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The Great Wall of Poetry

Welcome to Payson Road's Great Wall of Poetry. These talented poets have graciously offered to share their poems for the Wall.

One of Payson Road's goals is to help people by expressing themselves through creative outlets. Poetry is one of the most passionate and intimate forms of writing. Here, many of the poets have expressed their suffering, pain, delight, spirituality, sexuality, frustrations, love and many other emotions through their words. I thank them all for sharing a piece of themselves with us.

If any of these poems touch you or inspire you. please let us know. Post your comments in the Guest Book.

PLEASE BE ADVISED. All Articles/Content are property of the author and Payson Road and subject to US Federal Copyright Laws and International Copyright agreements. You must seek Permission to Reprint from the author for use of any articles/content.

Letter from the Editor

Thanks very much for your patience with the Poetry Wall. Payson Road as you know is a grass roots organization relying solely on the generosity of our volunteers time...and we need your help! There are many ways to get involved. Please join us.

If you're brand new to the Poetry Wall, welcome! We encourage newcomers to visit our Poetry Submissions Guidelines, for information and guidelines on submitting poetry.

For you veterans out there, go ahead and forward your poems to me at, . All contributions are most welcome and I will reply to all e-mails.

Hugs, Health and Happiness,

Sarah-Lou
Editor, Payson Road Poetry Wall

You can still contribute to the Fall Wall. Click Here to SUBMIT POETRY to the Wall.

Table of Contents:

Fall 2006: Happiness and Success, Fall Poetry Wall
Spring 2006: Shiki's Spring Haiku, Spring Poetry Wall
Winter 2006: Strength, Courage and Hope, Winter Poetry Wall
Payson Road's Poetry Editor - Sarah Louise Stancer

Poetry Wall Archives: 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001

Happiness and Success

I selected the following poems as a reflection to my recent hopes and fears.

I have enrolled in college to achieve my ultimate career goal and as a result I have had to change my employment too. This has been a huge transition in my life which I have been contemplating for sometime and as a result have experienced many emotions. I feel these poems ‘spoke’ to me, they grounded me and helped me realize that I can achieve my goals. I hope that can ‘speak’ to others too.

Hugs,
Sarah Lou
Editor, Payson Road Poetry Wall

Success
by Ralph Waldo Emerson

To laugh often and much:
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children,
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed
easier because you lived.
This is to have succeeded.

Letting Go
Author Unknown

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring;
It means I can't do it for someone else.
To let go is not to cut myself off...
It's the realization that I can't control another...
To let go is not to enable,
but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To let go is to admit powerlessness,
which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To let go is not to try and change or blame another,
I can only change myself.
To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To let go is not to judge,
but to allow another to be a human being.
To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes,
but to allow others to affect their own outcomes.
To let go is not to be protective,
It is to permit another to face reality.
To let go is not to deny, but to accept.
To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue,
but to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.
To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires,
but to take each day as it comes and cherish the moment.
To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone,
but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To let go is not to regret the past,
but to grow and live for the future.
To let go is to fear less and love more.

My Comfort Zone
Author Unknown

I use to have a Comfort Zone
Where I knew I couldn't fail
The same four walls of busy work
Were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things
I'd never done before,
But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone
And paced the same old floor
I claimed to be so busy
With the things inside my zone,
But deep inside I longed for
Something special of my own.
I couldn't let my life go by,
Just watching others win.
I held my breath and stepped outside
And let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength
I'd never felt before,
I kissed my Comfort Zone 'goodbye'
And closed and locked the door.
If you are in a Comfort Zone,
Afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were
At one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise,
Can make your dreams come true.
Greet your future with a smile,
Success is there for you!

Do Not Quit
Author Unknown

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must, but do not quit.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit.

Life
Author unknown

"Come to the edge," Life said.
They said, "We are afraid."
"Come to the edge," Life said.
They came. It pushed them....
And they flew.

You Can Be Whatever You Want To Be!
by Donna Levine

There is inside you
all of the potential
to be whatever you want to be,
all of the energy
to do whatever you want to do.
Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
doing what you want to do,
and each day, take one step
towards your dream.
And though at times it may seem too
difficult to continue,
hold on to your dream.
One morning you will awake to find
that you are the person you dreamed of,
doing what you wanted to do,
simply because you had the courage
to believe in your potential
and to hold on to your dream.

Happiness
by George Savige

You cannot buy your happiness,
'Cause happiness is free.
Don't you know, or can't you guess,
It's there for you and me.
And what you do with what you've got,
Can change the way you feel.
Just do your best and smile a lot,
You'll keep an even keel.
'Cause happiness is made for YOU,
Just take a bite and see
That happiness is what you do
With something that is free.

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Poetry Wall Contributions Fall 2006

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this incredible collection, and for your patience!

A collection of Untitled Poems by Leslie

Rip my heart out without a sound
Take it and throw it on the ground
Make it bleed, make it hurt
Grind it up into the dirt
And of course you have nothing to say
You just smile and walk away

Try
Think
Pain
Silhouette drug world
Paint
Write
Drink wild balance
Who was your waste?

Life
Water
Soft sculpture angel
Sense vivid mess
Surreal movement
Every shimmer smears
Why?

Paint with black canvas
Vivid sense mess
Always the same question
Who was your waste?

Create me
Smear the fashion
Dead and concrete
Paint music
Draw purple harmony
Make more impression
Broken desire lingers
Translucent smile
Sacred glass

You will trust yesterday
Your secret words
Streaming worry
Surround yourself in oceans of color
Use red silhouettes to
smear harmony through my rigid dreams
Time will bring fresh voices
Which pierce your heart like cutting flowers

Yesterday was without change
Peace
Perhaps missed
Words
Questioned for desire and worry
Secrets
To be embraced
Hearts
To be broken
Eternity
Lost in one night

Remember the wild pleasure
Sweet voice of naked morning
Tantalizing touch
Listen
Magnificent kiss
In lust
Forever naked together

To celebrate passion
Is eternal paradise
Beauty is a rhythm
A pleasure dance
A voice in the morning
With a promise for the soul

Your voice runs through me
Liquid in a morning never embraced
I understand you
In curious observation
Remember to embrace the poison
Where life is more open
To question desire

Life has come wild
at my senses
Surreal masterpiece
of abstract imagination
Sweet rhythm
together with your song
when you think I am not present
I smear passion on a canvas
so raw it can't be wrong

Enter and Exit
by Vince Gullaci

Born and died
a passage
of time.
A different side
to the same
revolving door.

Reality
by Vince Gullaci

Some mad fantasy
consumes
reality
and in it's wake
destroys
a family.

Desire
by Vince Gullaci

Beware
of treasures lost
and gains
ethereal
better
to weigh
the cost.

The In Crowd
by Vince Gullaci

The passion
for living
a phony crown
for another face
painted on
the hurrying crowd.

Carrion Call
by Vince Gullaci

The vultures
zoomed in
heeding
the carrion smell
in the wind
stripped bare
the bones
of pretension.

Nature
by Vince Gullaci

No more
than the sparrow
scratching for seed
no less
than the hawk
in full flight
swooping majestically
to take the sparrow.

Light Show
by Nicole Alexander

Lights beyond the clouds
Striking the far moon
All looking Northern
To touch a piece of heaven
Tingling nerves await
The show begins

Desertion On The Saddest Day Of My Life
by Nicole Alexander

You said you would always be there
You were until now
But on the saddest day of my life You are not there for me
You always held me and kissed away my tears
But my tears are flowing now
My heart can not take this pain
You said that no matter what
You would be my strength and my life
Now I want to die since you left me
My strength and my life are gone
What about our son?
You promised to help me raise him
Damn you! I need you now
The six men are lowering you into the ground
Why! Oh why!
Why did you desert me
On the saddest day of my life?

Our Simple Love
by Nicole Alexander

We ask of each other
only that we be ourselves
This way we can give
more to the other...
No demands - No burdens
sharing joys and sorrows
as they come
Allowing us to give freely
what we have inside...
I am I and You are You
we would have it
no other way...

Could It Be?
by Nicole Alexander

Could it be that
we loved once upon a time?
That our love was so great
we had to meet again?
Perhaps we loved
at another date
and was parted by
some tragic fate?
Perhaps you were a King
and I your humble servant?
For anytime in history
I would be your servant
and not feel worthy of you
But, how would a king and
a servant come together?
Could it be that
our love had to be
so that history
could be fulfilled?
So the birds could sing
their beautiful melodies?
So the clouds could form
images of wonderful things?
Could it be that
if we had not once loved
the sea would be dry
and people in love
would no longer try?
Could it be that
our love WAS and is NOW
so rare
that people stop and stare
and wish for
what we have?
If we did love
at a different time
Could it be that
in the future
we will meet again
and you will
still be mine?

Peaceful Death Dream
by Nicole Alexander

My love
Last night I went to my
final resting place
We mated as one, you and I
You were looking at my grave when
I came back as an eagle
and landed on your shoulder
I comforted you
while you looked at my grave
with tears
recklessly falling from your eyes
Once, you taught me how to cry
and now I was wiping away your tears
You and I would carry on
and no more pain would be ours
For we were together
as you walked from the grave
and I was on your shoulder!

Wired Wife
by Nicole Alexander

My mountainous
white-bearded
man
With narrow
channels in his
nostrils
snores nightly with
loud jerky
rattles
My ears need
rest
My mind needs
sleep
Again he rips
the devilish
thundering
sound
that threatens to
drive me
insane
Finally
I start to fall
asleep
He has another
blow-out
I jump
nearly falling
off the bed
and groan
I rather live with a
grizzly bear
At least he would
eat me
and put me out of
my misery
I take my pillow
Tiptoe down the hall
Why I am tiptoeing?
He won't wake
I lay down in
my second bed
I close my eyes
and listen to the
soothing
noise
from the factory
down the
street

Freedom
by Shell

It seems all I want is to be free.
I'm trapped in this world of darkness
and I want to be free.
Living in the world of darkness
I want to be free
Free so I can see the light
and see what
the world is all about.
Free to be who I want to be
I want the pain to go away
I want the hurt to disappear.
I want to be happy
I'm so tired of feeling the way I do.
To be free means
so much to different people
But to me it means
No more unhappy days
no more tears flowing down my face
No more pain and hurt
No more sadness and sorrow
For my soul to be whole
and not be broken
No more fake smiles
This is what being free is to me.

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Shiki's Spring Haiku

Shiki Masaoka 1867-1902

Shiki began his journey into the haiku world as a critic to Basto Matsuo. He was convinced descriptions were vital for literary and pictorial _expression. He insisted on the importance of 'shasei' (sketching). The haiku innovation by Shiki created a great sensation in the whole of Japan and revived the haiku world. Below are some examples of his works.

Moon at twilight, a
cluster of petals falling
from the cherry tree

An iris
whiter at twilight
in spring

Perching on a mud wall
in the spring rain
a crow

Spring breeze
show off the castle
above the pine tree

Cherry blossom petals
blown by the spring
breeze against the undried wall

Spring frost
dancing in the air
a shimmer of heat

A cock crows
at the foot of the small Mt. Fuji
peach blossoms

At the root
of a pine tree
light lavender violet

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Spring 2006 Poetry

Under the Weeping Willow
by Vince Gullaci

Sit down
in the quiet
by the lake
this is not
such a joyless place.

Sometimes
by Vince Gullaci

The noise
is all we hear
there's no one
to whisper
a touch of sanity
to the inner ear

Mid Winter
by Vince Gullaci

Plants feel
the spring
and rising sap
a song
for a new
beginning.

A Collection of Untitled Poems
by Leslie

Investigate the absurd
appear nude in the wild
live for your piece of the passion
paint sex, angry and raw
feel more
~

Kiss me beautiful
Rue the poison my mind bleeds
Paint me pretty
Feel my empty picture
Kiss me sexy
Another manic escape
Make me perfect
~

Drunk on coffee
You give good grind
Franticly inhale your smell
Blow hot milk
Suck it down
Must have more
~

Naked Universe
Where your whispers feel hot
I promise not to listen to the world
We were naked
My naked lips, trust the taste of my tongue
Cherish the body and
devour the moon
Only his kiss will blow away
the hunger
Tell your sweet soul some music
Trust your voice
You are free
~

Is a man a killer if his heart is cold as ice?
Killing,
Naked and wet
Without the velvety embrace
of night
A full glass impression
demands
there is never a sense of pain
~

Worship your woman
Pleasure Paradise
Trust
Escape
Lust
Run
Want
Think
Haunt
Naked Wind
Strong
Tantalize skin's sex song
~

Explore eternity
Melt naked into the night
Linger, warm
Laugh, squirm
Then question the morning sky
Why?
~

Yesterday was her red day
soft with worry
slow with stiff smiles
Broken embrace
Glass Flowers kiss concrete
~

Bird Kill
by Jerry Swim

Along the hedge row,
Past the wood gate,
Hidden, quail tremble,
In my hand, fate!

Booted feet rustle,
In leaves, grass dry,
Nervous they scurry,
Soft whistle, shrill cry.

Hedge row fading,
Brown grass thin,
Gun at ready,
Flush; whirring din.

Flash of wing,
Roar of fate,
Man again,
Vents hidden hate.

Dominance proved?
Superiority found?
Broken and trembling,
There on the ground.

Reflect
by Jerry Swim

Sometime when you're alone at night,
On your life you might stop and reflect;
What happened to all of those childhood dreams,
Can you look back on your life with respect?

At all the loves that might have been,
The friends you've known, then lost,
All the tears you might have spared,
False pride; it's hurts and costs?

When with your pride you walked life's street,
With love and friendship not quite sweet;

Then remember a lonely old mother,
Work worn hands and grey streaked hair
How many of the wrinkles in her brow,
Because of you are there?

And the long departed father,
Of trouble he carried his share,
How much of the burden that stooped his frame,
Should have been yours to bear?

Reflect; that though rich and secure,
In your life and its way,
There comes a debt at life's end,
That we all must pay;

When the cup of loneliness
Comes to call,
Even its smallest dregs
Taste of bitterest gall.

And the collector is death,
And neither I nor you,
Can know the day,
That payment is due.

This collector's among us
Both day and night,
We all stand equal,
In his grim sight.

Time to stop and reflect
On the way you've come,
To reach these heights,
Not attained by some.

Reflect that the greatest,
Or the poor, or slave,
Will all sleep equal
In that deep cold grave.

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Strength, Courage and Hope -Winter 2006

The Winter Wall focuses upon Strength, Courage and Hope. I have chosen this theme as now is the time of year that most people make resolutions be it to stop smoking, start a new fitness regime or to take better care of theirselves. All resolutions need strength, courage, hope and of course will power. Below are a few poems I have chosen that highlight these components.

The Mirror Image
by Ambrose Taylor

I stare into the mirror.
Staring at what looks like me,
But isn't.
That's not my reflection.
It's the appearance I thought I hid.
It's the screaming I hear
Inside my head.
It appears in the mirror.
An apparition of the past.
The thoughts I feel
Became physical,
No longer mental.
My eyes stared back at me.
That sad, lonely face appeared.
And for an instant I saw my strength.
The strength I thought I lost
A once strong person on the outside,
Becomes how she feels on the inside.
Lost, but with a glint of hope.
Barely there, tiny in size,
But nevertheless
The strength I need,
To move away from the mirror image.

HOW many of the body's health complain
by Jones Very (1813-1880)

HOW many of the body's health complain,
When they some deeper malady conceal;
Some unrest of the souled, some secret pain,
Which thus its presence doth to them reveal.
Vain would we seek, by the physician's aid,
A name for this soul-sickness e'er to find;
A remedy for health and strength decayed,
Whose cause and cure are wholly of the mind
To higher nature is the soul allied,
And restless seeks its being's Source to know;
Finding not health nor strength in aught beside;
How often vainly sought in things below,
Whether in sunny clime, or sacred stream,
Or plant of wondrous powers of which we dream!

Giving Because
by Richard Stilwell (10/04)

Strength beckons,
Strength bonds,
Strength comforts,
Strength weakens,
Love is strength,
Yet strength is___
Non-controlling.

Strength
Author Unknown

We don't always have to be strong.
Sometimes our strength is expressed in being vulnerable.
Sometimes we need to fall apart to regroup and stay on track.
We all have days when we cannot push any harder, cannot hold back
self-doubt, cannot stop focusing on fear, cannot be strong.
There are days when we cannot focus on being responsible.
Occasionally, we don't want to get out of our pajamas.
Sometimes we cry in front of people.
We expose our tiredness, irritability, or anger.
Those days are okay.
They are just okay.
Part of taking care of ourselves means we give ourselves permission to
"fall apart" when we need to.
We do not need to be perpetual towers of strength.
We ARE strong.
We have proven that.
Our strength will continue if we allow ourselves the courage to feel
scared, weak, and vulnerable when we need to experience those feelings.
Today, help me to know that is it okay to allow myself to be human.
Help me not to feel guilty or punish myself when I need to "fall apart."

My Mirror
by M.D.Burke

I have a fascination with my mirror
No...
She has a fascination with me
Sensing my presence and seeking after me

In my mirror
I see the reflection of another woman
Her dark eyes flicker like colorful leaves released to the wind
Looking back at me with a knowing stare

Capturing her in a paint box of colors
I admire her from afar and within
Making her eyes my own

I dance before my mirror
Watching her body as it moves before me
Making a series of liquid rhythmic motions
Like a feline stalking her prey

I am awash with visions that arouse her deeply
And for a transient moment
I acquiesce to her desires
Feeling the familiar ache in her loins and the
Blood rushing rapidly through her veins

I move her hands restlessly across her stomach and over her thighs
Savoring the soft skin under her fingertips
Touching her in a manner most delicate and forbidden
Lingering over the moments set in time

Specters move in the corners of her eyes
Vanishing when her spirit swings around to confront them
Her painfully repressed fury gives way to panic

Her soul loses its grip on her body
And I slip her pleas for mercy quietly into the darkness of my mind

I comb through the hair she'd let hang free about her face
My breathing finally stills

A new woman has emerged from my mirror
Empowered Glorious Unforgettable
Me

Strength Vs. Courage
Author Unknown

It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide feelings.
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.

What if life?
By B. AllenWoodcrest

What if life only lasted a day,
Do you think we'd appreciate it better?
What if life was like hell,
Do you think we would dream?
About a life like we have now?
What if in life we had everything,
Do you think it would get boring?
Why want another life?
Your life is perfect already

Shore of Success
by Chen S. Nagar

Watch those profusely blooming roses
Bursting with laughter on a thorny stalk,
Serenely smiling and shouting with glee
That their strength was never on the wane;
No matter what hardship they undergo,
They will fill the earth with their fragrance.
Think of the moms that undergo throes
And pull through to see a baby born.
Can there be any pains more painful
Than the pangs of child-birth?
I thought Destiny had been hostile to us
Causing nothing but anguish, grief and distress;
Not knowing that struggle tests resiliency
And gives us great endurance and strength
That alone can take us to the shore of success.

The Essence Of Life
by Joan Al-Salihi

The essence of life can be
as intoxicating as the essence
of perfume.
The lasting of life's strength
is revealed to us strangely
through our own endurance.

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Winter 2006 Poetry

These fantastic poems were submitted by Payson Road's very own poets.

Life's Pace
by Jerry Swim

The boy runs through lifetime's May,
And quickly spends each sparkling day;
Hardly slows to laugh or shout,
No thought of what life's all about.

The youth walks quickly into June
Smiling, whistling; life is a carefree tune.
Only slows to dance and sings,
No thought for what tomorrow brings.

The young man boldly summer faces,
Dreams and schemes, he'll win all races.

The mid- aged man looks at September,
Pauses, thinks; takes time to remember,
Is May and June and July all spent,
And wonders where life's summer went.

The old man faces winter's snow,
Thinks, God; how quickly life did go!

If somehow he could replay,
The game of life he threw away;

The boy would hold each sun filled day,
Savor the flowers he once crushed in play,
Taste the springtime's first warm breeze,
Warmth from sunbeams, hold, and squeeze.

The youth still whistle, dance and sing,
But wonder what tomorrow brings.
See all of life with smiling face,
But practice some to run life's race.

The mid-aged man would stop and savor,
Just live his life, and taste it's flavor.
And know through spring and summer did fly,
He'd gleaned out the gold,
As they quickly slipped by.

And the old man feel a gentle warming,
In his winter's final snow,
For time spent building memories,
For his sunsets final glow.

Riders on the Storm (Kenny's Theme)
by Debra Hoffmann (Fyrecat)

I saw you up on Candolet
So lonely, lost and sweet
I dreamt of how I'd find my way
To you on that old street
And I knew when I saw your deep grey eyes
So haunted, soft and warm,
You were the one I'd waited for
Just a Rider on the Storm

You walked past on Market
Near Two AM that day
I wanted so to talk to you
But was at loss for what to say
Caught your eye in the Cafe Du Monde
My heart raced when I saw you smile
Then I watched you wander out
Like a dusty, searching child.
My soul cried out to see you
Follow that girl up First
Then catch her in Antons Alleyway
To Finally slake your thirst
And it finally made me understand
Your kind, old before I was born
Yet you, so young and vulnerable,
Just a Rider on the Storm

Our eyes met in passing,
In front of Hotel Pontatrain,
I saw your blue eyed, blond haired friend
Laughingly call your name
Turning, looking over your shoulder
You paused as if to speak
Then turned away when you heard him say;
'Don't let yourself be weak.'
And I could feel that question
In my mind take form
What would it be to know you?
My lonely Rider on the Storm.

Then last night as I sat here
In Starbucks sipping Chai
I looked up to find you standing there
Just another long haired guy
Then you shrugged and asked me;
"Why? With the sun in your hair and eyes-
What is it that draws you near to me....
A demon in disguise?"

And as you sat down opposite
Waiting, in that chair
I could sense your loneliness,
All your deep despair
And I took a breath and whispered words
So afraid I'd see your scorn;
"I like the way you smile, Kenny,
Just a Rider on the Storm."

You were silent, you didn't rise,
I knew you'd heard me speak
I wondered if you saw me tremble
Noticed my burning cheek?
You stretched your hand across the table
Your fingers strong and warm
Brushing over my fingertips
You, the Rider on the Storm

We slowly walked up Bourbon
Your hair tickling my face
You slid your arm around my shoulder
And my heart began to race
Then you kissed me tenderly
In the darkness before dawn
Before climbing on your Harley
Once more the Rider on the Storm.

I can still feel your lips, Kenny.
My heart you know it breaks
As I linger here alone, feeling like stone
Longing for you when I wake
But I know my Night-time Lover,
Bloodchild so cold yet warm,
I hold you still so close to me,
My wild Rider on the Storm.

Within the Darkness Light
by Vince Gullaci

There is a darkness
come by
when the light
is weak
and the world
is swathed
in madness.

Yet there is
an inner ear
of goodness
inside our tough veneer
that won't be stilled.

No matter
how compromised
we are.

Love Demands
by Des Gahan

Love demands answers forever unsaid
The heart knows no words to explain
Love demands nothing that can be taken away
To give and not possess that exquisite pain

Love demands nothing but seeks all
The heart knows no image that can reveal
Love extends but does not insist
To give all is to have all-the sacred seal

Pidgeon Religion
by Maureen Sigle

Are you Catholic, Protestant, Heathen, or Jew?
That was the question put.
I am human. My spirit is free.
My soul seeks no sectarian slot.
I look to God. He looks at me. He has no face, no special place to dwell.
But His form is nature now and then. Hesmiles through clouds.
He warms me with the sun.. He laughs with me in silly breezes.
He cries with me in sheets of rain.
I cannot clasp Him in the vacuum of my arms.
I cannot touch His cheek, nor hold His hand.
But if I am still.Quiet, quiet in a most silent way...
He is me. I am Him.
Love is our common limb. I live life religiously.

Abject Failure
by Vince Gullaci

Got to try
and try again
so age will mellow
the years
bitter-sweet
without the poison ness
rancor
of old men
I can't countenance
abject failure.

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Introducing, Our Editor!

Sarah-Louise Stancer is long time friend to Payson Road and published poet. We are thrilled to have her officially join Payson Road as it's Poet-in-Residency and Poetry Wall Editor. Her poems are exquisite. Her are a few selections from Sarah-Lou's brilliant portfolio. We look forward to sharing more of her beautiful poems.

If you'd like to share your poems with Sarah-Lou for consideration for the Payson Road Poetry Wall, please email her at, "poetry" @ paysonroad.com (***please note: the quotation marks and spaces in the email address are anti-spam protection, do not include when emailing her)

WHAT MAKES A FRIEND?

They will be the person you turn to that will always be;
The one who listens when you need to talk.
Someone who will give you a hand whenever you need it.
Someone who will lift you when you have fallen.
They lend a shoulder to cry on.
They give you laughter in moments of gloom.
A person that warms you with their smile.
A person who believes in you, no matter what happens.
Friends are around whenever you feel alone.
Friends see you through the hardest of times.
What makes a friend?
What makes a friend?
YOU!

Copyright ©2003 Sarah Louise Stancer

TREE

Don't mind me,
Climb me,
Chop me,
Use me as you wish.
The wind comes;
Blows me,
Sucks me,
Hits me hard with a bash.
All day,
All night.
Pushes me.
Whether it be you,
Or the elements.
BUT, this is me.
Why me?
Leave me,
Let me grow,

ALONE

I"ll grow to you if I wish.
Just let me be.
Let me be.

ME!

THIS

Look at me,
What do you see?
The real me?
Happy,
Smiley me?
Well, that's not me!
Not really.
I'm not happy deep down,
Those smiles inside are frowns.
Those glistening eyes,
Are symbols of my silent cries.
But I can't tell you,
I can't tell anyone.
If I do THIS has won.
I can't admit how I feel ?
In case I break.
I've got to beat THIS
And only I can do it.
I'm scared of letting go:
THIS has the power
To destroy?
To kill me.
THIS hurts me,
THIS is control,
THIS is my friend,
THIS understands me,
THIS is I
I am THIS

SELF

When you begin to feel blue,
Think of what's happened to you.
Compared to everyone else.
Are you thinking of others or just yourself?
If your answer is the latter,
You may realize,
Really there is nothing the matter!

When you begin to feel blue,
Ask yourself, what people think of you.
Are they smiling or frowning.
Just because you feel low,
Doesn?t mean everyone needs to know!

SORRY!

Sorry, I didn't mean it,
Didn't mean to worry you
Please forgive me,
I just didn't know what else to do.
I know you'll probably understand,
And if you don't, I know you'll try.
Please don't worry,
Even, if I do begin to cry.
I've said I'm sorry
But, what else can I do?
You know that I need you!
Please just let me say?
I'm sorry!
Sorry to you!

SAD AND BLUE

When I'm feeling sad and blue,
I just talk to you.
When I ring
You make me smile!
So when you feel down
There's no need to look around ?
Just pick this up,
And take a look
To see how much I care,
Even though I can't always be there!

Copyright ©2003 Sarah Louise Stancer

MIND

Faces everywhere,
People saying they care.
I don't know if they understand
If they do I can't listen.
It's as if they have to complete a mission.
They seem to think it can all be solved,
Just like an everyday common cold.
But, it's not that simple
Even if it's not shown all the time
It's constantly on my mind.
Up in there,
Stored away
Where only I can see ?
Where only I can control,
Well that's how I see it,
I?m probably wrong and have lost the plot.
But, it's my plot to loose!
And I can only solve it,
As I, myself do choose!

LYING

I never told a lie,
Until the other day.
Then that one turned into a few,
Then I didn't know what else to do.
They just kept building up and up.
They got so high,
I couldn't survive.
What could I do?
It's now too late to tell the truth.
I've got into such a mess.
And people seem to have lost interest.
I know they still care,
But, there is never anyone there!
And all because I kept a secret,
Just one lie?

LEAVE ME BE

Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring
It just doesn?t stop.
Constantly ringing
Yearning for a reply.
Isn't anyone going to listen?
Or is it just me again?
Can someone else,
Please take the pain?
I have had enough.
I'm gonna get tough.
I just can't cope anymore,
In fact you are becoming quite a bore.
So please just listen to me;
Go away,
Leave Me Be!

I can never get it right,
Even when I fight.
My eyes once shone, now are dim.
I'm at my lowest ebb?
But, only because of my own secret poison web.
Self-destruction!

A thousand nights, a thousand tears,
I need to face my deepest fears.
Forcing myself to keep busy,
To block out the sadness I feel.
No one can see my pain.
I suffer, In silence!

All I wanted was to have lots of friends,
But, I'm loosing them. I want to be alone.
I can't go out , I feel a burden to society.
I need my home.

I only got better for others (Well they thought I did!)
I felt, I owed them that.
But now I weep within
Yearning to be thin?
I hate today, feeling insignificant,
A disgrace to the human race.
But tomorrow I dread more,
In case I find another flaw!

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Website designed and administered by Sarah Mason, . Payson Road logo concept designed by Tahara Hasan, graphics by Sarah Mason. Payson Road was created Copyright © June 2, 2000. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2000-2005. [Payson Road]. All rights reserved. Revised: June 25, 2007 .