The Poetry and Essays  of Jacqueline Ann Piech The Writing Forum’s Writer of the Month - December 2010   AUTHOR’S BIO: This is a place to share my writing with you, the reader. God gave me the talent and I believe that part of our calling in this world is to share our talents with one another.So I am offering my poems here for you to enjoy. Most of my poetry is inspirational, though I also write about nature, human love, humor and stories and poetry for children. If one or two touch your heart, or inspire you, or draw you a little closer to God's love for you, then I have reached my goal! Currently I am 56 years young, married and the mother of a 36 year old son who is a paramedic, I am very proud of him! I also am mom to a male mixed terrier and a mixed female whippet, they’re on going energy is a joy! I am a lover of good music, movies, quiet walks, reading and writing. I enjoy crafting, collecting dolls and unicorns. I have been a "jackie of all trades" as I worked as a teacher's aide in a preschool, sold Avon door to door, created craft designs that were published for several years in "Crafts" magazine during 1970 through 1983, owned and operated my own gift store for 15 years, worked in a deli and now a call center as a customer service rep. In the midst of all this I write, I have had several poems published on other sites and in 2006 I created my own poetry website, Poetry Prism. I also currently serve as a moderator on VoicesNet Forums and as a judge for their international poetry contests. And I am putting together a manuscript for a book of poetry and will see where that leads to in the future as my writing grows. If you wish to send a comment my way please do as I am always open to suggestions, ideas and more. Welcome to my little corner of the world! To access my essays published here at The Writing Forum, please click here. For my short stories, please click here. To read my Poetry for Children published here at The Writing Forum, please click here. Please click here to visit my personal website, “Poetry Prism.” Jacqueline's Email:  wishforunicorns.jp@verizon.net POETRY BY JACQUELINE ANN PIECH Click on the button in front of any title in the list below to be linked directly to that poem’s location on the page:   Control   With Spring   Butterfly Swirls   Opening   Angel’s Agony   Faith   In a Moment   Melting Despair   Abandonment   Silent Sign   The Day The Mouse Died   Master Mariotti’s Music   Bill’s Lament   The Secret   Unwanted Metamorphosis   Though   Angel In The Garden   Curse Of A Poet   Streams From   Meadow Myth   Time's Tide   Currents   Flutter By   Purging   Shine Against All Odds   Truest Friend   Shadows Of Could Have Been   Whom Do You Go To   Springtime Blues   Unicorn Forlorn   Summer's Treasure   The Unicorn And The Tiger   Maybe   Control Each morning planning our day when we rise currents of chaos soon take us by surprise. Crossing an intersection with green light an on-coming car drives through red, crumpled metal surrounds injured and dead. Youngest of five grown sons shot in back, tossed out from robber's car. Burying a child is a parent's worse scar. Mother covers children to protect from  monstrous tornado, soon it will pass. Surviving, her legs gone, she gasps. Twin Towers broke America's false peace. Terrorists stole life like cowardly thieves.  Many brave souls died fighting these. Fires, floods, hurricanes, HIV and cancer, reminders of mankind's foolish belief. Time's illusion wakes our unwanted grief. But we still grasp at control though it runs like sand through fingers. Lack of it, a bitter taste lingers. For the only control we really possess is how our hearts respond to each test. Jacqueline Ann Piech ©05/09/2012   With Spring On cloud free sky sun light pours, above tree tops robins soar. Earthy fresh scents fill the air, soft gentle gusts fondle my hair. Branches showing buds of green,  flowers ascend for  winter was lean. Carried over currents of invisible breezes, warm and arousing Spring teases! ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 03/21/2012   Butterfly Swirls My heart soared whenever I heard your voice. In all the world you were my choice. Bonds growing stronger our souls did unite. Passion, hope, love burst into flight! Pride tested limits as anger filled the room. Rejection mixed with fear so love became doomed. Storming out the door you fled that night. Rain poured down as I tried to make it right. Tears spoke my soul's truth hoping you would stay. They only matched the rain's pace as you drove away. Makeup melted into my soul as swirls of rust. Like butterfly wings of hope crumbling into lovers dust. Jacqueline Ann Piech © 01/11/2012   Opening Wounded heart, hardened heart, angry heart, envious heart, fearful heart, grieving heart. My loving heart, merciful heart, faithful heart, consoling heart, forgiving heart, sacred heart. Longs to pour over your pain, your turning away, your deep rage, your insecurities, your lack of faith, your deep sorrows. To open your heart as the true flower, I desired you to be when I created you, for I am the Lover of all hearts and souls. Jacqueline Ann Piech ©11/20/2010   Angel's Agony Kissing gently the child a finger touches tears. With Divine power, water transforms into a sphere. Balanced on angelic hand, the globe turns in holy light. All is revealed and causes trembling, so cruel a sight. Shedding of so much blood the child's soul deeply cries. Rwanda, Iraq, places of war life is taken and hope dies. Many children lost in hunger, storms of abuse rain down. Innocent hearts are shattered, death in school is even found. In an eternal garden of beauty a perfect love was only known. An orb of sorrowful truth giving Divine grief from what was shown. The angel collapses to the ground deep pain pierces the holy soul. Anguished sobs for God's creation, from such hell purity pays a toll. © Jacqueline Ann Piech 10/12/2007   Faith Lucifer was once a best loved angel of pure light. Submitting to envy and fear as God shared His sight. His enemy now, the God once deeply served and loved. For giving mortals, free will and souls, blessings from above. Did God not realize the rejection He certainly would receive? Mere mortals weak and lowly, not strong enough to believe. Lucifer gathered other angels that shared the same insight. Rebelling they could not convince God of the error of His might. Battle lost and cast out from heaven, too prideful to seek amends. Lucifer's own fears became his whole purpose, a message to send. To prove how wayward and psychotic was the Almighty's plan. Corrupting and destroying grace in every soul of pathetic man. The question being, is faith a gift of love to freely refuse or accept? To choose to be cast aside or lovingly nurtured and carefully kept? Lucifer in his envy, pride and fear truly lost all love and belief. Because God mercifully gave a perfect heart open to love or grief. © Jacqueline Ann Piech 02/07/2008   In A Moment Shopping, working, teaching, cleaning, driving, walking. In a moment the earth quakes. Shaking, tearing, separating, ravaging, crushing, destroying. In a moment the ocean rises. Wall of water, Niagara strength, smashing, sweeping undertow. In a moment life has changed. Screaming, fearing, clinging, wounding, suffering, perishing. In a moment many hearts stop. Shock, panic, weeping, arising from the rubble. In a moment heroes emerge. Searching, hoping, praying, sharing, loving, surviving. In a moment all humanity learns. How fragile life within each precious moment given. Jacqueline Ann Piech © 03/17/2011   Melting Despair Just finished reviewing dozens of poems. Sadly much darkness filled the muses tones. Wishing to see the despairing  images flee. I read on searching for words to uplift me. Hate, broken love, death and agony unfold. All range of ages created a bitter mold. Are the world's hearts truly in such grief? Stories of black emotions written for relief? Snow piles at the window glistening with sun. Crystal gobs melting as water they become. God can thaw away pain like sun on snow. So many tormented hearts would then know. Giving strength in troubled times to cope. God holds the darkness at bay with hope. Jacqueline Ann Piech © 02/01/2009   Abandonment You cry instead of sleeping, as pain and persecution fill your being with heart ache. Any hope of ever having real love has faded and you are consumed with anger and grief. What wrong turn did you take in life that has condemned you to endless rejection? I sigh wishing you would realize and believe you are precious and deeply loved. Though I know the number of every hair on your head, your doubt saddens My heart. I am here, yet am ignored, I am rebuked and denied that I even exist by many. Living in your midst I gave compassion, forgiveness, healing, truth, hope and unconditional love. I died breaking the despair of evil, an arose to bring eternal salvation to show how fully I love you. I am with you in wars, famines, terrorist attacks, sickness and even death to help you always. I know every missing child's hidden grave, each soldiers last prayer, the homeless man's misery. I hear the cry from forgotten elderly or prisoners in cells, I feel each slap on the abused. Every struggle of the disabled, the hunger of the neglected, pain of flood and fire victims. I see frightened people flee from another bombed market, I know the suffering of all. Yet, you do not believe I love you dearly and do not come to Me with your sorrows. Fear and hatred wove the crown of thorns I wore as sin drove the nails into Me. I did this all for you so you could begin to understand how great My love really is. Mercy and love, peace and yes even joy are all I desire to bless you with forever. My child, I long to comfort you with strength and truth, bring you inner peace and hope. Let you know I created you out of Love for a real purpose, to share Myself fully with you. All I ask for in return is your love but it seems you believe you are abandoned. Sadly, I too understand abandonment. Jacqueline Ann Piech © 09/26/2009   Silent Sign Feeling older and running out of time, weary and sad, I prayed for a sign. And not too humbly I'm afraid, Jesus, I begged You for the answer I craved. Knowing all the time I prayed and remained a friend, though I loved him was the relationship to really end? So I walked my dog and looked around, nothing in the sky nor on the ground. I looked toward the woods and fields, still nothing to me was being revealed. A black bird quietly flew overhead, while insects buzzed in the flower bed. Sadly my heart started to accept Your will, I would leave go of him and move on...until? There on a broad, green leaf was a white dot, from where I stood it looked like a paint spot. I bent closer to touch it and to my relief, a butterfly arose and gave me renewed belief! It brushed my arm as it circled to the right, like a pure white angel soaring in flight. Snowy white, it came to rest atop flowers on the hill, I cried out in joy as Your answer made my heart stand still. You mercifully washed away my doubt and sorrow, You lovingly gave my heart hope for tomorrow! Thank-you, Jesus, for the miracle of Your silent sign, a butterfly, You made and sent to give me peace of mind. Jacqueline Ann Piech © 06/02/2005   The Day The Mouse Died Traveled the icy, snowy mix from work, now safe at home. Gazing out the glazed over window I decided to type up a new poem. Pressing the on button my computer hummed as its screen welcomed me. Thoughts of what to write flowed along very quickly so free. I went to click on the notepad where dozens of my poems reside. But my cursor seemed as frozen as the stormy thirty states outside. Lifting it up carefully I saw the bottom red light was on. Running it briskly over the pad, no movement, something is wrong. All was right with the connection to my computer's electrified tower. Wiping its pad to remove any dust, red light went out, no mouse power. 'Tis a short stopping my best laid plans. Shopping is out, too treacherous a ride. Winter winds howl joining my grief, mourning the day my mouse died! © Jacqueline Ann Piech 02/02/2011   Master Mariotti's Music Dance among the clouds, hear the melody in the wind. Feel the sun with your heart, let the laughter of life begin. Traveling through each cell's fiber like love flows from the heart. The composer gives each note its own harmonic part. Taking a chance, his work, he hopes will please. Creating a loving wave in an endless emotional sea. Dance among the clouds, hear the melody in the wind. Feel the sun with your heart, let the laughter of life begin. Words and notes begin to blend in a whirling dance. A song for the listener's heart to totally entrance. While in perfect union, the mystified dancer learns. To bend mind, heart, body and soul as each note turns. Dance among the clouds, hear the melody in the wind. Feel the sun with your heart, let the laughter of life begin. Will the listener hear the rhythm and experience the whole? Of each sweet note's character acting out its role. Precious sentimental refrains of the music's story control. As the notes tell the secret longings of their master's soul. Dance among the clouds, hear the melody in the wind. Feel the sun with your heart, let the laughter of life begin. © Jacqueline Ann Piech Copyright 2005   Bill's Lament We met and enjoyed each others company, hitting it off from the very start. You wanted to be important in my life, I owned a confused and unsure heart. You urged me to love you strong, not sure about my own life, how could I complete yours too? Life threw death in my face, I felt the weakness from within and emotions filled my being blue. Soon love became an obstacle instead of the entwining you so deeply craved. In doubt and regret I walked away, thinking another path should be paved. For reasons I cannot claim to know, I have been looking at life's glass more. Your past smiles, tears, dreams and embraces knock gently at my heart's door. You had plans that I was not open to or ready for, timing seemed amiss. How can I win your forgiveness and replace your pain with a loving kiss? I was a fool but know my arrogance was my heart's shield and on you I took a toll. How can I repair broken trust, to come back assuring you, that with you my life will be whole? "Trust God," a friend said, if it is to be you would willingly try again. But I have wounded your heart and know not how to make amends. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 10/14/2007   The Secret Though the world values beauty and power, with wealth and youth being the fad of the hour. I have a secret and need to share, of a heart and soul God helped prepare. The secret has taught me where true value lies. A someone passed over for their weight, shape or size. And too many times what the world takes for granted, cannot be purchased, improved upon or implanted. But to meet and to learn to love the hidden heart, the secret has taught me this is the best part. Though pockets may not contain fortunes untold, a loving heart that encourages is worth more then gold! To believe in a talent and value its worth, to promote its goodness and help it give birth. Someone that sees you for what you really are. Not perfect or gorgeous but a poetic, shining star! Because of their love for you, your heart burns bright. You have hope again because you are wonderful in their sight. And even though they may doubt in their own true self, you recognize a heart of a knight and a spirit of an ageless elf! That is what the secret has taught me, what the world doesn't see. Not tall, famous or rich but a loving heart that believes in me. {For Tony with all my love.} ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 12/16/2007   Unwanted Metamorphosis Hardly any fine lines or wrinkles as in the mirror I scan. If I were truly older the prognosis I could understand. They look the same as when I had left for the exam. I probably will not need them, the doctor be damned! Now I know I have bitten deeply from the apple of youth. I must have heard the doctor wrong, that must be the truth. He handed me the prescription almost in haste. Giving me the diagnosis which left a bitter taste. I shook my head and nodded as if to fully agree. I wanted to scream at him, I AM NOT EVEN 53! I am much too young, I need a second opinion it is true. If I have to wear bifocals, my brown eyes will turn blue! ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 07/25/2006   Though Though no walls surround me to help keep out the pain. Though no person is there to encourage or guide me, I know my life is not in vain. Though tomorrow seems empty and hope beyond my reach. Though anger, fear and sadness be inside me, this covenant I cannot breach. Though I cannot seem to give to those hearts around me. Though my inner-self from all hurt wishes to flee. Whether thorns or roses, I must stay so I can be. Though life is worth searching places to give the gifts of which I am born. I must give chance to God and time to help unleash the unicorn. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 03/1985   Angel In The Garden Amongst roses, pansies and butterflies in midair, the angel in the garden quietly poses in prayer. Aster purples, ruby reds, golden yellows surround. Kneeling on an emerald carpet as life abounds. When the seasons change, she weathers every storm. Heat, snow or heavy rain as nature's dances perform. Mere stone statue gracing God's own lovely creations. Reminder of true heavenly angels in eternal adoration. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 11/03/2010   Curse Of A Poet Ideas cluster in my mind stirred from my heart. Not sure what to write but desire has a start. Do I compose a poem or just let the feeling die? Inspiration may come or stifle even when I try. Creation surges wanting the reader to be pleased. Fingers do not type swiftly over the waiting keys. In translation my thoughts do not blend as deep. Curse of a poet is muse gone completely asleep. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 04/23/2008   Streams From Mundane has no place for the mind eager to explore. Imagination unlocks beauty hidden behind conformity's door. Glorious, the soul takes flight freeing the lover's dance. Lifting humanity's heart to spark a new spiritual romance. Orating from mythical realms or enhancing graceful truth Expressing ages wisdom or the innocence of sweet youth. Sowing a collection of thoughts from experiences profound. Genius of the artist's psyche streams from holy ground. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 12/06/2009   Meadow Myth Is it a childhood wish or a summer morning dream? Or just too tiny for the adult eye to have ever seen? As bees gather pollen on nectar a butterfly grazes. The robin flies overhead, her sweet voice praises. Meadow creatures stir as ethereal song fills the air. Mice gathering seeds scamper up stalks and stare. Gracefully balanced on a single spider's strand. A wee tightrope walker among the flowers grand. Her hair a lily covers, a dress of shimmering light. She tiptoes across the silver strand, a cherubic sight. Pairs of morning doves coo, her singing transcends. Dragonflies hover as the meadow's beauty blends. Then off she glides carried by two luminous wings. Meadow myth which only a child's hope can bring. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 05/26/2007   Time's Tide Praying the length of day will last. Minutes, hours disappear much too fast. Fate cruelly never allows time to stop. Gleaning from life's many fruitful crops. Fool's approach on wasted seconds spend. Silent timings of the clock comprehend. What I choose for each minute to become. Adding or subtraction to Love's total sum. How precious life's moments are to abide. Love is a gift immersed in time's tide. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 05/31/09   Currents At the beach I watch the waves lap the shore. Knowing underneath the currents do explore. The vast expanse where resurgence abounds. Changing, shifting and entwining life around. Wisdom the Creator has granted me. Humbled by the quiet might of the sea. Like ocean currents I have been touched. By human encounters meaning so very much. Never knowing how one's existence spills into my own. Changing or moving the directions as waves do roam. A simple passing of souls never again to be a season. Words or actions affecting my life for God's own reason. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 10/06/2006   Flutter By Sky a vibrant blue, flying along comes a true living jewel. Flowers nectar brings, rich treasure of colors on stained glass wings. Gracefully landing atop, amongst velvety petals to garden island hop. Gently soaring up free, silently dozens gather as they flutter by me! ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 08/08/2010   Purging Clouds close in as rumbles come, flashes streak across dark sky. Droplets grow and dance on roof, glazing windows in steady sheets. Tree leaves drink sweet moisture, flowers bathe in summer's burst. Gentle breeze cools hardened ground, greenery blooms from heavenly purge. Blessing lowly earth with rain, how much more precious is Man? Your mercy, peace, love and joy, pour across our wounded souls. Nurturing our faith and trust, in eternal wisdom and grace. Life's storms need to happen, purging us to grow in God's love. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 06/20/2009   Shine Against All Odds Stage One: Umbrella Of Despair As a child I learned too early I was considered unlovable. Rumpled and always dirty, a burden not wanted or even needed. No savior came when with my angel I pleaded as life got harder. I was a nuisance to those who bore me and always in the way. I learned to cling to anyone that gave me kindness as a child. Only to discover they would not come and rescue me forever. Constantly being screamed at, or slapped or told how stupid I was angered my spirit. I did rebel some and finally shouted out I never asked to be born. I was reminded I was never asked for, at which more of my spirit died. I learned to hide myself and try to cope with the war zone I was born into. I was only a child so how could I learn to act right and be responsible. The adults were worse then broken children, yet I was to act like an adult. I hated when my anger or tears seeped out for it was scorned and made fun of. The many chores I had helped make my studies and friendships secondary in my life. Hints of my situation were made by a teacher and a few relatives. No rescue came even after I tried suicide when I was fourteen. The rain never stopped in my life so I sat under the umbrella. Dressed up and waiting to be discovered and loved some day. Stage Two: Gypsy Flight Men found me attractive as a young adult so I learned to please them. Believing their false promises of being loved and cherished forever, I ignored the truth my heart spoke of, I despaired at having no real love. Because I feared being all alone and hated for the very air I breathed, I married despite not feeling secure with my choice for a lifetime mate. With every life crisis he reminded me how disappointed he was in me. When my son was born very ill, my mother could not cope with it and walked away. God sent kind strangers and my grandmother to help me cope. Later success came from sharing my talents with craft designing. But it never filled the void of a heart starving from lack of love, I became a gypsy holding onto hope like it was a bird ready to fly away. Stage Three: Heart's Light As I grew older I was tortured by dreams from my childhood past. Hope was vanishing in ever having true peace or true love in my life. I chose to plunge into complete blackness but death never came. Instead, Jesus embraced a ragged, dirty little girl then handed her to me. I took her in my arms and wept deeply as I realized it was myself I held. Knowing fully the pain I was in, Jesus touched my crumpled heart with Mercy. Even though I was in despair, Jesus saved me by believing in my goodness. He started to teach me how to forgive, to move forward beyond my wounds. I now see my life as having real meaning and hope to be shared with others. That we are all loved by the God who chose to create us with free will. We can make a path of light or darkness as we journey through life. In love and kindness we will shine against all odds if we so choose. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 06/18/2008   Truest Friend A life to share through the years. Some one's smile to erase tears. Joys and dreams to help grow. Secrets only the closest know. Lean on blue days or when mad. Emotional bonds two hearts add. Friends drift in and out as life moves. A strength not weakness to improve. Human hearts hope but can fail. The soul alone may seem so frail. A certain truth dwells deep inside. In yourself the truest friend abides. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 04/05/2008   Shadows Of Could Have Been The scent of red roses undelivered. A poem quietly idle inside a pen. Words of love that went unspoken. Dwell in the shadows of could have been. A lonely family member never called. The pet longing for a walk in the glen. Nature photos still waiting to be taken. Linger in the shadows of could have been. A child seeking some truth and hope. Words of comfort every now and then. Dreams needing direction to nurture. Neglected in the shadows of could have been. As minutes, hours, days spill into years. The effort to balance time made when? Life's joys lost in seconds forever more. Forfeited in the shadows of could have been. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 01/12/2008   Whom Do You Go To Parents force their children to kill their own pets or leave their child in a hot car to die. Spouses have numerous affairs and still expect the family to continue after destroying all trust. Auto makers leave life saving repairs go on cars until 19 deaths occur. Mothers kill their own babies and have no fear of losing their own souls. People abuse the elderly, or hate simply because of race or faith or gender. Millions suffer after a huge earthquake and suffer even more because of uncaring bureaucracy. Sex, drugs and selfish desires are glorified in books, TV and movies while war and terrorist attacks continue daily. Children are stolen and abused and murdered because they are easy victims. Banks devastate families by taking away their homes and yet get bailed out at taxpayer’s expense. Insurance companies drop cancer patients because it costs too much for their medical treatments. And this is only some of the daily trials that besiege the earth. God all powerful and merciful, You loved all so deeply You gave us, Jesus, Your only Son. Heavenly Father, You tell us to come to You with all our troubles and fears. My question is, whom do You go to when we have offended You so very much? ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 02/05/2010   Springtime Blues I'm at work, not at home. Still I wanted to write a poem. Phone call answered, customer is pleasant. Background birds chirp, Spring is present. Sun's rays dance across blue sky. Tiny buds peeking out to say Hi! Trees sway in gentle warm breeze. Rebirth of flowers chase away Winter's freeze. Chipmunks scurry across a wooden fence. View from window reveals a glorious sense. Longing to bask in Spring's embrace. Stuck inside working seems such a waste! ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 04/04/2010   Unicorn Forlorn Once more I walk the earth alone, it is my true plight. No heart with which to share my hopes, laughter and light. Emptiness haunts my complete being day and night. For an act of darkness has swept you away! And no longer in my life do you come to play. What price does your wounded soul really pay? Though broken hearted I know I must go on. A plan to fulfill and live out my unicorn song. My soul shines less brightly since you have gone. Your dreams, desires and love made my life once whole. Without you by my side, my heart's joy will never be full. Though I go on in your absence, I still feel your sorrowful soul. The Creator who made me helps ease my daily pain. I am given strength to travel life's journey once again. Without you I will sing no joyful song or sweet refrain. I still dance and breathe though each and every day I cry. With wind on my back, my heart becomes chilled and I sigh. A soul alone in this life without its soul mate forever am I! And I worry in your fear, pain, anger and grief. How do you live and will you ever find any relief? The love hidden in you is buried under your disbelief. Hopelessness imprisoned your soul my doubting friend. I wish for you to be completely free once again. From your ocean of pain, a rescue, love would send. Though sadly all alone, I walk the earth and try to do my best. I will wait patiently, be strong and hope to pass this awful test. I pray for you to be released from torment, to have peace and rest. But without your life in mine, my heart is truly forlorn. And many hopes and dreams will never become born. Always longing for your love is the soul of this unicorn. ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 05/23/2005   Summer's Treasure Golden sunshine bathes the day, warm breezes stir jade leaves. Birds soar across sapphire sky, elemental smells grace the air. Under shade giving boughs, paused on an emerald ocean. A chipmunk suddenly darts away, bees labor amongst garden riches. Topaz sunflowers towering over roses waxed in ruby reds. Silvery doves coo in union as jeweled insects take flight. All the beauty I drink in, quenching my weary soul. For an afternoon so sweet in treasure, thank-you God! ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 06/27/2009   The Unicorn And The Tiger I stood drinking from the forest waters weary from roaming on my own. You quietly circled and flexed your aging strength though still unknown. Then my eyes met yours and they pierced my wounded being by chance. You did charm me even though you knew it was an unwelcome dance. I stood at a distance very unsure of your kind and the fear in me arose. I fled for the depths of lighted guidance, cloaked in my confused woes. I saw you as an enemy trying to strike me down so I bolted and hid. Slowly you stalked me trying to convince me that you were just a big kid. I set the trap and in your loving weakness for that bait you leapt. Again the old wound surged and into my soul fear's shadow crept. Rolling over, you exposed soft underbelly, my horn lowered then I paused. You could have stopped me with one powerful swipe of a tiger's claws. I lanced your loving heart, you growled softly waiting for the next blow. A tiger that surrendered to the likes of me, a strange truth now I know. With a heart of patience and kindness is how you do embrace. No longer can I run from you when fear has been completely erased. An unlikely pair through the woods together we now safely roam. The unicorn and the tiger letting God's stars in the sky lead them home. (For my husband, Tony, the true tiger in my life!) ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 09/24/2006   Maybe Longing to write but no thought forms and silent are the keys. Playing on my mind as blankness grows and words toss within. Volumes of ideas race inside but content eludes me. As Muse leaves, distractions prevent a solid birth. Writer's block remains as minutes pass no poem...well maybe! ©Jacqueline Ann Piech 07/08/2010            Thank You For Visiting!