Reflection: This was a popular personal struggle-themed poem I wrote back in July of 2000 as a reminder to myself. I had a habit at the time of working a lot of overtime, carrying too many worries, and pursuing too many things at once outside of work. I didn’t realize at the time how all of the things I would worry about would never actually happen and how too many pursuits would create such a stressful life. I’m glad those days are over.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Lone-Shadowed-Aisles.pdf

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in June of 2000. It was yet another reflection bearing witness to the technology and engineering workforce machine and a much needed, constant reminder to not get consumed by it the way so many others had. It was a real problem back then (and it continues to be).

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Clutter.pdf

Reflection: This was a popular romantic-themed poem I wrote back in June of 2000. It was a reflection on failed marriages due to chaos, those who married too young, and people in denial.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Your-Remaining-Days-With-Me.pdf

Sailor

.

b

o

y

.

does

.

n

o

t

.

know,

–

–

which

.

direction

.

t

o

.

go . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

which

.

facets

.

o

f

.

ego,

.

.

h

e

.

.

might

.

b

e

.

willing

.

t

o

.

expose . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ which

facets

.

o

f

.

ego,

.

.

h

e

.

.

might

.

b

e

.

willing

.

t

o

.

expose . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

deep

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

fathoms

.

o

f

.

his

.

young,

–

–

erratic,

–

–

seaward

–

–

soul . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

t

h

e

–

–

–

roots

.

o

f

.

tender

.

feelings

.

a

r

e

.

just

.

beginning

.

t

o

.

show . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ they

.

a

r

e

.

just

.

beginning

.

t

o

.

show:

–

–

–

.

.

.

Will

.

y

o

u

.

stay

.

with

.

h

e

r

.

although

.

y

o

u

r

.

want

.

embraces

.

m

y

.

own ?

–

–

–

.

.

.

Will

.

y

o

u

.

r-e-a-c-h

.

f

o

r

.

the

.

traditional

.

family

.

h

o

m

e

.

even

.

i

f

.

it

.

means,

.

.

y

o

u

r

.

.

yearnings

.

m

u

s

t

.

live

.

alone ?

–

–

–

.

.

.

It

.

can

.

b

e

.

difficult

.

I

.

know,

.

.

t

o

.

.

explore

.

t

h

e

.

unpaved

.

roads . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ so

difficult

.

I

.

know,

–

–

when

.

t

h

e

.

red

.

Maserati

.

.

o

f

.

.

your

.

reckless

.

s

o

u

l

.

only

.

wants

.

t

o

.

spin,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

lose

.

control . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ it

only

.

wants

.

t

o

.

spin,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

lose

.

control

.

u

p

o

n

.

unpaved

.

roads . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

I

.

w

i

l

l

.

wait . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

will

.

wait

.

f

o

r

.

you,

–

–

until

.

t

h

e

.

autumn

.

gold

.

n

o

.

longer

.

holds . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ until

.

y

o

u

r

.

smiling

.

e

y

e

s

.

lose

.

t

h

e

i

r

.

amber

.

glow . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ until

.

t

h

e

.

warmth

.

o

f

.

memory,

–

–

grows

.

old . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

grows

.

cold . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

your

.

initial

.

glance . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ your

first,

.

tender,

.

tentative

.

touch,

.

.

w

i

l

l

.

.

never

.

pass . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

will

.

forever

.

toss

.

a

n

d

.

tumble,

–

–

upon

.

t

h

e

.

green

.

a

n

d

.

golden

.

grass . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ upon

.

t

h

e

.

green

.

a

n

d

.

golden

.

grass,

.

.

i

n

.

.

the

.

days

.

o

f

.

future

.

passed.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in March of 2000 in reflection of a tentative, exploratory, romantic encounter and the resulting mixed feelings of warmth, hope, passion, excitement, loneliness, despair, anxiety, and depression throughout the ups and downs – where I experienced a few wonderful, warming moments of closeness which ended up being much more than offset by the many moments of distance and disengagement. I feel I am happier for at least having had the experience rather than not.

Reflection: I wrote this poem Back in March of 2000 in reflection of the temptations and desires that can hijack a life for lengthy periods of time. Once you awaken you can sometimes find yourself so far away from the hopes and dreams you might have held so dearly in the past.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Castles-Burning.pdf

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in March of 2000 in observation of a tentative, exploratory, forbidden, romantic encounter between two different people during an indecisive, romantic phase.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book Burning . . . Burning Blue: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Forbidden-Hearts-That-Hover.pdf

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in February of 2000 which captured some of the work experiences I both observed and experienced as a much younger man.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/From-Every-Seam.pdf

Reflection: I wrote this poem back in February of 2000 in reflection of a busy and difficult period at work. I was driving back from a difficult meeting on a nice, sunny day, heard a favorite song from my days of youth on the radio, and decided to take a detour and enjoy part of the day before returning back to the workplace. It felt so freeing doing that and it was the start of something new for me.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book “Burning . . . Burning Blue:” https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Reminiscent-Wine.pdf

Fascination

.

laced

.

w

i

t

h

.

rum

.

Ron Rico,

–

–

ventures

.

m

u

c

h

.

further

.

than

.

t

h

e

.

ego . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ much

further

.

t

h

a

n

.

the

.

s

u

b

t

l

e

.

probing

.

words,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

second

.

c

h

a

n

c

e

.

glances

.

between

–

–

brotherly

.

toasts

.

a

t

.

chapter

.

dances . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

every

.

t

i

m

e

.

I

.

close

.

m

y

.

eyes,

.

.

I

.

.

feel

.

y

o

u

r

.

spying

.

hands

.

u

p

o

n

.

m

y

.

spine,

–

–

soothing

.

t

h

e

.

one

.

y

o

u

.

try

.

t

o

.

deny . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ soothing

.

t

h

e

.

one

.

y

o

u

.

try

.

t

o

.

deny . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

.

.

.

I

.

t

a

k

e

.

a

.

leisurely

.

s

t

r

o

l

l

.

outside,

–

–

hoping

.

y

o

u

.

might

.

change

.

y

o

u

r

.

mind . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ hoping

you

.

m

i

g

h

t

.

change

.

y

o

u

r

.

mind

.

.

t

h

i

s

.

.

time . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

take

.

t

h

e

.

secret

.

drive,

.

.

t

o

.

.

the

.

other

.

side . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ to

.

t

h

e

.

other

.

side . . .

.

o

f

.

midnight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

My

.

t

h

i

r

d

.

cigarette

.

burns

.

a

s

.

your

.

footsteps

.

approach,

–

–

unsure

.

a

n

d

.

insecure . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

I

.

wine

.

a

n

d

.

dine

.

t

h

o

s

e

.

timid

.

whispers

.

tight,

–

–

knowing

.

y

o

u

.

almost

.

want

.

t

o

.

oblige . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ knowing

.

y

o

u

.

almost

.

want

.

t

o

.

oblige . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

I

.

draw

.

t

h

e

.

phantom

.

window

.

blinds

.

o

f

.

the

.

private

.

paradise

.

t

h

a

t

.

resides,

.

.

d

e

e

p

.

.

within

.

m

y

.

seductive

.

mind . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

try

.

t

o

.

pull

.

y

o

u

r

.

body

.

next

.

t

o

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

try

.

t

o

.

pull

.

y

o

u

r

.

body

.

next

.

t

o

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

try . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

.

I

try . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

you

.

pry

.

m

y

.

hands

.

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

pry

.

m

y

.

hands

.

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

wrestle

.

me

.

.

d

o

w

n

.

.

to

.

t

h

e

.

ground,

–

–

anchoring

.

y

o

u

r

.

cool

.

decline

.

w

i

t

h

.

masculine

.

pride:

“I could kill you . . .”

–

–

–

.

.

.

“I could kill you in

five minutes time . . .”

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

then

.

adding

.

t

o

.

the

.

haze:

“Did you really

think I was gay ?”

No,

.

o

n

l

y

.

confused . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

b

u

t

–

–

–

if

.

I

.

c

a

n

.

get

.

through

.

t

o

.

you,

.

.

w

e

.

.

might

.

j

u

s

t

.

somehow

.

f

i

n

d

.

a

.

way . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ we

might

.

f

i

n

d

.

a

.

way

.

t

o

.

make

.

i

t

.

true . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

“You’re a very

attractive man . . .”

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

excuse

.

m

e

.

if

.

I

.

choose

.

.

n

o

t

.

.

to

.

understand

.

t

h

e

.

reasons

.

y

o

u

.

refuse

.

.

t

o

.

.

join

.

m

e

.

in

.

t

h

e

.

dance . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

Meet

.

m

e

.

later

.

tonight,

.

.

i

f

.

.

you

.

think

.

y

o

u

.

might

.

like

.

.

t

o

.

.

take

.

t

h

e

.

secret

.

drive,

.

.

t

o

.

.

the

.

other

.

side

.

o

f

.

midnight . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

No

.

o

n

e

.

ever

.

has

.

t

o

.

know . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

if

.

y

o

u

.

begin

.

t

o

.

feel

.

afraid,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

decide

.

y

o

u

.

would

.

rather

.

b

e

.

alone,

.

.

y

o

u

.

.

can

.

a

l

w

a

y

s

.

return

.

b

a

c

k

.

home . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ you

.

c

a

n

.

return

.

b

a

c

k

.

home . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

d

o

.

not

.

m

i

n

d

.

sailing

.

f

r

o

m

.

room

.

t

o

.

room,

.

.

s

o

.

.

long

.

a

s

.

I

.

can

.

b

e

.

with

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ so

long

.

a

s

.

I

.

can

.

b

e

.

with

.

you . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

.

d

o

.

not

.

mind

.

y

o

u

r

.

restless

.

moods,

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

.

blue,

.

.

t

o

.

.

maroon . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

from

.

maroon,

.

.

t

o

.

.

blue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

let

.

u

s

.

both

.

release

.

o

u

r

.

hold . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

explore

.

w

h

e

r

e

.

these

.

rapids

.

m

i

g

h

t

.

go . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ let‘s

explore

.

w

h

e

r

e

.

these

.

rapids

.

m

i

g

h

t

.

go . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

f

o

r

–

–

–

if

.

today,

.

.

f

r

o

m

.

.

me

.

y

o

u

.

decide

.

t

o

.

turn

.

away . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

y

o

u

.

may

.

never

.

s

e

e

.

me

.

again

.

m

y

.

friend,

–

–

except

.

within

.

t

h

e

.

taunting

.

scenes,

.

.

o

f

.

.

your

.

wild

.

a

n

d

.

restless

.

dreams

–

–

–

.

.

.

s

o

–

–

–

let’s

.

try

.

t

o

.

make

.

i

t

.

real,

–

–

just

.

t

o

.

see

.

how

.

i

t

.

feels,

–

–

before

.

w

e

.

each

.

pursue

.

another . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ before

we

.

e

a

c

h

.

pursue

.

another . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

appeal

.

t

o

.

your

.

violent

.

disguise

.

o

f

.

virile,

.

egotistic

.

pride,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

suddenly

.

y

o

u

r

.

curiosity

.

engages

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ your

curiosity

.

engages

.

mine . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

we

.

b

o

t

h

.

come

.

t

o

.

realize,

–

–

that

.

i

t

.

matters

.

n

o

t

.

whether

.

w

e

.

can

.

shine,

.

.

f

o

r

.

.

longer

.

t

h

a

n

.

one

.

night . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

because

.

first

.

w

e

.

must

.

take

.

t

h

e

.

secret

.

drive,

.

.

a

n

d

.

.

explore

.

t

h

e

.

distant

.

shores . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ explore

.

t

h

e

.

distant

.

shores . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

which

.

forever

.

l

i

e

.

on

.

t

h

e

.

other

.

side . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ the

other

.

side

.

o

f

.

midnight.

Reflection: This was a romantic-themed poem that I wrote back in December of 1999 in reflection of a tentative, exploratory, forbidden, romantic encounter (someone with the initials B.N) and the repeated false starts checkered by ups and downs and multiple engagements and retreats. It was such a brief but passionate, exciting experience that I would never trade. So, I am much more content with at least having had the experience rather than not.

Reflection: This was a 4-part poem I wrote in reflection of a very good friend at one of the low points of his life back in 1999 (it was the first of many low points in the years that followed). He told me several times since then that this poem actually saved his life. Fortunately, after several years of up and downs he eventually recovered but it was a very trying experience for many years to say the least. It was a very difficult time in my life (and in his). I’m so happy things are much better now.

I played the song “Exit Music (For a Movie)” by Radiohead repeatedly at low volume as the “Moodset” for the poem. If you play this song at low volume you might better get the “feel” of this poem.

Here’s the poem which comes from my book Burning . . . Burning Blue: https://brighterdayslifecoaching.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-Delicate-Halls-of-Future.pdf