Rise

So I'm still working on a longer poem that I'll be turning into a song, and I haven't had as much time to work on it as I'd like. So, again in the meantime, here's another song I wrote for my band last fall...

Look at this world.

Look at existence.

Do you see greatness?

Or do you see resistance?

Do you see hard work?

Or do you see reluctance?

Do you see true growth?

Or are we stuck in this?

Look at this world,

all its repetition.

Now look at your life.

It's time for progression.

[Chorus]:

It's the moment to realize

that NOW is the time.

There are no limits

to how high we can climb.

It's time to understand

we're better than we believe.

It's time to understand

faith is all we need...

RISE! ...from the cities, from the streets!

RISE! ...everybody to your feet!

RISE! ...to the challenge, to great heights!

RISE! ...and you'll see beautiful sights!

Are your wheels suspended,

spinning in place?

Neither forwards nor backwards,

a giant cycle in space.

Without touching a thing,

having no purpose at all.

Basically non-existent,

causing us only to fall.

Or are your wheels in motion,

never dwelling on the past.

Climbing higher and higher,

making an impact at last.

[Chorus]

Take a stand today

when you look at existence.

Do us all a favor

and say no to resistance.

[Chorus]

As long as you rise, rise, rise,

you'll never need a disguise.

Cause when you rise, rise, rise,

you're a bird soaring in the sky.

Yes if you rise, rise, rise,

you will find to your surprise,

that when you rise, rise, rise,

the light will open your eyes!

--DW 11/08

Our Many Hats

I'm working on a couple longer poems right now, so in the meantime, here's a poem I wrote during the Freshman Writing Seminar last September. It's about the many hats we wear in life...

Hats, hats, so many hats;

we all wear so many hats.

But these aren't like birthday hats,

or crowns, or wigs, or baseball caps.

We're always wearing some kind of hat,

sometimes even more than one.

Constantly taking off, and putting on,

it really sounds like lots of fun.

One, or two, or three, or four,

it just depends on how we feel.

How silly this all would look,

if these hats were actually real.

You could wear an athlete's hat;

these hats are dirty, soaked in sweat.

Or maybe an artist's hat;

these are as colorful as they get.

Or the hat of a musician:

vibrant, shiny, full of sound.

Or any hat that requires real work

persistently worn, though it falls to the ground.

Hopefully, you've worn a teacher's hat,

always ready to help another.

Or the many roles in family:

daughter, son, father, mother.

But the hat we should always have on,

is the one we can forever depend.

The one that loves no matter what.

The one of a true friend.

Everyone owns different hats,

gaining new ones as they live.

The more we receive as we go,

the more we have, to give.

--DW 9/08

Nightshine

The sphere of reflected light that shines in the night is truly something to behold...

There is a glowing light.

I can see it,

though it is very far from my eyes.

It illuminates the night;

watch it sit,

floating high above in the skies.

It shines so very bright;

fiercely lit,

on a path of virtue it flies.

Its constant progress slight;

a circle or a slit.

Watch its ever-changing size.

Just let it take flight,

quite a bit,

as it climbs to the highest of highs.

Reflects the sun just right.

A plain transmit;

like how we are God's reprise.

Colored a gentle white,

and so legit.

Its magnificence is its disguise.

Always a sublime sight,

like Brad Pitt.

All reason its splendor defies.

It never puts up a fight;

nor will it quit.

Every night, without fail, it will rise.

It's me and the moon tonight,

I must admit,

I pray that this night never dies.

--DW 5/09

Like a Phoenix

This poem refers to the bird, the phoenix, that will ignite into flames and turn to ashes at the end of its life cycle. Then the bird will rise again from its ashes, reborn to begin another life.

If you find there's someone with whom you don't mix,

rise from the ashes just like a phoenix.

If you're feeling down because you lost by six,

rise from the ashes just like a phoenix.

If you're frustrated because you keep getting tricked,

rise from the ashes just like a phoenix.

If there's something you feel that you just can't fix,

simply rise from the ashes just like a phoenix.

--DW 5/09

We Are Prophets

This is the first non-rhymer in a while. It is dedicated to the friend who first shared this message with me...

I am a prophet.

And so are you.

We are not separate.

We are brought together

by our Father-Mother.

And by our mission.

There are no biblical prophets

or modern-day prophets.

There are just

prophets.

We are special;

but no more special

than anyone else.

We are all prophets.

We are all headed

the same way;

just on different routes

to get there.

We are

spreading our message

as we walk it,

and live it.

A message

of joy...

of love...

of listening...

of commitment...

of limitless being...

Of living life

BIGGER

than the realm of

"possible"...

Of consistently

showing up

on purpose.

I am a prophet.

And so are you.

--DW 5/09

There's a Whole Lot

No matter where you are in this experience, there's still a whole lot to be grateful for in advance...

There is a whole lot of life still to live.

There is a whole lot of love still to give.

There are a whole lot of games still to play.

There is a whole lot of truth still to say.

There are a whole lot of people still to meet.

There is a whole lot of food still to eat.

There are a whole lot of lessons still to learn.

There are a whole lot of blessings still to earn.

There is a whole lot of prayer still to bestow.

There is a whole lot of room still to grow.

So don't be sad when you're not in your groove;

there are a whole lot more chances still to improve.

--DW 5/09

Search the Universe

This one was triggered by seeing the new Star Trek movie...

Search the universe far and wide.

Search real hard and you shall find:

There's nothing finite that resides,

because there's nothing else besides

infinite Life - it freely abides;

so let that be your eternal guide.

--DW 5/09

Let Your Sun Rise

This poem was inspired by an analogy I received from a friend saying "nothing can prevent the dawn." Also, I must give credit: the third stanza is a re-worded version of one of my favorite quotes by Eckhart Tolle. It is from his book "A New Earth"...

If it feels like it's all getting worse;

like your cause for living is lost and gone,

stop and remember that the night is darkest

just before the transcendent dawn.

If you sit around and sulk like a victim,

you'll find your sunrise will be delayed.

But nothing can stop the sun from rising;

let it freely surface to begin a new day.

We are given the evolving experiences we need

to progress and learn life's whys and hows.

So how do we know this is the experience we need?

Because this is the one we're having right now.

Try taking action to find resourceful solutions;

there's no good excuse not to perform.

The past is over - it can't be changed.

Focus on what you actually can transform.

Then your sunlight will

e m e r g e

from the storm.

--DW 5/09

Just Run

This is one of my favorite poems I've written so far...

Run in the sun.

Run in the rain.

Run in California.

Run in Maine.

Run in the forest.

Run on the bluffs.

Run in layers.

Run in the buff.

Run at dusk.

Run at dawn.

Run a mile.

Run a marathon.

Run on the beach.

Run in the snow.

Run up a mountain.

It doesn't matter where you go.

Just run for the love.

Run with a friend.

Run for dominion.

Run to transcend.

Above all...

Just run.

Run free.

Run far.

Run forever.

--DW 5/09

The Tree of Utmost Being

This poem is dedicated to whom the poem is about...

Who holds a room full of love that needs no key?

Who lives a life full of joy and glee?

Who's danced with grace since they were but a bairn so wee?

Who is the freest of the freest of the free?

Whose smile lights up a room to an infinite degree?

Who should be hired as Life's emcee?

Who has more beautiful peace than any view one could see?

Who conquers all challenges and will never flee?

Who's ready to help faster then you can count to three?

Who's as talented as one could possibly be?

Who makes a difference and gives all credit to Thee?

The answer is my amazing sister Being Tree.

--DW 5/09

What It Takes

After seeing the newest X-Men Superhero movie about Wolverine, I wrote this first poem of May...

Does it have to take super powers to make a difference?

Does it have to take video games to have any fun?

Does it have to take violence to make a strong point?

Does it have to take pain to spark change in someone?

No, actually.

None of the above.

All it takes

is boundless Love.

--DW 5/09