Poetry

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The Heart by Nafisa Jaghuri love is the sun of the life we all need to receive in life who we want to love and nurture being wonderful in our life love is unconditional will go straight in life love is like stars in our life we all need to have it to shine in our life love is like the shade of tree we all need to receive this shade to be comfortable, warm, bright in life love is the heart in our life we all need that heart in life Thank you

WOMAN BE SOFT

Play and sing she ever.
Sings she her life's melody.
Soft, forever soft, woman be soft
Else there is no real point to her.
Pain is a part of her life:
Change it.
Warp it.
Make it cry.
Make it Lie
As long as it serve her heart,
Her Soul.
Her Being.
God loves her
And so I am in good company.

ron

the summer sun

the summer sun surrendered
with the klans of caos in pursuit
of every autumn blossom and finding only this-
the skirts and sashes of september
the laughter of leaves of leaving of bliss
and welcomes winter weaving water
into falling flakes of mist,
and from twilight framed by ponds of deepest
brown and blonde,
of winter wheat and golden prarie rolling on,
the windy weather breathing
the smoke of summers solstice
suddenly exhales in gentle rolling rains
in fields of fog, in rising, in refrain...

And she was holding a single rose
with five fingers of salutation
in the deep forests, the proud clearings
beneath expansive night
beneath the range of hearing
the wilderness of a whisper
the trace of tears of waterfalls and streams
from within, without, and wandering
the trails of waking dreams.

i missed you

And finding this
the sun surrendered slender summer
as certainty circles celebration
as every leaf was falling into swirls
of elations colours,
as in spinning through each other
the laughter of leaves, the rose of autumns blossoms.
copyright- 2003
robert jones
1301 main st.
parkville mo 64152
8165870741
8169353955

Letting Go~

If I might, I'd polish the heavens
and harvest the kindred,
without hesitation, and brighten it with hope

While you set in the muddy pond of letting go

I know I can open the doors to a new corridor

To soften your wounded spirit and

take you out of scar

I know I can wander the terrain

to explore a new pathway

To warm your spirit

that holds you in the light

to take you out of the

darkened pain.

Pattimari 2004

After a First Date

by Steve Strong

Out on the ocean sailed a ship alone
as it searched for a harbor - shelter from the storm.
But the storm came early, with high winds and waves
nearly sending the ship to a watery grave.

As the storm gave way sunlight peaked through the clouds
the winds died down, the sea started to calm.
As daylight grew stronger out on the horizon
the crew spotted a ship sailing directly toward them.

Had that ship also encountered the storm?
What tales would they tell, and from whence did they come?
Emotions grew strong as they pulled alongside her,
they shared stories, traded, enjoying each other.

And when day was past, the two drifted apart
each searching for something, but not knowing what.
As they watched the horizon of the ocean blue
they waved good-bye to the mast as it passed out of view.

steves@lakos.com

On My Way Out

Here I am on my way to Fresno Singles,

Wondering if my heart or soul will get the tingles.

I know that music fills my heart,

I wonder if the right man will make my soul start...

What kind of dances will be in line?

Maybe the cha-cha, electric slide or the swing, would

be just fine!!

Have no expectations of meeting Mr. Right at all,

But if I do, that would be a ball!!

So guys if you're out there and want to meet someone

that will treat you just right,

Come out to Fresno Friends and dance with me tonight.

So....whatever happens or whatever is in sight,

I just want to have a fun filled night!!

 by Linda Lopez

stovie5@yahoo.com

FRIENDS

Here I sit

Simply looking around the room

Wondering why I am here

I don�t know why I put all the fuss into dressing to come here

And sit

I am uncomfortable in this unfamiliar environment

Surrounded by unknowns

Why did I even make the effort?

The past is gone. This is the transition into my future

You are courageous for just being here, I tell myself

I am trying to make the best of the moment

I fight wanting to retreat into the familiar safety net of my home

I don�t seem to know anyone here. I don�t seem to belong

I fight the fear in my heart

Only the fact that I would have to walk across the floor in front of everyone

Keeps me from exiting

Everyone seems to know everyone else, and they are smiling

I fight the hurt in my heart

Will I ever truly smile again?

I hope they do not notice my forced smile and wandering eyes watching them

Suddenly, as if out of the air, someone speaks to me

I stammer to answer, unable to find the words that are choked in my throat

Oh, I am so embarrassed! How could I have said that?

I answered in such an inept way

But to my surprise, the conversation continues

Sentence after sentence

Before I know it, someone else joins in the conversation

And then another ��and another

Without warning, to my surprise, I find myself laughing again, from the heart

I am truly interested in what they have to say

And they are truly interested in what I have to say

I don�t know when the last time was that I felt myself �interesting�

I don�t know when the last time was that I felt myself �funny�

It amazes me how strangers could have so much in common

My discomfort seems to fade away as we explore each other with words

Each offering interesting, and sometimes funny stories

A revealing window into to the individual

I too share a part of myself I feel safe to reveal

I laugh, and make them laugh

We laugh at each other and laugh and at ourselves

I want to get to know these people better

It is true, I think to myself

Strangers are only people we have not yet met

We make plans to meet for a movie

We make plans to go out for coffee

We make plans to go to the theatre

Oh my gosh, I think to myself, I am making new friends

I have crossed the bridge in my transition

I am glad I came!

I know that

FRIENDSHIP IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

MY DANCE IS YET TO COME!

AND I BELIEVE IT WILL!

EMW@aol.com

THINGS TO COME

Thinking of you makes me happy

I often think of your winning smile

Your humorous charm that makes my heart laugh

Your warm embrace that excites the passion in me

Your insightfulness that shows wisdom beyond your years

Your thoughtfulness that shows you care about others

Your intelligence that comes from more than a book, it comes from life, and knowing people

But mostly when I think of you

I think of US!

I think of how we compliment each other

How we support each other

How we are committed to each other, no matter what

For we consider each other in everything we do and say

We appreciate that what one does reflects on the other

We respect each other as individuals

Though we can stand alone, we elect to stand together

We truly have become one

I love you very much!

I JUST HAVE TO FIND YOU

THINGS TO COME

by Ellen Walsh

EMW@aol.com

MUSIC

The universal language of all nations

One song makes me happy

One song makes me cry

Another makes me feel pensive, angry, or passionate

All of these emotions have I

I am having a love affair with music

It wraps its arms around me in comfort

It encourages me just when I need to be encouraged

It seems to understand me

It is essential to my life

For it allows me to feel and express the things I cannot

For there is currently no one I feel safe enough to express my emotions to.

My emotions have to be expressed, or they will die.

MUSIC IS MY LOVER

Ellen Walsh

THE BELIEF

The relationship is over

I am devastated!

Do the words

Loyalty, Honesty, Faithfulness, Commitment

�I love you forever�

Mean anything, anymore?

These words have great meaning to me

They are the foundation of my belief in love

I am devastated that the relationship is over.

But WHY am I devastated?

Was it my partner I was trying to hold on to so desperately��?

Or was it the �belief in love � I was trying to hold on to?

I reason with myself

If a soldier is killed fighting for his belief, does his belief die?

No��..only the soldier dies.

The belief goes on

I accept the relationship died

But I will never give up my belief in love

My relationship was two people coupled with different beliefs, unequally yoked

I will find someone who shares my beliefs, and I will love again.

This time, equally yoked, forever!

Thank God there are many kinds of love, and many ways to love.

by Ellen Walsh

BEAUTY

I recently went to the beach

I stood upon the sand dooms

Feeling the wind blow across my face

The sun warmed my body causing it to tingle

I looked over the beauty before my eyes

The deep blue ocean with it�s peaked white waves rolled in

I can hear the sound of the waves crashing as I write this.

The blue sky with its puffy white clouds met the ocean.

Where one truly began and one left off was a remained mystery.

The mountains, though real, looked so beautiful, as if painted on a canvas just for me

I stood there feeling the presence of God as the wind touched my body, cleansing my soul.

I thought to myself, these are God�s most beautiful creations, standing before me

Until

I turned to see the distant silhouette of my daughter and her son sitting together on a blanket

How silly you are, I said to myself

All these creations of God cannot even compare to them

They are God�s most beautiful creations

And I am so blessed to have them

They say that you have seen the face of God when you love beyond yourself

I have seen the face of God in these two precious ones

I love you both forever

Mom

by Ellen Walsh

Guess What I Got For Christmas
by Toni Avila

Guess what I got for Christmas, I got my whole heart back!
All came back in one piece, carefully tucked within his sack.

Santa, you were so good to me, to bring back my surprise,
Must have heard my painful plea, nice of you to empathize.

Ready for a brand new start, for my heart has future gains,
Present has no time to waste, the past leaves no remains.

I thought I’d never smile again, I thought I’d lost the fight,
Now everyday Hope welcomes me, glad for my new sight.

Haven’t given up on love, my heart is ready for romance,
Allowed my soul returned to me, I’ve yet another chance.

So happy to be whole again, Santa was so kind,
Got this gift for Christmas, this whole heart of mine!

ALL I WANT FOR XMAS
by Toni Avila

All I want for Xmas is my whole heart back
No need to wrap it, Santa, just include it in your sack.

It ran away one starry night, believing that it could fly,
Persuaded to escape with him, it soared way up high.

He rushed right in and stole my heart; inviting it to stay,
Then he had a change of heart and decided not to play.

Now my heart is all broken; keeps on asking why?
Such pretty words were spoken, they were all a lie!

I warned my heart not to go but it went there for the game,
Now we’re both divided, will we ever be the same?

It’s wound is deep and painful, healing will take some time,
I'll be more cautious next turn, If you bring back this heart of mine.

Meanwhile I am pleading, to you my dear St. Nick
Accelerate your journey, I need my heart back quick!

Please retrieve all broken parts on this your annual flight,
So I'll have my whole heart back by this Xmas nite.

P.S. Santa, I'd be so grateful to see this blue year end,
Wishing for a brighter view of what’s beyond the bend.

CHANCE DANCE
by Toni Avila

Yearning for that special time, I'd wished with all my might,
Came to the dance filled with hope: an attitude just right.
Perhaps to give romance a chance, I guess I'll have to see,
Or meet that certain someone, who will share his heart with me.

The lights were dimmed but clearly, I could see,
Inquisitive, curious eyes, gazing straight at me
Be calm, be cool, my heart, this might be just your chance,
To meet that special someone, who will glide you thru the dance.

The recording they are playing, is gently whispering to my ear,
It makes me want that someone, to hold me oh, so near.
Heads up, be alert, my heart, don't listen to the fear!
Happiness speaks, be kind my heart, allow laughter in and cheer.

You 've talked me into it so far my heart, I'd better take a seat,
By now, those eyes are on someone new, I'm glad for my retreat.
I think about what I'd be doing, if I wasn't here tonight,
But words like new and promising are much to my delight.

If only I could fool myself or convince my heart to lie,
I'd be dancing with the rest of them, instead of being shy.
Perhaps a drink or two, will help chase these nerves away,
To help me smile, relax, and pray I won't scare any one away!

But once again, I'd have to stand, pretending I don't care,
And face those mindful glances, the ones who seem to stare.
Faded memories seem to focus now, past dances were the same,
These nagging words keep echoing: "I wonder why I came?"

I almost feel like screaming, stopping short of "shout",
Come on & quit complaining, what's this fuss about?
You've wasted half this evening, holding back a tear,
It's alright to feel uneasy, "fear" need not be invited here!

Listen carefully to the messages, they're recapitulating in the song,
With such pulsating rhythms, it speeds your heart along.
May I have this dance with you?, a gentleman then did say,
I promptly answered "yes" to him, as he escorted me away.

It wasn't difficult at all, I smiled, to be lifted from my trance,
To finally give romance a chance, to savor in the dance.

Toni Avila is a Fresno Friends member. She frequently attends the Sunday night dances and the hikes. You'll recognize her immediately on the hikes, she's the pretty woman with the camera. Like anyone who has ever attended the dance,Toni knows that getting there the first time takes a lot of courage and enjoying them is a matter of having the right state of mind, so she has written this poem about the them.