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My Candle

  • Posted on November 29, 2009 at 4:56 pm

I’ve always held my candle close,
afraid it would not shine
like those around me thought it should.
But still it burned inside.

My candle’s light was hidden by
the pain that I went thru.
The dark of night fell hard and cruel.
But still it burned inside.

I couldn’t feel my candle’s warmth
when fear’s cold wind would blow.
Many times I thought its flame was lost.
But still it burned inside.

Then one day my candle called to me
and said that it was time
to open up and shine the light
that had always burned inside.

My candle said it mattered not
what others thought I should be.
Go light the world in your own way
with the flame that burns inside.

I knew my candle’s words were true
But my wounds were deep and raw.
How could I shine when I could not feel
the flame that burned inside?

My candle heard my thoughts and said
I’m healing those wounds for you.
Soon there’ll be nothing to hold you back
from sharing the flame inside.

I could feel the light from my candle grow
as it made its way thru me.
My wounds were turned into scars of gold
by the flame that burned inside.

I no longer hold my candle close.
I share it with the world.
Who I AM and the pain I’ve felt
is what fuels the flame inside.

~D~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!

  • Posted on November 28, 2009 at 12:38 pm

Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!
These words she will not hear.
The dark of night fell long ago.
To knowing she closed her eyes.

Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!
These words she can not hear.
Her sleep is deep and undisturbed,
As she dreams of what could be.

Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!
These words she does not hear.
The morning sun begins to rise.
She feels the warmth of its light.

Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!
These words she thinks she hears.
Could it be that now is really the time?
She is stirred down deep inside.

Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!
These words she knows she hears.
The beauty of a new day is all around.
She awakens and takes her place.

Awake, Awake My Beautiful Love!
These words she must now speak.
The wind of Life has begun to blow.
Come My Love…Breathe Me in.

~D~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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Love Reigns – Let it Rain!

  • Posted on November 25, 2009 at 1:35 pm

Love Reigns – Let it Rain!

Let it Rain – until we are flooded with its light.

Let it Rain – until every wall that separates us is torn down.

Let it Rain – until pain, poverty and intolerance are washed away.

Let it Rain – until we sing together in perfect harmony.

Let it Rain – until peace covers the earth like a blanket.

Let it Rain – until joy shines on every face.

Let it Rain – until we realize that we are one.

Let it Rain – until our hearts have been fully awakened.

Let it Rain – until we become the rain.

Love Reigns – Let it Rain!

~D~

 Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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Heart Song

  • Posted on November 23, 2009 at 1:37 pm

While sitting in the stillness I asked my heart for a new song.
I was so tired of the melancholy one I had sung for so long.

My heart, in all its wisdom, softly replied,
“I have no new song for you to sing.
I have only my song, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

I did not understand; could my destiny really be
to forever sing the same old dark melody?

My heart heard my thoughts and began to explain:
“It’s not my song that you continually sing. 
I have only one song, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

Not my heart’s song? What could this mean?
If not my own song, then whose did I sing?

Again my heart heard my thoughts and replied,
“You’ve learned notes and lines that you weren’t meant to sing.
I have only your song, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

I wanted to learn this song that was meant to be?
So I asked my heart to please teach it to me.

My heart in much wisdom once again spoke,
“Close your eyes, listen to me and you will begin to sing
the only song I have for you, it’s a beautiful thing”

I closed my eyes and listened and suddenly I knew
just what my heart was saying. Everything felt new.

My heart began to smile as it listened to me,
The love that I felt had taught me to sing
the song that was mine, it’s such a beautiful thing.

~D~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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The Search for True Love

  • Posted on November 19, 2009 at 12:00 pm

I spent many years searching for True Love and each time I thought I had found it – IT ended up “breaking my heart”. The problem was that I was looking in the wrong place. My natural experience in this world has taught me to look to others for fulfillment and love; that I must have a certain type of relationship in my life before I can feel complete and truly loved.

The love that I was taught to search for is only surface love. It is made up of emotion and natural experience. It is not lasting and it is not True. It causes pain because it is not Unconditional. I know now that the search for True Love must begin within ME. I must look within and connect with the Unconditional Love that I AM. I must feel it, breathe it and BE it, before I can HAVE it for or with anyone else.

We must look beyond the surface to the depths of the sea within us. We must follow the light to the place where True Love resides. Once we connect with the True Love that WE are, the Light of that Love will draw others to US. It is then and ONLY then that we can experience the truth of what Love really is…

~ D ~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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Changing Seasons

  • Posted on November 15, 2009 at 6:32 pm

On the Back Porch today…

I sit and watch as a beautiful display of autumn leaves fall away from the very trees that gave them life in early spring.

I listen to the birds and imagine their conversation as they say their goodbyes before leaving on their southward journey.

I notice as a neighbor works in the yard and around the house in anticipation of the change of weather that is to come,

I feel the warmth of the fall sunshine and the coolness of the breeze that is gently blowing in a new season.

I take it all in and think how very blessed I am to be a part of this awesome circle of life that surrounds me.

I believe that everything under the sun really does have a purpose and a season – a time to be here and a time to move on.

I know deep in my heart that I have finally found within me my purpose in this life…and my season is now.

~D~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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A Place in the Cove

  • Posted on at 10:23 am

This is a poem that I wrote a few years ago, not long after my time in ”The Mountain Cove”.  I would like to post it here as a public thank you to those in my life for whom I have written it.  You know who you are.  I hope that in some small way this will show you the gratitude that I feel for all that you have done for me.  And for everyone else, may God bless you with a place like this to call home should you ever need it.
 

A Place in the Cove

There’s a place I know down in the Cove

Some call it K-town, I’ve called it home.

At times there’s no place I would rather be.

 

The sky is clear and the moon shines bright.

You can count the stars most every night.

And in the distance you might hear a coyote sing.

 

There’s an old black dog that welcomes you;

two little ones might greet you too.

A Home Sweet Home sign hangs above the door.

 

A margarita or an ice cold beer;

“Five o’clock comes ’round more often here.”

Those words are always followed with a wink.

 

There’s a fuzzy blanket on the chair.

And there’s always lots of love to share,

a home cooked meal and place to lay your head.

 

The people there are family.

And each one means the world to me.

God blessed me when he put them in my life.

 

There was a time I thought I’d never see

this gift that my God gave to me

when I had no other place that I could go.

 

I brought my troubles and my fears.

I cried a river full of tears.

At times I thought that I would rather die.

 

But the love they shared, it lifted me

out of all the pain and misery.

It healed my heart; now I’m on my own again.

 

So no matter how far away I go

I’ll remember that place down in the Cove

and the people there who mean so much to me.

 

Because the love they gave; it saved my life.

May God bless them for their sacrifice.

And keep them safe ’till I can go back there again.

 

I love you guys!

~D~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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The Mountain Cove

  • Posted on November 13, 2009 at 11:59 pm

The rest that I find here in this cove is such a welcome change to the strain of recent events.  The peacefulness of this place is like none I have ever experienced.  I feel the healing warmth of the sun as it is filtered thru the leaves of the tree above me.  I can hear the hypnotic sounds of  flowing water near by.  The songbird is still singing.  It is a nice compliment to the sounds of the stream.  I open my eyes and see a beautiful clear blue sky.  There is no more fog.  I sit up and look around me.  The grass here is so very green.  There are wild flowers scattered about.  Out of the corner of my eye, I catch a glimpse of a butterfly as it kisses one of the flowers.  I think of my little dancing bloom and wonder where it might be.  I imagine it fluttering over a field of flowers somewhere;  dipping down to gracefully kiss each bloom as only a butterfly can do.  I become lost in the beauty of my thoughts until I am suddenly brought back to reality by a loud rumble somewhere in the trees behind me.  Startled, I instinctively huddle close to the base of the shade tree.  What could be making such a noise?  It seems so out of place here in this peaceful cove.

I am afraid to look into the woods behind me.  I feel the earth shake as the rumbling continues.  Fear rises up from deep within.  Without warning, something crashes into the shade tree and with a very hard jolt I am thrown into the air.  In an instant I find myself face down on the ground several feet from where I was hiding.  Shaking, in pain and very frightened, I slowly raise my head.  There beside me are several large rocks.  I look toward the woods and see fallen trees and rocks everywhere.  The avalanche has cut a deep path from the side of the mountain straight thru the woods to the middle of the cove.  I lie motionless for what seems like an eternity as I try to absorb all that has just happened.  What caused the mountain to turn loose of the rocks so suddenly?  I feel as though the whole world has come crashing down on my beautiful cove.  Sadness begins to rise and replaces the fear I felt earlier.  A flood of tears is not far behind.  Night is beginning to fall and with it comes a darkness that is all too familiar.  I curl up on the ground in a fetal position.  I thought I had left the darkness behind.  It doesn’t belong here in my safe place.  Tears begin to roll down my cheeks.  I close my eyes and with everything within me, I wish the darkness away. 

The morning falls gently on the cove and I slowly begin to stir.  I feel the sun shining warmly on my face as it dries the last of the tears from the night before.  I remember the darkness and I am surprised that it left me so quickly.  There is pain as  I attempt to stand,  but it isn’t has bad as I thought it would be.  I rise to my feet and look toward the mountain.  The scars left behind by the avalanche are such a contrast to the beauty of the cove.  I don’t understand why it had to happen, but I am so grateful that I made it thru safely.  I turn and make my way over to the stream.  It seems totally undisturbed by the upheaval that has taken place.  I watch as the water glistens in the sunlight.  A soft breeze begins to blow.  The peace that I felt when I first saw the cove is returning.  This has truly been a healing place for me.  I am much stronger now.  I know that I must move on.  I hesitate to leave this amazing place because I feel so at home here.  But it is time.  I take one last look around and with a sigh, I begin to walk.

~ D ~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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The Dancing Bloom

  • Posted on November 3, 2009 at 1:21 pm

As I  blindly move forward  into the fog that still hangs in the chasm, I am quickly reminded of the condition of my body.  I was severely beaten and battered by the fierceness of the storm, the power of the darkness and the force of the river.  I know that it will take a long time for me to heal.  At this point, I wonder if I will ever completely heal.  I think back to my time in the desert.  It was a long, hard and very dry walk.  But as difficult and painful as it was, it never caused the kind of pain that I have recently experienced.  I play over and over in my mind scenes from the events that have taken place since first entering the field of flowers.  I remember the joy of finding my first flower and the pain and sadness of losing it.  How could I fly so high and then fall so far?  Deep down I know that it wasn’t just because I lost the flower.  Why couldn’t I see this before?  It is so clear to me now.  The loss I suffered in the field ripped open many wounds from the desert that had not yet healed.  That’s why the pain was so deep.  That’s why the fall was so devastating.  Just as this new found awareness is sinking in, my thoughts come back to my present circumstance.  The fog is slowly beginning to clear.  It hangs mostly in thick patches now;  a very welcome reprieve for my eyes which are constantly trying to focus.

The light is gradually becoming brighter. I stop walking and turn my face toward it.  I close my eyes and drink in the warmth as it gently caresses my entire body.  I  become lost in the rays of light and feel as though I could stand there forever.  I am startled as something brushes up against my cheek.  When I open my eyes, I find a lovely purple swallowtail butterfly resting on my right shoulder.  I am mesmerized by its grace and beauty.  Suddenly, without warning, it takes to the sky.  I watch as it flutters around me.  I am reminded of the rainbow of freedom I saw in the field of flowers.  This butterfly is like a little dancing bloom.  It continues to dance around me for a short time  and then it flies away.  My heart sinks.  The first hint of joy I have felt in a long time just flew away.  My eyes begin to sting and just as the first tear falls, I feel something on my shoulder. It’s back!  In an instant it flies off again but doesn’t go very far before it returns.  It wants me to follow and  I gladly do so. Where is it taking me?  I don’t even care.  I follow closely as it leads me thru the winding chasm. 

The fog is almost gone now.  I notice that the rock walls have become much steeper and  the terrain is beginning to change.  There are  many more trees and shrubs in this part of the chasm.  Memories of the tree under which I took shelter during the storm flash thru my mind.  I become lost in thought.  I don’t want to think about it.  But how can I not think about it?  Just as a battle begins to rage in my mind,  I feel a familiar brush up against my cheek.  The butterfly is once again trying to get my attention.  I watch as the little purple bloom dances around for a moment.  Then…I see it.  It is a most welcome sight.  Directly in front of me is a breathtakingly beautiful green cove.  There are trees and flowers and a running stream.  I look up and realize that I am standing at the base of a mountain.  I look around me and find that I am surrounded by mountains;  big, beautiful majestic mountains.  My gaze is interrupted by a songbird as he takes his place in a nearby tree. I listen as he begins to sing.  It has been much too long since I last heard such a lovely melody. I am in awe of my surroundings.  As I stand there, taking it all in, the butterfly returns and gracefully dances in celebration.  It brushes up against my cheek one last time as if to say, “You made it!”  Then the little dancing bloom makes it way across the sky and disappears.  I am sad to see it go, but somehow I know that we will meet again.  I am so thankful for the butterfly.  It  has brought me to such a peaceful place.  I know that this is where my healing will begin.  I find a comfortable spot  under a shade tree.  I lie down, I close my eyes and I rest.

~D~

Copyright 2009 – Denise Gilreath ©

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Build A Bridge

  • Posted on at 9:57 am

These are the lyrics to the song that I mentioned in my previous post, “Those Damn Walls”.     

 

Build A Bridge

From across the crowded room, I see you look at me and I melt inside.

I can’t let you see, just what you do to me.  No, I’ve got to hide.

I’ve been building these walls, all around my heart for oh, so long.

I can’t remember why.  It’s just what I do.

 

When I look back at you, I see it in your eyes.  You feel it, too.

But you would never say that I might be the one.  No, you’ve got to hide.

You’ve been building those walls all around your heart for oh, so long.

You don’t remember why.  It’s just what you do.

 

Now you’re holding me close, we dance across the floor to a slow song.

Your heart beats with mine, in perfect time.  It’s meant to be.

So, why should there be walls to keep us apart when it feels so right?

Let’s build a bridge to each other’s heart.  Let’s take a chance.

 

Let’s tear these walls down and build a bridge to each other’s heart.

Let’s tear these walls down and build a bridge…

…and let’s cross over.

~ D ~

Copyright 2007 – Denise Gilreath ©

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