Life Is Messy

Besides the proverbial

blood, sweat, and tears,

there's mud

and slime and filth,

worries, fears,

bugs and rodents,

dashed hopes,

unfulfilled dreams,

betrayals,

disappointments,

sorrow, pain,

unhappy times,

embarrassments,

humiliations,

and thwarted expectations,

and a seemingly endless litany

of grief and loss.

Yet through the blinding mist

and darkness of the mess

shines a light,

which draws us onward

toward joy and peace

and love

and laughter - 

to Life!

All the ugliness

prepares our eyes

to see the beauty;

and 

the beauty

strikes us deeply,

lifts us up,

gives us a song,

and air to breathe.

Looking for Love

 

Love

is often elusive,

especially when

we are surrounded

by screaming,

staring,

sleeping,

judging

eyes.

The blaring glare

turns us

inside out

and

upside down.

Love is there.

Eventually we will dance

in the light.

Kings and Cowboys

There are
some kings and cowboys
in this collage;
also a few
U.S. presidents,
some movie stars,
and a couple of musicians.