She was orphaned at five when her mother died
Her dad still lived but he was out of the picture
He was a train engineer, always away
Maybe that’s why the sound of a train gives me a rush
She lived in houses with other people
Not ever a home to her
Except for the Goodson’s who took her in
For a while she lived on a farm
She had a horse she could ride
She never wanted to leave there
But she had to
She was born with 4 older brothers
One by one she lost them
She bore 4 sons then had me
She graduated high school in 3 years
To get out of the hell house she lived in
She went to college and met her man
He fell head over heels in love with her
Her beauty and the way she saw the world
So unlike anything he had ever known
From different sides of the tracks they were
He became a bomber pilot
She gave him 5 children in 7 years
She never really fit in
She was an enigma, filled with a wild view
She rescued Irish setters
She allowed any and every exotic animal
To be rescued by the rest of us
From owls and hawks
Snakes and an alligator
Repiles, amphibians, mammals
Bottle feeding raccoons and squirrels, skunks
Chimpanzees and other monkeys
And whatever came our way
We were the Folger Family
Iconic in Cincinnati back in those days
She stood in picketing lines
Against animal testing
I was pulled from my class to assist
In rescuing some poor Irish Setter
From an abusive home
My favorite story was the day
I was walking home from school
And a crowd of kids were throwing rocks
At an apartment building
I yelled to them to stop
So they turned on me with the rocks flying
I was just as tempermental as mom
I ran home while they laughed at me
I broke through the door yelling
“MOOSE!!! ERIN!! BESSIE!!!!!!!”
Those were the three most terrifying dogs we had
A Weimaraner, an Irish Setter and a German Shepherd
I leashed them up and ran up the street
That crowd of kids ran in fear
Into the lobby of the building
Locked in a small space
They were trapped and I yelled at them
“You come out of there or we are coming in!!!!”
The dogs were right on cue
Sensing my rage they growled and barked
And bore their terrible teeth
And leapt at the leash
Displaying a terrifying scene
The boys and girls- teenagers
Came creeping out
Hugging eachother and crying and begging
It was then I heard the sound
Like a river of slashing barks
Here she came, around the corner
My mom, with 7 more dogs
It was so funny I almost fell over laughing
But for the seriousness of the situation
Which demanded my rage to display
She looked like she was plowing a field
Leaning so far back so as not to fall forward
The pulling of 7 Irish Setters
Well, I was never more proud of her
So before hell was let loose
I told those kids to leave and never come back
I said, “If I ever see you again
There will be no leashes!!!!”
To this they all ran screaming
And crying up Madison Lane
Mom and I retreated home
No words needed to be spoken
The men were not there
We took care of it
God I love that memory
There were so many stories
Too many to tell today
On this day, the time has come
For all the years we missed
I wish it were not so
For all the times we did not see eye to eye
I wish it were not so
I wish you knew my kids
I wish you could know my grandchildren
I spent so many years wishing and praying
But I am glad for how we found eachother again
After Barney left us
We had time to spend
Even at a distance
It was better knowing you were there
It has been a long journey
It was not fair what you went through
A child should never have to suffer as you did
But it will be your laugh I remember
Those times at a holiday
When people of all existences were given a seat
Your table was extended to all those
Wandering souls…
You understood them, welcomed them home
There is never enough time to find yourself
Never enough time to mend the wounds
Never enough time to heal completely
And then you were taken bit by bit
That horrible disease took you step by step
I remember the last time I saw you in Key West
We talked for a long time by the sea
You said the most healing thing to me
“I really wish I had known you before”
Of course by then you forgot I was your daughter
But I told you the same- I wish the same
But we have eachother now….
Time, distance, enemies of the soul…
But your hero never left your side
He stood with and beside you all the days
Of your over 66 years together
He told you when it was time to leave
You were waiting to hear this I know
For who knows how to say goodbye
Goodbye now Mom
You left us a little while ago
But today, you are laid to rest
You will be with Barney now
Your amazingly crazy, hilarious
Adventurous, beautiful son
My Irish Twin
And your mother and father
Your brothers and so many more
I cannot be there today, to say goodbye
To stand with your man
To hold his hand as I would do
Because that is just the times we live in
No visit to say goodbye
No holding your hand
No telling you what I needed to say
But you know now don’t you
Once you saw through a foggy lens
Now you see with clarity
That I was here all the time
Loving you and wanting you
And I am so grateful you kept insisting
One more child
Till you had a girl, that was me
I know I was not what you thought I would be
But in the end
I love you, always did, always will
You did it
You made a family
A legacy to be proud of
From Ted to Mike to Jeremy To Barney
And to me… we are your legacy
We will always carry you with us through our children
And our grandchildren
Your gift of sight to believe in mysterious things
You never got to take a dancing class
Or painting or singing or anything else
But you gave it all to me
I will now try even harder to give this
To myself and my own
But so much more
To any and every foster child
Or kid who never was given the chance
You should have been a great talent
Your songs and dances should have happened
But in private you were a writer..
So I will remember this last thing..
One time as a teenager I asked you
“What do you think I will be when I grow up?”
Without hesitation you said
“A writer”
I had never done that… but everyday you did
You wrote and wrote
When I started this blog it was because of you
I am no writer
I do not know how to do it right
But I will write and I will make sure
That others like you
Will get the chance while they are still young
To express themselves creatively
To have a shot at finding their voice and
Healing their wounds
But I will need something from you to do this
Infuse me with your ideas
Inspire me in the sunrises and sunsets
And let’s do it together
You in your newfound freedom of eternity
And me trapped in this world
Show me the path and I will walk in it
Okay
Today Dad will be by your side
As they lay you to rest..
I am there in spirit
I know you are already gone
But I miss everyone so terribly
The sharp pain will ease
Time heals
But you, for all we went through together and apart
I will look for you in nature
That is where you saw the universe
And so do I
You know why
Against all odds
I am your daughter
I will always carry you with me
When the sunsets tonight
I will see you waving goodbye
And when it rises tomorrow I will hear you
In my heart whispering
Be who you were born to be
And I will
I promise to do my best
Bye for now Mom
_______________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thank You.
When I was just a kid
I would climb the pine tree in the front yard
There was a place
Where three branches came together
Two and a half stories high
I would slide my body
Into the branches embrace
And sway with the wind
Rocking me to calm
Like a grandmother
So non-judgemental
Always there taking a beating
As winters came and went
Branches broke below
I don’t know why this tree
Likely because it’s branch grew over
The roof outside their bedroom window
What a thing to do
So exhilarating to climb out their window
Shimmy down the roof
To hop onto the branch
And up and away I would climb
To my throne of imagination
I would close my eyes to see
What it felt like to sway and listen
I wish I could go back there
But the tree is no longer there
It is no longer my families home
And decades have come and gone
But I can still close my eyes
And feel the swaying
The slow rhythmical backward and forward
Side to side movement
Like a rocking chair, only better
I guess my love of trees came from an acting class
Mom put me in an acting class as a little kid
The teacher said to stand up
Close your eyes
And pretend you are a tree
I stood there with my arms outstretched
Swaying ever so gently
I imagined what a tree felt like
Did it think about the birds
The squirrels and raccoons
Who lived in its branches
I got so lost in thought
I forgot I was in a room
Filled with other kids
Finally I opened my eyes
And I was the only one still standing
How long had I swayed
Standing there being a tree
The giggles of the other children
Assured me I was weird
But the lesson of becoming a tree
Has never left me
They have been my constant friends
From then till now
So majestic, so embracing
So defiant of the storms
As they stand there
And hold up under
The weight of weather
The freezing cold
The snow, the ice
The wind, the rain
They stand tall
Until their time has come
The wisdom gained
From friendship with a tree
Is well worth the climb
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
You know it has lasted too long
This crisis that dropped on the world
We were not made to function under such stress
Only for a short while, but this is so very long
The mental shift is the greatest obstacle
It’s a daily dose of fear and story telling
Our children have anxiety and panic
My friend saw a young man jump from the bridge
He put his mask on as he ran from his car
To jump off the bridge
We are losing our minds
Children are ending their lives
Marriages are ending at an all time high
Abuse abounds
The mask police glare at you when yours slips
Road rage people are on a path of destruction
Friends sprew vile words on social media
They would never say in person
They disown eachother over politics
The manipulators take advantage of us all
We see them on TV telling us who and what to believe
People are glued to TVs and radios
We can’t hang out together
They tell us how many family members
Can come for the holidays
Violate that and your neighbor will report you
We can’t see our parents in thier homes
They are passing away with strangers
While we weep over a river of injustice
We’ve given up on our dreams
Lost our businesses and homes
Forget about a vacation
They won’t let you stay in their hotel
You can’t cross the state lines
You must quaranteen yourself
You’ve forgotten what it feels like to laugh
That deep belly cleansing laugh
Your friends restaurant just shut down
Your brothers store he had for 30 years
Was looted and burned down
Your cousins son the cop just got shot
You know the one who always wanted to help people
Right is now wrong
Wrong is now right
You can’t talk about what’s happening
Someone might beat you up
God forbid you have your own opinion
Need I continue to say it out loud
But then something rises up inside me
I run to nature, she always embraces me
The sunrises and sunsets
Remind us that the world is moving on
This too shall pass
And I feel the power of my own mind
As it clears in the presence of the trees
I see the animals going about thier day
Life is going on, and it shall for us too
We will never be the same again
After all we have been through
But we will be stronger and more equipt
To believe in the moments that inspire
We will not take things for granted
For those whose vile minds
Produced vile words and deeds
I do not know what will become of them
But for the ones who are still trying to create magic
To show the children how to overcome
Who do not spread the fear
Who teach and project faith in humanity
Who celebrate our diversity
For the souls that still have love
They are even now pressing on
Carrying their loved ones along
We shall overcome this time
We must stay strong
We must believe in the power of love
And never give up
The sun still rises, and sets
There is something greater than ourselves at work
Hold on to hope
That feeling of expectation and desire
For peace and healing to flow
Throughout our land
Don’t lose sight of it
We’re in this together
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
What is it that makes us
That truly defines who we are
And what we are becoming
I am determined
From all my examined thoughts
That all I have ever known
Points me to the truth
All the lessons I have had
Can serve to instruct me
I truly believe the power
It lies within our thoughts
The power of the mind
Which does not distinguish
Between good and bad
It only acts as a conduit
To energize us to achieve
Either greatness or failure
The pathways are lit
With electrical impulses
That either inspire hope
Or inspire fear
Magic or complacency
What we adhere to we become
So be careful
What you feed your head
Whatever you feed grows
Whatever you starve dies
Positive or negative
Your mind will crave more
Of whatever you feed it
Like an addiction
To break the patterns
That do not serve you
You must guard your mind
You must KNOW what you want
This life gives plenty of choices
Opportunities abound
You must learn to navigate them
Like a boat tossed by the sea
It takes knowledge and
Determination to pull through
To stay the course
To land safely
If you have faith
And if you want it
You can do anything
Your heart desires
So guard your mind
Put your boundaries around it
They’ll say it can’t be done
They’ll say no way
They’ll get angry
When you push through
Their eyes are blind
But you, you see
Even if they get angry
Falsely accuse you
Remember they are blind
If You see
Never give in
Never give up
If they don’t
They’re on the wrong brain train
Let them deplane
Get off at the station
They don’t believe in flying
They would have you
Believe they are right
That you’re crazy
Delusional in fact
Your faith is foolishness
Just listen to them
And they will
Paint your mind
With their negative words
Don’t let them
You don’t need their validation
You’ve learned from your losses
From the grief that comes
From quitting just before
The promise came to pass
The one you made to yourself
To believe and achieve
To make it all the way this time
To not accept defeat
The only way to lose is to give up
If you refuse that option
Then you will make it
All the way
No turning back
Stay focused
Surround yourself with
Positive can do people
Remove yourself from
Negative no can do thinkers
Don’t get stuck on the wrong team
If you want to win
Time to turn the tide
From fear to faith
To color the world
With hope and peace
Imagine all the magic
The good and prosperous
The life you want
Block out the chaos
The poor choices
Of those you once admired
You do not share their fate
You create you own
And make it good
For this life is yours
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
An artist tries to create
The expression that will help others see
The message from the heart
To the world
To make the change
To make things better
To heal or to inspire
To express shock
Or even disdain
But wanting to be heard
And known and seen
“I AM HERE”
Especially now
When the quakes of earth
Split the ground between us
No one wants to disappear
The tidal wave
Has disbanded us all
Once warmed by the sun
Resting on the shores
Now the Sun, Moon, and Earth
Have interacted and thrust
The weight of their collaboration
Unleashed on the sea
Has set us to running, drowning
And trying to grab for those we love
Separated by a great force
We stand now behind glass
To view our parents
We hide behind walls and masks
These times are shaping the children
Gripped by confusion and fear
How do we explain it
The psycho virus keeps them
From school and playgrounds
From ballparks and swimming pools
As much as we feel it
We must not panic
It is time to rise higher and be brave
It is time to protect
The young and the old
Lies and truth are blended daily
Opportunists and players
Seek to trap us with their words
Keep us needing them
But we are not sheep and must discern
Truth from lies
Hope verses fear
We must lead our little ones
We must inspire those behind glass
Breathing slowly, deeply
Watching closely
Listening intently to the soul
Waiting and watching the signs
These times will not stay
They will be gone
The lessons will remain
But what we learn
Will be different for many
As varied as a candy store
Stay strong, stay focused
Prepare yourself
And those you love
Be ready
For anything is possible
Rise high above the fray
Don’t get caught in the trap
A web of others’ designs
Maneuver with intent
Seek and find your power
To do good
To seek justice
To promote peace
To love with abandon
To avoid the toxic
To perfect your mind
Become better, not bitter
And you will become a creator
Make YOU your best work
Choose what you hold on to
And what you let go
Now is the time to discern
Which will be the colors
You choose the paint
Create a masterpiece
Every flaw you thought
Would always define you
Let it go
Smash it like clay
Cut it like stained glass
Wipe it from your palette
Chip away the dead wood
Don’t let anyone fool you
You are building yourself
By every decision of thought
By every thought turned to words
By every word turning to action
So choose wisely
The world is waiting
The alternative is not good
It is giving into fear
Doubt and impotence
Hopelessness and complacency
Letting others paint YOUR canvas
Is a HUGE mistake
You choose
And let peace and power
Which comes only from love
Be your compass
And guide you to become
What you thought impossible
Cheering for you
To win against the bullies
They scream and dominant
They point fingers and confuse
They spread fear
And promote dependency
But not for you
No, and certainly not for me
____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
It’s an uphill battle
Trying to build the bridge
Between our thoughts
You see it your way
I see it mine
But it’s all about taking a walk
Come over here
I’ll come over there
Want to see what you see
From where you stand
Will you please take a look
From where I sit
Beliefs are built on experience
Please let’s not hold on so tight
Perceptions can be a problem
When they cannot align
If only people realized
The full picture
Wise is the one that waits
Watching and listening
Mostly with the gut
When you truly want peace
You work overtime
Managing the words
Before they ever leave your mouth
And the actions before you take them
I’m in amazement to observe
What people say and do
It’s a cluster of barbed wire
I shall fly above it and get a better view
It’s up here I decide
The landscape has changed
Destroyed by violence
Of both words and deeds
Fueled by fires lit by sources hidden
Tapping into pain and anger
Fueled by borrowed branches
Of trees long torn down
My heart sinks as I shield the eyes
Of our children frightened and confused
Give us life again
Give us love
Give us all
The pursuit of happiness
Nothing good ever came from wars
Between us and them
I toss a towel
Thrown in to say
Please let’s stop
Let’s find better ways
To right the wrongs
And create new paths
That lead us to PEACE
____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.comSarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Pexels.com
‘Dedicated to Bobby S’
You oftentimes are the youngest child
Therefore in a larger family
No one really listens to your point of view
You watch and you listen as the years unfold
All that goes on in front of you
You try to fill in the gap
Since no one asks you to lead the way
Hard times come
And they are in the rear view mirror
But somehow you cannot forget all the details
Your siblings each have their power
They display it sometimes with force
But it oftentimes was without maturity
So there were casualties
Relationships were wounded
Sometimes broken
And while no one was looking
You held each detail in your mind
Because your heart was so big
It could hold all the fragments
Of the brokenness of the family
Sometimes mended
Sometimes not
But even though you
Sometimes were pushed aside
Often times ignored and punished
Because too much was on the plate
You seemed to understand something
That the others were missing
Because deep in your heart
You live in the dream
Of love and friendship
Of honor and respect
You could not control
All the decisions that divided
And so you were in the shadows
Learning and absorbing
The lessons in each trial
But what you became was fierce
Your love was groomed by watching
The deficit in others
Which you wanted to make up for
But it was not for you to do
So you learned a greater trait
You learned Wisdom
You learned to listen
And to wait
To see the truth
And to live with a broken heart
But you became strong
You have become a strong tower
And your children take refuge in you
Your love made pure by adversity
You stood under its weight
And bore it with strength
You learned to wait
To take the high road
Your days of peace are ahead of you
You’ve earned your degree
The world is yours
May peace be your guide
As you inspire your tribe
_____________________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to contribute to humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
Photo by Simon Matzinger on Pexels.com
I awaken while it is still quiet
Something is shifting in my heart
Everyday in limbo
Watching the have’s and the have not’s
They go at it pointing fingers
Those with masks staying inside
Driving with them on and the windows up
Fear has gripped the hearts of many
Others have a different approach
Breathing the free air they refuse to wear
Something that makes them claustrophobic
Commercials everywhere of those who capitalize
These times they are an opportunity
But they are tearing us apart
Judgement and divide
All while politicians hide
They the biggest opportunists of all
But then there is just one
Me or you
We are more than votes
We live to breathe
Give me liberty
Tired of the spinning
And playing on our emotions
There is a fire burning in my heart
One that cannot be denied
It has burned off the useless rubble
Thoughts and concerns too small
There is a desire to live
To grow and prosper
There is no substitute
For the satisfaction of working hard
Of dreaming and building
It is unnatural to submit
To something you know is going to harm
You and others you know
Forced to wait
The heart grows weary
The mind is challenged
Daily the monotony
Staying focused but to what end
Trying to accomplish something
But for what
Now is the time
To connect to the higher self
The one who knows that nature
Cures and teaches
What lessons will we learn
Will we be forever altered
By the deeds of a few
We’ve been brought to our knees
Now it is time to use them
To fight with our hearts
Against the stagnation of our nation
It is time to bow our hearts
To lift our heads
To believe that the actions of some
Will not crush us all
I refuse to be a pawn
So easily sacrificed
It is now that I ask for wisdom
To travel this treacherous path
To believe that it will lead me
To greener pastures
We are not weak
We are strong
We cannot give into fear
We will triumph over all
Our enemies will lose their way
No one knows the origin
Of the will and intent they strive for
But today I ask the Creator of us all
To right the wrongs
It will be in exchange for something
Our hearts and minds
Must cleanse and focus
On love not hate
On unity not divide
On gratitude for life
Listen now
The truth is waiting in the wind
Open your hearts
And just feel a prayer
Seek the best you
Be mindful of what you think
Tune out the noise
Let your heart be your guide
And if it’s in your power to do good
Do it
If it’s in your skill set to make a difference
Do it
Everyday access your heart
Your thoughts and deeds
Did they truly serve humanity
Make the alterations necessary
To bring us together
Let this time purify our heart
Not harden it
And may peace be our guide
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to contribute to humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
Photo by Jeremie Lecaudey
Trying to harness the wind
The power within
Just as the water rages
And the earth endures
Cannot count on things to be still
Hang it out to dry
But then the rain comes
So what is one to do
When the peace is interrupted
By bad news
Things never stay the same
But try to find
Those who can endure
The changes as they come
Who can align themselves
With you as you pull
A Louis and Clark expedition
Come On
Let’s Go
Why not Us
Yep this is the crew
You want to be on
Let’s go for the ride
Let’s make it last
For when the night comes
One must truly know
They are not alone
True friendships
They are so rare
So infrequent
When you move and shake
Most turn their backs
But not the one
The one you trust
Without which
Life is simply unbearable
Trust and Love
Go hand and Hand
So make it happen
Make it strong
Speak the truth
Love with heart
Don’t throw darts
Try to come to understand
We can be a gift or a curse
To anyone we know
If I give you my heart
Give me yours
Look around you
You will see
Broken trust and pain
So hard to trust
But what is the alternative
But to cave in and lose
Stand your ground
Believe in the miraculous
Be the miracle you want to happen
_____________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to contribute to humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
Girl on a path
Photo by Pok Rie on Pexels.com
Have you ever sat by the sea
Watched the waves come in and go out
Sometimes with such force
They feel like a threat
What is it that holds them back
The sea knows when to come in
And when to go out
I would call it intuition
But that’s impossible
So what is it that makes it so
The moon and sun
The winds vacillate
In all directions
The force that drives forward
The remnants of the wind that curl back
Ebb and flow
A rhythmical pattern of coming and going
Or decline and regrowth
That’s what these days yield
Insight and blindness
Love and hate
Hope and despair
Lost and found
But what this is becoming
Is a trailblazing expedition
Like Louis and Clark
Only we are unwilling participants
Who did not sign up for this
But we have no choice
We have been yanked from our beds
Thrown into the wagon
Sent on a perilous journey
To the new wild west
There are things learned on this path
That cannot be learned in comfort
Things that reveal themselves
Through pain and shock and horror
When there is fear you cannot run
There is no hiding place
Even those who travel in luxury
Cannot dismiss the deep seated angst
But we press on each day
With no end in sight
Facing our inner demons
Or casting them on someone else
Blaming and shaming
Anything to avoid feeling truth
That we cannot escape this prison
And it is not just a bad dream
And we cannot predict the future
No one leading us knows the way
We are losing lives on the road
And it becomes more meaningless
Because we become more numb
Everything we knew to be true is gone
Strangers move away
Eyes are filled with fear and anger
Judgement is high
Trust is gone
We can see it coming
The great divide
There are so many of us
We are forced to go on different sides
We are separated further away
The great divide splits our civility
Which way should we go
Which is the safer passage
No one knows
But some say they do
Or worse yet just say
The other side is misleading
They warn and threaten
When all we the people want to do
Is get safely to the other side
Even though we don’t know where we are going
Some say we will never go back home
Others say we will live on the other side
In a different way
The longer we stay on the path
The more I feel mislead
And new feelings are beginning to change me
I fight the power of them
Because it does not feel like me
But like someone thrust into war
Forced to fight a battle not of their own
But survive you must
And then I remember
The greatness of the trees
I remember that the sea knows when to come in
And when to go out
And when I think of those I love
Who got swept to the other side
And my heart longs to go home
I look around with my old eyes
Those that come from my heart
The ones who understand
Not with words but deep inside
The intuition of survival
More than that the purity
Of beauty and innocence
And I wake while others sleep
And I think for myself
Guided by My heart
Which has learned everything it knows
By absorbing Nature
In all her wonders tis the wisest
She has seen every generation of man and beast
Has watched and learned and participated
There were once dinosaurs who walked here
Their shadows are the clouds overhead
Casting on the plains around me
And we are here now
For such a time as this
It is our destiny to solve the riddles of the day
We will never know the truth in others
But we can know it in our hearts
And then I get it and I choose
To take a moment everyday
As many moments as I need
To remember what I know
In my heart about this life
And it’s knowing that comes
Without words or debating
Without reading body language
Without fretting the haves and have nots
No it is where true freedom lies
Inside my heart
I’ve been making the mistake
Of letting my mind lead my heart
Now I choose to shift this
I will let my heart lead me
Nature will be my guide
Breathing deeply sitting under a tree
Observing the wildlife around me
And I will learn the lessons this time will teach
About loving and giving
About where true peace comes from
About humanity
Flaws and all
And it will start with gratitude
Because every day I wake up and get to start again
Is a gift
For me and for you
This roller coaster ride
I don’t have to ride
I can be content just knowing
That the tide comes in and goes out
Just like it did yesterday
And nature speaks to me through this
She knows something about time
That it heals all wounds
So I will set up my sail
The wind will blow
It’s time for me to learn how to sail
And feel the power of the wind
It knows where to take me and you
I’ll run with it, crab through it
And go against it
My heart will know the way
Even though its lonely
And we are not together
We are destined now to be
Separated for a time
But not forever
Not even in death
Something tells me
It is better to hope
Than give up
And I can do this because
The seasons come and go
And come back around again
In this fast paced world
We must wait, is it a gift
We’ve stopped, we’re watching
Now let’s listen to our hearts
That’s where love’s grown
_________________________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
Photo by Hassan OUAJBIR on Pexels.com
In this time of confinement
We are forced to be released of our normal routines of escape
Our addictions, our anxieties appeased
Those outlets we regularly used
To escape our troubles and our fears
Those crutches we thought we needed forever
Have been broken
We left home to relieve our stresses
Turmoil and pain
Of jobs and marriage troubles
Of loneliness and self doubt
We grew so entrenched in our behaviors
Like a well worn path
We walked it daily, weekly, monthly
In casinos, bar rooms
Gyms, theaters and stadiums
Filled with vices and camaraderie
To escape the truth about who we are
This is a wake up call
And it will not be released until
We have discovered the truth
About what really matters
About our part in our own pain
Why should we point the finger
And hold onto prejudices, pride and pain
The anger expressed by
The need to control everything
And everyone around us
To keep the illusion alive
The place in our minds that helps us to feel safe
To sleep at night
To function in the day
So what is the truth
The truth is we are so lost and must be found
We’ve been stripped of our rights
But now we can see clearer
That we have never been free
As long as we hold on to hate
Unforgiveness, lust and pride
Do we believe in God
Or do we believe in routine
Have our hearts been seared
With so much judgement. resentment
Anger and fear
Expressed in gossip, jealousy
And crimes against humanity
I wonder what these 7 deadly things mean
To those burned out on the church
Who have lost their faith in humanity
We think we have protected ourselves
By hanging on to our own philosophies
Religion and politics have torn us apart
Here are the tenants of self destruction
Not to mention destruction of families and friends
Each one has more than the literal meaning
But here they are plainly stated
Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.
Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.
Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.
Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.
Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.
Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.
So where is the map to lead us out
Written so long ago
Still stands the test of time
The 10 Commandments
1. You shall have no other Gods before me.
2. Don’t make an idol.
3. Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your parents.
6. Don’t murder.
7. Don’t commit adultery.
8. Don’t steal.
9. Don’t lie.
10. Don’t covet.
______________________________________________
Must stop and pause
Just one moment to think
These are more then just words
Lets break this down extemporaneously
You shall have no other Gods before me
I have always believed myself that there is a God
Like many I became disillusioned
By church, hypocrites and humanity
But to find him I do so in nature
Every day I can, I rise to greet the awakening sun
When it rises so does hope inside my heart
You never know what a day will bring
Disappointments and troubles
I am humbled by the Almighty Creator
I find in the rising and setting sun
In everyday moments
In finding love and forgiveness
But we live in a fast paced world
It’s spun out of control
Routines are set
We are all control freaks
Trying to eek out another day
Getting our needs met
So intense is our stress
That we have abandoned God
It has become acceptable
To not believe
So we put ourselves first
At the very least
We neglect our Creator in favor
Of satisfying our own immediate needs
Therefore we have lost our peace
Which comes from one place only
It is the blanket that warms those
Who are in the presence of God
Don’t make an idol
What does it mean to worship
“The feeling or expression of reverence
And adoration for a deity”
We are created with a need to do this
It’s what drives us to feel love
Without which we are empty
A deity is a supernatural being
Considered divine or sacred
If we were in fact created by God
Then wouldn’t that make him
Our father
And wouldn’t he want to
Spend time with his family
I know how painful it is
For me to miss my family
It actually eats away at me
Strips me of my happiness
When one of my kids or grand kids
Calls me or I visit them
I am filled with joy
A peace I cannot express
Without which I am empty
I can get jealous of the times
They spend without me
When I have not seen them for a while
I feel the pain of rejection
Even though it is not their intent
How must God feel
If in fact we have ignored him
Gone about our lives
Not included him in it
I do not miss church
Honestly humanity got in my way
Of seeing God
But my heart still craves him
This is why I rush to nature to find him
What if everything has stopped
As it mostly has
And we are given this opportunity
To stop, spend time with him
What if we turn off our TV’s computers and phones
And sit in silence and listen to
The the sound of our own hearts
STOP
WATCH
LISTEN
Remove the distractions
Look deeply into our hearts
And find the truth
About ourselves
No more he said she said
No more pointing fingers
Lay your heart bear
And take one piece at a time
Sift it through with God
Like anything we value
When it gets dirty
Clean it
Since we cannot do this alone
We must do it with God
Feel him reveal to us our truth
Ask for forgiveness
And ask him to take it away
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain
To use a name, such as God, without proper respect
Abuse, misuse, pervert
I hate name calling
How many times I have been frustrated
And spouted Jesus Christ
Or God Dammit
And aren’t we made in the image of God
If you believe
And wouldn’t that make it just as bad
To name call each other
Venom spews out of mouths unclean
That stem from hearts impure
Polluted by anger
Rightfully so
Humans have become so self serving
Putting themselves first
Kill or be killed mentality
That vile words are flowing
But you cannot have both
Clean and dirty water
We have become brackish
Like cancer cells
The negative has spread
And made our hearts bitter
We need a cleansing
Especially now when there truly are
People who have hurt us
Accountability will bring healing
But how will we handle the frustration
If we never get justice
There usually is not real justice
It’s just an ugly truth
How will we learn to accept this
We must practice patience
In this time
Of our confinement
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy
This is so much more than a day
It is a rest
It is a time to slow down
So we won’t forget or neglect
The One who made us
The ones we love
The hugs and kisses
The smiles and play
Let the children show us
They act out when they are ignored
They try to get attention
When they feel scared of confused
They want to see our eyes watching them
So they know they are here
Mommy, Daddy, look what I made
Creators just like God
Playdough and paint
Creations to be celebrated
But we forget
There is no time
So much to do
Work, work, work
Take something to numb the nerves
Get caught up in the drama
Your eyes will glaze over
When the finger painting
Done with so much care
Is presented and not celebrated
The soul looks for ways
To be seen and known
I am here
Does anyone see me
And God is no child but
He is here
Do we see him
Are we too busy
Honor your parents
Great respect, High esteem
It cannot be just in your thoughts
But actions must ensue
Not all parents are worthy of this honor
Because they have done terrible things
Some have turned their children away
And their are so many
Who treat their children as possessions
This grieves the heart of God
But most do the best they can
In a world run a muck
They gave up so much to raise them
Wanting to build a family
Imperfect at best
But with hearts of gold
Only to be disrespected and ignored
Take the time
To find those things you can be grateful for
And celebrate them
Tell them you love them
Spend time with them
Remember they love you
And need you all the more
In a world so uncertain
Don’t hold their sins against them
Or yours will be held against you
Think on the positive
And it will grow
Point out the negative
And love dies
Don’t murder
An act of causing death, especially deliberately
Killing literally
Assassinating characters
Hate is the same thing
Prejudice
Gossip to ruin another
My heart squeezes now as I remember
The times I have been killed
Lost people in my life
By words that were untrue
How can one ever recover
There will always be scars
Always living with a handicap
When someone has killed your soul
But thank God for resurrection
Those opportunities to become
More compassionate, less naive
To what others experience as well
In prison camps
Removed from society
Chastised for nothing more
Than being born a certain nationality
Don’t commit adultery
To take anothers’ lover
A promise broken
Not dissolved by choice
Understanding of a need to separate
Sometimes because we are human
We cannot make things work
Doing more harm than good
To remain in a prison of our own making
But to stay and stray
Is selfish and shows the deficit
Somethings missing
We have lost our way
Not agreed on what love means
Breaking vows, breaks families
Sad but true
If you must part ways
Do it with love in mind
But don’t stay and play
Don’t steal
Taking what belongs to another
With no intention of giving it back
How far have we fallen
Character and integrity
Laziness
Desperation
Addiction
Makes you stop and think
What is really important
Don’t lie
Something that is not true
This destroys like no other
As it breaks down trust
Ruins lives
Excuses for obligations unmet
Crying wolf
A disgusting trait
Don’t covet
Yearning to possess or have
When it is not a mutual intention
A feeling of discontented or resentful
Longing aroused by someone else’s possessions
Qualities, or luck
Each of us was born with qualities
That when we discover them
We should develop them
When we do, we become authentic
And when we are authentically
True to ourselves
We are satisfied
And can truly only be enhanced
And appreciative of others qualities
The true reason people covet
Or are jealous
Is because they do not believe
They have something special
To offer the world
To make their mark
Each of us are given different allotments
Of qualities, talents and more
What we do with them
Will determine
If we reach our full potential
Can we do what we were born to do
Covetousness and jealousy
Robs the one who carries it
In their hearts and poisoned minds
Tis a sickness that inflicts
Reaches out with murderous intent
To kill the one through words and deeds
Who possesses what they do not
And yet want consumes them
Blinds their hearts and minds
Run as fast as you can
To the place where this sickness can be cured
Before you destroy yourself
And others
_________________________________________
This world has gone so far away
From the Garden of Eden
Even if it were a metaphor
Even if it was a real place
Imagine a world
Where harmony exists
And love is real and selfless
Where hearts lined up
With the true meaning of love
So lets bring our brokenness
Fears and sins
Lets strip them from our hearts and minds
Let this time of confinement refine us
Maybe God is saying
Come together
Right Now
Over Me
____________________________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
Creating something
Is the best way to find yourself
It challenges you to push past your self doubt
If you don’t give up
If you push through the frustration
You will be given an opportunity
To find your inner beauty
So even if you are not an artist
Do something artistic
It will force you to grow
And you may discover
That right inside you
Lies your best friend
That one who really cares
About bringing out the best in you
____________________________________________
Don’t ever let anyone tell you who you are
Know that yourself and you will be free
Let hurtful words pass you by
Why labor against the wind
I’ve seen it time and again
You cannot convince anyone
If what they need is proof
Instead let them see you as they must
Everyone is on their own path
Some people by nature sabotage
They build an image in their mind
Of who you are and what they believe
All my life I spent worrying about
Not being seen or understood
Until I finally found the truth
Which is it is not worth the time it takes
To convince someone of who you are
People make up stories in their own minds
They play them out on you
Because they will not work on themselves
It’s called projection
Impossible to fight against it
We’ve all done it
It is what children do
Thinking that their thoughts are everyone else’s
It takes patience to labor through
If you can convince them
Good for you and good for them
But if you cannot then you will feel trapped
Trapped by an illusion
Or punished by their words
Their pain becomes yours
What does love look like and feel like to you
You will be guided by peace
Seek it all day long
If sadness rules the roost
And anger has gripped you by your throat
Remember that love means different things
To different people
To truly love yourself
You must know what it means to you
Someone else may think they have you figured out
Their fantasy is not your reality
Sad but true
There is nothing you can do
You cannot make someone see you
You cannot make someone change for you
What you must seek and find
Is the true love of a lifetime
So rare it is, more precious than rubies
Diamonds or gold
For peace at any cost is not peace
And forcing your truth on another
Will never stick
Instead settle down your broken heart
And discover what you truly need
You are worthy of being seen and known
But you may be the only one who can
Ever know what you really look like
When people look at you they see
The shell you dwell in
And maybe some of your soul
Who are you
Not the one that eyes can see
The one that is true to the core
If you have discovered that you want to love
You must first start with loving yourself
How does one do this magnanimous thing
But to stop listening to what others think
And hear the sound of your own voice
_______________________________________________________
Imagine you are walking down a pathway
And you see a child crying
She is curled up at the base of a tree
You stop and stare
And you feel her pain it reminds you of something
Something deep and powerful you want to ignore
You have compassion but it hurts too much
But you are compelled to stay and watch
You don’t know what to say or do
She’s all alone and scared and sad
You must attempt to help her
So you walk to her and get on your knees
You lift her face into your hands
And bring her eyes to meet yours
And when you do your heart is struck
You both stare in astonishment
For you realize that you are looking at yourself
It’s you at 10, or 5 or 15
Its you that’s crying, its you that’s scared
How is this possible you think
It can’t be possible
But it is
What do you need to do
What did you need way back then
And no one gave it to you
You needed this
And so now it has become up to you
To give you what you need
You speak these words
Stand up girl
You stand, you of way back then
Just waiting to be led
Tired of hiding
Tired of running
Tired of people hurting you
Disappointing you
Giving you a hole in your chest
And you hug yourself
Standing there wrapped in your own embrace
You care for yourself
You smile at her
You reach for her hand and hold it
You lead her down the hill
You walk and talk and laugh
Her pain subsides
She somehow knows
That she is seen
And she is known
And for the first time ever
There is peace
She says to you
What do I do when it happens again
When someone accuses me
Or takes their pain out on me
What do they want from me
You tell her nothing
You tell her to guard her heart
You tell her to ease her mind
She must simply observe
Don’t reason with insanity
There is no healing for it
Many can be healed
If they walk down that path alone
If they meet and greet their own self
If they wrestle with the bear of their own despair
Instead of running and finding someone to blame
They must accept that their path is their own
They cannot make you carry their pain
If you do, you will live in it with them
Why do that if you have no power to deliver them
They like you
Must deliver themselves
You can point them in the right direction
But they have to walk that line alone
Just as the painful journey into this world
You must do alone
Remember the path to entry was terribly painful
For the one who bore you
The path to leaving is also a lonely one
It is terribly painful for those who assist you
But the hardest path is the road from start to finish
People find all sorts of ways to ride for free
They use you as a vehicle to avoid walking it
If you let them
We all give birth to others
Every time we have that pain of colliding beliefs
Some want to never grow to freedom
The work is too hard and they hate it
They would rather take your provisions
And live off of your land
Than till their own soil
And grow their own crops
But they will always be incomplete
If they do not do their own work
It’s all about timing
When you meet someone on their path
It is an opportunity to grow
To become better, stronger, wiser and free
You can do this, you can stay safe
But you cannot avoid pain
Anymore than a mother giving birth can
Their is the anticipation
Anxiety and then pain
But the birth happens
The new life begins
And on and on we go
We give birth to each other
Stay on your path
Guard your heart
Stay safe
And when you find your tribe
Remember it will not be without pain
Suffering produces fruit
Learn the lesson
Let it make you a better person
Keep what is precious to you
Move out of harms way
Create yourself
One intentional part at a time
Don’t waste any opportunity
To create your best self
And become your best friend
_______________________________________________________
The Sarah Hale Folger Project seeks to inspire greatness in humanity by sharing inspiring stories with the world. Please contact me here on my blog or through my website at http://www.TheArtUniverse.com
Sarah Hale Folger is a Creative Consultant, Artist, Singer and Educator. PLEASE make sure to subscribe to my blog today so you never miss the next thing happening in the world the way I see it! Please feel free to comment, share and please, subscribe to my blog. Thanks You.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
