Remember Life

Remember Life

When times get rough and skies get gray,
When the storm clouds begin to play,
When feeling rolled like the wind-swept sea,
And troubles rise too submergingly...

When family swears and friends are lost,
When the budget runs way over-cost,
When loved ones die in body or soul,
And your own body feels not quite whole...

When doubts assail you, leave you unsure,
When evil seems to have no cure,
When all seems wrong and gone astray,
And hopes begin to turn to dismay...

Remember Earth abides here yet,
And Life has possibilites yet unmet,
And winds will turn, as they always will,
And ever strength is inside you still...

Remember never to give up and you will win,
Never say what is is all that's been,
Never think twice about reaching far out,
Remember Life oft takes a lonely route.

Remember that Life is not really alone,
Many a friend and family you own,
There is no light if there is no dark,
It is in between that we must hark.

(C) 2003, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw. All rights reserved.

Call Worlds Open Tonight

Call Worlds Open Tonight

The crows caw, the raven fly, the cat is on the prowl;
The wolves are dancing in the woods, just listen to them howl.
While the owl will fly his nightly round
On wings that have no sound.

There is magic in the making;
There is magic all around;
There is magic for the taking;
There is magic to be found.

The cornstalk’s dry; the pumpkin’s big; the crops are in for winter;
The haloed moon smiles down upon all those who would enter.
Into sacred rites for Samhain night;
And honorings for Samhain day;
Honor all for that is right;
Blessings on all who stay.

The sacred veil between the worlds opens for all who would enter.
The ancestors come to bestow their love from the circle’s very center.

There is magic in the making;
There is magic all around;
There is magic for the taking;
There is magic to be found.
(C) 9 November 1998, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.

Summer Solstice Blessings

Summer Solstice Blessings

The rays of sun, the light of power,
Nature’s fecund and fruitful hour,
Longest day, shortest night…
Come, let’s celebrate the light.

Expectant harvests yet to come,
Let us taste the fruits of some
Of earth’s bountiful and lustful play
Of planted seeds come to stay…

At the summit of sun’s strength
Begins the lessening of sun’s length…
As days grow shorter, nights grow long;
Together we sing the solstice song…

Shine on, our sun, shine strong and true,
Let us totally delight in you,
And let us humbly accept your beams
As now you turn to darker dreams.

Let love and life, day and night,
Find the joyous union right
As the balanced circle turns…
And as our star, our sun still burns.
(C) 21 June 1999, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw.

With Grandmother's Love

With Grandmother's Love

Dancing in the water,
A feather in my hand,
Smiling, often laughing,
Blessing Grandmother's land.

With a glint of diamonded cheeks
Salty waters clear,
I see Mother Earth’s teardrops
Falling for upon all near and dear.

Know of this truth, yon pray-er,
Your heart of prayer was heard,
Spirit would not leave you
Without giving you this word---

With all your being, your heart, your mind,
With your soul, your spirit, below, above,
You offered forever in truth...
Where’er you walk, you have my love.

From the east, I offer you wisdom,
From the south, I offer you play,
From the west, I offer you protection,
From the north…Grandmother's Way.
(C) Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 14 August 2000. All rights reserved.

Down the Cavern of Memory Turned

Down the Cavern of Memory Turned
Sorrow like flooding overflowing the banks
Of the river of heart swamped full;
Grief in the bones of despairing flanks
The mind's darkest desolation to pull.

Only half-remembered times of goodness went
To chase the agonies of all gone wrong;
Without the joys of the heart well spent,
Sadness drowned such happiness as song.

But deeper still than the darkest pain,
The loving heart may remain
Calm.
Even deeper again than all that's sane,
A knowing of peace 'came
Psalm.

(C) Copyright, Daphne Yvonne Bradshaw, 6 May 2010. All rights reserved.