#11 "No Rush"/ Susan Pearl

Some things have to be played out, no quick answers, there is no rush,
Like sitting at the dealer's table needing just that one card for a royal flush.
We have to wait and see what will or will not be.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 Song/Poem 6    by Susan Pearl
( written in memory of those who have died as a result of domestic violence )


The thought of those who have died from domestic violence comes to mind,
As a voice is formed in their memory saying together at this time
For we are a family across this land,
And when one is hurting we all should understand,
So we speak of their hopes and dreams that should have been,
And we talk about their time that was to be shared with family and friends.
There is no way to measure the pain or the loss,
Or to know the cost
They had to pay
When their lives were taken away.
So we are their voice now, and we are their tears
To cry out for all their missing years.
And we will remember every night and every day the hushed words they had to say.
Their lives they had to live,
The love they and we had to give
And we will remember, too, it was domestic violence that has taken them away.

#10 Who Threw the Chicken Away/ Susan Pearl

We were served two containers of chicken.
With one container so quickly emptied it was now used to hold the bones.
The other container still held some delicious plump, juicy pieces of chicken
   which we were going to enjoy the next day at home.
Once home, "Where was the chicken?" My uncle went to check in his car saying,
   "I know I threw away the bones".
My husband looked in the kitchen. "I know I threw the bones away," I heard him say.
So to this day I wonder who threw the chicken away.

Commentary on the Word "Comfort" by Susan Pearl

The word "comfort" is a fascinatinting word in the English language.  If I were to hope for someone to have comfort I woud be hoping that person would have solace during sorrow.  This solace can come in the form of good memories,  the love of others and the thought that all was done that could possibly be done.  These thoughts would bring comfort.  It is like peace of mind in the midst of a very stressful time, especially in a time of great change.

Sometimes when a person is very ill the treatment is described as "comfort measures".  This would mean to assist the patient to stay within a tolerable range of being without pain.  Comfort is a managed range of tolerance and this range is maintained by monitoring adjustments to stay within that comfort range throughout the duration of the painful process.

So "comfort" is a range of tolerance.  Some people say that something is out of his or her "comfort zone". This would means that something is out of the limits of having continued peace of mind or out of the range of continuing a level of tolerance in an individual setting or circumstance.

The expression "comfort food" is interesting. This expression gives the impression that besides having peaceful thoughts, or monitored surrourndings of tolerance range, "comfort" can be felt through the five senses.  The sense of taste is for the full flavor of favorite foods and the sense of smell for enjoying the aromas of such favorites  can even bring a pleasant memory to mind.  The sense of hearing would be like that of listening to an inspirational song or the quietness of an early morning cup of coffee (taste, smell, hearing).

The sight of a beautiful scene of nature is comforting and peaceful  The lovliness of flowers and the fragrance can bring our thoughts to a gentle place.  The majesty of the mountains and the vast sight of the redwoods can bring humbling thoughts of recognizing the greatness of it all.  This can be a moment of peace and "comfort".

Sometimes, just out of the blue, a person can experience an unexpected new peace and "comfort".  This may be due to the expansion of tolerance levels or a greater range of ability to remain at peace within a certain situation. 

We can bring comfort to others by our experience of what we have been through, too. This can be of assistance for others as an individual process of "comfort" begins.

"Comfort" is a personal, spiritual and, or, emotional connection beyond our self.   There are various ways that can bring "comfort"  and continue to maintain a tolerable range by having peaceful thoughts.

I hope you have "comfort". 

#9 The Fact Track

I met a person who had stayed on track by riding the rails of true fact.
Another person I know was off of the track and was going back, wondering which way to go.
For this person did not want to be on the track of what is real,
Instead this person wants to go only with what a person can feel.
One destination is factual the other can change according to mood,
One track is steady and consistent, the other is frequently misunderstood,
One can be filled with trust, the other can be filled with fear,
"All aboard," is calling over and over again for each person to hear.

# 8 Good Manners

I sat across at a table from a person who was very ill mannered to me,
All the while that person held a fork with good manners by holding it perfectly.
I think that there is  more to good manners than holding a fork a precise way,
It comes by holding respect for the rights of others in a constant display.
There is nothing wrong with good table manners that is a fact,
But the treatment of others dignity is where true manners are at.

The Radcliff Sale

This writing is a work of fiction.  Any resemblance to any person, place, name or event is coincidental.

Any reproductions, copies or performances of this poem is forbidden without exclusive written permission from Susan Pearl.  Susan Pearl is the owner of this poem legend.

# 7 Love and Time

You are like a lighthouse on life's deep ocean.
You showed I had the skills to sail the storms of my emotions.
And now it is clear to see,
   this has been what is best for me.
My heart will chart each part from this love I know
   and show me safely to where I am suppose to go.
And when in the thick fog of doubt,
   I will hear you calling out,
A call that will rise above all from only you,
   that love and time will bring me through.

#6 The Broken Chain

When we lived in the country we had a wonderful pet dog.  This dog was ideal.  Our dog was friendly to children, fun to be around, playful but very serious if anyone pulled into our driveway. It was then our dog became a guard dog and would bark at the visiting car and occupants until we would call, "It's O K".  Those words would satisy our dog concerns and once again our dog became playful and endearing even to the visitors as they would get out of their vehicle.

One day we were expecting a lot of company so we decided to chain our dog to a post for the visits to be easier with the guests coming and going throughout the day.

We were absolutely heartsick when, at the end of the day, we found that our dog had broken the chain and had run away and was nowhere to be found.  We called and called and called for our dog to come home but to no avail.  Night was starting to set in and we envisioned our dog to be caught by something somewhere and needing help. 

Even though our dog naturally felt free to run again when the chain was broken the fact of dragging part of the chain was endangering for entanglements.  By dragging part of the chain our dog could easily become snagged and become vulnerable for prey.

We looked and looked and called and called and finally our dog appeared in a field across the road from our house.  What a welcome sight!!!  What a relief!!!  Our dog was safe again.  The broken chain was totally removed.

To put this story into an inspiration and encouragement writing the reader has to recognize that the excess baggage being drug from the past can bring jeopardy to our ablility of being free without getting caught by harmful surroundings.  To truly be free a person has to be free of carrying or dragging their past around that is susceptible for getting hooked by something or hooked on something that stops the person from being free.

If a person drags around angers, fears, hurts and insecurities that person is more susceptible of getting caught by something that can hook these areas being carried.  It is to a person's best interest to not carry or drag  aspects from the past that had once ensnared that person.  Breaking free isn't always experiencing true freedom. It comes with an awareness of our circunstances each day and having the ability to move past what could hold a person from going forward and enjoying the experience of doing so.

#5 Cymbal of Symbol/ a Thought from Susan Pearl

Many different symbols in a land,
   are like many people striking cymbals in a marching band.
The unison presence of each cymbal strike shown,
   presents a striking grand symbol of it's own.
 All are in the same beat of freedom's march that does resound,
   the unity of diversity so very loud, so very proud.

March on freedom, march on,
The unity of diversity is strong,
March on freedom, march on.

Song/Poem 5 "Hope's in Motion"

Hope's in motion,
     the best ways to find.
Hope's in motion,
     keeping in step with time.

It's hard to live down
     or carry around hurts that have been done.
So today I'm not looking back to what has come and gone.
Memories can stand still in my mind,
     like a locked frame in the picture show of time.

But, hope's in motion,
     the best ways to find. 
Hope's in motion
     keeping in step with time.

If ever I see life passing me by,
I know I need to give hope a try.
Hope brings from its' eternal spring
  a far outreaching flow,
That shows when it's time to stay
     and when it's time to go.

Hope's in motion
      the best ways to find.
Hope's in motion
     keeping in step with time.

When hope is on the scene
     a better day isn't that far away,
Hope shows us if it time to to go
     or if it is time to stay.
Hope can catch my eye
     like the glimmer from a distant stream,
Helps me see sights that I have never seen,
Hope gives a dream to live
   and it can open a closed door.
Hope is in motion like never before.

Oh, shine on me "Hope",
     I want to see your light,
Shine on me "Hope",
     shine on me day and night.

Hope's in motion,
     the better ways to find.
Hope's in motion,
     keeping in step with time.