When you win, you lose

When I have control
or the illusion of control
and that "fantasy" is
threatened
or apparently taken away
because lo and behold
I have control no more--
people are going to do
what they're going to do.
You're going to run into
some stubborn ones along
the way--you aren't the only
one that wants it your way
even though in the end you
can pull rank on those who
would challenge your hand
and pretty much many of
the games you enter into
you enter into with aces
so they're going to "lose"
when you play your ace
but at the same time your
loss of  the illusion of
control cancels all
your big cards anyway.
So you still end up with
no control except of your-
self which hopefully you
don't "lose it" too badly
in front of God and everyone
trying to maintain your
illusion or even delusion of
power you really never had
to begin with--maybe more
responsibility than another--
so you do your job hoping to
maintain some humanity and
dignity in the process, letting
pretty much the cards fall
where they may, while still
being kind--letting others be
who they are.


Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates

Solitude

The days
stretch out
slow down
when we have
more time
to ourselves
not quite coming
to a full halt
they meander
seamlessly
the usual pace
cast aside
a chance
for reflection
wondering why
we keep so busy
after all
a time to take
a breath
relax
and let it out
slowly.


Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates

A Joyous Day

The best parts
of  my day
are when I have
the opportunity
to be useful
to other people-

to perhaps
turn on a light
in their head
as they respond
"Oh, Yeah!"
excitedly

and see
and understand
something
for the first time.

Or it could be
the effortless
absorption
of children
in joyous play
with the simplest
of objects-
a block of wood,
a string of cubes.

They know
what's fun
and what's not
by the ease
excitement
and rapture
they bring
to each moment.

Let not this day
end
they're thinking,
let not this life
end
if it can be 
this much fun! 

We have so much
to learn from children
which coincidently
we once were.



Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates

Getting What You Want

Life throws us
curve balls
so that
we can learn
to hit them.



With an open mind
slipped-through-
your-fingers
opportunities
allows success
another chance.



The universe knows
when you're ready.



A seed grows patiently.



Just knowing
what you want
paves the way
for its
appearance.



To be at peace
not needing
or wanting anything
in the moment
opens the gates
for sufficiency
even abundance
to share
with others.



Ask for what you want
be bold
the universe has
a lot.



Stillness comes
eventually
in meditation.



Say yes
even if
it's scary.




Copyright © 2103 Gary Frates

Not on a house, not with a mouse

Not with a mouse, not on a house...
Dr. Seuss got it right.
Sometimes you just have to say
"No" to people in a million
different creative ways for them
 to finally get it...
and then in the end, you find out
they were right all along and you
we're wrong...
Saving face may be no small task
for us, but for Dr. Seuss, he took
it all in stride not missing a step.
So his world expanded and he
was no worse for wear--Green
Eggs and Ham were on the menu
and it only took him a whole
children's picture book to say yes
to life, to retract his stubborn
unwillingness to try something new
and in the end he was rewarded--
but it took a while--a short while
compared to the way the machinery
of our world changes to new ideas
and potentially better ways of doing
things.  We all learn a little bit in the
living and making inevitable mistakes
along our journey to wisdom and
happiness, patiently waiting for us all
along.


Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates

The Door Opens

Like a caged bird
my spirit longs for freedom.
It longs to sing to dance to play.
It longs to dive deep in the rivers
of joy and passion and pleasure.
It needs full expression
unhindered by outside approval.
It wants to show it's brilliance.
Just be as bright as it is--
a blinding light for good for what's right
for the underdog and oppression in general.
Let the door swing open
I'm ready to fly
and not look back
for so much is waiting 
to do to have to be
I'm ready to moult
and transform into a
a new day a new me
birds of a feather...


Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates