Linda Shticks

Lovely Linda Shticks walking slowly ever more free and clear

soaring higher always loving upon the breeze

untied, unrestrained and unworried

never a fearful day need be

only a moment comes

now and then

but she

loves

that

more

than she

can begin to say

so she flutters as a butterfly

bejeweled in her own glorious wings

spreading wider to fly deeper into the depth of her own

heart that grows ever warmer and larger like her soul she longs to know

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where does it lead

?????????

if not

???

??

??

??

?

?

?

?

?

to

your own

understanding of what

a beautiful part of us all you have been

and continue to be now

in this moment

where you

stand

with

us

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Shticks Drawing: Veronica Shticks Anderson

Underlying Photo: Chi King

Honoring: Linda Ienuso

Only One

A blue bird sings upon a vine as

crashing sounds of entwined communion

announce each wave's surrender to the whole

always withdrawing into nothing and everything

but never losing the place they forgot to claim

and the sunset paints your heart and mine

too far away to touch and yet inside

connected by golden threads

too thin to even be

and yet they

somehow

seem

to

A

sweet

touching

warm breeze

kisses the heals

of today as it spreads

ever wider and more loving

into the sea in some illusion

as old as time and as young

as your heart's next beating

inside this frame you claim

tenderly surrendering its

claim upon your soul

as if it was real

even though

you know

you are

only

one

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Photo: Elaine Erskine

Awaiting Your Light

At

night as

I came to grips

with my sleep I asked

how can you step so sweetly

in the green light of your knowing

without the brilliance of your clean boot

casting a shadow upon their table of hopes

inflaming their condemnation to their own peril

for you love them so deeply and truly like water

flowing freely around their frozen forms in time

sometimes growing sluggish like old honey

you have waited so long for this moment

that as it arrives you hesitate in love

carefully watching your shadows

growing longer by the day

loving them more by

the night of

their own

darkness

How you are

pleases me beyond

any hope of saying in words

in the truth I am coming to see before'

this long awaited leap can arrive complete

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Photo: Marc Adamus

Automatically

I thought I wanted to PLAY with you

but I've come to realize I want to BE with you

playing with you will happen automatically

but BEING will not

I thought I wanted to PROVIDE for you

but I've come to realize I want to BE with you

providing for you will happen automatically

but BEING will not

I thought I wanted to be with YOU

but I've come to realize I want to be with ME

being with you will happen automatically

you are wherever I am

unless

I am not with myself

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Photo: Liliana Karadjova

Questionable Arms

A

warning

thrown down

so easily unnoticed

only some steps away

from tsunami's submission

nestled safely by some loving arms

brought from within by some questions

embracing the flood so tenderly

so enthralled by her beauty

stemming destruction

within a moment

now calming

structured

serene

to be

you

you

reaching

growing to see

how you can obtain

some grip on your liquidity

as there comes a perfect moment

within reach of your own strong arms

more like your self in balance here now

as you relax and allow to be still

ingrained patterns die swiftly

if you'll ask them to leave

with a loving heart that

finds a new balance

still in the night

questioned

away to

hover

and

be

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Sketch: Unknown Artist

Inspiration: Un Asleep

Sometimes Kissing

Warm breath flowing from your mouth

smelling the essence of you so divine

I stand inhaling what was inside of you

into me and holding my breath sweetly

long enough to know I have tasted your soul

feeling the touch of your cheek upon mine

some rush of tenderness swirls about

as I hope to remain inside your castle walls

if you do not banish me from your midst

by withdrawing your love or raising your bridge

So I look into your eyes that shine

through a million years in just one day

cutting across a universe of my fear

penetrating where no heart has been

knowing you have captured me forever

and how I welcome you to stay and grow

sometimes kissing days away entwined

or tending after those you love in order to

give you some space to call your own

watching you dance merrily in joy

or feeling your tender body push against my chest

as you sleep in my arms near my heart again

and I say the words in whispers you'll never hear

wondering if you'll awaken and brush me away

as I lay enthralled and entranced by your presence

then as morning kisses you awake so slowly

I come to see the sun rise a second time in one day

as you illuminate the room with the glory of being

I cannot help but bless you and be grateful

to have another day in your paradise

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Photo: Steve Hanks

Breathless Oasis

I

awaken

in darkness alone

but thinking of you my heart

soars flying to the horizon beyond

my birthright into the heart of being and

self I know as me he who has become and is

becoming all he can be and whatever he will be is

guided by a light that somehow glows more brightly

when you appear in this oasis vision to quench

this thirst that leaves me breathless

at the approaching hour when you

will arrive at my doorstep anew

again as you have always

been here with me

ever since the

beginning

of time

and

me

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Photo: Pierre Boisgontier