Just to Be alive

I’m glad he made it this far

all twenty years of him.

& he may be young & stupid

but he will make it through all of this.

—

He will grow wise & older

& someday, truly be a man.

if he can make it to that meadow

& just stay alive till then.

—

just to be alive

just to spend another day,

growing one day wiser

Lord, i pray, day by day…

Words were made for saying,

Like Thunder comes with Lightning

& lightning comes with rain

the moon shares the night

& the sea shivers waves…

–

like the breeze flows air

& a candle has a glow

like a shoe is for the ground,

& the trees were made to grow.

–

a bird made for flying

a heart made to beat

tears are for crying

& songs are made to sing

–

bells are made for ringing

books made to read

& as the stars are for wishing

were you made for me?

–

Now, there are always exceptions,

at least one or two…

–

some eyes are blind,

some birds dont fly,

some stars are never wished on,

and some tears never cried.

some words gone unsaid

some eyes never see

some books never read

& you could still deny me.

—

so be it as it is,

who can say?

but if our match switches,

just wanted to say thanks

(April 7, 2011)

Dawn

“Dawn”

 —written-2007-Lianna J Daniel—

The morning dew on the grass

Feels clean between my toes

Oh, it all happened so fast

And how it still grows

 —

It was black as charcoal

Embroidered with sparkling stars

Then the day awoke

With the hopes of so many hearts

—

A million colors

Shone as one light

Filled my soul with wonder

At the mere sight

—

Who could have imagined

Dreamed up such a glorious scene

Who else could have fashioned

This triumphant morning

—

A soft rustling stirs in the air

A whispering pass through the trees

And I offer a short prayer

In this moment of peace

 —

And to welcome the dawn

To thank the almighty God,

The birds twitter a song

Oh, on such a morning… what could go wrong?

—

The sun awoke

Stretching out its arms

Brilliantly rising to its throne

And warming all hearts

—

Oh, how gorgeous this new day

Oh, what wonders it brings

Oh, how I’m amazed

At it’s sheer beauty

 —

Lord, I pray

Please make my life anew

Let me be amazed

By what i do through you

—

Guide me through the darkness

Lead me to the light

Let me be a witness

To the pure love and beauty of life

I want to build you a Castle

I want to build you a castle

With stones of joy and trust

And a moat to surround it

Filled with the tears we’ve overcome

…

I want glowing stained-glass windows,

Cut into rising steeples, noble and grand;

As vivid as the story glowed in your eyes,

Towering miles above where we began.

…

I want rainbows to beam across our sky.

From white clouds floating in the blue.

Like the clouds we breathed on winter nights

As you pulled me closer to you.

…

Will you help me build this castle?

And then rule this kingdom with me?

It doesn’t have to last forever…

I just need to know they aren’t all make-believe

…

…

… (this wasn’t written about/for anyone. It mostly just came to me as I saw my breath turn into a white cloud in the cold air tonight. And somehow this little poem came out of that. But, i still think it’s sorta cool. so enjoy)

Paint my words on your heart

I want to paint a song for you

Sing a picture onto the canvas of your heart.

I want to smear colors of every shade & hue

With vivid words, unbeknownst to art

.

Shade the shadow of the moon

Illuminate the sunrise’s glow.

Capture the lighting’s blinding light

Or the glittered sparkles of the snow

.

Spray the roar of a pounding water fall

And color the [hushed] babbles of a brook..

Sketch the crowd’s cheers at a football game.

I want you to see these/them without having to look.

.

Echo the vastness of the sky,

Sketch the flutter of a butterfly’s wing…

Stain the thunder’s startling crash,

As I paint your world with the words I sing.

.

Oh, I wish my voice could shine,

So that it might light up your days

My fear is our sparks fading dull,

So, let me paint away your greys…

.

I hope we never see our roses blanch

Nor abandon our work of art…

And if you just let me try to paint

my love on the canvas of your heart…

you shall find my colors and words

are only the future’s start

.

~Lianna J.

.

This was not written for/about any person in particular. I was just drawing and painting with the kids I care for, and one of them asked me to help him draw words. Somehow that phrase seemed worth remembering to me, and inspired me to write this. ~January 18, 2011

A Second Life

If you listen closely…

I’ll tell you, like many before, who tried in vain,

of an enchanted kingdom, lost in the mundane.

Hush hush, and hear the truth I now reveal;

of a second life, that sleep tries to steal.:

* * * * *

A magnificent sunset as rich as gold

Descends as the night begins to unfold

The light of day begins to fade

Its songs and movements melting away

* * * * *

A spring of magic falls from the stars

An enchanting silence is played from afar

Leaves wafting to the ground in the autumn breeze

In this sea of wonders, your heart is set free

* * * * *

And tucked in the flowers, fairies lay

Oblivious to the magic that proceeds the day

The spell that is cast on the darkness of the night

Few can witness as they don’t have the time

* * * * *

The murmur of crickets is heard in the air

Echoing loudly in the quiet’s lair

The moon sitting in its throne high in the sky

Reigning over all the free spirits in the sky

* * * * *

Dreams are real as the soul of a child

A reflection of your unknown hopes, so wild.

But, don’t sleep away this second life

for it’s the only place your dreams come alive.

* * * * *

~Lianna Daniel; 2001 (11 yrs old)

~(though, the very first verse was written 10 yrs later, on jan. 13, 2011)

Princess Crowns and Blanket Forts- (innocent charms)

Princess crowns & blanket forts

magic wands and bicycle horns

misspelled words with drive-way chalk

baby dolls on carriage walks

——-

waving,  jumping, ‘hold me ups’

carved bananas & sippy cups

mud-pies served with sticks & leaves

T’s for D’s and W’s for V’s…

……..

childhood slips through magically.

some time between baby & teen.

it’s almost over before u realize

they’re growing up before your eyes..

……..

capture this precious moment

as dear(ly) to your heart as you can.

you will need it when he’s stubborn

and proclaims himself a man.

……..

don’t ever take for granted

the admiration in her eyes

she won’t always be enchanted,

you wont always solve her cries...

……..

‘snuggle with me’, asked so sweet.

head on chest to hear ur heart beat

and twisting into your arms

so many innocent little charms

……..

look at my muscles! hide & seek.

kiss my owie, chocolate cheeks

can u spin me around; again! again!

tickle monster & soft baby skin

……..

lullabies & the clean up song

trading words as they sing along

climbing on counters & “i want to help”

then “i want to buckle it all by myself”

……..

the years of ‘i want to be like you’

pass by far too fast and way too soon..

clinging to your neck, she murmurs, ‘i love you.’

oh, with all your heart, how you love her too!.

……..

here, today she’s floating down the aisle.

wearing white & a tiara, Cinderella style…

She’s been your princess since she was three

but today, she’s becoming the groom’s queen.

……..

Don’t cry, though. she’ll sing those lullabies again.

Remembering you, as she raises her own kid.

“Grandma’s coming! & grandpa too!”

your heart melts, when he says, “i love you.”

2 tiny green rainboots, and a watering can (part I)

two tiny green rain-boots

scamper across the lawn

mindless of the wet dew

at the glow of dawn

water sloshes rhythmically

as her dainty arms swing

to her antique water-can

her little fingers cling

with back pressed to the decaying wood

she leans into the creaking gate

entering into her magical world

that only she could create

… her princess garden

On the fresh gentle breeze,

floats a sweet aroma of spring.

Her auburn hair waves weightlessly

as the birds begin to sing

that’s only place she is free & safe

free of the shouting & abuse

princess gently bolts the heavy door

& peels off her slippery shoes

for this ground is soft & gentle

when her bare feet dance around

weaving a halo of vines & blossoms

she tenderly balances her crown

mossy walls shield from sight

the magical kingdom she reigns

with innocence still untainted

her past holds no guilt or stains

her garden is her secret

a courtyard enchanted

with the spell of innocence

& all the love implanted

one by one with water & love

the blooms are showered from her pitcher of tin

princess renewed this palace

though it had not always such been

for long ago, in another time

it had been the temple of kings

an ancient people had built these walls

filling it with most treasured things

but all the gold & silver treasures

princess gathered into a coffer

then buried it with disinterest

in what money had to offer

she prunes & plants

she aerates, she weeds

she waters & sows

rows of flower seeds

butterflies flutter among the blooms

of every imaginable color

saturated with vivid hues

awakening the soul to wonder

She breathes in the peace,

breathes out a wishful sigh,

then longs for powerful wings

and the freedom to fly…

Behold The Stars

behold the heavens sprinkled with stars,

& be in awe of their delicate charm;

their fragile state of brilliance,

and their dazzling luminance.

For billions of years, their beams have raced,

flashing toward our Milkyway…

And, now..

as each enchanting sparkle, greets our gazing eyes,

2 galaxies, 2 wishes, the past, and the present all collide…

~ beyond time, beyond space;

since long before existence of our human race

streaking through the arcane void, and past the black.

even the all-consuming shadow, this glimmer has passed.

just for one precious glimpse into our world below-

these ambitious star-beams voyage, staying aglow.

Their mission is accomplished, & each shimmer satisfied;

to merely watch us live; so very alive.

Each little glitter’s most meek & longed for desire;

is to be the twinkle, wished on by a child.

Oh what honor, it beams with proud delight,

when a child wishes on its flickering light

I behold the stars,

are they what claim they are?

Basking in awe of the endless heavens,

adorned with glistening gleams.

On that glowing star’s gallivanting rays,

I cast one wish, my hope, my dream.

Many more star-beams have yet to breach our skies.

Both galaxies, both wishes, both past & present, too;

will be united the moment its light shimmers into our eyes.

It’s a clear breezy night; & behold!..the stars shimmer for you.

~August 14, 2010

by: Lianna JD

Sand-dollars; treasure the lost

“I’ve been searching for a sand-dollar all of my life…”

I’ve walked up and down many a sandy shore

At every beach I’ve been, since I was four

hopefully searching in every tide

but no unbroken sand-dollar can I find.

Where the deep sea and dry earth join,

can be found this intricate and delicate coin;

so highly valued by the mermaids of deep,

yet, carelessly crushed by human feet.

Sometimes, life strikes me as being so unfair-

that these coins are washed before those who don’t care!

while I wait eagerly to discover, just one!

but instead, I’m just getting burned by the sun.

Why must irony make such a fool of desire?

crushing the dreams to which we aspire?

Child, choose more than one treasure for which to reach;

lest, chance not wash that one shell upon your beach.

If you want a piece of that twinkle in the sky

start collecting star dust, ‘cuz u’ll never reach that high

… no amount of my quarters, nickles or dimes,

can buy a sand-dollar from the ocean’s tide.

Earth-men and Mer-folk no longer communicate.

Broken remnants are now all that connects our states.

Sunken pirate-ships, and sand-dollars washed on the shore;

& neither WE, nor THEY, believe in the other any more…

No unbroken sand-dollar have I ever found,

only pieces, mere  pieces, strewn on the ground

where the dry earth clashes with the sea ~

but pieces, mere pieces, are plenty enough…

more than enough for me.

~Lianna J.D.