Half a world away, I walk a narrow, stone path. In the rice fields, the Balinese people

There is my shadow, A dark outline of this body And yet, it also holds, The hidden imperfections Of my existence.

Life is not fair at times... But of course things Change quickly down the line, We are born into a No guarantee world.

Time is going by fast, Trying not to live in the past, To keep priorities straight And not falter at the gate. To join the universal goal

I remember your smile, your laugh,… you gave so freely. It’s hard that you are gone. I sigh and walk along the bay.

Dark bulk of a single bird, With red puffed up chest, As winter’s breeze sways his perch…

Oh hummingbird Where are you now? Have you taken My courage with you? Oh hummingbird

When you are not here An empty heart full of fear Arises and wonders If I will see you again. What will I do without

Unable to be all things For all people, Perhaps at one time, I tried. Those days are

Itchy eyes scaly feet achy joints and bad teeth hair so fine

Driving through the small towns of America, children of all colors playing in the streets, some with tattered clothes

When I first heard “The Blackbird,” In the middle Of night, I was just thirteen.

The wind went through me, it carried the yellow, orange and red leaves lightly on the air. Another change is coming,

This is the America I know: A sea of white, black, red, yellow And brown faces, Strong minds and voices Raised to the sun,

On this New Year’s Eve Direction lost Drifting like blowing snow To and fro. A freeze comes