"Destined Minds"

and the woman dances
the flavors of life
a genre of raqs sharqi
of oriental dance
of raqs baladi
the dance of her heart and country

coin and belts and scarves
the fall and drop from her hip
floating veils entice
and beckon every eye to see
the rich tapestry that is danced for you and me

sequins and beads and metalic thread
stitched together to adorn her head

satin silks and chiffons drape her form
the womans beauty cannot be scorned

for brilliant colorful and elaborate
with many a unique ethnic influence

she dances the rtyhm of heart
and to the world shows all defference

so powerful and dramatic are the
sticks,swords and fan
a dancers favorite prop to perform
and all following precision, command

drums and zills and with the shimmies
in rythm they call
excitement mounts as to the
ground another veil must fall

her secret is in her eyes
her hips, the subtle
and bejeweled décolletage

agile fluid and bold
her ageless beauty is admired
but never told

shhh the secret
is in the smile

undulating quivers
gives air of illusion
as Isis wings takes all
on a journey down the Egyptian Nile

as all eyes follow in single file

dedicated to Ileana

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2009

I wake.......

I wake
and breath comes with mornings light
the doves coo in the trees

I wake
and breath comes with mornings light
as cool is felt in Autumns breeze

I wake
and breath comes with mornings Light
and life has come to me

I wake
and breath comes with mornings light
of grandeur and possibility

I wake
and breath comes with mornings light
as lifes pulse quickens my heart

I wake
and breath comes with mornings light
for the joy felt at days start

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2008

EBB AND FLOW OF FORTUNE

the ebb and flow of fortune
that comes your way and hides
just out of reach as the world
turns the tides

the chance happening of adverse event
the toss of coin the foretelling of ones
destiny that can change the course of
time and distance all emnity

unknown and unpredictable phenomenon
the state of process of known senses
without benifit of reasoning or intuition
seen through clouded lenses

and who will call on lady luck
to guide the falling hand of cards
and is the result a mere victim of circumstance?
that is often left to chance

and ebb and flow of fortune
unbroken continuity like wheat
flowing into a silo pours its wave
unsettling once known serenity

of harvest the crop that which you have sown
so blame not lady luck or hand fortune
over to Murphy and take the breath of life and say
not that it suck

so make your fortune well and sieze the moments
glory as one would take hold of the golden sap
that is once gashed in the tree and turn a handy
profit of a richness that pours our free

for all life is metred and such is the ebb and
flow of fortune so abound and teem with
coffers flowing with treasure and live your
life to it's fullest measure

and don't become hardened like the residual of
lava flow keep the stream open and be prepared
to swim against the tide so that at the end
of day in peace you can abide

to meet your fortune in the ebb and flow
of lifes sequential outpouring and remember all
return and give accountability to the source

from whence we first came nought without remorse.


Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2008

I AM MY MOTHERS DAUGHTER

Kind the soul that looks after friends
and keeper of their hearts

Years so tender full of grace has
learnt to dispense mercy well

Shaped is the life by what is taught
and learnt from thy mother's lap

How time has passed so quickly
that a quarter of century has marched

And you are your mother's daughter
and from her knee learnt well.

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2008

RAIN

condensed from atmospheric vapor
comes the falling in drops

and descent of such water
that brings the rainstorm

down upon the land such
the rain of insults

such the downpour of praise
or rain that curses upon their head

and from the heavy clouds
falls to earth to each man

it's measure of mirth and pain
to one a promise of harvest

and to the other misery
of a flooded heatless plain

and can such a torrid cloud burst
hide bloody stained hands

or give life for those who thirst
for even a brief of precipitation

and who be the daughter of rain
that brought a fruitful legacy

and many joys of watered refreshment
as one sees out their days

It rains, it rains and all men gain
for their is profit in the precious

commodity that all life requires
to keep one sustained.

Maree Long
(c) Maree Long 2008