Poem for January 11th, 2002 (#3):

"Once"

That when I saw, I saw the year

Not a speckle, not a smear,

Could darken then my day.

So bright the light that fell before

My eyes, and yet I still saw more

The darkness gone, and now a store

Of light within my chest.

I felt myself float to the skies

I could still see, and yet my eyes

Felt like they saw great Heaven's prize

Arrayed before my heart.

I did not know why I felt such

It seemed so great, it seemed so much,

To see.

But now the darkness comes again

I did not dream of its approach

But yet some unseen dark'ning coach

Has taken me away.

I cannot think what I saw then

But only know that it exists

And getting back to what was then

Seems like a fine idea.

So I rouse myself from slumber deep

While wide awake, so fast asleep?

Yes, the darkness does so keep

Its victims there away.

To make the joy of that moment

Last forever in my life

To live, to live, to really live

With heart bird-free of painful strife

Harmonic love to all the world

Is worth far more than Persian rugs!

And one last thing before I go...

No, my friends, I *DON'T* do drugs.

Dedicated to all of those who have their good days and their bad days, sometimes both in the same day.