Helping Hand

Political divisions left and right and some black and white

You see less I see more, we both see the score

Friendship at stake and the opinions which are right 

Something has to take flight...something much more

Chorus:

Lend a helping hand

What you'd do for a friendship

Gotta to do the right thing

You can do any thing

Unity can be created by the heart

Of good men and women who see the way

The mind can make a brand new start 

With compassion and love and bad thoughts go astray 

Chorus:

Lend a helping hand

What you'd do for a friendship

Gotta to do the right thing

You can do any thing

Unity can be created by the heart

Of good men and women who see the way

The mind can make a brand new start 

With compassion and love and bad thoughts go astray 

pain travesty

pain that never stops
doles out what it wants to it seems
no meaning to more pain except positive thinking
doctors know no answers huddled in comfortable offices
while the patient tries to desperately hide her desperation
treating symptoms does not work and real causes are not aggressively sought after

anger mixes with pain and hard choices present themselves
comfortable lives an illusion, a darkening sky forms
no help from a make believe God
we are here to help ourselves in this jungle of capitalism
grab for the lifeboat and the privileged know the rules of the game
caught in a web of questions looking for compassion hard to find
someone has to end this pain, this meaningless mess

where is the grace, while mired in frustration and doubt
one is alone in the world but reaching out is possible
reach out until the last breath reach out to the helpers

True Hearts Receive


7 days well spent
beautiful warm breezes
to leave this land is to appreciate it
more and more and more
it leaves its mark on one's soul
this place, its people, the stories, the legends
what it gives back is so much more than imagined
hospitality and the kindness of Mayan descendants
breathe in the joy and the worship of Mother Earth
gentle teachers of a better way and peaceful existence
to live as one with heartbeat of the wind and the rhythm of the ocean
one's heart has to be ready to receive this place
appreciate the infinite beauty of Mexico my friend
it will take your breath away

Look to the Helpers


her gaze confused, looking straight ahead, husband arm in arm with her
couple's last vacation
doing everything as before one last time
watching the Caribbean Sea, all of her beauty is pristine
she's looking to horizon of her life, perfect concentration
a marriage of 50 years,that has no infinity, of which both are aware
validation and affirmation of love between these two mortal souls
gentle artists of life's beauty still painting and sculpting the moments the best they can
brave acts of helping her with steps and balance, keeping her safe until the end
watchful eyes of partners and helping hands forever caring and hoping for the best...
..for each other, for each other
memories of many past vacations filled with love, of family and moments of joy only 2 can share
she turns to him and says,  "I think I remember you from somewhere."

Gravity

she took my hand, wild abandon and the Mexican heat, fierce but kind music rhythm
she leaves her partner and eyes gaze at me to join this dance of joy
her blue eyes want to reinvent me as a middle aged dancer of sacred proportions
her gesture intoxicating in the haze of the night, this kind of strange dream but fully awake

i found my soul had no gravity as I moved about as if I was 18 again
the grace, the gravitas, the magic of the Mayan energy captured my soul
this moment in Puerto Morales in a zone, 100 percent free
Debbie's wide smile as I returned to the table exhilarated and out of breath
told me everything I needed to needed to know about the rest of our time here
the bass player nodded his approval as he knew exactly what was happening
he knew we were in touch with this very holy place and that we had found it on our own

Two Men on a Kayak

two men in a kayak rowing against the whistling white caps
slow and steady and resolute against constant adversity current
going with the waves can be the most dangerous because of over-confidence
because the speed of the waves can pick you up and turn your around
it's constant skill against adversity that really matters
you will overcome because being complacent does not win the race
seen or unseen, the current is the ever-present reality that must be acknowledged
go seek out your challenges my friend, and challenge the waves

The Man Who Looked Like Barry Alvarez

the man who looked like barry alvarez got up from his comfortable chair
..and showed us the seats are for us and not reserved
if it was barry, he would be getting away from the cuthroat world of recruiting,
the illegal gifting, the general corruption in college sports
here he is just a smiling man with sunglasses helping first time travelers
showing them the ropes perhaps, just like he does with UW students
nudging them along with small acts of kindness.
God works in mysterious ways.