He, always alone in a crowd
she, always the centre of it;
they always arrived together
then part, he so quick disavowed
she traipsed to the men, in a flit;
he ever held on a tether.
And when they withdrew, he and she
there was no longer two, but three.
At first we hid in our human shells,
Frail lanterns flickering in the dark,
A few still slipped through unseen doors,
Wings beating toward a brighter mark.
But soon the skies were sealed with stone,
The stars withdrew their silver keys,
We found ourselves confined to earth,
Like birds in branches without leaves.
Mars once bloomed with rivers clear,
Venus sang in a golden air,
Yet both were broken, hushed by fire,
By hands too old, too proud to care.
So here we dwell on soil and sea,
Prisoners bound by time’s command,
Dreaming of worlds that slipped away,
Ruins buried beneath the sand.
Yet still the blossoms burn with light,
And rain restores the weary ground,
The wind is free though we are not,
It lifts our hearts with airy sound.
For though the stars are far above,
And chains of history bind us fast,
The earth is more than bars and walls—
It offers beauty that can last.
If we must stay, then let us sing,
And love the hour before it dies,
For even prisons hold their grace,
And earth still mirrors paradise.
So little Room — I occupied —
When Breath — withdrew from Me —
The House — enlarged — to wilderness —
And left — Infinity —
The Chair — appeared too vast — for One —
The Bed — a vacant Sea —
The Mirror — kept a hollow Face —
Where once — I used to be —
The Garden — could not find my step —
The Sparrow — ceased — to call —
The Window — bore a foreign Sun —
And Shadows — claimed the Wall —
So small a Claim — upon the Earth —
I scarcely seemed — to own —
Yet Absence — proves — how large a Space —
Is missing — when I'm gone —
Have you ever stood still—
noticing the sudden absence
of what once followed you everywhere?
We think we know the reason.
We stitch guesses into tidy shapes,
as if they could fill the hollow
left behind.
But truth is slippery—
most times,
we can’t hold it at all.
We are meant to lift each other,
not pile stones in the way
of someone else’s climb.
So—
gentleness can outlast anger.
A patient tone
travels farther than a shout.
Carry a lamp in open palms,
not judgment clenched in fists.
This was never a wage to earn—
only a space to offer,
and a gift that cannot be traded.
Perhaps the shadow withdrew
because the burden bent its back,
or because it needed
quiet hands
to piece together what had shattered.
And maybe—just maybe—
it will return,
changed by distance,
tempered by the places it’s walked.
Some still whisper in dim corners,
but the one who stepped away?
They speak now
where the light is full and warm.
He took a walk
to see the view.
They found a sock.
A rose, he threw.
Blue was the sky -
the ocean, too.
He wondered why.
They found a shoe.
A bluff so high,
an eagle flew.
He could not fly.
His love was true.
A blood-red rose,
and then he knew,
and so time froze.
The tide withdrew.
So little time—
Yet so much left undone!
On the pages of life still remain
Sketches of dreams left to run.
So many promises lost in the mist,
So many hopes quietly withdrew—
Countless paths remain untraveled,
So many sights left out of view.
What still remains—
To behold the world with wide-open eyes,
To truly live each fleeting moment,
And feel the joy that never dies.
To roam the lands of dream and wonder
Between the covers of a book,
To feel each journey pulse within,
In every line, in every look.
To drift on lyrics, ride the tune,
Let the soul rise and explore—
Unfurl the wings of thought and feeling,
To touch the sky, to soar.
The heart awakens in silent verse,
Where emotions dance and dwell,
In every rhyme and subtle pause,
A deeper truth does swell.
When I feed the hungry a morsel of rice,
Peace visits me, pure and deep—
In their grateful smiles, I discover
A joy that makes my spirit leap.
And still, so much remains unknown—
Mysteries waiting to be unfurled,
To gaze into another’s eyes
And learn the soul of this world.
So little time—
Yet so much left undone!
On the pages of life still remain
Sketches of dreams left to run.
So many promises lost in the mist,
So many hopes quietly withdrew—
Countless paths remain untraveled,
So many sights left out of view.
What still remains—
To behold the world with wide-open eyes,
To truly live each fleeting moment,
And feel the joy that never dies.
To roam the lands of dream and wonder
Between the covers of a book,
To feel each journey pulse within,
In every line, in every look.
To drift on lyrics, ride the tune,
Let the soul rise and explore—
Unfurl the wings of thought and feeling,
To touch the sky, to soar.
The heart awakens in silent verse,
Where emotions dance and dwell,
In every rhyme and subtle pause,
A deeper truth does swell.
When I feed the hungry a morsel of rice,
Peace visits me, pure and deep—
In their grateful smiles, I discover
A joy that makes my spirit leap.
And still, so much remains unknown—
Mysteries waiting to be unfurled,
To gaze into another’s eyes
And learn the soul of this world.
Do to others as you seek,
Let kindness shine, make prayers unique.
Even when they mock and scorn,
Still bless them from dusk to dawn.
For God, in love so deep and true,
Held us close when we withdrew.
The Word made flesh drew near to stay,
Though we had wandered far away.
Upon that Cross, in the darkest night,
He interceded for us at Mercy’s seat.
The One who sent the floods before,
Now guides us through the Shepherd’s door.
He who gives good gifts with grace,
Says, ‘I won’t forget your face.’
Though kith and kin may turn aside,
Your name is in His palm inscribed.
The Author of our every page,
Writes ‘Redeemed’ through each new stage.
Once lost, now found - His Blood restores,
A life of victory forevermore!
Cinderella had fun at the ball
with her Prince charming, handsome and tall.
It got late and she would
run home fast as she could-
but one slipper fell off in a fall.
The Prince found it and let people know
he must find Cinderella, although
her glass shoe needs to fit-
those that don't, he'll omit.
The contenders did soon come and go.
Not one woman could match the small size.
Surely most of them did agonize!
But her mean stepsisters
chose to be enlisters
made a plan for large feet to disguise!
They then cut off some toes and the heel
disregarding the pain they would feel
planned to fool the Prince who
placed one shoe and withdrew!
As blood flowed, he collapsed with a squeal!
Cinderella forgave them for this-
took them under her wing with some bliss.
Found them men to soon wed.
At the wedding, instead-
pigeons plucked their eyes out with a hiss!
Before the light could find my frame,
A breath of blue became the air.
I waited—not for hope or name—
But for a silence I could bear.
The self withdrew, then disappeared,
No shelter left for soul to keep.
All colors fell, as time grew smeared;
Just blue remained—too vast, too deep.
What burned was not a mortal flame,
But thought encased in frost and skin.
The world collapsed without a claim,
And left a hush that rings within.
I watched the stars and felt no need to shine,
Their quiet fire was comfort, not a goal.
The sea withdrew—I did not call it mine,
Its salt and sorrow asked no claim on my soul.
I passed a mirror, let it speak and go,
No hunger stirred to clutch my shape in praise.
The roses bloomed—I knelt, but did not show
My joy for others, nor required their gaze.
If love has come, it was not for display,
But soft as rain upon a sleeping tree.
I shared my bread, then turned and walked away—
No witness sought to sanctify the deed in me.
I do not crave the center of the room,
But shadowed nooks where silence to grows.
If I am light, I need no one to know—
The dusk will do, the moonlight on my tomb.
And if I weep, it's for the world, not me.
As a slip of tongue whip-lashed a pun,
The hurt begun, could not be undone.
The room hushed, smiles withdrew,
As sarcastic pathos turned its screw.
A simple phrase — at first glace plain,
Was en-wrapped in a double-meaning chain,
It landed soft, then bit deep to crush.
Its brush on cheeks, drew a crimson flush.
Though we laughed at the unintended.
The joke offended, the defiled lay un-mended.
With any apology and explanation upended,
By what was clearly needlessly intended.
Your smile and laughter were betrayed
By eyes that glanced away and strayed
To look down, downcast at the ground.
The joy, once flowing to astound, drowned.
Written: April 7th, 2025 for contest Sponsored by: Crystol Woods
********************
When the river ascends, a vow holds true
beyond the dawn, rarest jewel
Resting hearts discover solace in dual
the suspenseful glimmer of love’s hue
Treasure life, abscond the fool
spoke the king to his queen with pompous glee
An eclipse unexplored, together we foresee
In shadow shiver, life delicate rule
The sharp edge of remorse is keen
commitments made beneath a sunlit, raw day
Birds turned with their wings to the bay
spirits are lifting where ambitions glean
Joy colors the sky in spring, so organic and few
gentle breezes carried dreams of fresh dust
Endless happiness, a hint on canvas will rust
an oasis was discovered as shadows withdrew
Remember, long ago, enrapt of Venus,
in college, brought to meet by chance,
how, falling into that first, most fateful glance
a straightaway spark flirted between us?
And, too, can you recall the eager shyness?
On the day that turned up next, a thrilling trance
hurled us into an uninhibited expanse
which then crackled with electric newness.
But nowadays, that’s just as far away
into the forlorn yesteryear as you
are distant now—and, almost strangers, we’ve
matured apart, growing further every day.
A curse upon wicked fate! who withdrew
her blessing and unraveled our fragile weave!
SOLEMN SABBATH
(Alone in You)
Father Alone in you
In your solemn
In your ever present quiet
Your peace, love and joy
Solemn SABBATH
Nothing but you *Lord*
Remember that in the quiet, you can find peace, love, and joy, and that God is always present, waiting to connect with you.
2/15/25
Written words by James Edward Lee Sr.2024
Scriptural reinforcement:
- Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy...For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day."
- Psalm 46:10: "Be still and know that I am God."
- Matthew 14:13: "When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place."
Blessed
Happy
Sabbath Day
Related Poems