Choose Peace

Thank you for
taking me within
a place I don't
often frequent
while picking up
the loose ends
of my of my
hustle-bustle
existence,
forgetting who I am
and why I came here.

My heart warms
with a feeling
of presence-
a centered,
safe place-
home, peaceful
full of everything
positive and good.

A small amount
of restful awareness
recharges
and renews
the life force
that animates many
exquisite experiences
of joy and wonder
offered each day.

Silence within
keeps me
on the road
to peace, joy
and enlightenment.



Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates

Clouds

I look for clouds
and then
they're gone
bright sunny days
prevail
then they're back
wisping into existence
formless
sans an endless
imagination
to prove otherwise.
Oh, a day for
viewing the taking
shape and dissolution
of what was meant
to be
and then not.
Deep in spring grass
the inhalation of
scented landscape 
blows through
ones' being
on it's way
to more
fertile valleys.
Newness and discovery
appearing all around--
so much diversity
of nature
easily outliving
clouds
that once gave them
life.


Copyrght © 2013 Gary Frates

Waking Up

"Wake up!"
this man would boom out
to the oncoming runners.
I was next to him
when he let out a blast
and almost knocked me
off the trail.
I thought, what's he trying to say?
They obviously were "awake"
but it must have meant something
within the group of people
who were running along with him
on the Bike Trail
that Saturday morning.
I didn't stop to ask.

People looked like
they were"awake"
or at least doing well
to me,
some possibly trying
to run off some extra
pounds and/or get into
better shape
while socializing with others
of a like mind.

We view the world
from our own perspective,
so in a way
we might be said
to be "asleep" to
all the possibilities
"out there".

Waking up
to something beyond
our often  fear-oriented,
boxed-in point of view
might be a good thing
to aspire to.

But before I become
a human alarm clock,
wishing people's more rapid,
if not instantaneous,
enlightenment,

I think I'll just smile
or give a thumbs up
in return to those
who have forsaken
sleeping in
for a bit of early morning,
fresh air, exercise
on this rest oasis
we call
the weekend.


Copyright © 2013 Gary Frates

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