Confined ----- Andrea Kelley

In a box?
There are no doors. Don’t see any windows.
There is light, where is that coming from? Is the light coming from within?
The space is all around, it is so close. The air is thick.
I am confined, I scratch at the walls. Does the lack of space concern me? What is outside this space? The space is familiar, but uncomfortable.
I sit down, I am tired. Am I tired from scratching?
I am not comfortable, the slumber is not peaceful.
I stand again, I scratch. My fingertips bleed. I look at my fingertips, I weep. Again there is slumber.
There is still light, hope. I stand, I move, keep moving.
The space is closing in. I scratch again. Ouch. Scratching hurts.
What is outside? There is that darn light.
I am the light, the life. Jesus! The Holy Spirit is with me, has hold of me.
I am small, I grow. Where am I? Don’t let go. I am fresh, I am new. I am old, I am.

Love - no matter what! -----Andrea Kelley

Love – no matter what!
My star shined its light and brought gifts.
The gift –
Of admiration – admire me, admire we.
Of desire – physical, emotional, for me, for we.
Of respect – the exchanging of stars.
Of inspiration – to grow.
Of acceptance – no matter what.
Of freedom – freedom to feel and be.
Of hope – at journeys end, I will have me.
Of comfort – a soft place to land.
Of joy – ahh, the abounding laughter.
Of compassion – words don’t describe.
Of honor – my pedestal had crumbled, it was rebuilt.
So Yes, a resounding yes, love no matter what!

Even then ----- Nicole Nordeman

It's a fear that keeps me wide awake
In the middle of the night
When the expectations are too great
And the bar gets raised too high
So I do the best with what I've got
And hope that no one knows
That I strain to see how high I can
Try to stand on these toes
Until I'm measured, but You know better

So, thank-You, Jesus
Even when You see us just as we are
Fragile and frail and so far
From who we want to be
So, thank-You, Jesus
Even when the pieces are broken and small
Dreams shatter and scatter like the wind
Thank-You, even then

So I put aside the masquerade
And admit that I am not okay
Which may not be the thing to say
But I'm not ashamed to need You more each day

We raise the standard and try to reach You
But we'll never make it, and we don't need to

A Dream

A dream; a dream like no other.
It reached out for mine, I woke up.
It was recognizable, yet unfamiliar.
A dream, it comforts me.
I am awake, it caused a stirring, the stirring moved.
My eyes see, they see it nearly every day; I could not and would not touch. It moves around, my eyes follow.
The stirring continued, it continued, I fought it, I denied it, the stirring grew, it would not die.
I am awake, it reached for me, it stroked my hair. Why?
The dream, I am awake.
It touched me, I am touched. The stirring, the stirring. Why?
It is becoming familiar, will it touch me again?
It touched me gently, it touched me.
It touched me everywhere; head to toe, inside, outside.
My eyes see, they see it touching me.
It is warm, it warms me, it warms me inside, outside.
It is now an extension of me.
I am awake, I am awake.
It touches me, it touches me no more.
I am awake, the stirring.
His hand.

Your Song --- Elton John

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

Would not come-----Alanis Morissette

If I make a lot of tinsel then people will want to.
If I am hardened, no fear of further abandonment.
If I am famous, then maybe Ill feel good in this skin.
If I am cultured, my words will somehow garner respect.

I would throw a party, still it would not come. I would bike, run, swim, and still it would not come. Id go traveling and still it would not come. I would starve myself and still it would not come.

If Im masculine, I will be taken more seriously.
If I take a break, it would make me irresponsible.
If Im elusive, I will surely be sought after often.
If I need assistance, then I must be incapable.

Id be filthy rich, and still it would not come. I would seduce them, and still it would not come. I would drink vodka, and still it would not come. Id have an orgasm, and still it would not come.

If I accumulate knowledge, Ill be impenetrable.
If I am aloof, no one will know when they strike a nerve.
If I keep my mouth shut, the boat will not have to be rocked.
If I am vulnerable, I will be trampled upon.

I would go shopping, and still it would not come. Id leave the country, and still it would not come. I would scream and rebel, still it would not come. I would stuff my face, and still it would not come. Id be productive, and still it would not come. Id be celebrated, and still it would not come. Id be the hero, and still it would not come. Id renunciate, and still it would not come.

Fire and Rain-----James Taylor

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone, Susanne the plans they made put an end to you.
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song, I just can't remember who to send it to.
I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.
Won't you look down upon me, Jesus? You've got to help me make a stand, you've just got to see me through another day. My body's aching and my time is at hand, and I won't make it any other way.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you again.
Been walking my mind to an easy time, my back turned towards the sun, Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around. Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things to come. Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.

Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain.

I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end, I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, but I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now.
Thought I'd see you one more time again. There's just a few things coming my way this time around now, thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now.