LESS THAN A SECOND By ... Steve Lucky Less than a second is all it takes For everything to drastically change. Unless a conscious effort one makes To be within acceptable range Of events that could come at any time. All details are blocked by static. If one has to swim or climb, The path will not be automatic. Right from the start One should take the time to prepare With everything inside the heart So one can be more than dimly aware All it takes it an instant For the instant to be gone. Only while the battle is still distant Is there any hope of it being won. Less than a second is in between Winning and losing or life and death. Not even the best machine Can keep up with unexpected human breath. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky FOR THE MOMENT By ... Steve Lucky I am safe and secure, for the moment. My job gives me enough of a steady income To satisfy my basic needs of food, shelter, and entertainment. None of this is pernament. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. Although I do not want my life Dominated by worries that will probably never happen, I should keep in mind things could be Much worse than they are for the moment. Little I seem able to do, for the moment, As far as changing things on a global scale is concerned. Writing a poem or a story Or contributing an idea to a movie or TV show Can give one a sense of accomplishment But what different does it make outside the world of entertainment And the people directly involved with it? I still depend on my job To maintain my current standard of living. None of this needs to be pernament. In the blink of an eye, it can all change. My life should not be dominated By dreams of success that will probably never happen. However, I should keep in mind things could be Much better than they are for the moment. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky THE TIME IS NOW By ... Steve Lucky The time is now, the place is here. No other view can be more clear. If one does not act, or at least prepare, Future events will take one unaware. Waiting around is no solution For the steady growth of human pollution. Villians on the final level will never be defeated Until level one is finally completed. Age should not stop one from trying. On people of all ages human beings are relying. The small child who insisted on being heard And the senior citizen yet to speak the final word Know the importance of the current time and place. Words have more meaning coming from a human face. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow has yet to arrive. Only today can we hope to survive. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky PATIENCE By ... Steve Lucky Time is needed to do a job right. Success rarely happens in a single night. Rushing things will lead to delays. Jobs done in seconds and jobs done in days Are better done when one dares to ask For the patience needed to complete the task. Done patiently, those jobs when completed Keep past mistakes from being repeated. Answers from others take time to arrive Which give impatience a chance to thrive. Instead of taking a poorly planned leap, One should look for a place not as steep. Exercising patience which a problem is being solved Is especially important when danger is involved. Patience will not make something late. This fact one may need to demonstrate. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky TIMELESS By ... Steve Lucky One can be satisfied for awhile By intense desires of the moment. In the long run one discovers something missing, The timeless appeal belonging to the best of things So their value does not fade with the passage of time. For days, months, years, and countless generations Changes in fashion, politics, and technology Will not alter the most basic meaning of timeless things. Empires come and go, but timeless objects remain. Prosperity and famine do affect them But they never fade completely from sight. Fads of the moment can never totally replace Objects considered to be timeless. Timeless things are far too valuable And will not be erased from the pages of history. Every day timeless classics are being created. Until they prove they can withstand time passing, Including changes in fads of the moment, Future classics may not be identified. Only time will tell what is timeless. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky CLOSING SECONDS By ... Steve Lucky Plenty of time was left on the clock So the players did not give much thought To the amount of time remaining. Both teams continued to play As if they had all the time in the world. Indifferent to the score, the clock Continued to tick away the remaining seconds. Never would those seconds return again. During the closing minutes, the trailing team Grew aware of the importance of each passing second. Plans were made to use as few of them as possible. For the leading team, on the other hand, All that stood between them and victory Was the amount of time remaining. Being careful not to make any foolish mistakes That would cost them the game, Most of their plans concerned running out the clock. During the closing seconds, time was of primary concern. Having no time to lose, the trailing team Made preparations to take the lead. Still concerned with running out the clock, The leading team did not set up the proper defense. It did not take long for the error to be discovered. Easily the trailing team scored and trailed no longer Just as time ran out. Only when time expires is the game over. Play in the closing seconds can decide the entire game. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky CHESS By ... Steve Lucky White makes the first move And black prepares for the defense. It can take a long time to play, But the environment can still be quite intense. Each moves effect all moves after it. Long term plans can be ruined by a single check. Many piece have to be watched at once. Attention must be given to the smallest speck In a forgotten corner of the game. Pawns are not worthless pieces, Yet the king determines the fate of all. When the king is in danger, priority increases To the point of sacrificing everything else Just to keep the king in the game. Putting the other king in checkmate Can undo disasterous shame. Numbers and position are both important, But the priority of the king one can never replace. While the king is still active, the game is not over. All one has to do is find the right space. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky BLESSING By ... Steve Lucky The family gathered around the food. All of it they were willing to share. Just thinking about the time they spent to prepare Put them in a festive mood. For each of them, polite or rude, The blessing made them well aware Of the people for whom they needed to care. Gifts were needed, even the most crude. Every day they had to face stress As they went about their daily chores. Sometimes they felt they did not have what it takes. While thinking of what to ask God to bless, They became more aware how much God pours His love into everything He makes. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky CANDLES By ... Steve Lucky Candles are a controlable source of light Ready to be used when the time is right. It was an early light source one could use Which people return to when someone blows a fuse. Growing steadily shorter as they burn, They will not last forever one has to learn. One must wisely make use of candles Hard to move when they have no handles. Should their light ever go out A new light source will be needed more quickly to move about. For one to get out of the dark Do not neglect the importance of a single spark. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky DOUBT By ... Steve Lucky The destructive power of doubt is great Provoking the more destructive power of hate. It gets in the way when help is required. One can not always afford help that is hired. If one forsees a future disaster, Doubt should never be the master. Time is needed for one to act. Asking for proof may cause one to retract. When countless lives are at risk, Reaction to it needs to be brisk. Proof is not always easily found, But help is always good to have around. When information is not clear, To clarify it one needs to be near The source of the unclear information. It takes much study for clarification. Fraudulent people will always be out, But it can not be solved with doubt. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky DECORATIONS By ... Steve Lucky At various times throughout the year Decorations add to holiday cheer. Young and old look at them with delight. On otherwise boring streets they are a pleasant sight. Some people can afford the best. Others put their remarkable creativity to the test. May people have neither of these. What they make is destroyed in the slightest breeze If they bother to make anything at all. All people, large and small, Will be able to contribute If one knows how to properly distribute All the tasks that need to be done So something can be done by everyone. This is not to say the gifted should not excel. Decorations from one let everyone else know all is well. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky KEEPING CLEAN By ... Steve Lucky Dirt and germs spread when left alone. One should make an effort to keep clean. The process is one that never ends. Germs threaten every human being. Hair, nails, skin, and teeth Need to be properly maintained. It is hard to even remember it all Unless one has been properly trained. Both children and adults should learn Good habbits to keep the body looking nice. Should the cleaning process stop too long, One will have to pay the price. After build-up has been removed, It will take time for it to reform. Done regularly, keeping clean Will prevent germs from creating a swarm. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky GOD IS IN CHARGE By ... Steve Lucky When I remember God is in charge, I have no reason to worry. He can solve any problem no matter how large And never has to do things in a hurry. Solutions I come up with on my own Tend to quickly fall apart. Not having to do things alone, Attempting to do so is not very smart. God does not have the limitations Of human beings encountered today. Being above all earthly nations, His love is here to stay. With God in charge nothing will go wrong. All one needs to do is follow along. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky UNCOMPLETED By ... Steve Lucky Something always needs to be done. Many tasks are left incomplete. When one starts to feel the heat, Difficult tasks may not even be begun Because the job is too much for one. Keeping a small table neat May be considered very sweet, But more important things are under the sun. Priorities have to be set When dealing with uncompleted tasks. One can not do everything. If one has to pay a debt, Those priorities may change depending on what the debtor asks. Eventual payment one should bring. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky REMAINING By ... Steve Lucky Decay takes its toll over the years. Few things were designed to last. Most antiques are greatly treasured. Other things perish and are found only in the past. New things might replace them in the future, But they are really not the same. Past things and future things can not control time Just like the people no one can name. No one on Earth will last forever. All human beings one day will perish, Yet all human beings are still important. Each one of them is someone to cherish. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky SEASONS By ... Steve Lucky In harmony the north and south hemispheres blend Every season from beginning to end. Fall in the north, in the south is spring. Together the two hemispheres bring Balance to the cycle so many recall Of winter, spring, summer, and fall. Varying lengths of day and night Give one a good clue which season is right. Summer begins with the longest day, Heating things up while it stays that way, While the other hemisphere is dark and cold. It is winter there for both young and old. As for the seasons in between, During spring days grow longer, in the fall they grow lean. Predicted easily but never altered, This cycle of seasons has never faultered. Knowing how the seasons work together, Migration gives the rich a better chance to find great weather. Although summer can be cold and winter can be hot, Basically it is the weather the season has got. Normally things go as expected. Only by moving can a season be selected. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky INDIFFERENT By ... Steve Lucky Time continues at the same pace Indifferent to the hopes and dreams of human beings. Whatever one does it will not change the course of time. All seconds are of equal length. Sixty seconds are in a minute, Sixty minutes are in an hour, Twenty four hours are in a day, And three hundred sixty five days are in a year. Leap year and leap second are occasionally added Because days and years have their own standards. Time itself does not depend on such things. It continues indifferent to what the Earth does. People are born and die, Kingdoms rise and fall, Entire species come into existence and then cease to be, But time does not change its rythm. It continues through success and failure alike And does not have to even acknowlege The existence of the human race. Time is indifferent. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky ZOO By ... Steve Lucky Many different species can be found at a zoo. All these different types of creatures Are one of the zoo's main features To give people a better view Of animals in distant lands they never knew. It is a good place for teachers Wanting to tell children in the bleachers About the things human beings can do. One species controls all others. Unless people are careful, it can all be destroyed. Preserving other species is not an easy task. When a single human being smothers Anything making him or her annoyed, Conservation is not an easy thing to ask. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky PLANETARIUM By ... Steve Lucky Stars and planets can be projected on a dome To represent various times and places. Wherever one decides to roam There are no worries about what light erases. Studying the planets and their motions, One can see a rythmic pattern behind it all. People on Earth have strong emotions About the conjunctions they can recall. Projected images are no substitute For the actual distant planets are stars, Yet those images light will dilute And they can not be reached in cars. It is time for people to see What exactly they can be. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky MUSEUM By ... Steve Lucky At a museum the past and present meet Providing visitors they greet A closer look at the mystery, Considered both science and history, Visible once one comes inside. Sometimes one can find a guide To make it easier when one explores What is beind a museum's doors. Other times one will not be shown And have to do the exploring alone, But at least then one can chose the pace. Everything does not have to be a race. Artifacts and fossils represent different ages, Found before modern day history's pages. Rarely does a human being Know what important future items they are seeing. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky STATES OF MATTER By ... Steve Lucky Earth, water, air, and fire were once considered the elements. Today they are seen as different states of matter. Earth is the solid. Its shape and volume remain the same Despite numerous things happening around it. Water is the liquid. It changes shape to fit any container, But does not change its volume to fill it. Air is the gas. It will expand or contract to fill most spaces And it is felt more often than seen. Fire is the plasma. It is a collection of charged particles. With its combination of positive ions and electrons, It is the state of matter least understood. All objects were once thought To be made of earth, water, air, and fire. In modern times, all known objects Contain combinations of solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas. The idea of the elements is still around. Before they were considered different types of matter, Now it is thought to be the same type of matter in different states. People still have to survive the elements. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky OUTRAGEOUS By ... Steve Lucky Some things people say are outrageous Eventually turn out to be true. Highly unusual things tend to be rejected Which makes convincing people hard to do. The most important historical events Had outrageous clims turning out to be right, Like people sailing around the world Or actually taking flight. People ignoring warnings of a surprise attack Found many of their numbers killed. It is not always easy to see A prophecy currently being fulfilled. Burried amoung many outrageous lies, The outrageous truth is a hidden gem. Easier things to believe may not be right. Outrageous claim makers have secrets known only to them. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky INNOCENCE By ... Steve Lucky A first grade boy joined a baseball game Unaware that the people on the other team were cheating. They were able to get away with it Because no one dared to go up against them. The little boy just wanted to play a game of baseball And try his best to win. When a pitch way over his head was called a strike, He did what the older kids were afraid to do By questioning the call. The big kids tried to intimidate him, But he would not stop insisting The pitch was too high. As other kids joined in the arguement, He began to realize how the fifth graders Had maintained control of the game. They had destroyed his innocence. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky IGNORANCE By ... Steve Lucky Easier it seems to live in darkness Than waste time worrying about the problems of the world. Whether one wants to know about them or not, Such problems tend to find people at inconvient times. Dirty furniture is not cleaned by turning out a light. Unless someone cleans it, the dirt and dust will remain. Real problems almost always get back into the lives Of those who attempt to avoid them. Knowledge is a valuable tool for solving the world's problems. Failed attempts to solve a problem are not wasted, Because at least one will know If possible the problem should be avoided. Ways to better avoid them can also be learned. Highly self destructive is ignorance to those hiding in it. People must learn about the world around them Just to have a chance of surviving it. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky RIGHTEOUS By ... Steve Lucky Innocent people can be confronted with wickedness So great being good simply is not good enough. Righteous people need to take action. With the help of God, The righteous can endure The hardships of the world in any age. Others seeks righteous people For spiritual leaders and role models. Even the righteous do not have all the answers, But they are more able to deal with their shortcomings And are quick to try again. Like everyone else the righteous are sinners, Yet they have been able to walk, Part of the way at least, On the path God has provided them. Knoweledge and experience they usually have in abudance Which they are willing to teach To anyone willing to listen. Although they too fall sometimes, righteous people know God will be there to catch them. Copyright 2001, 2003, Steve Lucky DECISIONS By ... Steve Lucky With all the paths one can take, It is impossible to take them all. The way to go must be decided From all the paths one is able to recall. Distinguishing the paths leading to ruin From the paths leading to success, Is not always something one can do And results in a horrible mess. Travelling is not a necessity, One can also remain in one place Giving up seeing different places In exchange for a more familiar space. Clearings provide an open view While hurrying down a path does not, Decisions should be made wisely So one can find the perfect spot. Copyright 2001, Steve Lucky COMPUTERS By ... Steve Lucky Computers are a useful tool When used in the right hands. However, they are no substitute for living And all that life demands. Computers appear to have a world of their own, But its only a part of the world one can feel. Neither is it fantasy. Computer data is something real. When placed in the proper combination The data forms something one can understand and use. Information is sent to other computers So it is not lost by a single blown fuse. Computers can record human emotions Which they can never calculate. Only in the human mind Can words and sentences be seen as something great. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky FOCUS By ... Steve Lucky An image needs to be in focus So it can be clearly seen. From a distorted image is not be sure Exactly what the image should mean. Better views can be obtained Once the lense has been adjusted. If the one controlling the lense Should not at all be trusted, Another lense will be needed For people to get a better view Which parts of the image have been distorted To keep one from focusing on what is true. Lenses twisted and bent out of shape Keep one from seeing what the image should be. The lense needs to be properly focused Giving others the chance to see Images as they should appear, Bringing clues as to why they were hidden. Clear images capable of saving the world Some countries have forbidden. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky DEPARTURE By ... Steve Lucky A wide variety of people will be encountered During the course of a lifetime. Most are seen once and then never again. Others live in the area so they are seen often. Some of those people will become close friends. However there will be a time When close friends have to depart. It can be caused by death, the distance seperating them, Or one or both of them failing to communicate. Rarely do people realize the true value of a friend Until that friend leaves for one reason or another. Personal concerns threatening to tear a friendship apart Lose much of their meaning once a friendship is lost. Friendship should not be destroyed by money, mountains, or death itself If made to last forever. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky RELIABLE By ... Steve Lucky Whenever the company needed a job done Efficiently they always found someone. They tried to fairly divide the necessary chores Like polishing furniture and cleaning floors. If ever a job was not done right, Great care was taken to correct it, day or night. Others took notice and helped them grow Providing people to meet and places to go. Doing almost anything others demanded, Company size and wealth rapidly expanded. Newly found power from their combined reputations Quickly spread to other nations. The company was seen as reliable. Results from their actions were undeniable. Most of the employees, even at rest Were planning how to give it their best. All they really needed to do Once they started a job was see it through. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky PRACTICE By ... Steve Lucky Doing a complex task requires More than simply internal desires. Rarely are such tasks done right on the first try. Those in sports, art, and business rely On the slow and steady process of trial and error To eliminate flaws and performance terror. For results to be like intended, Consistance practice is recommended. More than a million times some tasks are repeated Before inability is defeated. It takes practice to know what to do When an important task must be seen all the way through. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky ALL FOR ONE By ... Steve Lucky One person suffering effects us all, Whether or not their suffering is known. Every single one of the billions of people In the world today has a unique importance. No one should be taken for granite. Helping one person makes the entire world a better place Both in ways that can be understood and ways that can not. Sacrificing one for the good of many will not work Unless one understands the value of the sacrifice itself. For the proper functioning of society as a whole, Roles to play must be found by everyone. Parts seeming insiginficant may be absolutely critical. Cooks prepare the food all need to survive, Garbage collectors prevent waste from accumulating So people will not be destroyed by their own waste, And a physic no one believes makes a prediction Turning out to be amazingly accurate. If the world is to become a better place for the individual, Everyone must make an effort. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky ONE FOR ALL By ... Steve Lucky Unless someone makes an effort to change society, Society will not be changed. Each person in the world today Changes it to varying degrees for better or for worse. This eventually makes a difference on a global scale Because all people interact with one another Leaving no one completely isolated from everyone else For an entire lifetime. Roles to make the world a better place Can be found for all people. Billions of people have to share the world. Fighting with each other will not make things any easier. Individuals should give and take, but mostly give So things will be better for everyone. The world is doomed without individual sacrifice. As it keeps increasing in complexity, People interact with each other In ways never even thought about before. Outstanding accomplishments from a few people years ago Have greatly improved the standard of living For the world as a whole. Worldwide change must include everyone. Global survival depends on individuals. No individual can afford to let the world down. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky FIRE By ... Steve Lucky As if having a life of its own, Fire burns anything found in its path. It will burn everything until it's alone, Leaving a trail of destruction in the aftermath. Heat too intense for humans to withstand Rises from its central core. Distance is safest without a plan. Fire burns everything yet still wants more. Boundaries must be established so the fire will not spread To places it clearly should not go. Consuming much like a living being, Uncontrolled its progress will not slow. Great power it provides when under control, Warmth alone give fire an important role. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky ICE By ... Steve Lucky Leaving its surroundings in a blanket of white, Overnight ice changes the entire landscape. At first it can be a lovely sight Until from its grasp one tries to escape. Restrictions of movement in all directions Caused by the glistening patches of cold, Gives the world few alternate selections. The picture perfect world idea rapidly grows old. Everything appears to be standing still While ice engulfs whatever can be found. Ice conforms everything to its will Unless a heat source is around. Needed greatly to reduce the heat, Plenty of ice can make the world seem sweet. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky HISTORY By ... Steve Lucky If one can see through different types of disguise, Rythmic cycles repeated age after age Can be found on any history page. When someone is followed by countless eyes That person begins to realize All it takes is a person on stage For stirring up generations of rage. History has patterns one can recognize. Past mistakes can be too easily repeated Unless one is made aware Of the rythmic cycles found in history. Those facing an enemy who must be defeated, Should remember to take care. Future events are still a mystery. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky PREDICTIONS By ... Steve Lucky Signs of the future are all around. Educated guesses about what will come true Can be made by those with a descent view Of the patterns in history that can be found. While standing firmly on solid ground, They look for what they need to do By determining which possible outcome grew And listening for the coming sound. The future is not written in stone. People are able to change it, Directing it towards an alternate course. Carefully studying what is known Makes people able to rearrange it It they know what they should reinforce. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky LORD, PROTECT US By ... Steve Lucky Lord, protect us and keep us safe During times of war and times of peace. Remind us love we need to embrace And hatred we need to release In the way only You can do. Human pride too often gets in the way When I try to do things by myself Not listening to what you say. Many dangers unknown to us Can be found in all directions. To someone more reliable I turn Knowing the problems with my personal selections. You alone are able to see People living in all places. Everywhere at once You can be Still able to distinguish human faces. Over the years I have come so far. I know I still have a long way to go. From soliders at war to children at play, Lead us in the direction You want us to go. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky SUNRISE By ... Steve Lucky Over the horizon creeps the first ray of sunlight Like the return of a long lost friend. Alone it call still disperse the night Bringing the time of darkness to an end. From their nighttime shelters animals emerge To sing and play as if daytime had always been. People ready for renewal feel the surge Vital for starting a new day again. Hearing the animals can create motivation. Other animals and people are encouraged to build their day. Relief from many different sources of fustration Comes from listening to what they say. Higher in the sky, the sun dominates Giving light simultaneously to all living creatures. Even clouds fail to seperate Sunlight from the world and all its features. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky SUNSET By ... Steve Lucky Even the dominant feature of sunlight Can not light a landscape forever. Fading light shows the sun has lost the fight. Ties with this area it has to sever. One of the most beautiful times of the day Arrives just before darkness reestablishes itself. Low in the sky the sun casts its final ray Which will not return for any amount of wealth. Daytime creatures have exhausted their powers. Sky colors darken as the sun departs. People reflect back on previous hours Including what is found in their eyes, minds, and hearts. Nocturnal animals awake. Their activity has just begun. From the resting places they emerge ready for action. Late night jobs may not sound fun, But their importance can give workers great satisfaction. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky STOPWATCH By ... Steve Lucky Precise to within the nearest millisecond, The stopwatch is used to keep pace With the needed precision for a modern race. Needs for faster and faster time measurement beckoned So the stopwatch was invented it is reckoned. Accurate timing forces one to face Victory or defeat in its proper place. First is very different than second. Much can happen in a small amount of time. Differences between some events are minute And they need to be recorded in the proper order. People, while still in their prime, Have senses that are more accute. They race against the retirement border. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky CLOCK By ... Steve Lucky Clocks tell people the time of day So they can arrive where they need to go At the time when they are supposed to show. Daily activities people go through casually may Not be possible without the way One can look at a clock and know If on time the day will flow. Most modern events need to be precise. A rigid schedule needs to be maintained. Every minute people depend on one another. One does not have to slow down to be nice Though from some things one should abstain In favor of higher priorities one should discover. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky CALENDER By ... Steve Lucky Days of the week and months of the year A calender informs one about. Month after month, year in and year out, Calenders tell of events that are near. Time does not change speed from any degree of fear. If ever there is any doubt How many days before a mental bout, At a calender he or she should peer. Old calenders are a reminder Years that have long since passed Were once part of the here and now. In the years to come the unseen binder Will be removed once reached at last. Although it will happen, no one knows how. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky TIME TRAVEL By ... Steve Lucky Travelling through time has been a dream For people wanting to visit locations In other times and places that seem Unreachable in all known situations. Before the barriers can be removed, Concepts unfamiliar to most people should be considered. Time travel is still fiction though ideas have improved. Illusions do not satisfy no matter how glittered. One who travels though time will be able to see Events from long ago and yet to come. Whether or not an event has to be Depends on if an equation has to equal the sum. Even if time travel is found only in the mind From it real changes people are able to find. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky WISDOM By ... Steve Lucky All the world is full of doubt, So wisdom is needed to carry a job out. Quicker paths are not always the best. One should at least examine the rest. Why even take a path at all? Paths too high can make one fall. New ideas can make one feel inspired. Through the passage of time wisdom is aquired. It takes years of experience for one to learn Better ways to steadily earn Expensive items for accumulating wealth Or emotional support restoring physical health. Some considered sufficiently wise Decide it would be best to advise. Freely they give their advice to others Recieving addtional wisdom in return as each of them discovers. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky TIMES OF PAIN By ... Steve Lucky Every life has times of pain Threatening to drive one insane. Before one goes completely numb Pain must somehow be overcome. Others have pain in far away places. Although not something one normally aces, It is best to act sensibly despite it all. Many times of pain most people can recall, Yet remembering pain is not the same As experiencing different pains by name. Usually pain will go away With a few sad exceptions when it comes to stay. For one having to watch another suffer and die, Different pain comes as the healthy people cry. Even if pain will win in the end, Temporary relief comes from a friend. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky MARATHON By ... Steve Lucky Runners in a marathon can not use All their energy at once. Marathon runners must set a pace They can maintain for hours. Every step must be planned So the runner can take the lead Before the race is over And keep it until he or she Crosses the finish line. Life is like a marathon. It can not be lived all in one day. One has to set a pace That can be maintained for a lifetime. Every day builds on the days before it. Lifetime plans are not uncommon, Although unlike a marathon, The finish line in life May not be seen until the very end. It is best to plan for the duration Of an event that will still be around For years to come. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky DELAY By ... Steve Lucky One can not prepare for everything. Unexpected events will cause delay. Both for a person getting ready to sing And a life restoring medicine on the way To the place where it is greatly needed. Difficult it can be for one to see Some things have to be conceeded While others simply can not be. Fatal delays are not always overcome Meaning priorities must be set. In cases of delay one must sacrifice some Planned events so others can be met. Alternatives prepared for unexpected delay Eventually should greatly pay. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky PRIORITIES By ... Steve Lucky All wanted this can not be aquired. One will need to pay the price So one has to sacrifice. Many people have been hired For a greater need which has inspired Numerous charities to give advice About the importance of being nice. It is a priority greatly desired. The needs of many and the needs of one Can sometimes turn out to be conflicting. Priorities are made by examining all Before deciding what needs to be done. Demands actually become less restricting When the important things one can recall. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky LOVE IS THE REALITY By ... Steve Lucky Perception of reality changes from person to person. Something percieved as real by the majority May turn out to be only an illusion, Yet some universal truths remain. The greatest of these is love. While ideas about reality keep changing, Love remains unparallelled as an absolute measurement of reality. This greatest of universal truths Should set the standard for everything else, Not the other way around. What finite need in what one thinks is reality Can compare to the infinite importance of love? Going beyond the percieved reality of the senses, Love shapes this part of reality to its own liking. Everyone always needs love. It provides a fulfillment greater than life itself. Some things are just as real As the reality known to human beings, Yet many people will never know it. Love, under God, is the ultimate reality. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky DIRECTIONS By ... Steve Lucky Directions are usually worth the cost To keep a traveller from getting lost. Often directions are given for free So the traveller can sooner be In the place he or she needs to go. Written instructions one can show Another concerning the path to take, People should be able to make. For times when someone has to go to the place It is good to have them, just in case. Without directions the traveller has to guess The way to go which can lead to a big mess. Given directions are not always right And can actually be worse than relying on sight. Still reliable directions are needed to reach a location faster. Directions used wisely can prevent disaster. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky FOREST By ... Steve Lucky Living landmarks in all directions Provide people with better connections To nature and to events long past. Some trees are able to last For generations creating a link In a place where one can stop and think About events from long ago. Living landmarks let one know Despite all activity around the place Life is still able to keep pace. Animals can also be seen Hiding somewhere amoung the green. Even if they do not stay in view They are part of the forest too. Some are seen only once and then never seen again. Others keep returning every now and then. Animals, at their own discretion Can create a lasting impression. Various animal sights and sounds In a forest can always be found. Whether for a lifetime or for an instant Forests do not have to be distant. Human beings with their technology still depend On plants and animals to find a friend. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky FRAGILE By ... Steve Lucky When dropped from table height Glass is easily broken. Thoughtless words too often spoken Makes a heart feel not quite right. One needs to try to keep within sight Feelings about replies left unspoken. Sometimes the cost is more than a token If the would be replier quickly takes flight. Needed time to answer the question Of what to do when stubborn people meet Keep suggestions coming and going like a blur. Like food, statements need digestion. Conflicts few people want to ever repeat Far too easily can reoccur. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky COLLECTIONS By ... Steve Lucky People have many different types of collections Such as stamps, coins, or comic books. Rarely considered good financial selections For sentimental value one continually looks. Greedily a few people collect valuable things Just to accumulate wealth. Collecting for money often brings Dellusions of a better image of self. Those starting collections for others May find it to be most worthwhile. In times of need one quickly discovers No value in the personal goods one can compile. Large collections reflect what one values most. Why should one feel the need to boast? Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky KNOWLEDGE By ... Steve Lucky One should make a serious effort to learn About things outside the boundaries of the senses. Both in familiar and unexpected situations, Human beings depend on one another For knowledge on what needs to be done. It is not possible to learn everything, Yet large amounts of information can be memorized. This information effects everyone to varying degrees. People patient and willing to learn Can use this information to better predict How a chain of events will turn out While it is still going on. No problems are solved by ignorance. Knowledge is needed to solve the problem or avoid it altogether. Usually prosperity comes to those who can bring into view Frequently overlooked simple solutions. Many solutions are within reach. Quality knowledge is all one needs to find them. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky COMPASSION By ... Steve Lucky The timeless quality of compassion Enables one to keep on giving. Kind words may be all that are needed Regardless of what one does for a living. Injuries recieved by a child at play May cause all those around the child to feel Hurt from the pain and tears they can not stop. Looking inside themselves, they know their hearts are real. Since love has no limits of any kind, Children and adults alike need compassion for others. Although it can be lost or forgotten, It can also be improved one discovers. Feelings of pain may cause others to suffer. Whether for an instant or a thousand days, Joy recieved when the suffering ends Makes it well worth the price one pays. Serious wounds may not always heal. Not all solutions are made known. Outside compassion can not always be found. Inside is where it should be grown. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky SHARE By ... Steve Lucky The daycare worker entered the room And immediately saw two little boys Fighting over a set of building blocks. Both of them wanted to build something. Neither was willing to let go. They held on to the fallen structure Screaming at the top of their lungs. "You have to be willing to share," she explained. "There are enough building blocks for both of you." Without a tear, the two little boys Split the building blocks so they both could use them. Just before lunch, she noticed two little girls Fighting over a doll. Both of them wanted to play with her. Neither was willing to let go. They pulled on the doll Crying at the top of their lungs. "Please share the doll," she told them. "You can take turns holding her." Agreeing with her, the two little girls Started playing with the doll together. When it was time for her to go, She noticed two of her coworkers Fighting over who would have to stay behind And clean up after everyone else. Both of them continued yelling at each other. Neither of them was willing to back off. It was a grim reminder things like crying and screaming Are not just something children do. "Remember to share," she insisted. "The three of us can do it faster If we work together." Her coworkers agreed what they told the children Applied to them as well. Together they started cleaning. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky BEAUTY By ... Steve Lucky Nature has a beauty of its own. For that beauty to be preserved, Human beings can not live alone. Plant and animal needs must be served. Beauty can also have a human touch Either from make up requiring plenty of wealth Or, if this seems like too much, It can be done by maintaining physical health. Can creatures such as human beings Determine the beauty of the spirit? With people being constantly decieved How can we ever hope to come near it? Inner beauty is a valuable treasure And the source of a lasting pleasure. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky BEYOND By ... Steve Lucky If one becomes lost in mundane events and activities, Unaware of all the exciting things just outside of reach, And forgets about the world outside of day to day existance, Gradually dulled senses can no longer feel things From beyond the range of normal life. Dealing with the unknown Is not something most people want to do, But the unknown can change the known Making it far better or far worse Than one expected it to be. Existing beyond the world of sight, sound, and touch Are things just as real Which will not go away if one denies them. Like it or not, unless one ventures into the beyond, Parts of the beyond will find their way Into the world of everyday existance. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky THOUGHT By ... Steve Lucky Real things can be shaped by what the mind sees. Deep thinking burns off calories. Though not a good idea to lose weight, Power from though is tremendously great. All human inventions were once a mere thought. Fueled further by what the inventor was taught. Comparing and constrasting every find, Research aids the power of the mind. Gathered facts lead to speculation About the right type of instrumentation Needed to measure an unknown source Which may alter the human learning course. Intense thought adds to the knowledge sum So even more ideas can come. Promising ideas still clouded in doubt Need someone to carry them out. Once the mind can see the way, Deep within new ideas should not stay. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky ACTION By ... Steve Lucky One who has an interesting notion Should try to put those thoughts into motion. Without participating children and adults, No one can achieve results. Thoughts alone are not much of an attraction. People have to put their ideas into action. Keeping the best ideas from sinking Requires action as well as thinking. Somehow, something needs to take place Within the tangible world of time and space. Even for projects actually begun, If one does nothing, nothing is done. Before someone considers something worthy of deletion, Action must be taken to insure their completion. For one spreading ideas across the land, Dreaming and doing go hand and hand. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky FOR EVERY AGE By ... Steve Lucky In the beginning, before the world was created God was watching over things. When everyone and everything around us disappears God will be there still. He knows the needs of every age And the needs of all the ages. Cavemen painted stories on the walls Of people, animals, and events beyond their understanding. Computer programmers create complex, sophisticated programs In an attempt to make sense of it all. Both these groups may think they know everything Or realize how difficult the problems around them actually are. For either case, God protects them and guides them With the timeless quality of love. Children in the stone age being persued by an animal, Senior citizens heading for their state of the art retirement home, And people in the first century Listening to Jesus for the first time Are all being watched over by God From His vantage point beyond time. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky ULTIMATE GOAL By ... Steve Lucky Can one enjoy victory with a ruined reputation? How can one worry about reputation when threatened with death? Why do people sacrifice their lives For causes they think are greater still? People can find flaws in even the most noble of acts. One or more noble causes may be sacrificed So a greater cause can be carried out to the fullest. Those who sacrifice everything for God know bear About what has to be given up When reaching for the ultimate goal Of spread the news, Jesus Christ has conquered death, to everyone. Many lives have been lost and many reputations hace been ruined Because those people had the courage To stand up for their religous beliefs. Even after death these people help others Proceed to their ultimate goal By giving them a reminder of what is truly important. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky LIMITATIONS By ... Steve Lucky Being aware of what can not be done With the given amount of time and supplies, Helps put things in perspective whenever anyone Does a job on which another relies. If one is capable of meeting the demands And knows the odds of succeeding, Far better use of the best commands Will keep one from constantly pleading. Unless help is offered to lighten the load, Goals should be within one's reach. Limitations are part of the ethical code People should learn and teach. Difficult jobs in dire situations Are best done by those who can overcome limitations. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky DREAMS By ... Steve Lucky Dreams themselves have no shape So how can they shape reality? Limitations found in the world people see, In the dream world one can safely escape. Objects in the distant dream landscape May unlock great secrets if one finds the hidden key. It takes someone doing for the dream to be. Those capable of global changes overnight Know how important it is to dream. Frequently one must try many times Before one is able to do it right. Weak ideas still just a dream Need to be built on as one climbs. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky GREATNESS By ... Steve Lucky Rarely does greatness come easy. Often it takes an entire lifetime to build. Greatness can start with the simple, overlooked things Providing a foothold for one to reach Things unreachable only moments before. Mistakes one makes along the way Combined with personal opposition can create huge barriers, But these barriers can be overcome If one has enough persistance to keep trying Until the barriers are no longer an obstruction to greatness. Sometimes the barriers turn out to be merely illusions. Different people have different ways To measure greatness and decide who is great. Who should decide such things? Personal greatness comes from inside And can only be measured by that person. Other types of greatness will be measured By others with varying degrees of knowledge of such things. Even greatness based on an act taking seconds Can take an entire lifetime to happen. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky NOTICE By ... Steve Lucky Take notice of what is going on around you, Especially of what other people are saying. One should find out what is coming Because once it comes there will be no delaying. Rapid chains of events can follow From one event that is forseen. People who are first to feel it Are those who keep their senses keen. Such people see what is going on around them. It will continue whether they want it to or not. Before unwanted events grow out of control, Many people should fight them with everything they have got. Unless you are willing to notice Other people and what they are doing, Preparation for what is to come Can only be based on what you are viewing. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky REPUTATION By ... Steve Lucky Over a lifetime reputation is built Yet it is effected by things untrue. Sometimes there is little one can do As a reputation begins to wilt. Whether from personal feelings of guilt Or from false rumors that suddenly grew, Reputation comes from other points of view And those points of view frequently tilt. Good reputations should be aquired For business and personal interactions. Poor reputations are hard to overcome. Harder still when false rumors have backfired, Is it to gain public satisfaction. Ultimately reputation still depends on one. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky SAVING REPUTATION By ... Steve Lucky Reputation has to begin with self. It can not be bought with wealth. Since reputation comes clouded points of view, To himself or herself one has to be true. Many lies other people have spoken. Not all of them are easily broken. One day these lies will fade away And the truth will be here to stay. Ultimately the lies that hurt the most Are not the ones others will boast, But the lies one tells on his or her own. When they return even pressure is known. Not even the greatest actor Can escape the human factor Of dealing with the eyewitness account Form the most trusted source one can hope to amount. One can travel to the most distant star Without that person being very far. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky RECORDINGS By ... Steve Lucky For various public needs to be served, Many sounds have been preserved. Listening to songs recorded on tape Enables one to easily escape Requirements of time and place. Conversation does not have to be face to face. It can be used to relax, to recieve information, Or to learn the history of a distant nation. Modern recordings can add sight as well as sound So more detailed information can be found. When one offers to show recording to the rest, One tries real hard to find the best. Quality times and places are nice, But trying to repeat them comes at a price. Recordable moments still have to be created. Consistant need for them has been demonstrated. Sequences coming from deep within the mind May be all one is able to leave behind. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky COUNTDOWN By ... Steve Lucky Ten ... Focus is placed on the countdown Until the long awaited event can replace it. Nine ... Intense feelings start to build Along with a growing impatience and desire for action. Eight ... Other activities are done in a failed attempt To keep the mind occupied while waiting. Seven ... Despite numerous attmepts to do otherwise, Thoughts keep returning to the countdown and the coming event. Six ... Only important events get a countdown And this is definitely one of them. Five ... With the knowledge it will not be much longer Nervous trembling from deep inside reaches the surface. Four ... Loud breathing is all that can be heard Over the silence that seems to drown out all other noises. Three ... Fewer numbers remaining gives greater emphasis to the countdown Causing more trivial concerns to fade into the background. Two ... Even breathing can no longer be heard As the anticipated event becomes the primary focus. ONE ... Staying clear of careless mistakes Is the only worry remaining. ZERO! It is finally here! Children eagerly rush out as the school opens its doors For the last time of the year. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky SONG By ... Steve Lucky Everyone has a personal song which can be heard By those listening carefully for the song. One might even be able to sing along Without even knowing a single word. Personal songs of many different people in harmony have occurred. If the melody is not very long, Guesses about it are often wrong. Noises in the background can leave it horribly blurred. All the songs can be dimmed but they will not halt. For as long as they interact, The songs will continue to play. Regardless of who may be at fault, Good personal songs will continue to attract Long after they slowly fade away. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky VOICE By ... Steve Lucky Communication is a vital skill So one should learn how to speak. A good voice backed by a strong will Makes one appear not nearly as weak. Restrictions to free speech have been throughly tried. Normally these attempts are defeated. Freedom of speech should not be denied. This statement deserves to be often repeated. People say words that are not always good. In extreme cases this leads to global devistation. Others telling people to do as they should Can beat even those cases in any nation. Even at times when ideas sound strange, Voices can lead to global change. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky REPETITION By ... Steve Lucky Until a job is finally completed, Some things many times have to be repeated. As repetition continues, patterns appear. During further repetition, those patterns become clear. One can not eat once and survive many days. Not repeated regularly, intense hunger stays. Trying hard to keep clean Becomes a part of the daily routine. For as long as the grass will grow, It has to be mowed row by row. Repeated things are remembered in greater detail. Patterns reoccur letting knowledge prevail. When coding messages repetition is bad Since patterns can be detected from what the message had. Anything repeated often one can better learn. Encouraging repetition makes sure everyone gets a turn. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky TIME WILL COME By ... Steve Lucky This is timed to the beat of the heart. It follows the rhythm right from the start. Loving others is always smart. Time will come. Goals one sets for the coming years, Can be extremely easy filled with laughter and tears Or the nearly impossible tasks one fears. Time will come. Done in seconds, a minor goal Puts a lifetime task within control By giving it both heart and soul. Time will come. Not all tasks are within reach, As many people try to teach. Some things are only done at the beach. Time will come. Certain people, places, and times one must find For enourmous obsticles to be left behind. Requirements can leave one in quite a bind. Time will come. At times one can only wait Until a certain time and date To be sure one is not late. Time will come. Outcomes are rarely shaped by one event. Lifetime goals are built on information sent From successes and failures, however they went. Time will come. People said many things could not be done, Were completed anyway thanks to someone Believing it could be once begun. Time will come. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky EXPRESSED By ... Steve Lucky A blank sheet of paper is at the start With plenty of space to fill. Things found deep inside the heart Can reach the surface of those with strong will. Once the ideas are in place, Ways must be found for them to be explained. Limiting boundaries of time and space Can not keep those ideas contained. Unless those ideas are expressed, Inside one mind they might become lost. For the sake of others one is hard pressed To express those ideas at any cost. Although the mere though can make one scared, Ideas work best when they are shared. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky UNSAID By ... Steve Lucky Some things are better left unsaid. The cure may actually be worse that the disease. Before one shouts thoughtless words to feel at ease, One should at least consider what could be said instead. Conversations should not be led In the direction of insults without any attempt to please. Unkind words can act like a disease Making everyone involved feel better off dead. Everyone needs critism, but it should be constructive. Doing nothing makes nothing improve. For things to get better, one should take action Which is far more effective than words that are destructive. People exposed to insults tend to either fight or move. Kind but painful is the movement towards retraction. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky FROGS By ... Steve Lucky At night, near the window, frogs can be heard. To them the idea of travelling never occurred. Frogs tend to prefer to do things their own way. On lilly pads or near the pond they will stay. Listening to the croaking sum, People have no dellusions of what they will become. From tadpoles they mature and as frogs they will remain. More complex ideas do not come to their brain. Unlike frogs, people constantly change. To people, staying the same is strange. People and frogs both like to communicate Even when the time is late. Sounds of frogs croaking late at night Brings to some people a small delight. Legends about frogs becoming something new Remind people what they are supposed to do. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky ALIAS By ... Steve Lucky Typing on the computer While using a name other than my own, Makes me wonder what we really know about each other. I have a need to protect myself From the many untrustworthy people Given access to whatever I reveal About my true identity. Even while providing adaquate protection, It can also be a burden. Names hidden from foes are also hidden from friends. Revealing an alias comes at a price too. Far too often, removing my shield reminds me Why the shield existed in the first place. Codes, made for the trusting instead of the smart, Theortically give me a way to reveal my name Only to those considered trustworthy. No such method is foolproof, But it contains some of the advantages Of both opening up and remaining hidden. If everyone could be trusted, aliases would not be needed. Such a world, however, is not found here. My most recent alias remains undiscovered ... for now. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky CAUTION By ... Steve Lucky Dangers exist most places one cares to look. People should not decieve themselves. Usually far deadlier are the dangers hidden in places Most people are too afraid to even risk a passing glance. Since not all dangers can be avoided, Caution is strongly advised. At any given moment, one can be overtaken By an unexpected event. Too often people ignore the signs of what is coming. News of catrostraphic events becomes even more tragic When one learns it could have been handled or avoided altogether. If only someone had bothered to prepare For what could be easily seen Or what should have been seen well in advance. During rest in casual environments and in the fiercest battle, Every step needs to be planned in advance. Personal goals should take into account Not just the forces of nature But also the personal goals of others Heading in their own direction which could be harmful or beneficial. Caution is advised for everything. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky GIVE, DO NOT TAKE By ... Steve Lucky When one asks for one's own sake For people to live the way they should live, Instead of taking things, everyone should give. Yet constant trying will not make Those who choose to sleep suddenly wake And see those moments one needs to relive. Effort needs to be made to forgive Because much can be done with a simple break. Giving without taking should be done first By the one who intends to teach This valuable lesson so others can improve. Even people who are their worst One should still be able to reach. If one is in the wrong place, one should move. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky LATENT By ... Steve Lucky Great potential exists inside me. Many desired changes I am fully capable of creating for myself. All I have to do is overcome the fears lingering deep inside. The hardest part of a task Can be starting it in the first place. Once the former latent potential has been released, Everything takes shape like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. High ideals are nice, yet nearly worthless Without a way of applying them to everyday reality. Latent thoughts, feelings, and desires should eventually surface. It can happen gradually through constant effort Or in a massive surge triggered by a single event. Bringing their effect to the present and the future, They build on one another to create the desired changes. Unseen my latent feelings can still Give me the motivation I need to continue. My latent potential should be put into action. Valued greatly it should not be lost or neglected. Perhaps even worse it should not remain forever latent. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky LOOKING By ... Steve Lucky In one large place many people can be found. Each of them has hopes and dreams. As individuals or in teams They try to make a different sound From the background noise with its steady pound. Not everything is as it seems. One should look at the dreams of others To better understand his or her own. Compassion helps ideas start cooking With the dreams of another one discovers Individuals are not alone. This can only be known by looking. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky THINKING By ... Steve Lucky Comtemplating the state of all Is certainly not an easy task. Despite all things one can do, One still needs the courage to ask Questions relevant to what is needed So intelligent answers can be put to good use. Good advice when properly heeded, Can heal the painful wounds of abuse. Although the knowledge of others should help, Processing occurs in one's own head. If a solution might lead to a fatal yelp, Another path should be taken instead. When available space appears to be shrinking, More than ever time is needed for thinking. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky DOING By ... Steve Lucky Before an idea can effectively spread, Action needs to be taken. Results should come from what is said Even if the speaker is mistaken. Nothing is like a job well done. It gives plenty of satisfaction As an inspiration to others who once had none Which eventually makes it the main attraction. Trying, failing, and trying again Gives thoughts a way to seem more real. Sometimes subtile, it can happen when Coldness is replaced by a gentle feel. Everywhere that trouble is brewing, One can find the courage to start doing. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky BEING By ... Steve Lucky Attempting to find out what is right Does not always lead to something good. Things do not work out as they should Leading to a most unusual fight. Problems resistant to the greatest might Can be solved by that which would Simply do more than it ever could Without existance well within sight. Beyond action, surroundings, and even thought Is the basic will to survive. Most creatures are agreeing Opposition to this will has to be faught. Change still continues from those not alive Because they knew the importance of being. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky RANSOM By ... Steve Lucky Am I being held for ransom? Do secrets in need of revealing still untold Keep me from my intended destination? Those secrets would have been told much soon If I did not feel like I am being held for ransom. My fear remains the same day after day. Somehow I must pay a price Too great for me to even consider paying. Crying for help seems the best thing to do. Often overlooked by adults, it is a useful skill Where I can show my ability Not to overlook that which seems unimportant. Using the strength of an army I look For someone who can defend me Against those who wish me harm. Eventually I will settle for someone who can afford To pay the ransom. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky MIRACLES By ... Steve Lucky Do miracles ever happen today? Should one listen to those who say They happen no longer or never at all? Miracles might happen to those who call On the Lord who exists beyond time and space, Yet knows the fine details of a human face. Christ had to suffer like all the others. Though all His miracles one discovers Love has a value greater still. Faith is more powerful than strength of will In getting miracles to be done Because God is the only one Who can actually make the miraculous change. Such a system can appear quite strange. Hope is maintained to keep alive Desire for everyone to strive Towards those miracles which are done With the help of everyone. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky WISH By ... Steve Lucky If you could have one wish granted what would it be? Would it be something people could see Like the accumulation of personal treasure Or a deed for another which gives a different pleasure? Some wishes can be granted by those who are willing Though you may have to prove the wish is worth fulfilling. Even a wish that can be granted only by magic Can lead to something real either pleasant or tragic. Your own wishes no matter how small Might be used for the benefit of all. No wish is unimportant no matter how impossible Because the mind is real where all things are possible. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky BLUE By ... Steve Lucky Before the time is long past due, One should remember the color blue. It is used to represent sadness. Those who dare to fight the madness Should realize blue can also bring cheer For those attempting to conquer their fear. No emotion should be above The essential quality known as love. Looking for the bluebird of happiness takes Devotion to the goal despite any mistakes. Patience is not absolutely required, But it brings hope to those inspired. With all the color blue can be, Majestic as the mighty sea, Away the bluebird of happiness can fly Disappearing into the clear blue sky. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky ADDICTION By ... Steve Lucky Not all needs can be satisfied Because some people will always crave more. Even with all they recieved before They are still helpless against the tide Of constant greed they find themselves beside. From the hearts of friends much love can pour, Yet it may not reach the core Problem from which they want to hide. Greed is a serious addiction Which, if given a chance, spreads to everyone involved. Can anyone other than the one with the affliction Get the help needed for it to be solved? Love will heal what greed can numb. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky CONFLICT By ... Steve Lucky No matter where one tries to go Different forms of conflict will probably appear. Sources of conflict are not always shown, Even when those sources are near. Whether nature, an animal, or another human being, Internal conflict will add complications. One has to be sure about what they are seeing For personal problems and wars between nations. Misunderstanding leads to ideas that are wrong Which in turn can lead to trouble. Conflict is a far too familiar song. People want to solve it on the double. Stress caused from conflict can make people ill, Yet the power of love is greater still. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky TIDAL WAVE By ... Steve Lucky Without warning it came On an otherwise peaceful, sunny day. The villagers never saw it coming. None of them could access the weather predicting technology Used by more civilized nations. Even advanced notice that a tidal wave Spotted in the middle of the ocean Was rapidly approaching their location, Could have given the villagers time to evacuate. Instead a pair of children found themselves Far too close to the wall of water To avoid what was coming. Just seconds before the time of impact, Hopelessly the little girl saw the distant wave, Larger than any wave she had seen in her life. She screamed as if screaming Magically would remove the deadly object approaching them. Uselessly, the little boy grabbed her by the hand. Knowing it was already too late, they tried to run anyway. Before they knew what happened, Huge amounts of water covered them and their entire village. Not knowing what happened, the people in a nearby city Continued with their everyday lives. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky TIME HEALS ALL WOUNDS By ... Steve Lucky Pain from old wounds can seem unbarable. Hope returns with the passage of time. Old problems fade as new things replace Memories once thought to be unremovable. Not necessarily forgotten, pain is gradually removed As one realizes such things do not last forever. Continued exposure to love absorbs Both the pain one causes and the pain caused by others Until one can learn from such memories Without reinjuring old wounds. Forgiveness is needed for the mistakes of others. Humility is needed to ask for forgiveness If the mistakes are his or her own. Some people are not willing to forgive others. Even those mistakes, however, fade as time goes by. Love lasts forever and can heal any wounds. All one must do is accept it. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky LORD, TAKE EVERYTHING By ... Steve Lucky Lord, take my anger and turn it into something useful. Without a way to control it Energy released from my own temper is capable of great destruction, Yet I know that same energy can be Very beneficial to both myself and others. My feeble attempts to control this temper Can not distinguish was is useful from what is destructive. Lord, take everything. Only You can see the most beneficial use For the energy raging inside me. Anything I can even think of giving to You, No matter how horrible it may seem to me, Has a use in Your divine plan. Good things, bad things, pleasure, and pain Remain well under Your control. Human beings have no hope of controlling the world While we try to do it ourselves. All things, known and unknown, come from You So I give You everything. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky MICE By ... Steve Lucky Mice are creatures very small Living inside a hole in the wall. To every room the mice will roam Eating the food of the people in the home. Sometimes they eat what they people throw away Which would not be missed anyway. Other times they eat what the people desire. If they are caught, the people might hire Someone trained to rid their home of household pests. Mice do not know this so they are not destressed. People, on the other hard, regardless of size Can sometimes see through such a disguise. Getting rid of their own kind Brings absolutely horrible images to mind. Rarely is such a tragedy done In front of the eyes of anyone. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky PRIVACY By ... Steve Lucky People do things in front of family and friends They do not want others to know. Mere mention of the act offends So in public these things will rarely show. Often it will simply be too embarasing For such things to be seen by prying eyes. National security does not look promising With certain items placed near enemy spies. All secrets, small and great, will not be found. Privacy is needed at any age. Rarely does one want to show around Intense feeling of sadness or rage. Even so such emotions one will share With people he or she knows will care. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky THE PRICE OF FAME By ... Steve Lucky It is easy for someone on top to fall. Some say it is the price of fame When celebrities face public shame. As they find themselves pressed against the wall They may not know anyone to call. Many people know their name. Keeping out of sight is not a game Because celebrities can lose it all. Celebrities get their power from the public Which at times can be a curse. No matter what happens it is best to be nice. Leaked secrets could show up at any hour. Even celebrities taken for better or for worse Know all too well fame has its price. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky BILLIONS OF PEOPLE By ... Steve Lucky Billions of people live in the world today So how does one person make a visible impact? It has actually become easier With so many people who have to interact. All lives are connected to one another Through multiple interactions including those unseen. One person may be all it takes For a new idea to keep the world clean. Just one person can bring into the world Either great hope or great dispair. No one should be treated as unimportant. To change the world, one has to care. Changes can be made by anyone Regardless of what has been done in the past. Maintenance is required from continuous effort In order to create a change that will last. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky GOOD HEALTH By ... Steve Lucky Good health is something money can not buy. People in poor health are more likely to die. Body parts have to be treated with care. Nutrious food along with clean skin, teeth, and hair Keep the body working effiently much longer. Regular exercise helps one grow stronger. Staying close to the ideal weight Does more than keep one looking great. When air, water, and food are pure Of good health one can be more sure. Listen to the messages the body sends For good health is something on which everyone depends. Cuts and bruises should be looked at and properly treated So unnecessary pain will not be repeated. How to stay in good health is important to discover Even when sacrificing one's own health to help out another. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky EXPLAIN By ... Steve Lucky Not all things can be explained. How does one even try? Sometimes without the proper explanation Many innocent people will die. One needs to explain things In terms others can understand Entire armies have been defeated By a misunderstood command. Clearity is of great importance, So one should listen well. With just sketchy, inaccuarate information From what extremely frightened people tell, The listener still has to figure out Exactly what should be done. Despite the need for better communication, Listening is needed for everyone. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky FOREVER By ... Steve Lucky Some personal problems can not be solved, But personal relationships do not end. One can sometimes successfully pretend To actually want to be involved, Yet time will show how the problems are solved. Repetition reveals the true nature of a friend, People on whom one can depend Even for problems still unsolved. Interactions occur from birth until death. No one should try to survive alone. Better solutions come when people work together. Life has problems beyond one's comfort zone. Wants and needs continue with every breath. Days are only small glimpses of forever. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky BEYOND CONTROL By ... Steve Lucky Thos who think one can control Everything he or she will have to face, Quickly find themselves falling short of the goal For just about any time and place. Some obsticles can be overcome Providing one with greatly needed motivation, But other obsticles can never become Within one's control which leads to fustration. All the people on Earth combined Can not forever keep one satisfied. Temporary solutions are all one can find Despite countless generations of people having tried. One continues searching for perfectly safe ground Until some type of comfort can be found. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky SPINNING By ... Steve Lucky If one tries to see in all directions, One may wind up getting dizzy. Attempting to try all possible selections Will keep one constantly busy. Different points of view are required For one to understand the picture as a whole. Mirrors may not be in the places desired, So one has to look with heart and soul. Done for long and done alone, Constant motion hurts the joints. Unfamiliar objects can be shown By getting others to look in the direction one points. Knowing what surrounds one Can make one feel he or she is winning. Reality may not be as fun Because the person is only spinning. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky STANDING FIRM By ... Steve Lucky At first it seem easy, but it does not last. Standing firm becomes harder as the years take their toll. It is not something done for only a day. Endurance for a lifetime is the goal. Changes to the world must be maintained. Believing it can happen is not enough. Opposing forces will not disappear. Kindness it vital, yet one must remain tough. Growth often brings power but not an ending To the constant challenges one has to face. When a problem at last is successfully solved, More appear to take its place. Progress may be a life long journet, But they does not mean it is not worthwhile. Little successes can keep one going. Just a few kind words can bring a smile. Not all experience comes with age. Doing things that make people squirm While overwhelming opposition is intent on one's demise Shows one can win by standing firm. Copyright 2002, 2003, Steve Lucky BUREAUCRACY By ... Steve Lucky Are government rules and regulations really be any good When people do what is required instead of what they should? Truth becomes hidden when not properly fitting the mold Formed by government employees only doing what they are told. Government is not alone in being corrupted by such power. Major corporations can be infected any given hour. Primary concern for everyone should helping those in need. Sadly this concern can be replaced by corporate greed. Disreguarded needs when not placed in the right form Remind the general public bureaucracy lacks something warm. Even if helping others ultimately leads to something bad, Ignoring those to need it is ultimately more sad. Respect for the individual helped make this country great. Love is far more powerful than the absence of hate. Human beings usually know when something needs to be done. Can the individual be ignored when trying to help everyone? People are not perfect, but flaws that can be seen Look far better than those flaws erased by an uncaring machine. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky TO BE A HERO By ... Steve Lucky What does it take to be a hero? Does it take enough strength to lift an automobile, Enough intelligence to solve complex logic problems, Courage uncomparable to the more insignificant fears people face everyday, Or even a virtuous past contributing to a spotless record. Former criminals without much strength or brain power, Terrified by the events surrounding them Have somehow managed to risk their lives to save others. Lack of skills can be overcome And an imperfect past can be overlooked When someone is willing to sacrifice all To help another in need. Is sacrificing everything a requirement for being a hero? Everyday heroes can be found every day. Such people know not to overlook the little things. All the steps one takes towards being a hero Brings one closer to the goal. Not all steps are equal, but no steps should be overlooked. What does it take to be a hero? It takes a heroic effort. Copyright 2002, Steve Lucky HEARTBEAT By ... Steve Lucky The rhymic, steady pace, Lasting for a lifetime, Often can not be heard. Would be deafening sounds are contained Safely inside the human body, Yet the sound can still be heard During times of intense activity, Fear, or close examination. Heard or not, the sound Is a constant indicator For life and good health. This sound is not important Only when it stops. Life itself brings great meaning To those other lives surrounding it. Multiple heartbeats stay in tune With the symphony of nature. Every heartbeat is important. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky TEARS By ... Steve Lucky After the doctors had had their say, The old woman knew nothing else could be done. She would not last another day. It came as a shock to everyone. Many people started to cry. No one expected it to be so soon. Cancer rapidly spread leaving her to die Before the end of the afternoon. Despite it all, the old woman herself could smile From her continued will to live. Even during her final hours Something remained for her to give. Although the doctors proved to be right, Living was well worth the fight. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky GOD'S PROMISE By ... Steve Lucky God can be found beyond all understanding With power one can not even begin to comprehend. How could the universe begin or end Unless a Being forever all commanding Orchestrates the universe with more power than physics is demanding. This powerful God proves He is a friend, Fulfilling His most divine wish to send Jesus Christ to share our problems, His will withstanding. Greater than the power of time and space Is a God who reigns with love. His love is poured into everyone. One who is able to see His face Will know higher laws exist above. Death itself can be undone. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky FOOD By ... Steve Lucky Even if one is being rude Survival still depends on food. Reguardless of the atitude It is an essential part of life. One may not always do what is good And use good manners like one should When one knows that lack of food would Kill more surely than a knife. Those of greater weight and height Just have a larger appetite, Yet they should have the needed might To look for something sweet. No matter what the future brings, World leaders far more powerful than kings Like all other living things Need something to eat. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky DARKNESS By ... Steve Lucky Darkness consumed the entire land. Not a single source of light could be found. They found it hard to even stand When they could not clearly see the ground. Few people knew where to turn During the dark and starless night. Years later the people would learn How to create a source of light. More dangerous than the darkness one can see Is the darkness lurking inside the soul. Unless light can be found to insure victory, The darkness eventually takes its toll. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky LIGHT By ... Steve Lucky Light can exist in the darkest places. Darkness is always doomed to fail. Glancing at all the difference faces, One knows over darkness light will prevail. When light is placed at the right locations Even shadows are consumed. Supporting people in all nations Brings light to where darkness once loomed. Inside the soul light can be found As long as one allows it to stay. Towards the light one hears a sound Enhancing the senses every day. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky PRISM By ... Steve Lucky As long as one can find a light Glowing with a brilliant white, Red, yellow, blue, green, And all the colors in between Can be distinguished from each other By seperating them from one another. Each color is refracted at a different angle. With the help of a prism one can untangle The mixture of colors of which light is composed. Light sources whether free or enclosed Contain the same types of colors inside. Normally these colors will hide In the pure white light usually around Wherever a light source can be found. Goodness is also made of many parts. People seem to know them inside their hearts. Honesty, compassion, the need to forgive, Kindness, courage, and the will to live Play their part in the greater whole Of love contained inside the soul. These different parts tend to blur together Because they were designed to last forever. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky COMPLICATIONS By ... Steve Lucky She wanted to travel the universe. Barely sixteen, she was ready to explore. Complications quickly set in Forcing her to learn there were many more Tasks to be completed before she could travel Freely wherever she wanted to go. Just when she felt she was making good progress More complications would make that progress slow. It seemed like nothing she could do Would get her past what was placed before her. She had to keep working towards what she wanted If any changes were to ever occur. Dancing skills she did not consider Useful in the depths of space, Yet there were times when she could use them. Everything has a proper place. Countless worlds far away from her Were still within her reach. As she steadily gathered information To learn what those worlds had to teach. New complications continued to emerge. Hostile worlds were far to easy to find. Despite it all, she knew the secret to survival Was to keep a pleasant state of mind. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky HOT AIR BALLOON By ... Steve Lucky As the old man looked into the sky He noticed a hot air balloon drifting by. Making use of the slightest breeze, It rose gently above the trees. During the many years before, Tops of trees he would explore Within a balloon he could control. Being too old for such a goal, From the ground he still could see One hot air balloon that used to be Something he could call his own Entering the sky alone. Lovingly he gave it to another, Allowing his offspring to discover Great beauty from the very sight Of looking down from such a height. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky OBSTICLES By ... Steve Lucky Obsticles of various difficulties and styles Prevent simple solutions from being seen. How does one manage to remain clean In a place that offers very few smiles? Some people are willing to travel for miles Just to find someone who is not mean. Love does not come from a machine Despite ever increasing switches and dials. Quests for love should start within Where it is much easier for love to be around. Most obsticles are confronted elsewhere. Chains, whether made of iron or tin, Are broken once enough force is found. To be care for one should care. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky SOLUTIONS By ... Steve Lucky Solutions come from the obvious and the absurd, Not just in the places expected. One should listen to every word For the proper solution to be selected. Different solutions are compared as one gradually discovers Which solutions are better to nurse. Good solutions often lead to others. Poor solutions may lead to problems that are worse. Looking for better answers is something people should teach. Research can be better done without exerting too much. Quality is preferred to solutions well within reach That fall apart at the slightest touch. Love is far superior to hate. Knowledge has a value that is great. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky STARTING OUT By ... Steve Lucky He was just starting out With no idea where to go. Full of worry and doubt, It was difficult to show Loyalty and virtue while others were near, Even when he kept a clear head. Deep inside him was an abdudance of fear. Too many people with his job were dead. Still he tried to maintain a smile As if maintaining a smile was all he could do. Determined he was to last awhile. Better it be him than someone he knew. No matter what events were to come. Inactivity would be a far worse fate. Though fear made many body parts numb, Movement would keep him from being late. Unless someone dared to take action Worldwide problems would never be solved. For anyone to recieve satisfaction One person, at least, had to get invovled. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky IMAGES By ... Steve Lucky Limited ways people have to percieve So many of them others will decieve. Evidence supporting the images found Do not always come from a source that is sound. New discoveries may change the course Of what is considered a reliable source. False self images may have to be faced As well as the source from which they are based. How one appears in another's eye Is not something one which one should heavily rely. Perception can be easily broken Without a single word being spoken. Character on the other hand, More detailed and harder to understand, Will be the image that remains. Truth is what the image contains. Because self perception is always present, It is best to keep it pleasant. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky GROUPS By ... Steve Lucky Groups are formed for many different reasons. Some just want to socialize While others combine their power To do what they could not do by themselves. Causes vary from creating global change to common entertainment. Noble and not so noble groups Are found all over the world. Entire groups get together to form larger groups. Many of these supergroups have a structure too complex For most people to comprehend, Yet supergroups are still composed of individuals. If people forget this fact, The whole group will cease to function properly. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky PIECES By ... Steve Lucky Every flight that has gone into space Has people on board willing to take a risk. Uncertain moments they all have to face. Any such moment, no matter how brisk, Is one that can lead to a tragic event. Over time this might be forgotten. Space objects are frequently bent Whether they are made of steel or cotton. May people never forget the huge risks taken By those daring to go to the skies above. Tragic events can leave everyone shaken. Pioneers of space are remembered with love. Even as the risk decreases, One false move leaves everyone in pieces. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky CONFIRMATION By ... Steve Lucky While something is not possible to confirm, Many people cling to hope. Before facts, one has to cope. Growing doubt can make one squirm. No facts to the contrary are very firm. Inevitably one tries to grope With the increasing odds against a nope. Logic destroys hope like a germ. Almost everyone feared the worst. Sadly they were not mistaken. The only good news was a solid end. Only love remains unshaken. From many sources news of confirmation quickly burst. People could no longer even pretend. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky AGAIN By ... Steve Lucky Do I stay to face the doubt Or do I walk away? For the long run will it matter What other people say About what I did or did not do In distant times and places? People, as a whole, tend to forget Events supporting or contradicting individual cases. Despite my fear I realize Nothing will change if nothing is done. How can a chain reaction by stopped Once the initial event has begun? To get invovled or to stay away Has puzzled countless generations. Methods of involvement are also considered. Wrong ones can lead to degenerations. Sadly the path I must travel Can lead to people ready to fight. Rarely does the easy path Lead to things considered to be right. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky STORMS By ... Steve Lucky Every so often a storm will be encountered. It is a fact of life. Rain and snow fall from the sky And get scattered about by the wind. Birds take flight despite it all To reach their intended destinations. Other animals can sometimes be spotted Fleeing from the elements by taking shelter With whatever they can find. People sometimes are also seen Scurrying about in the middle of it all. Like the animals, people will take shelter If their schedules will allow it. However, some events can not be halted Due to inconvient weather. Great advances in technology keeps providing Better and better protection from storms Most people will eventually have to face. Nature is a powerful opponent And will continue to be for years to come. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky MOTION By ... Steve Lucky Constant motion is all around No matter where one bothers to look. From the slow growth of plants To the rapid beating of an insects wings, Differences can be measured and observed. Microscopic creatures move beside each other As if their scale of motion Was the only one in existance. Earth itself spins on its axis During its trip around the sun. People are found somewhere in between, Ready to do whatever they think needs doing. Often they do not realize how their various activities Have an effect on one another. Motion can be random or controlled Becoming part of a plan Far too large to be seen by individuals. Speed and direction should be decided carefully, if possible. The part of overall motion within one's control Is the part many people consider most important. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky UNICORNS By ... Steve Lucky Some people still hunt for a unicorn Or try to unearth the legend of Robin Hood. Efforts from these people may not seem very good While they must cope with fearsome scorn. Doubters insist not a single human born No matter where they go ever could Glimpse a unicorn as it should Appear with a single, untampered horn. Unicorn hunters may seek the wrong place But the search should not be abandoned. Far more bizzare things might be discovered. Important expressions come from a face Happily gleamming from not being abandoned. Unicorns may yet be uncovered. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky MORE UNICORNS By ... Steve Lucky Those who dare continue the search Made by few human beings, Can discover where other creatures pearch With divine intervention and psychic seeings. From the mere attempt, many will go mad, Yet doing nothing may be a greater sacrifice. One find in a million searches still makes one glad. Hunters of unicorns need to be nice. Deception is plentiful and causes great pain. Some things can be hidden where they will never be found. Even if they are, no one can explain As long as such forceful deception is around. Courage to believe is not a crime. Truth can withstand the test of time. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky DARE By ... Steve Lucky Discoveries are made by those who dare to explore. Sensational athletes come from those who dare to play. Great scientific advances are made by those who dare to invest. Those who find romance are those who dare to look for it. Crimes are stopped by those who dare to take action. Beauty is seen by those who dare to look at ugly things. Fear is conquered by those who dare to hold their ground. Achievements are made by those who dare to achieve. Idolized people come from those who dare to risk public ridicule. Problems are solved by those who dare to take steps toward solutions. Loved are those who dare to love. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky RETURN INSULTS WITH KINDNESS By ... Steve Lucky Christians are supposed to return insults with kindness. Easy to say, yet hard to do. Like violence breeds violence, kindness breeds kindness too. One who handles the sacrifice and effort Needed to carry out this difficult task, Discovers the benefits are well worth the price. Though practice and determination, one gains confidence Kindness will outlast even the cruelest insults. Many, if not all, will fall short of the goal. Shortcomings do not mean the battle is over. Help from anyone and everyone plays a part In making sure kind words conquer all insults preceeding it. No act of kindness is too insignificant Or should be overlooked by those who supposedly know better. Hostilities are abundant in the world of mankind, Yet God showers everyone with love, showing everyone His ultimate example. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky RESPONSIBLE By ... Steve Lucky Problems fill the world today. "Who will take responsibility?" some people say. For my share of the problems, I acknowledge my part Both with my mind and with my heart. Those looking to others for the blame, Most likely have not found the source of their shame. Damage from generations before Can be found from shore to shore. Although those who caused it have long since died, Results of their actions no one can hide. Only together can something be done To reduce those problems already begun. Without someone taking action, problems will grow. Eventually more and larger problems will show. Solutions rarely come without action. Individuals become the main attraction. Not people of power, influence, or wealth, Responsible I feel when I look to myself. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky PAIN By ... Steve Lucky Everyone has times of pain From which he or she can not abstain. It could be caused by too much strain Or ineffient use of the brain. This causes many people to complain, Yet a certain calm one must maintain. Although trouble can fall like rain, None of it has to leave a stain. Personal energy pain can drain Making one feel like nothing can sustain. Somehow one must manage to obtain Better ways he or she can gain Enough endurance to handle the main Reason for the throbbing pain. Hurt should not conquer the will to live. Despite it all, life has more to give. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky THE INTERNET By ... Steve Lucky The internet, a place of great hope and great disappointment, Where dream are made and then shattered Or lost and then found again. Both a land of dreams and a land of nightmares, It can be friendly or inhospitable. A place of wicked lies and the hidden truth Unpublished anyplace else because no one else will publish it. Serious information and usless trivia are printed on it For the enjoyment of others. Game players and people hard at work Talk to each other as if they live in the same neighborhood Even though they are from different countries. Like all technological devices, the internet should be treated with care. Often success or failure on the internet Depends on the individual, not the surrounding circumstances. Risk is taken with every typed or spoken word. Constant interaction with people who bring Dreams and nightmares into reality makes risk unavoidable. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky DISTANT By ... Steve Lucky As distance increases, it becomes harder to see What the other one is trying to be. Details become sketchy that should be made clear Until the other person is near. If two people grow too far apart, How can one know what is in the other's heart? Time is needed for one to realize Not everyone is going to be wise. Sensitive people try to stay close Making sure they get their daily dose Of personal contact needed to maintain Close proximity with others for as long as they remain. Personal contact can sometimes be broken. For many years hardly a word is spoken. Everyone can not possibly stay near Among limited resources and ever present fear. Being distant should not lead to danger. Staying distant keeps everyone a stranger. Nearness should win out in the end. Distance will not stop a friend. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky NOT ENOUGH By ... Steve Lucky When one lacks something and feels a need To restore the balance of various stuff, One should not give in to greed. Greed makes one feel there is never enough. Being humble is hard to do Especially when one feels hurt inside. Good deeds, once begun, should be seen though. Anger should not lead to pride. For some satisfaction will never come. They will always feel like something is missing. It is easier to reach the proper sum When one does not start booing and hissing. Continuing on despite personal lack Helps keep one focused on the right track. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky TOO MUCH By ... Steve Lucky One must conquer many burdens to become great. Sometimes overwhelming public demand Can be more than one can stand. It is hard to contemplate Without giving in to the pressure of hate. Those who can destroy another with a single command Really need to understand All such a power can demonstrate. Power is fleeting without the presence of love. Such people will eventually be overcome. Everything together can be too much. From the ground below to the stars above, Trying to handle it all makes one very numb Unless one knows how to deal with such. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky PATTERNS By ... Steve Lucky When one looks at something closely Patterns can normally be detected. Before one begins to work on a project Some type of pattern is normally selected. Understanding patterns gives one an edge Against future problems one might have to face. Important patterns grow in complexity Making it difficult to keep pace. Questions with answers still unknown Tend to be asked by almost everyone one meets. Unavoidable are such difficult questions, Whether one works on a farm or on the streets, As long as people talk to one another. It is part of everyday conversation. Being unable to answer these questions Leads some people to fustration. Not everyone knows everything. Knowing patterns may lead to the proper clues. Friendship needs to be maintained. To do it all should pay their dues. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky CHEERFUL, DESPITE IT ALL By ... Steve Lucky Who can stay cheerful In a world filled with depression? Countries are on the brink of war And the economy is in a major recession. Despite it all, one should stay upbeat. It is unwise to give in to fear. Most solutions begin with a single person. Those who dare to speak to others will hear. Others may say it is impossible to win, But what do they really know? No matter what obsticles one encounters Love will continue to show. For one to lose completely, One has to totally give us the fight. Games and wars do not last forever. Everything will be alright. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky SUDDENLY By ... Steve Lucky Most major events suddenly arrive. Giving little time to prepare for the consequences. Life is interrupted in mid-stride By something which starts innocently And takes a drastic turn for the worst. Whether it is an accident, Or intentionally caused by those with malicious intent, People have to deal with the shock Coming from sudden unwanted events. It seems preparations for these tragedies Never come to the right locations, Yet people keep trying as if it makes a difference Because it does! Tragedies can come from any direction So one should be ready for anything. Few events in life announce themselves. Major changes can arrive ... suddenly. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky USEFUL By ... Steve Lucky Almost any object can be useful If one knows its proper use. Easy uses can be found for some Like quenching thirst with a glass of juice. Other objects have uses not as clear Forcing one to be creative. New ideas presented to others, Whether they be alien or native, Can be tough on even a genius Unless he or she has the skill to explain. Hidden uses can be discovered By those knowing the fine details as well as the main. Reexamining an object carefully Will prove more uses can still be found. Staying in tune with an objects nature Enables one to recognize the sound It makes when its natural rythmic pattern Blends with the sounds of its surroundings. Once new uses are found and properly explained, All can benefit from what the useful object brings. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky STAYING POWER By ... Steve Lucky Hard workers are sometimes pressured to quit When a job appears undoable. Personal energy comes from a source renewable So most keep going in spite of it. One does not need to throw a fit. Botching some jobs makes one suable, Yet even those jobs are definitely doable. Fire can spread rapidly once it is lit. Valuable experience one can gain If one stands up to the problems one faces. Great courage from those who dare to remain Has enough power for some mistakes which it completely erases. Everyone at times must endure great pain Caused by personal problems and major court cases. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky TEMPTATION By ... Steve Lucky Temptation to do wrong does not go away One needs to resist it every day. God shows mankind the path that is right, Yet many people still try to fight Kindness and goodness with every breath. Following that path only leads to death. It is not a good time for placing blame While one is tempted to do the same. Look to God for where to go Since only He could possibly know Pressures from temptation and how to resist. Despite all the Devil himself would insist, Into temptation Jesus would not lead Because God was His greater need. Moments when temptation causes others to fall Should not mean the end of it all. Helping hands God can always lend. Every wound He is able to mend. Understanding the proper way to live Requires one to be able to forgive. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky BEYOND UNDERSTANDING By ... Steve Lucky God exists beyond understanding. Unreachable places He is commanding, Yet He still finds a way to reach the heart So all will know their vital part In the symphony known as the universe. When things go from bad to worse On God one can still totally depend Even if times are coming to an end. Jesus was born a human being To let everyone know God was seeing People in their daily struggle to get things done. Love is shared with everyone. From the cross He paid for every sin And with His power rose again. No temptation is too great For God's love to comtemplate. Beyond understanding most of it is found. Though dangers do indeed surround People they do not take the place Of God who has a name and face. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky CRY FOR HELP By ... Steve Lucky War, being all around him, was all he knew. Battle strategies were something he knew far too well, Yet he never seemed to know them well enough. Gradually the successes and failures of war Day after day became a part of everyday life. Never did he know anything else. For his deeply cherished beliefs, he was willing to fight Even to the point of death by slow torture. Those opposed appeared willing to do the same. Peace some insisted on creating despite enormous odds against it. How important are beliefs worth defending to the death Compared to the damage caused by relentless fighting? Questions like these he asked himself frequently. Sometimes he wondered if it was even possible to win Or if only death awaited him. Humbly he realized his best chance of success Was to swallow his pride, admit the situation was beyond his control, And cry for help. Power to cry for help should not be taken lightly. Like him, his enemies knew this too. They kept a sharp eye out For anything out of the ordinary. Victory was finally within his grasp while they were distracted. If help did arrive, could they defeat his enemies? More important would they finally find the peace Desired by him for as long as he could remember? Relentlessly attacking his mind, questions came even faster than before. Greatly need help arrived to give him a more solid backing But they did not do much else. War would continue ... And so would his cries for help. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky THE COST OF FREEDOM By ... Steve Lucky Although freedom for free would be nice, Usually freedom comes at a price. Some do all they can to kill, torture, and enslave Every human being from birth until grave. Those who want freedom are forced to fight For the justice for all they know is right. Love, most of all, needs to found Before the first drop of blood hits the ground. People wanting to do other things Know first hand the cost such a fight brings. New dimensions to freedom to help out another. How can even the will to live Compare to a selfless individual's ability to give. Others see it and copy their deeds Going off to help with another's needs. Revenge creates a chain reaction too Making fighting for freedom much harder to do. Nonviolent methods may be the best way To purchase freedom with minimum pay. Leaders of those methods are remembered for a long time, Outlasting those unwilling to make such a climb. Successful leaders of this type discover their fate By paying a price tremendously great. Powerful forces like these collide Destroying mighty empires from the inside. Can manmade methods, no matter how clever Give total freedom to everyone forever? Ideas for new methods come from what occurred before. Recipients of freedom will always want more. Keep in mind those who sacrified, no matter how small. Few comforts compare to freedom for all. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky WORLD By ... Steve Lucky Great diversity has all of which the world is composed Keeping the system from appearing closed. Harmony can be brought to the races By noticing various countries, cities, people, and places. Peace, though not the ultimate goal, Makes sure selfish interests do not take control. Vital things to global well being All people should be hearing and seeing. The tallents people offer society Continue to come in a countless variety. Despite manmade obsticles and the surrounding weather, For global balance everyone has to work together. Knowledge needed for a lifelong change to start Is found close, deep inside the heart. Before creating a change that will last for years, One must first conquer internal fears. Whether contact with others comes from sight or by phone, No one was meant to be alone. People working together can overcome Similar problems making everyone glum. Really believing someone can change the world Any time tremendous problems have unfurlled, Comes from those who can be brisk Enough to become that person and take the risk. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky CAN'T By ... Steve Lucky There is such a thing as can't. Need exists to tell someone don't And there really should be a shouldn't For those listening to advice so they won't Do what is considered dangerous Which frequently leads to harm. Obsticles will not be cleared and out of sight Purely from optimism and charm. Knowing something can't be done Ironically is a great leap towards success. Using this knowledge alternative solutions Can be found by taking an educated guess. Getting others to help out is one way to conquer Something unsolvable for one person alone. Difficult problems might even be avoided After this fact is known. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky SPACE BATTLE By ... Steve Lucky All over the galaxy people tried to find Someone who was both brave and kind To get the out of their terrible bind Of being controlled by another. Heroes who came from far and near Gave them hope and spread good cheer, Yet none of them could see a clear Way to reach the controlling other. Forgotten because of all the confusion Peter was a young man with no delusion He could manage alone to resist the illusion Controlled by the mysterious force. True heroes knew he was the one Who could make sure the job got done. Dangerous journeys rarely were fun, But the problem had to be dealt with at the source. Informed by the heroes of Peter's true power, Gifts to him they began to shower At a rate of more than once an hour. Peter was sure he was needed. Much preferring to be elsewhere With the people Peter did share Desire to beat the controller out there So he conquered his fear when they pleaded. Looking to the heroes to come up with a plan, From hero to hero he often ran. They tried to explain to him he was the man Capable of giving freedom to all. Understanding what he had to do, He promised he would see the task through. No illusions old or new Would cause him to even stall. Aid from the heroes would be great, Making his pace accelerate, Yet he knew at their current rate Eventually he would be on his own. Only Peter knew which way to go During times when progress would slow Because he was the only one willing to know Illusions could not defeat them alone. Continuing forward towards illusions or not, Step by step to the heroes he brought Knowledge to give it everything they got To have any hope of success. When the proper illusion had been picked, One by one the heroes were tricked. Peter knew his bad habbit had to be licked Before the illusion he could guess. Money and power were not the way So on the path Peter would stay. Although he did not know it he could say The illusion had been defeated. Discovering the illusion he cried. It seemed no matter how hard he tried, Far too many heroes had died Which he did not want repeated. Exhausted he finally reached the place Only to discover the mysterious controller was in space. His heart and mind began to race As he took off towards his goal. No more illusions would slow him down. Distractions only made him frown. Someone considered to be a clown Could make a thousand heads roll. In the depths of space the ship was found. Peter entered the ship hardly making a sound. With no idea who might be around The mysterious controller he quietly approached. Knowing he had been discovered. His face with his hands he quickly covered. Above him the mysterious controlled hovered Reacting as if uncoached. Shivering Peter looked into the eyes Of the one controlling them without a disguise. As he looked he began to realize Why the controller had not yet been reached. Looking up he began to doubt His mission and what it was all about. The other looked like he never found out Maximum security had been breeched. From what little Peter what able to tell, It was quite clear he knew all too well. Remaining was only machinery smell Which belonged to a former human being. All it would take was a single jump To land with an unpleasant bump On the other who he could then easily thump. Peter did not believe what he was seeing. Sensing what he saw was a trap He ran quickly to widen the gap Between himself and the one who could snap Entire body parts in half. Keeping calm he ran in the direction Readable signs said would be the main section. Satisfied with Peter's selection, The other began to laugh. At first Peter began to wonder If he had tragically made a blunder When the other did not follow like thunder. Did the place he was headed contain nothing to get? Later he figured out where he went Put his chances of victory at a good percent. His opponent was too overconfident For such a serious threat. This new knowledge gave him confidence. Rapidly his search grew more intense, Before the other knew his plans for defense Came from his intuition. Once Peter reached his selected room, Dark illusions filled him with gloom. It seemed all he could find was doom. However, heroes do not work on commission. Peter let out a horrible gasp. With the object he wanted within his grasp, Something kept his touch weaker than a clasp. Desire for it was making him itch. Calmly aware he had to stay clean, Using strong willpower and an eye that was keen, One arm kept trying to beat the machine And turned off the main switch. The other went into something resembling shock Before becoming as hard as a rock. In just another tick of the clock He started falling apart. Destruction inside him became more and more Until at last it reached the core Leaving everything as it had been before A former controller lost his heart. Knowing what the controller ... the other contains When he looked inside the horrible remains, Peter discovered human brains Flawed though they may be were far superior. One who selfishly controls May lose sight of human goals. No power is worth the cost of souls. Important things are found in the interior. Quietly, the ship slowly shifted. Hopelessly out of control is drifted. Realizing this, Peter's spirits lifted. Years of neglect left the ship in poor shape. Doing what his instincts required At the docking bay he was inspired To take the ship he previously aquired So an inactive ship would not spoil his plans for escape. No longer would he aimlessly roam. It was time for him to head back home. What happened to the heroes still made him foam, But it was time for him to let go of the past. Long after the mysterious controller was dead, A robot continued to do as he said Until Peter held he his ground instead, Passing through the illusions so everyone would be safe at last. Celebration began from those who heard the news. To a mysterious controller they would no longer lose. None of them celebrating wanted to snooze. More gifts to Peter they would adorn. Peter did not want to celebrate. For the other heroes it was too late. Knowing their sacrifice to him was great, He took the time to mourn. As he did so he realized their sacrifice Would not have to be done twice. Dying a hero would be nice, Yet a living hero was greater still. Coming back to join the crowd, Peter announced in a voice that was loud Of his great deeds he was quite proud. If they needed a hero, he could fit the bill. No longer on heroes the crowd had to rely So at last Peter was willing to try To tell of the mission he was willing to die For to be sure, the people they would protect. As a group the heroes had to strive But Peter alone managed to survive. He knew he had to keep all of them alive. Dreams of freedom all of them would select. Illusions had a secret he could not conceal When another could use those illusions to make others fell Fear from deceptions no one dared to reveal. He had to do it if no one else would. Going forward he could be, Regardless of what the illusions might be, Led him on to victory. Stopping forward progress no illusion could. Knowing this the people had a chance. Whether one seeks power or romance, It is easier to freely dance Not worrying about things which can not harm. Being a hero does not take Power to distinguish a true hero from a fake. Love can overcome any mistake Even the illusion of lack of charm. Valuable lessons the people learned So in the future they would not be so easily burned. Adventurous spirits inside them churned Which was only bound to increase. The line of heroes could never ceasr, If they wanted freedom to be more than a lease. For terrorism to truly decrease All had to fight, but fight for peace. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky MORE THAN A LIFETIME By ... Steve Lucky More than a lifetime may be required To see how a work was truly inspired. Success is built on all that came before. No matter what one does, one can still do more. One must keep attempting to climb For one to withstand the test of time. Both in times of war and times of peace, Love must never, ever cease. Effort has to be made for one to achieve Anything one can perceive. Many generations work towards a common goal Coming from deep within the soul. People may not notice the great deeds someone tried Only after that someone has died. Unrecognized work can still help everyone around When a source of love can be found. Making a difference sometimes takes years Filled with mystery, blood, sweat, and tears. Work lasting for centuries or longer Shows that one can always be stronger. Copyright 2003, Steve Lucky
Return To The Poetry Lane Page