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)

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

Tire-swing

There it dangled off a crooked tree branch. Hung with chains, & ropes secured. My tire-swing swirled in loops as i spun my foot in the ground.

Years ago, my daddy had worked hard to make it fall so perfectly….I dutifully ran back & forth, from the house to my dad; refilling his big blue cup with icy iced tea. My dad sweated right through his shirt, but he didn’t quit or complain; my Daddy was too tough for meer sweat to hinder him. He hung that tire perfectly. It was not too high, & not too close to the ground. Finally, I looked in awe at his masterpiece.

My tire-swing lived in a little clearing, that wasn’t visible from the road or our home. I had memorized the path to that old tire better than the back of my hand. I knew where to duck under branches, hurdle dead logs, & jump over slight ravines filled with deeply rooted rocks. Of course, i always carried a little stick that I swirled in front of me to clear any new spider webs in my way.

You know, there isn’t that much to a tire-swing, so I don’t know why I was so fond of it. And of it, only a handful of memories remain; scenes of trees swirling by, my brother & I giggling as we furiously ran around in circles trying to spin each other dizzy, and then those times when i just hung calmly, contemplating the shivering leaves above.

My brother & I frolicked away dozens and dozens of hours with that tire-swing over the years. Around & around, again & again. You would think it would get old, yet  it didn’t… even after we did.

I took two kids to the park yesterday. The moment we struggled off their straps & lifted them from car seats to ground,  they raced for the tire-swing. Hopping up & down with excitement, they begged me to lift them up, and then spin them. I curled them into motion. Then watched the tire revolve. In my mind the wheel of time revolved in reverse. I saw myself, a small girl: My face was smudged with dirt, my frizzy braids had twigs sticking in & out of them, my legs were speckled with bug bites, and my bare feet were caloused and caked with mud… I heard my 7 year old cries of laughter & squeals of joy. . .

My childhood giggles meshed into the two children’s as time swung back to this play-ground in 2010…

It’s  just a circle with a hole. it’s just rubber & chains. & it’s just a child’s play thing. You would think that it’d get old, and that children would loose interest. But it never does, more kids climb on, when others climb off. For, it’s the children who grow old for it.

Time is elusive. Life can spin out of control. & while you might get dizzy; enjoy the thrill of the ride! It might be just an old tire, but it’ll never get old.

Cutting hearts into the Sun..

this could possibly be one of the most cliche poems I’ve ever written… Just the same, I find it worthy of posting.

Cutting hearts into the sun

With fingers curled round

Connected thumb to thumb

Making shadows on the ground

Playing tag in the sand

He reaches out & grabs her hand

He captures her in his arms

Both her body & her heart

As they lie there side by side

Clouds floating overhead

that he’d always seen as shapeless

became dragons & unicorns instead

She begs him to dance with her

Right there, on the beach alone.

He says “there ain’t no music playin’.”

She says, “We’ll make our own!”

How did she get him here?

Twirling her to no tune,

hearing himself singing softly,

Under that late july moon?

He never thought himself a fool

he’s always had things under control

But he’d never been so captivated,

so confused by such a precious soul.

Strolling with fingers intertwined

The wind plays with her hair

She carries a seashell away with her…

“It will be my little piece of here.”

Just before they turn around

with city lights dim and distant

nothing could have prepared him

for the power of that instant

He’d never been so unsure

This was his perfect chance..

heart pounding against his ribs

He’s lost in a mesmerized trance

Her eyes are glittering stars

the waves break against the pier.

Her face shines so sweetly,

and he tries to hide his fear.

reaching behind her head gently..

he’d never felt a connection so deep.

When their lips merely touched,

his heart woke up from its sleep

she captured his love that night

a promise he sincerely kissed

She was not the first; yet was the only

to whom that promise he meant.

Where before there was silence

Now his heart sings songs

Where before he was searching

Now his heart belongs

Where before he was blinded

Now hearts are cut in the sun

Where before there was pain,

now that hurt has been undone

Where before his life was shapeless

Now there is magic in the sky.

And where before he was dead,

Now she has brought him back to life…

She holds that seashell to her ear

weeks & miles from that night

Listening to the same waves as he is

lying under the same moonlight

Hearts cut out of the sun

Shine brightly in the sea

Connected soul to soul;

hearts dancing for eternity

Some dusks are perfect

I sauntered along a little dirt path, that paralleled that vast Texas river. Across the wide water, towered cliffs that had been cut jagged with time. Like liquid glass, the water wiggled & reflected bright rays of sunshine. My side of the river was not three feet from where the water circled around the tall oak roots. Strange vines with berries, and flowery bushes lined the wild path made by the deer.

I was slightly distracted by the clear sky’s dazzling colors changing when I stumbled over a large, flat rock. These are quite common in the Texas hill-country. Our dirt is more like a thin powder over boulders & rocks. This particular grey & white plate was the size of maybe three elevator rooms. And it jutted over the side of the lake.

It was burning hot, of course. So i splashed some water on top to cool it off before sitting down. I pulled off my sandals and dangled my feet into the crystal clear waters below. A rush of cool relief relaxed my damp body. I love the heat, I do. And I don’t mind at all when the back of my shirt sticks to my back, and a film of sweat trickles around my face; but it sure does feel wonderfully refreshing to have that water cool me off. I splash some on my face and the back of my neck as well.

Then I lay back on my elbows & gaze at the sunset again.

I love sunsets….

They never are dragged out, but they don’t rush. They have such a wonderful array of glowing hues. The day is over and no one can make it, or any of the stress in it come back…. One more page from the calender that will be tucked away in history forever…

As the last ray of light faded over the distant horizon, the moon arose on cue. At my feet a second sky shimmered in the waters, stars and all. I couldn’t help myself. I was hot and sweaty anyway.

I slipped in, and swam in that perfect Texas summer night sky… Does that count as flying?