"Destined Minds"

GRANDMOTHER

the nuturer of children's children
when all we thought had been said and done

lovingly the mother of my mother cares
for the children left behind

the legacy of family from above
that shows the extra measure of love

and rivers of words should be written for them
for their courage and strength

the wisdom of age found in "Oma"
the gentle chiding voice of "opa"

the hand and hearts that guide and lend
a helping hand and though we weary them

the beauty and kindness of an ag-ed face
of wrinkled smiles that shine for me

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2008

Dedicated to my younger sister who is a lover of all things owl
and has also kindly agreed to give editing my poems in readiness
to send to publishers.....

SILENT NIGHT SILENT FLIGHT


muffled sound as the wise approaches its prey
the owl in silent wing-ed flight
is the nightly stealth hunter

screeching is the sound of scraping against the metal
or the rush of steam spewing forth out of an engine
is the Barn Owl of great depth of perception

and who is it that brightens the night
that breaks the silence of evenings darkness
and supertitious sounds echo from heights of tree

one hoot the omen of impending death
two success that responds soon after
three that brings the woman to our family

four disturbance that not all is well
five my feet will travel
six will tell guests are on the way

seven gives sign of mental stress
eight foretold of sudden death
nine good fortune will follow day

spy the treasures, steal and hoard them
and carry the message of the witches
and dance on the graves of the dead

by night they enter your houses
and gather your discarded finger nails
and of new born babies they are fed

the Barn Owls are the clairvoyants of the Devil
representation of blindness and desolation
and the owl too beautiful to come out in day

and with your claws my soul climbs into heaven
you will hear some people say and when I'm dead
for jealous all the other birds you would hear it say

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2008
www.freewebs.com/poetrybymareelong



FOOTNOTE: Owls have found to be in many nations a myth of superstition

http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/4708/

I ADMIRE

I admire anyone that lives their word
that feeds their heart the truth
like Mother Theresa a woman
of her convictions

Or the love of mother's word to
a small child that encourages
and lifts the spirit with
gentle soft diction

The man I call my husband who's strength
is in his acceptance and awareness
to leave the negative things in the past
where they belong

Or the young man I now see before me
accomplished, ambitious to succeed
where careful insight of others
make him strong

The daughter that rises above me
independant and full of courage
the one whose friends seek her out
to hear wisdom when they have lost their way

Or the grandson whose loving care
of others, prompts action for others
to follow and a strong mind that in this
not even his parents can sway

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2007
www.freewebs.com/poetrybymareelong