Swirling out from the uncertainties of Time's progress spins the stuff of creation Our togetherness our procreation That engine of life we give the name love
The catalyst of our community Conjoining soul to soul woman and man Bridging these islands of you and of me Connecting us across an arching span
A spectrum in the colors of the light The highway of our journey through the sky Which whether seen or unseen beckons bright The rainbow of the dreams by which we fly
But we must dare to dream both day and night
As long as we are living on this earth Dreams build the rainbow bridge from death toward birth
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 23, 2005, 5:41 pm
Dark Legacy
Here my people have seen a century Where we have been and where I mean to be If least at last to save our legacy Yet am I bound here prisoned in my mind Fettered with ties of time's fabrication Bereft of life by having left behind Life for living death by suffocation Conserving that which is consuming me?
Men came to measure yesterday to build Apartments in my attic that I might Have the income by which these bars to gild Open blind windows whitewash timbers bright Let in the sunshine to ghost-places filled With their memories robbing me of sight Wisp-whispered voices which will not be stilled Freeze-framed agonies throbbing through the night
Though I have not felt free soon there will be New white rooms up an ascending stairway Which they say will be a good thing for me And they tell me things will all turn out right That when students come they will bring the day Into this darkness where my mother wept Into this place where my family died Into this night where the evil has crept
Five generations of voices have cried Drowned out here by our tears: let there be light
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 22, 2005, 4:40 am
Look Fate in the Face
Here we wait at the midnight hour and well You might ask me as you do what the hell Are we or anyone supposed to do?
Seeing that those who run the world are nuts Getting this feeling deep down in our guts That it is all pretty much up to you And me such as we are and fate makes three
The hour is late but we can fight with fate Nobody ever wins but why not try?
We have nothing to lose since we all die In any case so look fate in the face I would die trying instead of lying
I say bring it on: let us die flying I came in with a bang so out I go And friend if you are not afraid of heights I will take you with me to trip the lights
But those who fear to try and fly just lie And dying know that they will never know
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 21, 2005, 5:17 pm
The Big Nose Bandit
One of our famous residents is The Big Nose Bandit well known for his Protuberant proboscis as he Does his banking matter-of-factly Stealing money then stealing away
If they could ever catch him someday It would be interesting to learn How it was he decided to earn His living in this distinctive way
My long nose is within normal range And my bank account while just small change Is impeccable in honesty Yet a fat lot o' good it does me
Somehow I find it all rather strange That the Big Nose Bandit does so well While I am often in banking hell Through just forgetting to rearrange The ducks of my bucks in the right row
But the world is mad as around we go As people like the Big Nose Bandit know
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 21, 2005, 3:27 am
For This
Caressed by autumn's breath I feel content All that I need to find within my soul And feel myself complete and continent I ask no more of others but am whole
My friend if you should come to visit me To while away an autumn afternoon Share conversation poetry and tea And stay with me to watch the rising moon I know we would be pleasant company
Yet I am satisfied to be alone
With one cat and one thousand memories Of lovers lost and found unknown and known My silence is not empty filled with these Past pleasures as past pain I still remain Open to present possibilities
The moon in all its phases shines for me Each flashing diamond star a treasured kiss And all of it lives in my poetry I have not lived in vain but lived for this
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 20, 2005, 11:41 am
A Brand New Unknown Day
Nine in the morning and St. John's bells ring My absentee ballot hangs from my box The ravens are elsewhere the sparrows sing And hens in the henhouse outfox the fox This seems as good a time as any to Take up my pencil and write this for you
No matter how grumpy or negative One is even poor and alone like me Morning like this is a good time to live One must admit and anyone can see It is better to be alive than dead On the bright side the right side of the tomb
Although I never know what lies ahead Not knowing what lies ahead can be fun I am having tea here in my front room Writing poetry with my cat on me A brand new unknown day has just begun And I can find no reason to complain
Physics over metaphysics today Philosophy tries in vain to explain Psychology drains all the blood away Theology then weeps away the stain I just want to go for a walk and see The pretty ladies check me out and smile
To celebrate existence for awhile
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 20, 2005, 3:37 am
Enjoy the Ride
The night is cool and clear where I am here I only see the moon and one bright star My furnace is still broken so I wear As many clothes inside my house as out And every now and then I step out there To look up at the sky and think about The way things have been and the way things are
I look within my heart and find no fear Which sort of surprises me but feels good
Fear never makes things better anyway Only worse in a random universe Might as well have an adventure today You can try to prepare and to rehearse But you really never know what to say Or if what you say will be understood So you might as well just play it by ear
And since we really have no place to hide What the hell: might as well enjoy the ride
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 19, 2005, 1:11 pm
Idealist
High clouds drift brushing past the full moon's face Bordered bone white against the deep blue night A dance of seven veils of cosmic grace Humankind always reaches for the light
Eyes irresistibly drawn to the sky We feel triumphant when the moon breaks through Our hope ascending as she rises high That maybe our full moon dreams can come true
Frozen blue sparkle flashing through the mist Improbably high impossibly far Just my luck to be an idealist Humankind always struggles for a star
Eyes irresistibly drawn up away Far distant star do you sparkle for me? Does this mean love will dawn at break of day? The night is deep but there is hope I see
High clouds drift brushing past the full moon's face Frozen blue sparkle flashing through the mist A dance of seven veils of cosmic grace Just my luck to be an idealist
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 18, 2005, 2:25 am
Heart to Heart
These lines of mine are intended as a token Of my gratitude for your caring attitude Of kindness I see which has meant so much to me When I have hit bottom and been the most lonely Have been blind to hope and felt my heart was broken Felt isolated as if I were the only One who cared what happened words of kindness spoken By erstwhile strangers have made all the difference
New friends have appeared and given me confidence That I am not a bad person that there is hope That my life has value to the lives of others That I do not exist in some vacuum to grope In darkness alone but have sisters and brothers I never knew: so I want to reach out to you By these words to repay you if only in part To thank you and tell you I am here for you too
A thank you note from me to you from heart to heart
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 17, 2005, 4:44 am
Let the Journey Begin
I still believe in kindness and beauty Having confidence in the human race The only race we have one noble face In so many colors across the earth Which still looks up to honor and duty The majesty within each death each birth
A miracle of many one are we In our diversity who together Make up a mighty quilt against the chill As we gather in this autumn weather
I believe in you I believe in me Nor am I ashamed to still feel the thrill Of what was once called solidarity Leaders who lead nowhere may reject us May not care to hear what we have to say But their shadow world does not reflect us
Rising resistance will sweep them away We are the people let us elect us Right here right now to overcome someday To question and to quest to do our best
Whatever it takes someway and somehow Let the journey begin right here right now
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 15, 2005, 9:56 pm
Leaves
I embrace this change of season Riding in on the wind today As my senses find new reason To waken and come out to play
The sun sets in a deeper shade Dry leaves skitter across the street In fireplaces the logs are laid Soon fragrance will rise from their heat
Friends say my avocados taste Good as they ripen fully now Otherwise they would go to waste I never tasted one somehow
I turn from coffee now to tea As I do at this time of year It seems more autumnal to me And feels more traditional here
Though England is so far away In autumn the old ways return Autumn is when I remember Those loved and lost in November
Along with the leaves as they burn
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 15, 2005, 12:29 am
By Which to Entertain You
Growing up with Kipling and the hymns of my youth Growing up with Grandma and her absolute truth Growing up gothic in the library you know Those stormy Saturdays with Edgar Allan Poe So many reasons and so many seasons now That I just like that little chime of rhyme somehow
At the end of the line there waits that little ping That little ca-ching which I find satisfying Some might dismiss it as an unimportant thing But when handled gingerly and by the right hands It makes a spark which everybody understands And that ping is the thing which makes it poetry...
For me: thus I sing of the ping the spark I see Which makes it poetry for me and I will be A singer and a ringer of the chime of rhyme In the fall of my life as we fall after all A harmless way to leave my mark to light a spark The ping the ca-ching is the thing of which I sing
By which to entertain you as the night... grows... dark...
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 14, 2005, 1:48 pm
Courage
When troubles rise up towering And looming over me Instead of merely cowering Pretending not to see I find it is empowering For stubborn little me To see them for just what they are:
Long shadows cast by little things When light is low and far Imaginary bullyings Formed and fattened by fear
We are not afraid of shadows here
Just as a flashlight spears the night Slicing the darkness everywhere So confidence will put things right And courage will conquer despair
Courage is the light: may yours burn bright
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 13, 2005, 9:58 pm
Song of a Survivor
Once I was in love with a narcissist I suppose that is what she was because When we were together I was alone Something was wrong I know because she was The coldest person I have ever known
So I have learned the hard way to resist The lure of those who rule from their own throne In their own tiny universe to find Since I am free for self-discovery Who I am now and to know my own mind
Since March I have grown toward recovery Since being left for dead and left behind Which was a blessing in disguise to be The sole salvation of my sanity What nearly killed me made me stronger yet
Having gathered up the pieces I see What a toxic effect she had on me She made me feel as though I were not whole Unless I surrendered my dignity As though I were not and could not be free
It seems to have been all about control I guard my heart now and never forget She broke my heart but no one breaks my soul My soul was always mine and not for her Nor any false lovers who never were
As scripture says "hold fast that which thou hast Hold fast that no one take thy crown from thee" My soul belongs to no one else but me Though I might love again someday somehow Today it just feels good to still be here
I have learned a hard lesson and come through A time of inadequacy and fear A very dark time and I hope that you Will join me simply to enjoy the now Now is the best time of all to just be
With all that behind me gone in the past And nothing left for me to do but live Here in the moment and alone at last I gave my all but I have more to give: These empty arms and this heart full of poetry
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 12, 2005, 7:42 pm
Soul of the World
In my heart this morning without warning The sun dawns on me an epiphany In clear voices birds speak far beyond words
I realize how good it is to be Chosen to become a part of it all How fortunate I am to be alive
The blindfold falls away so that I see The magnificence of riding this ball That since I am here I might as well thrive
That I can make a difference if small And that I need not struggle need not strive But simply celebrate humanity
How privileged I am to be a part Of this majestic human family One life the earth one body with one heart
Which beats within us all one mighty soul Breathing through the world unconquered and free Binding together the broken as whole
In clear voices birds speak far beyond words The sun dawns on me an epiphany In my heart this morning without warning
My only flag shall be your love unfurled Soaring all-embracing soul of the world
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 12, 2005, 3:50 am
Song of the Night
The time when everything feels right When life runs deep and still My favorite time of day is night It has been is and will Always be the best time for me
When stars flash in the sky The night is right for poetry As the moon winks her eye
The night sky is the canopy Under which love and I Transcend the struggle of the day Where we never hurry As we snuggle the night away
And we never worry For night comes again to us soon After resting awhile Along with the stars and the moon And a bittersweet smile
The denizens of day seem rash Reflected in night's eyes Let fools be fools slash burn and crash:
I will wait for moonrise
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 10, 2005, 11:35 pm
Wager with Destiny
for my fellow poets
A beautiful day for a big ball game And I have a wager with destiny A hundred pushups and situps the same Gladiatorial preparation As any other day so I can be Fit for the battle with mortality Which I enter without hesitation
A battle which though we lose in the end Fighting it makes us better by and by And those who go on to win the war tend To live all our days till the day we die Losing the battle and winning the war I need not wonder what I am here for And if I blunder just blunder some more
When it is over I know I will be There where I want to be right next to you We will come through all this you wait and see Hang on and never look back and just do Your best and pass the test of what is true These beautiful days for these big ball games For we have a wager with destiny:
That the day we die they will know our names
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 10, 2005, 8:42 am
The Grin Beneath My Skin
I have looked at myself in this selfsame mirror All of my days now and I see ever clearer A skull as it begins to grin beneath my skin
At least it is smiling while I am here whiling Away the days and ways of this my mortal span
I would rather be peering through this portal than Finding myself on that other side as I will Someday then I suspect when this face will be still
The shade of skin will fade away till just the grin Remains a Cheshire cat surprise beyond the pains And ups and downs of poets and clowns like I was
My face frowns but the skull grins and that gives me pause
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 9, 2005, 9:50 pm
Kindness
Does anything matter objectively And is there something absolutely true? Does what matters to you matter to me And what matters to me matter to you?
Is our objectivity subjective Or our subjectivity objective And that which we see as reality Is it predetermined or elective?
Why do we compete with such cruelty As though life were lived completely alone?
The cosmos in the chaos is kindness The constant within the inconstancy The only light to reach through our blindness The spark in the dark by which we might see
This is an absolute which has been shown Objectively true for both me and you
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 9, 2005, 6:21 pm
The Possible Impossibility
Accustomed to improbability I do not easily shock nor surprise The possible impossibility Of things becomes attractive to these eyes Acclimated to such absurdity As they have so long seen along the way Failure is often success in disguise And bleakest night the most creative day In my life looking back I realize
Therefore I say to come-what-may come on Chance and change are always interesting I might be at home or I might be gone But fate delivers faithfully to bring Its transcendental telegrams as they Are issued without fail always on time As process server more than postman now Never shocking nor surprising somehow Ridiculous as often as sublime
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 9, 2005, 4:24 pm
Sweet October Saturday
As I rest from my labors I notice that my neighbors Are some of the quietest people I know
On this silent Saturday I write poetry and say That the way I choose to live my life is slow
Just like this With the kiss Of these October breezes
I am free And will be Of stress-induced diseases
Others can keep their fast lane and the strife Of chasing what cannot be caught Mine is a useful if a quiet life Which can neither be sold nor bought
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 8, 2005, 3:38 pm
"Me First" and "After You"
The question of sin has vexed humankind For every day of our thousands of years So much that some have now left it behind Yet sin remains real still causes real tears What is sin? It is nothing more nor less Than pride and ordinary selfishness As briefest expressed best and worst: "Me First"
We wonder why some people need to be Better than we are although they are not
But then we remember that vanity Which is the pride and selfishness of sin And having remembered what they forgot We can understand their hearts and begin To purify our own left here alone With all of the rest of humanity Who say "After You" in community
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 8, 2005, 11:57 am
Human Community
I have considered human community The self and others as sisters and brothers This relationship for half a century
I have wondered approached avoided blundered Seeing through the issue of being with you Or being by myself as time has thundered Past and at last now I see that it is true:
We need each other we need not be alone
When we forsake others ourselves we forsake But are prevented by fear of the unknown From this leap of faith we are challenged to take To dare to be together as humankind:
If we reach to grow we can bend and not break
There is only one race of which all are part The great human tribe is invincible whole In human community the human heart Beating as one expresses the human soul:
It is our fate to be together and great
To deny this is to live deaf dumb and blind I have considered human community And concluded: I need you and you need me
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 7, 2005, 10:13 pm
Watching the Ball Game Together
This lonely Friday night is revealing A curious sense of community Confronted through the television news By the existential absurdity Of our situation with a feeling At the same time impotent and intense Feeling this helpless sends the mind reeling Creates a sense of shared futility
Whatever opinions divergent views One might have had once lost to the suspense Of it all in the fall humanity Emerges from the surges left and right Stunned conjoined by the stark enormity Of fear and the question what about me And you and what to do? Conformity Of confusion in profusion tonight
Awed to silence by the gravity of Responsibility we reach for light
And more alone than ever reach for love
+Steven Curtis Lance
Copyright MMV
Oct 7, 2005, 10:33 am
Clickety-Clack Down a Railroad Track
Clickety-clack down a railroad track Rambling again a long way from home But going away or coming back It just seems some of us need to roam Do we run away or go somewhere And how do we know when we get there?
It is not the getting there we go For but the rambling which makes it right Where we are going we never know But to be free and to own the night Just feels good like being understood Where the only ties are made of wood
Living feels more real on rails of steel Rambling again a long way from home But going away or coming back It just seems some of us need to roam We will never know till we get there Clickety-clack down a railroad track
