Sparrows enjoy a certain reputation
For intimacy and hope
Crosby Stills and Nash sang of them
In Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
As compatriots to the morning
Air
With guitar strums and high notes
Truth be told
Sparrows are bulkier than the normal song bird
And not particularly
Pretty
Brown and gray as a mound of dirt
Chirpy jerky punk band
And they have no problem with crowding out
From a bush or bird feeder
Finches and chick-a-dees
They’re kind of a bully
Push around those that are smaller
Who carry pouches of yellow and pink
And tiny symphonies
They clog up my eavestroughs with nests
Right now
I watch one sparrow land on top of another
And the tree branch bends down
Under their heft
Bounces up and down
To their sex
Again
The limb
Seemingly
Waving them off
Or so it tries
As if it’s saying
Get off me you animals.
you only know the me i am
the one i am when i’m with you ~
the me that’s mistrusting
reserved and holding back
i hope one day you’ll get to know
the me with you i want to become ~
my mind at ease with trust in heart
freed from misgiving and suspicion
AP: 1st place 2025
I wish I could see what you see.
I wish I was as strong as you seem to be.
You seem certain in all that you do,
I wish I could be that way too.
Trust What You See,
Trust in your energy,
It's everything you see.
That deep inner feeling,
Is what it's revealing.
The secrets we need to see,
To help evolve your reality.
looking through the fog
trying to find a blue sky
and a little hope
("Anime", 2019, original encaustic)
What You See
What you see is what you get
But what is
Is not
All it seems
And so we chase the rabbit
Round the tree
And down the hole
Searching for the other side
But the other side
Is just the mirror
Of this
Near shore
Still we seek
To grasp and hold
A precious something
That slips through our hands
As things continue
To appear
But just not
Like they appear
(1/13/24)
Why is it that some people like to pick on me,
When all I want to do is to be their friend?
I wish that they would open up their hearts and minds and see
That it was their freedom that I was trying to defend.
Although a bomb took one of my legs at the knee,
I thank God every day that I’m still alive.
In my own way, I can still stand on my own two feet
By helping other soldiers to cope and to survive.
The woman that I love has stood by me through it all,
And has even blessed me with a beautiful, little girl.
I want her to know that though sometimes I may fall,
I wouldn’t change my life for anything in the world.
You’d be amazed at what I’m still able to do,
So, don’t judge me just by what your eyes may see.
The last time I went hunting, I got two caribou,
And you’d be impressed if you ever saw me ski.
As you can see, I’ve gotten on with the rest of my life.
I even help soldiers who’ve lost a limb like me.
I’m fortunate enough to have a wonderful wife,
And the love and support of my friends and family.
Every closed eye isn't really sleeping
Every curved lip isn't gladly smiling
Every empty stomach isn't craving just for food
Everyone else's life, as you think, isn't green and good.
Only if you wish to look beyond, you'll see,
There are unshed tears behind those restless eyes
There are unsaid words bolted by those curved lips
There are unheard tales burning the walls of parched stomach
Your mere assumptions and conclusions do not work.
The daily rag's a painted lady
her poses alluring
her promises assuring
~ her goods rarely enduring
Are you happy with the face you were born with
Do you cringe at your sordid reflection
Take heart my dear friend, could be a lot worse
We all have minor imperfections
There are some of us with big oversized honkers
And some have these sticky out ears
Eyes that are crossed and foul smelling breath
Who haven't had friends in years
People often say “we'll call you next week”
But next week never seems to get here
Could it be they're just trying hard to avoid me
With my belly that's seen too much beer
But the bottom line is we are all quite unique
No one has a claim on perfection
We don't have a choice with how we turn out
It's totally about natural selection
So now I feel better bout my funny appearance
No more need to cover it with a beard
Had this face fuzz since nineteen sixty-two
Without it would feel a bit weird
From God its Salvation you receive
Not what you see, its what you believe
Its not what you pay for, its Free
Its for all, you and me,
For He paid the price on Calvary.
Come what may receive Him in your Heart
God can lead us, He will never depart
For its not what you see, its what you believe
Author Dana Redricks
June 4, 2019
I am more than what you
see I am my inner beauty
I am a soul who is brave
and bold
I am a person who have
fought many battles
I have won some and lost
many
I have inner wounds no
one can see
Battered and bruised
Defeated and risen
I am the Victor but never
the victim
I am more than what you see
My body is a shell with my
soul within
My brown skin the red
blood that flows within
I am more than what you see
I am a soul that lives in victory
Not what you see
It looked an idyllic scene
a farmer with a sweet, little red tractor
was ploughing a feel while his mule now unemployed
stood under a carob tree resting.
The tractor stopped no more fuel, the man went to
the nearest petrol station to buy some more, but a dreamer
walked past gave the tractor pink wings, saw it flew
towards the sun.
The farmer went to fetch the mule that was tired
standing under a tree looking picturesque.
The mule said, is what dreams are made of all
you need is imagination.
I’ve joined a group new to the net,
A group where no one is fake,
A group made of folks living their flaws,
Not hiding their inner most ache,
And they annoy me with whatever they say,
Make me uncomfortably real,
Make me be honest about what I believe,
Honest with things that I feel,
And they wont be my friend just to be cool,
They wont buy a ticket of false,
They expect a dignified genuine truth,
Sharing all of my old fashioned faults,
This group I have joined has one cost to join,
One cost we all must perform,
And that is to unshackle any fake pretend thoughts,
And leave them by the front door.
Question everything, because
Can we believe what we see?
If you ever see another side,
You know we can't.
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