Self Portrait Poem (4-30-96)

     Creative am I to throw a magazine into the fire.  Flames radiating glorious colors of green, yellow and blue rise and wave as our eyes follow hypnotically.

     An artichoke am I with great complexity.  You could never get to my heart without peeling off my outer layers first.

    I am an evergreen tree bringing comfortable color to the icy winter despise. 

     I care about letting my soul free to dance on a moonlit hilltop when my body is physically unable to take it there.

     I care about my intake and my output.

     I try to watch myself in determining good from evil.

     By loving I care.

     I regret mishandled virginity.

     I regret neglecting my dog.

     I really miss her.

     I love my mom, I do; even when sometimes she won't believe me.

     My goal in life is to prepare for Heaven.

     Why Heaven?

     Because Heaven doesn't allow pain or problems.

     There, they are washed away like a dead leaf in a flooding gutter.

     My dream is to keep smiling until I get there.