Copyright Michael Coatesworth.

Last revised: September 21, 2006

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Time for a Cuppa!

The Magazine

For all the Family

Have a Cuppa! with Mike

Patricia Fowler

I choose to learn from you rather than to copy you. There cannot be another you, nor would I want there to be. If I am a wannabe, it is only to better the person that I am.

From your people I learn many things such as loyalty, honesty, perseverance, bravery, reverence for nature and a truth of spirit. If I choose to be a wannabe----It is not to ridicule your ways but rather to learn from them.

I do not consider the term "wannabe" an insult and cannot understand your doing so, but honor your right to do so. If someone were making an effort to be like me, I would indeed wonder why, but I would be flattered. I do not mock your culture, but rather strive to learn from it.

You, as a people, have so much to teach us, the "cultured ones." Your families are more devoted, while ours are painfully fragmented. Your beliefs are more singularly centered, while ours are terribly diverse. So, if I choose to be an Indian Wannabe, it is only because I see a better way to be and strive always to better myself.

No, I would not choose to go through all the difficulties that your people did, to become the people they are today, nor do I think that anyone else would. That may be awfully shallow of me, but then again, I don't claim to be a deep river, just a babbling brook.

*****

TIME FOR GIVING THANKS

It's time to tell our Deity, whoever that may be,
the way we feel about all the beauty that we see.
I'm thankful for the sky of blue, puffed with clouds of white
I lay on the ground and look straight up, Oh what a glorious sight.

And when I'm tired of looking up, I turn over and what do I see
a beautiful, bright winged butterfly, looking back at me.
She's sitting on a flower, the color of springtime pink
She looked at me and pulsed her wings, and I swear, I saw her wink.

To think of all the things I see that I am grateful for
the sea, the sky, the rolling hills and oh so very much more.
Mother Earth has done her best to give us such a gift
and when I'm down, I just look around, and I get such a lift.

No matter how my problems are weighting on my head
I go outside and lay me down in Mother Nature's bed.
She comforts me and cradles me 'til I am sad no more
And all my heavy burdens just float away from shore.

Father time has set aside a term for each of us
To spend on earth and learn his way and do the things we must
and when it's done, the time used up and we've learned all we can
he'll take us away from this earthly coil and hold us in his hand.

The simple things that make you smile or make you shed a tear,
your ability to see things, your ability to hear.
Your ability to walk around, to taste and sense and feel
and know that Mother Earth cry's too, and needs her time to heal

So on this day of giving thanks for family , home and friends
remember who you came from, before this body ends.
and when you're saying thank you to your Mom and Dad
Think of Mother Earth And Father Time and let your heart be glad.

Thursday, November 25, 1999
(c) Patricia Fowler

However you decide to celebrate this day, know that you all are in my thoughts today and that each and every one of you are someone I'm grateful to have in my life.

*****

WANNABEE

They call me Indian wannabee
and what's so wrong with that?
Who said because we're born one way
we can't wear another's hat?

I learned the white mans story
about coming to this land.
Of wild and dangerous Indians
who tried to take a stand.

They fought to keep their families safe
from things they didn't know,
They fought to keep their traditions,
the arrow and the bow.

The Indians have a way of life
that only they can live.
They take from Mother Nature
but more importantly, they give.

I think I've lived a little more
than half of my time here,
and, I've tried to learn from every day,
the things I should hold dear.

So, if you want to call me
Indian wannabee
I guess I am because I choose
to use my heart to see.

To see the things around me
and leave them as they are.
and if I am allowed to
I'll wish upon a star

I'll wish to be allowed to live
a way that makes me see
It isn't really bad to be
an Indian Wannabee.

14-Oct-99
Patricia Fowler

*****

THE LADY

THE LADY SITS AND STARES
AT THINGS SHE'LL NEVER SEE
THE LADY SITS AND PONDERS
THE THINGS SHE'LL NEVER BE

SHE'LL NEVER BE A PRINCESS
SHE'LL NEVER BE A STAR
SHE'LL ALWAYS BE A DREAMER
SHE'LL NEVER TRAVEL FAR

BUT SHE'S QUEEN OF ALL HER HOUSEHOLD
HER LIFESTORY'S SUPERSTAR
HER DREAMS ARE SWEET, BUT INCOMPLETE
SHE WONDERS WHY THEY ARE.

*****

STORMY THOUGHTS

I LOOKED AT THE SKY AND IT SEEMED TO BE AS BRUISED AS MY HEART.
I STUDIED THE COLORS AND THEY MADE ME THINK OF MY EMOTIONS
I SAW BLUE
BLUE FOR LONLINESS
I SAW BLACK
BLACK FOR LACK OF LIGHT
THE LIGHT OF INSIGHT
I SAW GREEN
DARK,UGLY GREEN
GREEN FOR ENVY AND JELOUSY

AND THEN I HEARD THUNDER, ANGRY SOUNDS,FURIOUS SOUNDS OF NO MEANING
NO UNDERSTANDING
I SAW LIGHTENING
FLASHES OF TRUTH MAKING FRAGMENTARY ATTEMPTS TO ENLIGHTEN THE DAY

AND THEN I FELT THE RAIN
IT FELL IN SOOTHING SHEETS OF RELIEF
LIKE MY TEARS

WHILE CONTEMPLATING THE BLEAKNESS OF MY SOUL,AND OF MY DAY,SO SLOWLY I BEGAN TO
SEE BRIGHTER SHADES OF BLUE
LIGHTER SHADES OF GREEN
AND THE BLEAK BLACKNESS WAS GONE

NO MORE TEARS, AND UGLY SOUNDS

YOU CAME HOME

*****

HOW DO YOU FEEL

HOW DO YOU FEEL, WHEN ALL'S SAID AND DONE
IF YOU CARE, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE THE ONE
WHO LEFT EMPTY SPACES,AND DIDN'T LOVE WELL
THE ONE WITH THE STORY YOU'D RATHER NOT TELL

YOU'VE DONE YOUR BEST TO SHARE YOUR LIFE
WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE,YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE
YOU'VE GOTTEN TO KNOW HIM, YOU'VE JUST LET HER IN
THAT'S WHEN YOU NOTICE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WIN

YOU'RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT, YOU CAN'T STAY TOGETHER
TOO MANY STORMS, TOO HARD TO WEATHER
YOU NEVER STOP LOVING, YOU NEVER STOP CARING
YOU SUDDENLY NOTICE YOU JUST STOP SHARING

YOU USED TO SHARE GOOD THINGS
AS WELL AS THE BAD
SOMETIMES YOU WERE HAPPY, SOMETIMES YOU WERE SAD
BUT YOU SANG ALL YOUR LOVE SONGS ALONE, SO IT SEEMS
AND WATCHED AS YOUR DREAMS FELL APART AT THE SEAMS

SO YOU TOOK THE BIG STEP, MADE THE FINAL DECISION
TO LEAVE ONE ANOTHER, IN SEARCH OF A VISION
OF HAPPINESS TRUE, OF LOVE EVERSTANDING
AND YOU WRITE THIS ONE OFF AS A CASE OF POOR CASTING.

*****

IT GETS EASIER

IT GETS A LITTLE EASIER
AS TIME HEALS THE WOUNDS
THE TENDER PLACES ARE TOUGHER
DON'T LOVE AGAIN TOO SOON

DON'T GIVE YOURSELF SO FREELY
WITHHOLD YOUR HEART FOR NOW
SOON YOU'LL LEARN TO LOVE AGAIN
YOUR SOUL WILL SHOW YOU HOW

BE PATIENT WITH YOUR LOVE MY HEART
YOUR TIME WILL COME AGAIN
SOON YOU'LL BEAT WITH LOVE MY HEART
AND NO LONGER BEAT WITH PAIN

(c) PATRICIA FOWLER
NDNMADN46@aol.com

*****

Poet's Corner (Sheila Littleton)