Breathless on the bridge….

Wind whips scour incoming tide;

Fine rain scatter on the river –

Sand blasted aimless in its flow.

Reverse flow,

Against the grain

As was my life….

Cold cuts a fresh remembrance

Of pale death –

Crucifixion of spirit….

Yet now, at last, I rise,

Greet Dawn with open smile,

Trusting soul

Reborn in pure surrender,

Asking nothing more than this;

Awake, to search your Dreamtime

For a new reality –

On sleeping eyes

Plant love’s enduring kiss….

How can I love you more
Each minute of each passing day?
How melt again
With every image,
Every word I hear you say?
Your words, my spirit, mingle
Touching heart and soul,
Sing Hope and Joy,
And exorcise what's past.
No loss -
And no more need to fight.
Our only Truth?
As One,
This Heaven we gain
When sweet at last we realise
From darkness
Always shines Love's light,
Dispelling all illusions -
Lies of grief and pain....

(For Jewels)

And when I say I love you

Will they chase this dream?

Pour doubt on innocence

To drive a sleeping heart

Back into frozen wastes of Time?

I bend to kiss your sleepy eyes

Within my Dream and know

No way, nowhere, no need to hide

The passion or the beauty

Of each moment spent with you….

Within this silent twilight

Of Time’s separation

There can be no End

But only bold awakening –

Beginnings have their own finality!

Thus, when I say I love you

They will learn to love an inner self

In all its infinite joy

Reborn from oh, such calm reality!

Spellbound….

In the soft beyond of now

Love bids me wake!

I sing my truth

And take sweet breath of you;

Heart beating reckless

In its timid knowing,

Nervous like a deer -

Yet oh so bold this dream

Under your forest roof -

Tall trees

Beside a waterfall!

Love bids me kiss

Sweet distant lips -

Nor miss the touch

For touch so near

As of the soul

Can never closer be….

Two hearts as One,

Within this frame

See how

All Time and Space

Is won….

Spellbound….

Within the soft beyond

Of Now,

My Love –

Your own….

© Lisa Gabriel, 1^st May 2006

© Lisa Gabriel, 11th May 2006

Breeze –

Green whispered memory

Of long distant April….

Life spilling Spring Tide

Over Emerald Hills

Wherein I lose myself

And washing over me!

Will my heart burst

Riding waves of Love,

As once so long ago

Drowning within surge

And wild rush of bliss?

Forgetting Time and Task

In Tears of Joy

You’re with me yet so far.

Though rich,

All Dreams must wait,

Intense as colour in the Hills.

Apart we are, yet so together!

Vancouver sun set on the tears I tried to hide;

So long without you, then I had to leave your side.

It seems all my life I struggled

Then surrender won the prize –

And I’m flying to meet the Sunrise in your eyes….

Majestic mountains with their canopies of green,

The scent of cedar where the air is fresh and clean

Surrounded by such Heaven

Finding Love was no surprise

So I’m flying to meet the Sunrise in your eyes….

Smiling by the Lake and holding hands,

Sitting in the Park hearing Mission’s bands,

Bouncing on a Zodiac way, way out at sea,

Sharing each and every happy day,

Living the free and simple way,

We watched the whales,

We served the Saints,

We shared each other’s dreams….

How can I tell you what each moment meant to me?

I know you love me and our Love is meant to be –

And though we are apart

Our Souls are One – we must not cry –

Now I’m flying to meet the Sunrise in your eyes….

© Lisa Gabriel, 11^th August 2006

Kiss to Wake….

Oh! Wake up do!

Ten o’clock looms,

I dreamed such dreams

And now I kiss

Tired eyes to dream

Of Saturdays to come!

Such games we’ll play,

Such sweet dancing,

Pouncing bold to laugh

Upon some too big ball of string.

My Love, oh, wake up do!

Somewhere you wait -

You rule my days,

My Goddess,

Miss no detail of each moment

In such fond embrace!

Arms forged in Heaven,

Falling into Trust,

And chasing laces into Love….

© Lisa Gabriel 19^th August 2006

If I could bring you roses’ touch

Of finest damask silk and vibrant hue

Such scent of love to greet you

As the Dawn Rise in my sky….

If I could catch each moment’s care

And bind it with such happiness as Love so true

Infect all worlds with laughter innocent

‘Til every subtle grief should fade and die….

These would I do for Love!

But ‘til that day?

From darkness shine such diamonds

Bold these sapphires royal surprise

To dance a faerie reel across our night as Stars

Remind me of the Love that’s in your eyes!

November calls again –

This time in Trust –

This bold electric Sun my own!

Where once such manic dreams

Lay unfulfilled and desolate

My smile betrays a subtle warmth -

Love’s sweeter glow -

As Mission City slumbers

Peaceful under snow….

November calls again –

As call it must –

Stiffly as a hedgehog see me stir,

Escape this prickly ball

Wherein I lay so long.

Relaxing, stretch, lie easier now.

Defenceless? BOLD!

For Love needs build no barriers

When Truth be told!

And, as I stretch limbs stiff

From lack of warmth

Bright Sun steals hibernation

From dull Winter’s eyes….

Soft realise in smile

The role that Winter plays;

Heart open once again,

Renewed in fond embrace

Of joyful Summer Days….

© Lisa Gabriel, 27^th November 2006

Simply beautiful

The way you are;

Your Summer sunlight,

Silver moonshine,

Chased dark night away

Made my heart leap in joy

To know you’re mine!

Simply beautiful

The way I am

As my Love sings

Within your presence,

Knowing darker things

Must fade to slumber

In Love’s innocence….

Simply beautiful!

In Truth we stand as One

All once Unknown and Deep

Must shine as Beacon

To the Power of Trust!

© Lisa Gabriel, 10^th December 2006

Ironic this reflection

Of a “me” I do not know!

So do I view myself as others see?

Or did another sow the doubts

And fears you heaped on me?

I never owned the sad reflection

That you thoughtless cast aside!

Ironic what I did to please

Should warp my image so!

Even in Truth, you said I lied….

Ironic this reflection, friend,

You said I never knew you –

And all the time I loved you

Seems that I was looking through you!

And even though I wept

Because we’d never meet again

Ironic my reflection

Should despise me for the pain….

© Lisa Gabriel, 10^th December 2006

How Fog shields

Before She lifts….

Soft, cushioning,

She blankets this,

Our world,

And softens hard reality

With insulating kiss….

So pierce the veil?

Confront your truth head on

And laugh insane

At hidden chaos?

See beyond Her glory,

Kind confusion steering lives apart,

Land laid naked –

Led from grief in joy!

Enshrine Fog’s wild illusion -

Cold, yet comforting!

Hearts once healed

Have no more need of answer -

Know no purpose more than Love –

And nor does She….

Through clearing, cleansing Fog we see!

Not Fog that madness kissed,

Yet we are One -

And dancing Innocent -

Once woken by the silence

Of December’s golden Sun!

© Lisa Gabriel 19^th December 2006

New Year comes,

And with it sound of sirens….

Fireworks blast my ears

To rude awakening….

This special time

I hold you yet so dear

As each and every day

A New Day starts,

Another year begins….

New Year comes,

And now I sit and ponder

Fireworks prompt

A heart to smiling recognition….

This special year

I gave myself to Love

Such Love as each and every

New Year holds

And touches warm….

Another Year,

Another Space and Time,

A chance for learning….

Yet each day, each glimpse

Of futures present,

Glories past and sorrows fled,

Was present from the First

No resolutions,

Only Love – that’s All….

© Lisa Gabriel, 31^st December 2006

Sometimes in moments

When we touch the stars

We know all in an instant

That was meant to Be,

Releasing to an Ocean of Eternity

Our frail need to know….

Sometimes in an instant

Fly the soul into the Infinite,

Touch the Face of One-ness –

Call it God –

Then like a skimming stone,

Or speeding bullet,

Drop back to the world below….

Sometimes the drop

Into our bold humanity

Can seem so brave

A leap from intuition in the dark,

And yet as One we rise again

To surface brave and bold,

And reap the Love

We learn to sow….

© Lisa Gabriel, 23^rd February 2007

This year warm;
As snowdrops pierce the veil
And early blossoms pale
Take form in virginal hedgerows,
Soft with improbability,
Sun rays warm my heart
In bright forgiveness
Of all past insanity….

Where would I be but for your Love?
Intended?
Lying easy
In Spring’s openness?
Untended?
Drifting wild upon the Path
The Universe bids bless!

I’m done!
I’m free!
With eyes new open,
Only now I see!

© Lisa Gabriel, 6th March 2007

She moved like a butterfly….

Rainbow in flight

Love was her truth

Her beauty was whole.

She moved like a butterfly….

Drawn to the light

A free dancing moth

Her lone sister soul.

Together they danced

In amazing reflection.

Moth blazed forth colours

Of new-born perfection -

And butterfly feared

Seeing Love set so free

She danced like a butterfly….

Stung like a bee!

© Lisa Gabriel, 22^nd April 2007

(For my Jewels)

Tonight

Shall I chase flickering logs

From frost to remembrance?

Or watch a guttering candle

Dance from eye to eye

Soft comforting all waking dreams

To journey forth

Or, wistful, spry?

No well of loneliness

But of our making….

As much my body misses

Sweet caresses

Once it only dared to dream,

My heart aflame, my soul lies tranquil

In Love’s arms of sweet remembrance!

Even now we’re One

Inseparable by Oceans in our bliss

A whisper of the Romantic

In the Eye of God….

No greater gift than friendship

Could you give,

Nor greater would I choose;

Past ills forgotten,

Foolishness forgiven,

Nothing else to gain.

The Me you once rejected –

Myth of accidental making –

I would lose

It caused us too much pain!

You, angry, said

“I never knew you”

(Glimpses caught, I loved) –

That hurt,

But greater still,

More than rejection,

Friend, You never knew me…

But through misunderstanding

I walked within your shoes

I sought within your silence

And the silence

Looked right through me….

So now, my friend,

I understand the “Me” you saw,

The “I” she was,

And simply count God’s blessings

That neither one was true…

At last I smile in gratitude,

Love helped me find

The soul I’d lost –

I ask all four,

Our friendship we renew.

© Lisa Gabriel, 12^th June 2007

I love this land…

This field…

This regal carpet…

Tree thrones set in lavender

Greet King Magpie and Queen Rook.

Along the road I look

And yield to fading dreams…

So near and yet so far

The schemes of ill-starred Love!

Great gifts you gave -

I wrote possessed,

Yet grew

Through my insanity…

Now all is fled

Except for freedom,

Calm remembrance

Bled like poppies -

Warm and red

In virgin hedgerows,

Speckled Hemlock white,

Jostled by tall grasses…

Names escape me as you did…

Yet learning freedom’s worth,

Knee deep in lavender,

I won my wings at last

To soar o’er purple fields

One warm July

And fly to Love…

I miss you

In the silence

Of the bright October sun.

I miss you in the peace

That reason

Lent me just to Be

I miss your sparkling laughter

And the shyness of your smile

But most of all

I miss you call

To find a better part of me

Late sunlight,

Brightly streaming,

Lends bright leaves a faery glow

The stillness of All Hallows

Rising in the sacred grove

So close we are today

And yet too soon must come

The time to part…

But know that now I’m found

I never will be far away….

© Lisa Gabriel, 11^th November 2007

And when I leave this place what will I take?

What leave behind?

Does ownership persist beyond

Detritus of unruly mind?

Eddies of anger furrowed and stormed

Once fertile clay....

Stings of rejection, bitter yet,

And, fond remembered,

Lovers’ laughter heals the rift....

So cling now

To this blissful dance of gratitude

Love bid me forth to lead!

Find happiness in simple truth,

Where sustenance of friendship

Lifts the veil of Winter.

Breezes freshen as they chill

Awakening fields of snowdrops

To the early February shift.

Our every morning Sun must set

As evening waits a new rebirth

In salmon streaks, and violet,

Skies richly golden, half moon hazy lies,

The promise of New Dawn on Earth.

All anguish past?

Forget!

Eternal bliss to find

In quiet Buddhahood

And yet more silent, subtle Mind.

(c) Lisa Gabriel 6^th February 2008

My angel stood tall,
His platinum mane shone bright
As halo to highlight perfect Greek physique.
Half-naked he stood in crystal clear water
Spring Sun dappling the golden torso
Beads of water ran from sculptured muscle.
His hands pulled –
Struggling with a great net –
Such power in the movement,
Such earnest trembling....

Distracted for a moment I wondered
Was he Andrew, or was he John?
Or even Simon Peter?
It mattered not at all!
He was a Fisher of Men,
Ordained so many centuries past!

Strong young arms trembled with exertion,
Strong young hands flailed and shook.
Purposeful, uncoordinated, he waded
Determined eyes cast towards his companions.
He reached the edge of the pool,
Sat there, looked up, conversing with
His companions, the lifeguards....

He was Raphael!
So beautiful in his new found humanity!
Then someone rolled away the chair....

You know it’s true what they say–
Angels are always perfect!

(c) Lisa Gabriel 10th February 2008

Beyond the rainbow do you sense the midnight black?
Here diamonds streak across a velvet sky...
There is
No greater than
No smaller than
No wiser than
No simpler than
And no more beautiful....

We know identity has taught us
We are better than
Some richer than
Some poorer than
Some brighter than
Some lighter than
And we can choose which seeds to sow....

But no! Our separation bids rebirth!
Each day rehearsal for a longer night
Each night a chance to free ourselves and fly
Where some are free
And some are not
And some are head
And some are heart
And all are of the earth....

And so apart,
We fill the vessel with our subtle mind –
The Heart of One –
We learn the way of Love,
We need not shout!
There is no best
No beast,
No fall....
What is achieved belongs to All -
And there is no way out!

The Stupa fills with midnight black
A soul embraced by All who would be One
To glimpse Divinity in everything
And loving all as self
In time become Divinity
Beyond the rainbow
As the diamond stars
Chase subtle velvet black....

(c) Lisa Gabriel 14th February 2008

A fire blazed forth from the desert
And blazing it whipped up a storm;
The dust took on shape, sound and substance
And the Infinite studied its form.

It looked around once at surroundings
So empty and wretched and dry,
Then created a fridge and a sofa
And took out a beer with a sigh....

“I don’t mind the Love or the Light ,dears,
Or the cuedos you give me as God
But your talent for death and destruction
Has always seemed childishly odd.

You alternately blame, then cajole me
For each foul little pain you inflict,
Destroying the Eden I gave you
Then pretending I’m bossy and strict.

So just for a change here’s the challenge –
You owe me a night on the beer –
Let’s see how you handle my duties,
If the view’s any better from here!”

The Infinite put both His feet up
And left us to ponder the plight
Of a Universe born, aged, recycled
And once again born overnight.

Our Duality gave us a headache
For Each had an Opposite thing
With its place in the wider continuum
Where once placed it would leap up and sing.

And the reason I tell you this story -
Although it perhaps will seem odd -
Is when truly you rise to the challenge
You will know there is no Baby God.

Only adults can handle the pressure
Being One with All Good and All Bad
And retaining a good sense of Humour
Whilst around All Creation looks sad;

And hoping for some understanding,
Some acceptance that Heaven is here,
That Your Part is My Part is One pleasure
So there’s no need to peddle that Fear!

There is good, there is bad, there is evil,
Ugly knowledge that nothing is chance,
The Infinite lives in us all now
We are One with the Lord of the Dance.

(c) Lisa Gabriel, 17th February 2008

Today....
 I am not an archangel foretelling
The birth of Kings of Heaven,
Or Queens of Earth,
I am the wintry white bridal gown
Of hoar on lacy hedgerow.
I am not come to praise
But discipline
Errant snowdrops for indecent haste.
I am foreteller of the Prime Time;
I am the Rime Time.
The Dreamtime where cocooned
In icy angel wings
Subtle warmth diffuses
Rose quartz silence.
I am the way of magic dreams
Where streams of grey
Lie flower bound....
  Bordered by asters and orchids of frost,
  Where ferns of light’s renewal
Recycle dead brown stems
And drier leaves to vibrancy....
Bold headlights beam enchanted dance
Through midnight black
Where paths swim vague
In the dark,
In the night,
In the dark,
In the out of the Hour
Of Forgetfulness....
I herald no new birth as yet,
But cherish darkly pregnant thoughts
Until life through me runs its course
A force too green to hold
And bursts in Spring’s bold sunlight!

(c) Lisa Gabriel, 19th February 2008.

Flaming twins we started and flaming twins we stayed.

Each to the other mirrored all the warts that Karma made.

As frightened by my aspects you changed your hour of birth,

I saw in stark intensity my Heavenly Twin on Earth.

It never should have come to this, a mess of yin and yang,

Loved by a part-time poet who stuttered Sturm und Drang

And just as sweet Narcissus did, I saw myself and fell -

Mistaken I saw Heaven but my twin saw only Hell!

Like fireflies we hovered, each flirting in the light,

Until the glass was shattered, to reveal a gem more bright.

I hope you never wonder when the nights grow cold and wild

What might have been if flaming twin had not seemed flaming child,

Had Innocence not shocked you as your Lamb failed to impress,

Then Honesty not mocked you making Lion heart seem less!

(c) Lisa Gabriel 6^th March 2008

Complete in my fractured heart
I let you go -
Essence of One -
Love that like two blazing Suns
Would soar into eternity....
Such Faith and such Surrender!
Each waking hour was You –
Then Truth, embarrassed,
Intervened.

Complete in my fractured heart
I let it die
A blaze too strong for hearts to hold;
With Passion, Ego died,
And separation....

Complete in my fractured heart
I let it pass
Into the night of wild dreams and past failures
Mourning darkly for a little while
But gentler words of Love
Had vanquished Death!

So,
Good as you, my fractured heart,
An Innocent reborn,
Made whole by tenderness and Youth regained
Know there is no such dream as failure!
This Love will save all worlds of my own making!

(c) Lisa Gabriel 7th March 2008

(a song for Woolly Bear)

Flashes of rainbows in the dew on the grass –

Life’s ended before it’s begun,

But Love hurts only until the grieving is past

For the Soul knows that now we are One.

You’ll never leave me – I feel you here in my heart!

Your voice soft and sweet sounds anew

So I must let go of the pain that I feel

I know things are better for you.

A Love too big for hearts to hold

Has taken you away

When your heart failed, then my heart broke,

But our Love forever will stay!

Outside the sun shines, inside the teardrops fall

And I wish I could hold you again.

You know I love you with all my heart and soul

Forever One, and for you no more pain.

And when the rain stops in this heart of mine

I will cherish each memory anew.

The smiles and laughter and the Love that you are

Will help me to hold on to you.

A love too big for hearts to hold

Has taken you away

When your heart failed and my heart broke

Forever I know Love will stay

Though my heart broke when your heart failed

Eternal our Love will remain.

(c) Lisa Marie Gabriel, 6^th May 2008

Diving headlong into unknown green

Pursues a break in the stillness;

Brakes, banks, grasps on sight and soars again –

Beauty impaled on eager talons

And greeting Death in joyous flight....

So meeting Love,

Headstrong I plunge empowered

Into seas of red

Heedless of the stings,

Petals aflame,

Transforming poppies

Into fragile welts of honour,

Berry stains on pale and tender skin.

Meeting my Divinity in love,

I rise -

Complete and unafraid -

And in the Now beyond Eternity

Where Love and Death unravel

I see that there is only Life!

(c) Lisa Gabriel, 24^th May 2008

A smile in a photograph,

Love ephemeral as October mist;

A blip on Life's screen

As phantoms pass in the night;

A glimpse of Maybe

Sacrificed to an unknown goal;

Reminder of misunderstanding -

Grief and pain to come -

Despite the joy  of smiling eyes;

Hands relaxed,

Touching dreams -

Unrealized -

In the calm before the storm....

Here Love makes Gods of Fools,

Fools of the Wise!

(c) Lisa Marie Gabriel 2008