No Part of this poetry should be reproduced in any form without the written consent from the author, Mary Etta Metcalf, who retains all rights. Contact: poet@light-cards.com

"Am I An Illusion" (by Mary Etta Metcalf)

as i look into the mirror i see this sad lonely woman
do i know you i ask all she does is stare back at me
she looks vaguely familiar this sad lonely woman
but she wont answer i feel sad for her somehow
is this really me or am i an illusion

if she would only talk to me maybe i could help her
but her eyes only look at me imploringly only stares
why do i feel i know her why do i feel i share her pain
if only she would speak to me to solve this mystery
is this really me or am i an illusion

but she doesnt have to speak for now i do know her
i have looked into her eyes many nights and denied her
i didnt want to know the truth i didnt want to believe them
i can no longer ignore the pain she visulized to me anymore
is this really me or am i an illusion

i will no longer live with this pain and agony
i cannot look into those sad eyes anymore
no one has the right to cause that much pain
i have to smile again i have to be happy again
is this really me or am i an illusion

  "Where Do They Go" (by Mary Etta Metcalf)

flying through my mind to see what is there
sweeping in and out of all the cobwebs i find
some are vague some are clear some just hide
stray thoughts ideas events all of my life
where do they come from where do they go

i try to make some sense of them i try to understand
they all seem to evade me at times playing games
always playing games with my mind to see who wins
sometimes i can be smarter then they are though
where do they come from where do they go

i see fragments floating freely there is a creative air
others are bogged down in mire strugling to be free
yet there are some who seem lost no where to go
here i had always considered myself a logical soul
where do they come from where do they go

the end anyalysis i suppose is how complicated i really am
im not a lost soul you see just a bit confused at times
but there are times i do have these rare random moments
when i feel maybe just maybe a genius floats around
where do they come from where do they go

Conquering The Unknown

take a journey within your mind see what you can find
discover who you are what you want for the asking
we never know till we look what we will find inside our realm
it is a journey into the unknown a wilderness all our own
traveling through the mind conquering the unknown
we never know what is on our mind till we spend time within
discovering that which resides inside taming the wild terrain
there is so much of ourselves left to the imagination
to seek our most inner soul befriending that secluded inside
traveling through the mind conquering the unknown
being strangers to ourselves solving our own mysteries
chancing what will be found unraveling what we dont understand
coming to terms with what we find accepting who we are
taking the first steps to becoming aware of ourselves
traveling through the mind conquering the unknown
growing as we move further inside deeper within
seeing who we can become taking the chance to grow
staying true to who we are liking what we see
gaining the wisdom only graceful aging can give to us
traveling through the mind conquering the unknown



Let My Mind Wander

words traveling through my mind at the speed of light
ideas seizing them as fast as they can be born
the birth of a poem is slowly taking shape within
all i have to do is sit here and let my mind wander
yet there are times when ideas fail to capture
these moments can cause a poet much anguish
for you see we dont like to be without words on our minds
all i have to do is sit here and let my mind wander
words make up who we are other times they hide us
we stand by our words or we hide behind them
we are what they are they create us or vice versa
all i have to do is sit here and let my mind wander
they become ideals crusades or illusions for us
we weave our lives and our cries around them
they are how we survive and help others carry on
all i have to do is sit here and let my mind wander
we use them to be intense silly or thought provoking
our moods create the atmosphere we reach out to touch
hear us feel us we are very sensitive to our words
all i have to do is sit here and let my mind wander
words can make us strong or they can tear us assunder
they can make us happy or they can destroy who we are
so we take special care with our words trying not to hurt others
all i have to do is sit here and let my mind wander



Strangers In The Skies

we are all strangers to ourselves trying to find us
reaching for the sky searching for answers not there
never knowing who we are or who we want to be
and if we do find ourselves what will we be
strangers in the skies who are we
we were a lost generation seeking nonexistant answers
dreaming of the impossible not satisfied with the possible
they call us the baby boomers end products of a war
we expanded the search our parents began much earlier
strangers in the skies who are we
rebellion was our middle name rebels with a cause
nonconformity our way of life we would show them all
but who were we rebelling against ourselves perhaps
what were we not conforming to what we were suppose to be
strangers in the skies who are we
but look around what do you see all of the next generations in line
arent they also rebelling against what you or them
and being nonconformist as we were but different their own style
they are them and we were us different times same growing pains
strangers in the skies who are we

How Deep Is Love

talk to me my love tell me if you still feel
do you see me do you still love me do you know
you said youd love me forever now your are in forever
how deep is love how shallow are our promises

i remember the night you died with shock and pain
i held you in my arms believing your soft spoken words
the caressing strokes of my face with your soft hands
how deep is love how shallow are our promises

i remember your lips brushing over my bare chest
the feelings that ran through my body my smile
and then the glint of steel and the pain i felt
how deep is love how shallow are our promises

the shock i felt the betrayal of your love the shame
i lashed out to save myself the adrenaline flowed
the blow broke your neck but blade was still in your hand
how deep is love how shallow are our promises

the police had me rushed to the hospital from loss of blood
they later informed me my love was a serial killer
i had been lucky but i will carry my scar for life as a reminder
how deep is love how hallow are our promises

Mind In Chaos

weaving the web of lies to enhance his existence
he feels the need for excitement an extension of his life
the pain and grief caused to others minor in his schemes
the web he weaves when the mind lives in chaos

you try to love him he needs and craves your acceptance
then the mind takes over and he loses it all to fantasy
he is a complicated man who rally doesn't know himself
the web he weaves when the mind lives in chaos

he is a magnet drawing people to his side for his personal use
a fisherman drawing in his net seeing his catch for the day
he preys on people for his excitement and livelihood
the web he weaves when the mind lives in chaos

tears flow from the ones who do love him knowing they cant help
helplessness a part of their lives there is nothing they can do
but help never seems to come on time to help those in real need
the web he weaves when the mind lives in chaos

My Heart Still Feels

i ask myself what this is all about
why am i traveling this road again
i am strong i am a survivor i will cry
but my heart still feels the pain

to feel is to suffer to love is to cry
i am tired of the pain tired of hurting
being alone is my only salvation my only hope
but my heart still feels the pain

we both know the time approaches yet
when i reach out for you and your not there
my heart will cry for you loneliness i will feel
but my heart still feels the pain

this emptiness of all those future years alone
with memories of all those past years with you
can i sustain my life give myself a reason why
but my heart still feels the pain

The Games We Play

our lives blend into anothers we depend on them
our fragile egos needs love and acceptance
but i dont know how to play the game
the lies we tell the games we play

we try to be what is expected of us and fail
this game of life is a cruel one causes us much pain
but i dont know how to play the game
the lies we tell the games we play

we try to understand why people do what they do
we wonder why we feel so hurt so easily
but i dont know how to play the game
the lies we tell the games we play

why must there always be tears shed to satisfy others
why we always have to consider others when they forget us
but i dont know how to play the game
the lies we tell the games we play

we ask why there is always a rule to comply with
why we are not accepted for ourselves when we dont comply
but i dont know how to play the game
the lies we tell the games we play

so we put aside our pride accept what life doles out to us
knowing you will always be alone to be true to yourself
but i dont know how to play the game
the lies we tell the games we play

The Magic Of The Written Word

the written word is far easier than the spoken word
when you write a word you can express yourself freely
your feelings are there to feel to be seen to behold
the magic of the written word is in the eyes of the beholder

it is through my words that i reach out to you and the world
to seek companionship and friendship through the written word
to marvel over the gifts we share as our joys begin to spill over
the magic of the written word is in the eyes of the beholder

the spoken words are so difficult for me i am a shy person
i fear hurting or embaresing anyone so they go unspoken
but when written i do not have the same fears impersonal maybe
the magic of the written word is in the eyes of the beholder

they speak of a world unto themselves they beg to be read
it is through your eyes i convey my words my world
to tell my stories and speak from my mind and heart
the magic of the written word is in the eyes of the beholder

A Basket Called Love

a mothers love is many things wrapped in one
its the lessons she shows you as you grow
the sacrifices that expands from her heart
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

she doesnt always say i love you all the time
but the little things she does tells you it is so
she will spend her last dime on you to make you smile
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

she worries about you when your sick or gone
fussing over you is her trait showing the world what she created
you are after all her child her pride and joy
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

no matter what you may think of her good or bad
what mistakes she made in her life or pain she caused
she will always break down and give in for you
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

when forgiveness is hard to give she understands
not hearing from you breaks her heart she still understands
she is after all a mother no matter what she's done
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

she makes her decisions for her life with you at the foremost
and if your well being means for her to step aside she will
for her love is only superseded by one other greater than her
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

************

Let Him Free

deep within the soul of mankind lies a dark shadow
one so evil even the angels tremble with fear
he lies trapped in the recesses of the mind of mankind
to let him free will destroy everything we know and value

man has always carried this entity locked securely away
but there have been extreme times when this evil has escaped
these times have caused us much anguish and terror to our minds
to let him free will destroy everything we know and value

think about all the horrors of history we have seen and known
the demon within does exist know him and weep for he is us
we have caused the horror that lives amongst us by letting go
to let him free will destroy everything we know and value

he will soon be in control and at the helm of our future again
like hitler hannibal stalin jack the ripper terrors of the mind
can we live through horrors like that again do we really want that
to let him free will destroy everything we know and value

do we dare let him free can we prevent another holocaust
can we protect our world from ourselves do we care to even try
thoughts to ponder just how important is this world and ourselves
to let him free will destroy everything we know and value

****************

One Who Has No Name

through the stealth of the night he came to me
bearing gifts to entice me all wrapped in pretty packages
when opened deceptions were found i was condemned
gifts of lies fear hate greed came from the one who had no name

his smile and words filled me with such happiness i believed
but his actions filled me with terror of unspoken deeds
what had i done my heart froze with fear could i ever escape
gifts of lies fear hate greed came from the one who had no name

i had been warned all my life but i was too proud to listen
there was so much power glitters and wealth i had wanted so much
now i had them all and suddenly i realized what i had done to late
gifts of lies fear hates greed came from the one who had no name

is there ever redemption for one who finds their answer too late
can they ever wrench free of the evil one is it ever possible
i feel that in Gods world anything is possible when your truly believe
gifts of lies fear hate greed came from the one who had no name

*****************

The Magic Of Our Words

i went off to do some real soul searching to learn what i could
digging deep within going where i had never been before
i found a bit of magic hiding within my heart and soul
the magic of our words brings them to life makes the big man cry

i was amazed at my find never believing in myself always afraid
it was then i realized God puts little pieces of magic through out us all
it is what makes us unique in his eyes precious to all mankind
the magic of our words brings them to life makes the big man cry

i began to see things with a different view they have new meaning for me
the need to share my words become paramount to my being
i have a goal in life now to help others reach their full potential in life
the magic of our words brings them to life makes the big man cry

to think all this time i possessed my own harmony with the world
yet i let so much strife and sadness rule my very existence destroying me
God gave me the tools to work with i just didnt search deep enough
the magic of our words brings them to life makes the big man cry

****************

A Basket Called Love

a mother's love is many things wrapped in one
its the lessons she shows you as you grow
the sacrifices that expands from her heart
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

she doesn't always say i love you not all the time
but the little things she does tells you it is so
she will spend her last dime on you to make you smile
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

she worries about you when your sick or gone
fusing over you is her trait showing the world what she created
you are after all her child her pride and joy
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

no matter what you may think of her good or bad
what mistakes she made in her life or pain she caused
she will always break down and give in for you
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

when forgiveness is hard to give she understands
not hearing from you breaks her heart she will still understand
she is after all a mother no matter what she's done
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

she makes her decisions for her life with you at the foremost
and if your well being means for her to step aside she will
for her love is only superseded by one other greater than her
tied in a ribbon is a basket called love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Slow Walks Through The Woods

my heart is beginning to dance all on its own
i find myself thinking of him constantly i am hopeless
no rushing this time that's always been disastrous for me
a slow walk through the woods good words exchanged hands held

he will not swoon me again i'm doing enough of that myself
starting out as friends building from there is sound advice
we are friends and have been for several years now
a slow walk through the woods good words exchanged hands held

we weren't able to handle all that youth thrown at us much too young
our lives together were so chaotic the boys needed him not me
i left without them knowing he would be so much better than i could
a slow walk through the woods good words exchanged hands held

i know i hurt them all for i felt the pain all through these years
time heals all age changes our views wisdom reveals the whys
i hear his voice now and i feel my heart skip a beat when i don't it drops
a slow walk through the woods good words exchanged hands held

i don't know his feelings for me yet i can only hope they are shared
i feel i'm awakening from a long dark sleep a frightening one at that
his words always cheer me up make me feel safe in this world of strife
a slow walk through the woods good words exchanged hands held

my golden years will be just that and will be filled with silver linings as well
i pray i will not spend it all alone anymore with someone who never loved me
to have some true love and feel safe with is all i have ever asked for
a slow walk through the woods good words exchanged hands held

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Only The Mind Knows

my mind has been released to find its quest
where it goes i am unaware it now roams free
a free spirit all its own captivating the words it finds
where do my words come from only the mind knows

i cast my thoughts to the winds expectations run high
will my words ring true or will they cause me dismay
only the pen and paper will know in the end who wins
where do my words come from only the mind knows

it lures them into sentances then further into paragraphs
blending them into readable tales for all to read and enjoy
all the while creating the atmosphere desired by each
where do my words come from only the mind knows

seeking my ideas from any place hoping they are true
the reader is the final judge i am merely the one who writes
trying to find my place see who i am who i will become
where do my words come from only the mind knows

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~