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…

& 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)

 —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

—

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

…

… (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)

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

~Lianna Daniel; 2001 (11 yrs old)

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

……..

……..

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…

& 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

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.