When trouble passes our way and we're caught in the fray
When facing the worst of things that can come along
Is when we need to gather all strengths along the way
And learn somehow to lift up our heads and be strong

And to learn how to deal with the pressures of not knowing
What will become of us when we are not sure of our goals
To develop a new way of thinking of self but keep growing
And make a paradigm shift and a new script for our souls

We must be willing to throw out the old the bad and the pain
And plan for a future that holds promise for us and ours
And keep a level keel that makes our minds safe and sane
Which will let us become what we're meant to be with powers

Power of self preservation for us and family and friends
The power of right and strength from our new perspective
With newness of heart and mind and rejection of old trends
We can travel into the future and meet our new objective

So let the old ways die away with the separate ways we go
And let the feelings of pain and sorrow somehow be dead
And take on the new self image with fervor and glow
For the new me can be it's best with the new vision ahead

In the play, King Richard, Shakespeare said
Words often quoted long after he was dead
But the words still linger and are spoken
Though their meaning today may be broken

Of many things Shakespeare wrote so poetic
In today's world seem somehow to be pathetic
That though his words still remind us all
To give councel to others when they call

But not to share their thoughts with others
Not friends or aquaintance or even brothers
But keep within us the things so secret now
For our discretion surely is the sacred cow

After all, valor has its special place
Always here among us in the human race
When we are discrete we keep the holy vow
That friends can trust us always somehow

And prove that Shakespeare was so right
That valor would always be worth the fight
So my friends keep the secrets that you hear
An you'll keep the friends that you hold dear

A little magic in a tone of what is said
Spoken so softly and sweetly when it's read
A spark in the way things have been stated
In a life that surely has been celebrated

A story here and a story there in writing
Some cute remarks that show she's exciting
The love in her words for the friends she made
So youthful she thinks that it will not fade

To all who visit her blog she's so perky and sweet
She is the kind of girl we would all like to meet
She tells jokes and writes some serious stuff
We keep going back cause we can't get enough

Of her cheerful writing that's such a delight
I would bet that she pretty when she is in sight
I've been to her blog and read all of her pages
And it's true you know she's a girl for the ages.

What is it about us Americans and Holidays
We just love to take off work a few days
And go to the sea shore or to a local park
Have some bar-b-q stuff and stay till dark

Or get off to a cabin in the hills close by
And read a good book 'neath the clear blue sky
Or sit by a lake and watch children playing
Or do nothing at all while at home we're staying

Have a patio party with our Neighbors and friends
Party all week end and burn the candle at both ends
Go to a concert with your very favorite band
Or to the beach and stroll the seaside sand

Or go for a drive in the country side for hours
To take a look at nature and all the wild flowers
Or take the kids on a picnic at your favorite place
And ignore for a while the whole human race

Watch some sports programs on your television set
Or relax for three days at home with your pet
Plan a weekend with family, a reunion or such
Because otherwise you don't see them that much

Or do what I do when my work's not in the way
Work outside in the garden in the early day
Or lounge at the pool side and catch some rays
Or write on the blogstream about holidays

Have a great weekend my cyber friends here
And have a heart that is full of good cheer
For great American holidays please make a toast
Get your neighbors together for a wiener roast

Happy holiday weekend from the Raven.

Living our lives is such a trouble filled affair
When others who we love don't ever seem to care
When those affect our lives in negative ways
It fills with frustration the all of our days

When we are less important than any other thing
We feel that trying harder our happiness it will bring
But the harder we try the more frustration we feel
When we love like we do and do all to make it real

When we put our best foot forward and expect the same
And the other person acts like it's just a game
To play with our heart's emotion and leave us crying
The others lack of caring, there's simply no denying

That for most of us the truth would serve us more
Than internal lies that allow us to hide the chore
Of doing what is right for ourselves and for the other
And press our feelings down and let them smother

So my friends I tell you this, the truth is so unkind
So we let our hearts guide what we do, and not our mind
When intellect should guide our lives and not our heart
And in most cases from the other we'd be better off apart

So death to our inner truth sets into our true emotions
With some one in our life who cares not for our devotions
And slowly snuffs the flame of love that needs to be
So face reality and don't pretend, truth will set you free