Please Don't Leave

The day came when my hero had to leave

I ran and hugged him, “Daddy, don’t leave me!”

I knew, even then, that his heart was torn

But his course was set before he was born

Everything in all our lives changed that day

In retrospect, it had to be that way

With my childish comprehension of life

I was excited about dad’s new wife

Since Mom had to move many miles away

Visiting us filled his vacation days

Vacation’s sunset drew tears out of me

I’d sob my heart out, “Daddy, please don’t leave”

I remember, my new baby brother

And when I met my awesome step-mother

Our visits were filled with quality time

Memories woven through this life of mine

Our stocking boxes and poker with change

Taco night at the campsite “mama’s” way

He tucked us each in bed when the day’s through

He’d sing to me, “Dream while you’re feeling blue”

My graduation summer, I received

A gift I’ll treasure for eternity

I came to California, to my dad’s

The greatest vacation I could have had

I’d never been in Daddy’s habitat

So it took a bit to get used to that

My little brother, about four or five

Was more fun than I’d before realized

On the way home, when my visit was through

I taught my brother how to tie his shoes

A rite of passage, to show I belong

I learned the California drinking song

My dad’s retired, my brother’s in school

Daddy, not one to follow all the rules

“Why are you requesting your son’s release?”

“The crappie are running, we need to leave!”

Since my teenage job was being reckless,

I moved down with Dad to escape my mess

My hero shared his home and family

Sacrificing their peaceful life for me

There was something I’d not before noticed

Daddy’s charm that nobody could resist

He taught me, “Say kind words as you pass through

Above all others, they’ll remember you”

When fairness seemed to pass over his plate

He spoke words of love and never of hate

He taught me of karma, like what that meant

What I receive reflects that which I sent

Life moved along, my babies, his grand kids

Daddy joined us on our annual trips

His jokes like, “How Long is a China man”

He kept them guessing, me, his greatest fan

When someone had me shaking my head,

My dad would say, “S/he’s young and foolish yet”

(That last quote you need to say with your mouth

To understand what I’m talking about)

One trip my daughter brought her friend that’s hot

We’re all walking across a parking lot

I said to him, “Daddy, are you okay?”

I’ll never forget what he had to say

“I was feeling pretty tired before

But now I’m feeling energized once more

With Michelle walking in front of me

I seem to have a lot more energy!”

As years progressed and Daddy’s health declined

I witnessed the dawning of Spirit’s light

It would take many years for me to see

Long before I did, he believed in me

I sat by his bed, would silently plead

Hoping he’d hear me, “Daddy, please don’t leave”

Mama assured me his time wasn’t yet

“I believe and want you to believe it!”

I did, he stayed with us several more years

With still more for him to accomplish here

He taught me more about the soul’s journey

And helped me analyze what I believe

I’m in that moment I’ve feared all my life

When Daddy’s soul has returned to the light

Every little piece of me wants to scream

Gripped in anguish, “Daddy, why did you leave?”

I sit at my table, begin to write

Without warning, Dad’s hand is guiding mine

He’s nurturing my soul with love and peace

And a calm assurance that he won’t leave

Thoughts

I was sitting here in contemplation

On this mountain top’s high elevation

Consumed in a thought path that was my own

No clue, at all, that I wasn’t alone

His thoughts startled me from my reverie

Who is this soul I hadn’t before seen?

His thoughts seemed to be all over the place

With a look of frustration on his face

I watched him in quiet observation

I saw the root of his agitation

He was visiting this spiritual sphere

And had no idea how he got here

Spirit places me where I need to be

I could see what was being asked of me

I approached him, “I’m here to assist you

To help you understand what you can do”

My soul chuckled when he spoke with his mouth

“How I arrived here, I can’t figure out

I want to return to my busy life

I keep searching, but there’s no car to drive!”

Damn, I love it when Spirit entrusts me

This is going to be great fun, indeed

“First of all,” I said, “we speak with our thoughts

When you quiet your mouth, you’ll hear a lot”

He, then, looked at me incredulously

“I hear what you’re saying, how can this be?”

I said, “Now you try giving it a shot

Project your next message with just your thoughts”

His eyes closed, I heard, “Can you hear me now?”

I replied in kind, “I can!  Clear and loud!”

I told him, “When we interact this way

With any soul, you can communicate”

His next inquiry was a car to drive

I said, “Why would drive when you can fly?”

His eyes bugged out in complete disbelief

“I see your suggestion, no way, not me!

“When I jump from here, I’ll fall to my death

This is some trickery, on that I’ll bet”

“To earn your complete trust will take some time

You’re influenced by your logical mind

“To show Spirit’s boundless limitation

I’m here to give you a demonstration”

I stood tall, leaned forward, let myself fall

And was flying with no effort at all

Although I had no ambition to stop

I made my way back to the mountain top

He was amazed, “Holy shit!  You can fly!”

I replied, “Yes, now it’s your turn to try!”

I must be convincing, he stood up tall

With little coaxing, he let himself fall

His open mouth let out terrified screams

The physical world could hear through his dreams

I swooped in close, “You’ve got nothing to fear”

He looked over at me, “Thank God you’re here

Please stay beside me to keep me in flight

I can’t do this alone, I’m terrified!”

I moved in front, to his line of vision

To show, between us, there’s no connection

“This is all you, baby, you’re rocking it!”

Astonished, all he said was, “Holy shit!”

He started to relax, began to play

Following earth’s road grids to navigate

I let him travel, for a bit, like this

Before teaching him Spirit’s GPS

Watching him struggle, I said, finally,

“There’s a way to travel efficiently

That lands you quickly on your target spot

You’ll move more easily using your thoughts”

He stopped himself short, “What is this you say?

Is everything here powered in this way?”

It took me a few beats to understand

Then I remembered the logic of man

I stopped and hovered, “Okay, here’s the deal

You already know what I’ll now reveal

Earth is Spirit’s physical creation

Simply a spirit world replication

“Man, over time, has become arrogant

Forgetting the tool, with which we were sent

I won’t lie, your thoughts, friend, are everything

All things revolved around the way you think

I laughed, “Come with me, let’s experiment

We’ll see if we go where your thoughts are sent”

We arrived at his home, I knew we would

Beside his bed, watching him sleep, we stood

He thought, “How is this even possible?

I’m right here, yet there’s my body’s double”

“Again, I’m repeating what you know well

Your body, simply put, is your soul’s shell”

The time had come for his soul to return

As his waking body twisted and turned

He opened his eyes, “What a crazy dream!”

Unaware that he’s still staring at me