DECEMBER

Whether it’s fourteenth or the twenty fifth,
I favor December just a little more.
It’s crispy air pinching nose and ears,
Reminds the winter is just at the door.

Mittens and hats find new life again,
Along with coat they keep me wrapped up.
Even if some of them look kind of plain,
They get me ready for winter in a snap.

I walk on the beach on cold, frosty day,
When thoughts only keep me warmed up;
Thoughts of warm breeze, of sun’s bright ray
And hot chocolate steaming from the cup.

The lake has been calm like it wanted not
To disturb the reflection of the winter sky,
And trees and mountains covered with snow,
And the eagle gliding with ease so high.

December brings time to say good bye
To the old year with all its good things.
Though I couldn’t have given life better try,
I look forward to what New Year will bring.

　

© 2013 Josephine Lake

NOVEMBER SUN

When frosty wind blew not so strong,
It took the leaves in graceful glide.
They lingered just a bit too long,
Like they were hoping we forgot.

Though raking them was quite a drag,
I missed them waving from the trees.
But then, I thought, November sun
Has more of Mother Earth to see.

I picked one up, so big and bright;
It told me: “Don’t cry over me.
I will be back with all my pals,
I’ll come next year, I guarantee”.

Relieved a bit and quite surprised,
Kept raking them without much fun.
When I looked up there was the prize…
They did unveil November sun.

　

　

© 2013 Josephine Lake

MISSING YOU

I miss you
when your touch
is not here
to awaken my dream,
when your smile
is not here
to dismiss the hesitation,
when your embrace
is not here
to shelter my heart.

I miss the moment

when the day escapes
the burden of time
leaving the reflection
of the sunset
in your eyes.

I wish you were here…

© 2013 Josephine Lake

AUTUMN

I wish I could paint like you,
Then I would not have to write
Clumsy words, pretending only
To know what I’m talking about.

You come dressed in orange,
And red, and brown, and gold,
With red hair draped on your shoulder,
And smile that cheats the cold.

Your keen eyes with hazel hue,
Remind to what is left in green:
Hot summer nights are over now…
Better get used to frosty sheen.

I see you deep in the forest,
Where falling leaves compete,
To touch your hair and then become,
Soft carpet under your feet.

I think of you: Abundance,
For nothing else brings such,
Great riches of the harvest,
We all enjoy and love so much.

So, there you come with grace,
And paint my world with ease.
My sister Autumn - welcome back!
I couldn’t be more pleased.

　

© 2013 Josephine Lake

I’M NOT AFRAID

You come least expected,
Bring misery and tears.
You tear the hearts apart,
And paralyze with fear.

You try to take from me,
The only life I know,
But I am not afraid,
And I will still go on.

The fight has just begun,
So brace yourself today.
My faith will bring you down,
And things will go my way.

I stand up tall and strong,
To all the pain you bring,
And tell you that I am,
Not ready for defeat.

I choose my fate today -

- It’s not for you to decide,
My love and faith will prevail,
As I am the miracle of life.

 

© 2013 Josephine Lake

ONE

You found me
And I became the shelter.
I kept you safe…

I felt your thirst
And I became the water.
I gave you life…

I felt your hunger
And I became the food.
I watched you grow…

You felt my love
And you became my life.
You gave me your life…

　

© 2013 Josephine Lake

LISTENING TO LC

Glamorous but casual,
Simplistically complex,
Your songs so close and real,
Uncover life’s new depth.

You read the deepest thoughts
And secrets of the heart,
The words in quiet voice
Convince - Love doesn’t die.

How fortunate was Jane…?
How lucky Susan was…?
And Alexandra would be
If you had let her close.

And trust that disappeared
Along with faith in flesh,
Unraveled ways to live
In Light and Peace, and Grace.

And Love found other side
Of you – the real one
Once more she is the guide,
But heart found different Light.

　
　

© Josephine Lake 2013

FORBIDDEN

Maybe it was you,
Who came in unnoticed,
And sat across the room,
In silence so outspoken.

Maybe it was me,
Awaiting for so long,
The feeling of desire,
And love before not known.

Maybe it was the time,
When you kissed my finger tips.
Suddenly my world came down,
With one touch of your lips.

The feel of your embrace,
Brought ecstasy and fever,
That made me to believe,
This moment will end never.

And all the words unspoken,
Rushed through me instantly,
As promises to be broken,
Before the hearts would be.

That moment made us stronger,
But world gave us no time.
The world would wait no longer,
And tore your heart from mine.

　

© Josephine Lake 2013

I’M NOT AFRAID

You come least expected,
Bring misery and tears.
You tear the hearts apart,
And paralyze with fear.

You try to take from me,
The only life I know,
But I am not afraid,
And I will still go on.

The fight has just begun,
So brace yourself today.
My faith will bring you down,
And things will go my way.

I stand up tall and strong,
To all the pain you bring,
And tell you that I am,
Not ready for defeat.

I choose my fate today -

- It’s not for you to decide,
My love and faith will prevail,
As I am the miracle of life.

　

© 2013 Josephine Lake

SUNNYSIDE ROAD

I found a road in the rain country,
Its name was, get this… Sunnyside.
Thought... it’s an odd name for the road
That’s half the time covered with mud.

I wondered what’s there at the end,
So that one day I took the turn,
To see what’s up the Sunnyside Road;
I was just curious without concern.

The mud and puddles everywhere,
Just as I thought they would be.
Why am I here? Came the thought…
This trip goes nowhere, foolish me!

I was all ready to go back,
But then I noticed there was sun…
I found the rainbow at the end
And people having lots of fun.

They danced around and sang the songs
With smile invited me inside.
I grew to like that place, along
This muddy road called Sunnyside.



© Alexandra Garland 2009

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
Do you hear me now...?
I have so much to thank for,
Hope to find words somehow.

Every morning you send Sun
To greet my day with light,
Every night the darkness
Follows your command.

You show me the way
Through the darkest path,
You forgive when I fail
And fall short of your plan.

You give me the strength
When I can bear no more,
You bless me with answers
Which I always search for.

You are always there
Ready to lift me up,
From chaos and despair,
You bring peace to my heart.

I handed you my life,
And it is not a belief;
It’s knowledge deep in heart
That you will be there for me.

You’ve always been so patient
With all my pleadings, Father,
Today I have only one:
Let us love each other.



© Josephine Lake 2013
　

SHINE FOR ME

Shine for me
and light my way home,
for I’m lost in the ocean
of thoughts, memories
and desires.

Show me the way
to find the fire
within my soul
that will burn away
the consciousness
of the truth within lies
that assault me.

Make me feel not
the pain of certainty
as I’m powerless
to confront it.

Take away
the vicious force
that tears me inside
and arm me with the power
to survive and conquer.

Bless the ones
who have the courage
to rise.

　

© Josephine Lake 2013

I WANT TO REMEMBER

I had known him for a brief time… an elderly man who had lost his wife after being married to her for over 60 years. He had missed her dearly; she was in all his conversations and anyone could see that he was hardly hanging on to life himself. They are together again.


I want to remember
your smile, your eyes,
your lips saying my name.
I want to remember
the sound of your steps
when you walk across the room.
I want to remember
your hands
gently touching my face
before you kissed me.
I want to remember your name...
but it all fades away
in the haze
of misperception,
confusion and disarray
in my mind.
I want to remember you,
but my mind
is taken hostage
by this demon,
which now
takes you away from me…

Come and take me with you
to the place
where there is no pain,
no discomfort, no indignity
and no yearning for life
I can no longer have,
for my body had ran
its last race
and my soul
is ready
to be with you again,
forever.                                                                         

© Josephine Lake 2013

FAREWELL

Tomorrow the plane will take you away
To the new world on the other side,
Far from deception, lies and betrayal,
Of the one who once called you his bride.

May the new life be nothing but great,
Full of laughter, adventure and love.
Always sunny - for that I will pray,
Just… remember to put on the sunblock.

You take people out of their shells.
Pretending is not a thing you can do,
And the new world is yet to find out,
How fortunate it is to have you.

May the tears be scarce, except for the ones
That come from joy, you so well deserve.
May you find it all in your children’s eyes,
In the sun and the wind and the ocean waves.

And remember the ones that you leave behind,
Ones who love you for just who you are.
Note, the time is still present not past,
For your spirit will always be with us.

　

　

© 2013 Josephine Lake

FERN HILL MORNING

I wake up early
Just to see copper Sun
Rise above the peaks
Of mountains with snow caps,
Above the trees in their glory
Blessing me with shadow,
Above the stream telling the story
To welcoming meadow,
Above the lake sealed calm
With glass-like water
Reflecting the sky.

And I see the raven
Soaking up morning light,
Listening to the silence
One can only find
On snow covered forest path.


© Josephine Lake 2013

HAVE YOU EVER

Have you ever touched the earth
with your hands
and felt each grain
between your fingers…?

Have you ever touched the water
and felt it soaking
through your skin
and rushing to your heart…?

Have you ever heard the wind
telling stories of the sea
to the rocks
on the shore…?

Those are the stories of you and me...

　
　
© 2013 Josephine Lake

ALONG CAME FABULOUS…

Today I found another gray hair…
Around the corner waits menopause…
But I’m not worried a bit my dear;
The life is no less than fabulous.

The triumph of wisdom, as we are told,
The insight and knowledge of divine…
Oh no my friend we’re not getting old,
We age to perfection like the good wine.

The time is what brings the best of us,
And time erases all the flaws.
We don’t get old, no doubt and no fuss;
We’re getting better as the time goes.

Bifocals may need new lenses again,
As our neighbors pass unrecognized…
There is nothing wrong; simple and plain…
It’s just evolution of our eyes.

Elasticized pants are there to fight
Notorious muffin top’s conspiracy.
Along with tee shirts well oversized,
They guard our waist’s right to privacy.

The wrinkle here, the sag over there,
We all know well what gravity does.
It doesn’t matter to us my dear,
In spite of that all, we’re still fabulous.
　

©2013 Josephine Lake

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS

Hot summer nights
bring lazy times,
reclined naps
and overstuffed plates
of barbecued kabobs.

They bring freedom in fashion

with tanks and shorts,
relaxed flip flops
and makeup gone
after dip in the lake.

They bring new bliss

to the sunset,
they glorify the moon,
they bring the stars closer
to inspire dreams.

But then…

as my neighbor says:
“school is out, kids are loud
and obnoxious juveniles
terrorize the neighborhood…”

Maybe he was never young…

©2013 Josephine Lake

FRIENDS

At first we were friends,
Suddenly connected
At the high school dance,
…surprise unexpected.

We’ve done things together
For years that went by,
Without asking ever,
How we felt inside.

Without one question why
We were always there,
For each other’s call,
To bring warmth and care.

And then we were friends
With husband and wife,
With children as well…
Living different lives.

Even now, sometimes,
I catch myself go
Back in my mind’s eye,
To what was long ago.

But the water can’t stop
In the river’s bed.
It runs down the path,
Molded into earth.

And two banks along,
Never stay the same.
Water changes them both,
As it flows away.

Just as that indeed,
Many years have passed
What they tell me is:
Never look behind…


©2013 Josephine Lake 

PURPOSE

How many search along the way…?
Among them all you would find me,
Hoping to find somewhere out there,
The truth that really lives within.

And scratching heads and asking why,
Can not bring comfort, as I see,
We may just live it to the end,
To learn – the purpose was to BE…

And feel the life in every breath,
And dance to our heart’s own beat,
And seize the moments every day,
And thank for everything they bring.

Copyright © 2013 Josephine Lake