Suddenly, at ten years old, I woke in the night,
Seeking answers to the most daunting thought.
Some parents ease the mind with their own faith.
Soothing words could not be truthfully spoken by my kin.
Son, all we know is life, and then we die.
So we find a way to live; we too merely try.
Suffering remains, so to the faithful I say: I understand why.
I opened a sliding glass door
and watched the Wolf River
as in shadows it flowed
behind the motel room.
The television was turned off
my co-worker in bed.
I gazed outside and wondered
What life lingered outside
in the deep, dark night.
A lamp filled the room with a soft glow.
I pulled a book from my suitcase
and read. A long workday lay ahead
but such wonder was found
as we worked in The Great North Woods.
A sign was posted over the bathroom sink
a warning of high nitrate levels,
mostly meant for pregnant women,
but the motel owner said I was safe.
Earlier in the night I was drinking
hot chocolate in a cozy lobby
and reading pamphlets of folklore
about the woods. One article told
how you could safely fell a tree.
The door to the owner’s quarters
was open for conversation.
Such serenity taken in—
this was my home for the week.
Kindness is a rare, unpolished gem,
A steady, quiet spark
Hidden deep inside us.
It is an open, reaching hand
Extended with no strings attached.
It is a whisper of solace,
A living action aiming to mend,
Marking forever—not in silence—
What the gesture made flawless.
It is fiercely resilient,
Refusing to make excuses.
It is a quiet fire
Guided by bravery,
Burning for everyone to see.
In Solace
I live in an aura
of prolonged isolation
On the edge of the city
my hermitage thrives
Alone with my thoughts
the world but an orphan
In solace indentured
— I serve and I thrive
(The New Room: June, 2026)
When Least Expected
Out of left field
or deep in the night
The words come unbidden
as welcome delights
Not knowing the minute
or hour they’re born
They enter my consciousness
raw unadorned
When trying to call them
they often ignore
My summons and pleadings
that knock on their door
But when least expected
their gift a surprise
The breath I’ve been missing
— that keeps me alive
(The New Room: June, 2026)
To Dream
Teach them
to wonder
And teach them
to search
Teach them
to love
As you teach them
— to dream
(The New Room: June, 2026)
Never Let Time
Never let fear
determine
your future
Never let distance
turn you
away
Never let critics
dissuade
or discourage
Never let time
with its limits
— betray
(Dreamsleep: June, 2026)
O, Mimi, my sweet sincere late dear friend,
To chase foul pests, on you I did depend,
With soft paws you danced through radiant days,
With whiskers waltzing in such gentle ways.
Your eyes grey blue, sparkled with knowing grace,
In every corner, you sprawled your quick pace,
Rats and mice dreaded your presence, your race,
You chased them away from all nooks and space.
Mimi, former companion calm and true,
With velvet softness of your pat, you knew
How to spin shrines of solace, how to play,
Marking what my heart vastly miss today.
Though on you now resides the earthly veil,
Your spirit softly stretches in the gale,
In every shadow, every spark of light
Your memory sparkles, forever bright.
Rest now, dear Mimi, in tranquillity,
For as, scripted by hands of destiny,
We may cross roads in the span of the sky,
So tender and tenacious was our tie.
What’s the point of maintaining a government?
Who of us wants to be ruled?
We know what we mean, what our ancestors meant
Why pretend that we need to be fooled?
Considering those “we” might vary
Let’s be gentler to them, just a bit
Perhaps parties won’t be too contrary
Would be glad to express some wit
You see governments are quick to punish
We’re a herd far too large for grazing
Ought to hear the alarming rubbish
For decades – isn’t is amazing?
I presume you’d say I’m an idealist
Who thinks nobly of matters too serious
To be taken lightly, cause we exist
Due to rules that are quite imperious
We’ve no power in its tangibility
But the same slaves and masters plot
Take a ride for the master’s facility
To win in style the slave lot
As for me, I’ll check out the only way
Back to the station I knew
There I’ll take a bus to 16 Marroway
That’s the solace worth to pursue.
And finally, of Peacefulness we sing,
The gentle solace that its presence brings.
From Latin pax, a pact, a bond, a vow,
A harmony that lives and breathes right now.
It is the end of conflict, war, and fear,
A world where every voice is held so dear.
In Hebrew tongue, it is the word Shalom,
A sense of wholeness, of a spirit home.
It is not just the absence of a fight,
But a deep well-being, bathed in holy light.
Peacefulness is justice, truth, and grace,
Reflected in a kind and open face.
It is the blessing that the angels gave,
A gift of love, this side of the grave.
storm outside rattling
solace in another’s hand
r u p t u r e cracking pane ~
lightning flashes pain
no cloud laughing when sky slits
shake smoothie slowly
storm shatters saucer
thicket thunder not blunder
rupture is solace ~
To the younger version of me.
Step out of your hidden place.
You've been hiding your whole life.
Wired all wrong from the trauma.
Exposed to the elements of chaos.
Never seen stability grow around you.
Never witness how happiness bloom inside.
Never felt what love can do for you.
Wished you could feel warmth of the sun.
Instead of your cold outlook of life.
I'm Sorry your role models left you behind.
I am here to pull you out of this hell.
We'll escape from all of this together.
Breaking down these decompositions.
Divided by curses and hopelessness.
Subtract the demons and stigmas off us.
The torch has been lit to guide us out.
We don't have to live in darkness anymore.
Here's my hand; let's run away together.
sprouting are the buds
of the leaves on tree dawning
temperatures rise
~
spring sprung winter done
deep environmental changes
vernal solace joy
3/16/26
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.2026©
Eyes fixed on the past
Looking back on solemn days
Heartaches bred sorrows
Yet the sun smiles down on me
I found inner peace with God
He wandered all alone on a tortured narrow path
Seeking solace from the anguish plagued his thoughts, lay deep within
An epiphany, suddenly aware, the source of his discomfort
Time had now arrived for a new direction to begin
Recognised external forces,he was forever wont to blame
now at the crossroads of this discontented life
accept this new found challenge, how to change the game
He began with meditation, cultivated self love and respect
The old thoughts dissipating, negativity he could now reject
Further down the track he became aware of our loving Gods existence
So every now and then chats to God, sends him love, says thanks for your assistance
There are days
when alI hope is lost
when my body fails me
my mind wanders into oblivion
reliving hurtful words
feeling fresh salt on open wounds
wishing I could let old dogs lie
and move on from your clutch
I pray that one day
my mind can heal
and these sad memories
can be laid to rest
To me there seems to exist, correct me if I'm wrong,
in a modern society , full of many flaws
A gaping oxymoron!!!! Which takes precedence,
all the spying apparatus or all the privacy laws ??
So many methods, mobile phones, computers, smart meters,
cameras on the roads many more, perhaps I'm not aware of
None of us exempted in our homes or driving in our cars
Do those who employ these methods to subjugate our freedoms,
suffer deep seated irrational fears ? Why else would they do it ?
How to find some solace amongst all the crazy bedlam,
escape potential, long lasting, deep emotional scars
Pray to God ,wherever He exists, some say it is above
To fill the world with compassion,
change these evil ways, replace them with universal love
Isn’t it beautiful that God
Takes care of your day
You’ve no idea if you are heard
You didn’t kneel and pray
It sounds ridiculous to you
To beg for benefits
As if it falls on sacred due
Of God, to know your needs
But from a closer view it seems
That solace is the cause
And you are hoping for the dreams
Where God provides response.
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