PROMISED SUNLIGHT

 PROMISED SUNLIGHT

The promised sunlight returns,

It shines through my blinds 'til it burns,

Like a fire it stealthily rages,

Rains down on the pages

Of my life and times,

Breaks through all the cages

And the prisons in my mind.

The promised sunlight,

Sneaks across the prairie, like a desert fire it bleeds,

How can one man have so many needs?

The need to stay vital,  the need to stay upright,

Free from the constant threat of the Fall.

Keeping one hand on the prize, and both eyes on the ball.

The promised sunlight sometimes shrinks in a daze,

Obscured by fog, overcome by haze.

It is those days I make.a pact with the rain,

Pay a ransom for sun rays to ease the pain,

Call loudly or in a whisper that only God can hear,

Stay hostage to the rain 'til the sunlight reappears.

When the rain falls steadily across the Shenandoah,

I thank the gods for water and sit back and think of Noah.

The promise that God made to not send such a flood again,

I am cautiously hopeful He is in the rain and wind.

That he hears my prayers for the promised sunlight,

For broken hearts to mend.

In the valley of the gentlest of days,

I find I can do nothing but mouth my praise,

To the sun as it comes beaming, to set the soul to dreaming,

The promised sunlight it returns

It shines through the blinds 'til it burns.

How can one man have so few needs?

Just a window on the world and the sun as it beams?

-Bruce Potts

Copyright 2022

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

LET THERE BE RAIN

LET THERE BE RAIN

Let there be rain and a respite from pain,
And after the rain always a rainbow,
Painted by leprechauns, colorful sash in tow.
After the rainbow a serene red gold sunset,
In stunning splendor to burn and blaze.
Let the world know that I am not done yet,
Splash some cool creative water
On the dusty dried up well of my days.
On the piercing ice cold fever of my pain,
Swallow up death's victory, let there be rain.

Let there be a mighty storm, to ease the pain of the global warm.
The sad sick humidity that keeps me indoors.
Let me run in the sands of a thousand shores.
In the face of crashing waves,
Teach me the message and meaning of brave.
I am counting on at least a few years more,
Before I see Death in his cloak at my door.
Chase away the doubts and despair of the old,
Teach me the message and meaning of bold,
Let there be thunder and let there be lightning,
I have learned to live with the specter of frightening,
Just keep me safe and keep me sane,
Naked in a drenching rain.

Let me be a leprechaun and let me paint with a broad stroke,
Give me my own nightclub act, and let me write the jokes.
Let me dance in the downpour before it's too late,
Give me a respite from the fear and hate,
Of those too ignorant  to understand.
Let me paint my masterpiece of love,
All across this troubled land.
Though I love the sunshine, as my days they wax and wane,
I want an early autumn, with its leaf enriching rain.

Let there be winds, and let me still have friends,
Friends that will serve as companion and buffer,
Tell me I no longer need to suffer,
The parading and pronouncements of fools.
Let me graduate not a moment too late,
From this stiffening, stifling school.
Let there be wisdom and let there be mercy
And let there be kindness to spare,
Let all of these rain down from the heavens,
To purify this rancid air.

Let there be puffiness and pleasant dreams,
Let there be leprechauns and morphine,
And make me a prisoner in ball and chain,
Just begging for a drop of rain.
Begging for release, for the pain to surcease,
Wrap my body in embraces warm,
Let me wake in heaven to a mighty storm.

-Bruce Potts
Copyright 2013
ALL RIGHTS  RESERVED