CONCERNING THE WAR

Who can explain the knawing pain
Tucked deep in the pit of the stomach.
In Viet Nam the day is clear
With temperature at seventy.
Approaching Christmas Day,
One hundred and sixty-five passengers delivered,
Much to much traffic on the runway.

War is a big time game!
Big fighters with green & beige paint
Waiting in line to leave
like sheep being lead to the slaughter,
Helicopters floating by -
Look to the sky and you'll see,
It's hard to distinquish the birds from
The planes - wonder who will remain -

Now we in our bird are pounding
Down the pavement, watching the yellow line
  in time with the others
Who are waiting to descend and rest -
Repairs, sparks - fly as they lite -
Not easily though,
Parachute jumpers off to the right -
Now that we're in the sky - you can see,
Reflections of the clouds in the rice patties,
Waters and fields and stripes of green
  and blue
And buildings spotting the many towns around,
While leaving the men behind
To fight and die.
                                  ZCMI
                                 12/1967

THE SHADOW BECOMES YOU

The shadow becomes me
A poem about my own transformation
Less glare on the face & stress on the eyes
More mystery & interest, lurking in shaded places.

No responsibility to reply or respond, unless prompted
A quiet time, until action is activated, with intent
Yet, back to the shadows once again
Learning & listening instead of leading, inquiring!

Yet, "letting go" feels like I'm slipping back
Back into patterns from the past
Reliving guilt & failure ... going deeper to the darker places 
Causing me to reach out, surrender, only do my small part.

Giving to others is important to me
The time to teach is rapidly approaching
My hearts desire is once again the driving force
For my ambition … take control of my mind's direction

The shadow becomes me, as age changes my attributes
As amenities & priorities direct my heart & mind to the place
I slow down & relax more. Laugh more. Watch others more.
I find time .. to choose .. which path .. to take.

                                           ZCMI
                                           September 27, 2012

"It's Just To Provide Us A Change"

                              (lyrics to a song I wrote)
Rain we know
Though not the same
Is falling down
On our window panes
And I can tell
By the cool moist air -
It's just to provide us a change.

So you can feel
Anyway you'd care,
With stimulated
Thoughts so there,
Like memories
Or dreams you've seen,
It's just to provide you a change.

Chorus:  The rapid changing of the times
               Leaves lost a many minds and miles,
               But lost their not -
               For life is all gain -
               And what would the sunshine be
               Without the rain?

I don't know joy
With every rain
When those times happen
I'm the one to blame.
But I suppose
That it's quite alright,
It's just to provide me a change.

Things we know
But can't explain
Keep roving through
My mind today,
And as I watch
The raindrops stop -
I feel it's just to provide us a change.

Chorus: The rapid changing of the times

             Leaves lost a many minds and miles,
             But lost their not -
             For life has a way -
             Of making amends with each
                 new dawning day. 

                                      ZCMI
                                      7/70        

"Lyrics To My Song"

I'm losing respect for my ole' man
For he done forgot what it's like
On the other side of the fence,
 And I wish that he would try and understand
And give those people another chance.

Chorus:  Who gave us these roles anyway?
              A woman is gentle
              A man is tough.
             Well, I'll be what I am
             Which is both of them
              And I'll be the best that I can.

Well, a man fights the elements
Because his body is strong
And protects his womans' because
Through her a child can be born.
But that doesn't mean their hearts don't
    work the same,
Or their minds aren't equal,
Or that they can help what they were made.

Chorus: Who gave us these roles anyway?

             A woman is gentle
             A man is tough.
            Well, I'll be what I am
            Which is both of them
            And I'll be the best that I can.

            Oh Brothers, oh sisters,
            Oh listen to me,
            Oh brothers, oh sisters,
            Come let us be free....

The devil is a woman and the woman is me
The devil got into her, and she ate of
   the fruit of the tree.
Heaven help us, we've gone and done a
   wrong thing,
Heaven help us see a dream put together again.

Chorus: Who gave us these roles anyway?

             A woman is gentle
             A man is tough.
            Well, I'll be what I am
            Which is both of them
            And I'll be the best that I can.

            Oh Brothers, of sisters,
            Oh listen to me,
            Oh brothers, oh sisters,
            Come let us be free.

            Freedom, freedom
            Freedom, freedom
            Freedom, freedom
            Freedom, freedom

We alone must answer for the things we have done
So give live unselfishly to others
And try not to judge.
Is the hope, is the scope on how
This war can be won,
Is the hope is the scope on how
Our lives can be one.

                                ZCMI
                                7/70

ON HIS PASSING

One could say a trick had been played
on poor David Gibson ...

An Elvis look alike, Gemini charm with
  "various abilities",
Well versed in the old "family games".
Valued as a child, and loved by all! Yet,
A mysterious sadness befell him.

Similar to grieving, like ole man Mead,
feeling sorry about the world or for himself,
He fell into it's trap and he
Gave way, he surcame, gave up his health.

I'm so sorry to loose you David.
Life with you was fun.
Whenever it was ... wherever it was
You deserved life's best.

You let us all go, one by one,
Near to no attachments.
A loving mother, red-neck relatives,
Careers & children, you had it all!

I'm so sorry to lose you, David.
Wherever & whenever it was.
We all knew you were making your choices
And we hoped you would choose...  us.

So we can confess, we love you still,
And hold you dear through it all.
God will be good to you,
And you may find your reward.

So say "hi" to Mom, Aunt Merle & Uncle Whitey
Uncle OK, & to your dad Lee
And all the rest who've gone before you
And tell them we had a great family!

Tell them we had a great time!
Sometimes a hard life that made it longer,
But, hanging on was good,
And daily we get stronger.

But now we can let go
Of Mom's beloved David ..
Knowing he'll find peace at last
On hollowed ground in Heaven.

We all kept pulling for him
Our hearts cried "Don't let go bro"!
Don't let go! Until it's your time!
Because we sincerely did not want you to go.

                                       ZCMI 
                                      12/10/2005