I breathe in and out with him

Perhaps I won’t reach my destination

Perhaps my dreams of light and love

Are a down a damp and dusty road

And long since drawn away

I burry my head and smile

I have a friend to keep me warm this night

And in the morning I WILL RISE!!

To follow you once more

Focus on the Lovely

I have the best
And I have the worst...but not really

A 2 story brick house
in a quiet neighborhood
on a lush corner lot
where lifes is always so good.

But....
The carpet's all stained with wear and with tear
and the laundry's in piles from here and to there
The mortgage; it's behind
and my kids; there a mess
where life is too full with worry and stress

However,
My kids, well, they really are perfect, so handsom, so pritty
A strong strapping young boy
and a girl dainty and prissy.
Each day brings laughter and joy runs a new
In the life that I live so perfect and true

Then again,
well there are days when I feel so alone
Nobody on Earth is here for me now
Nobody know that I lay and I cry
Nobody helps and nobody tries

Oh but,
My husband he's there
to hold me at night
He works really hard
and provides for us right.
He thinks I'm so pritty
When I've gained nearly 10 pounds
and he begs me fo just one night on the town.

Uggg,
Well there's no money to go anywhere don't you see
And our kids are at home waiting for me.
Dinner, baths and a story, then I kiss them good night,
I'm too tired to go.
and to leave them again, well it just doesn't feel right
In this life where Im spread on thin with a knife.

NOW THAT IS NOT TRUE
I scream to myself

I wake from my daze

there are so many who see

so many who love

so many who wrap me warm with a hug.

I'm blessed, I'm protected, I'm loved
through and through
and if I give it some time
The Lord always will wash me anew

I can look for the bad, for the harsh, and the tired
Or I can choose to see truth
and thank God for my fire.

Learning to Persevere

I see my mom work so hard;
I see my daddy too.

It must feel so good to work and strive,
They smile every day.

Days seem so hard,
To them it’s not.

If they can do it
I, for sure, can too!

Bouncing Baby

What a happy baby,
that sits upon my lap.
laughing, shrieking, shrilling,
but never will he nap!

I work too much to care though,
Oh just sit her with me now.
Smile, Giggle, Grab my face,
Sleep can wait some how.

My baby loves me,
for this I'm sure...
and not wanting to let go,
I breathe him in once more.

I can't feel tired,
I don't feel week,
When he's looking up at me.

They are my strength,
They are my will,
That powers straight through me.

For them I live,
For them I breathe,
It's them that give me life.


You gave me strength,
In their sweet arms,
I thank you Lord for this.