THE STORY WITHIN

[Photo Source: Google online images --  Fall with many colors on two sides of a Path with depth.]

(I wrote this on 21 OCT 2011, thinking of someone special and how they changed their attitude from one of condescension to prayer for another.  Hopefully, those of my acquaintance will take the time to 'hear' my Story and hold me in their prayers.  -dht)

Whenever I hear an account about the behavior or actions of another – I usually wonder about what Life circumstances led those individuals to the lives that they lead.

There are so many factors that affect our Lives, that influence our decisions, and that determine our Life's Path.

A quick cursory observation of another's Life Decisions, too often result in an unfortunate and biased opinion.

It is amazing to me that so many of those old sayings hold so much truth - - 

"There but for the Grace of God, go I !"  [~unknown]

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes."  [~Jack Handey]

"Three quarters of the miseries and misunderstandings in the world would finish, if people were to put on the shoes of their adversaries and understood their points of view."  [~Mahatma Gandhi]

"You never truly know someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes."  [~unknown]

"You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.  You're on your own.  And, you know what you know.  You are the one who'll decide where to go.'  [~Dr. Seuss]

It would seem that more compassionate answers would surface, if you were to know the 'whole' of another's situation, and would pause and take the time to wonder and question the motives and actions of others with your Heart.

There is always a Story Within the Story – within the individual – within the situation.  It takes a special person to see "The Story Within".

The rewards of using this kind of introspection are many, but may require one to set aside all their preconceived ideas of propriety, etiquette, commitment, politics, faith, or whatever.  Personal growth and maturation are but some of the rewards for a compassionate Heart and mind.

Learning and understanding The Story Within the Story is an incredible Journey, and one that has precedence in the Biblical Sense – in the miracles of Forgiveness and Love.

So before you venture an opinion about me, try to hear The Story Within the Story of my Life!

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

MEMORIES - 101

                      [PHOTO Credit: A red Camellia -- my photo, my camera Feb 2011]

Precious memories Linger –

ashes the only remains –
that keep me warm –
in the Cold of my Winter years.

Warm memories almost erase –

the middle years when –
the turbulent periods of wedded Life –
shadowed, poisoned, and imprisoned the Spirit.

Well tended and watered with many tears –

memories traverse the pathways of the mind –
sometimes bringing a smile –
but more often sorrow, regret, and despair.

Long since retired from the wedded field –

never more to share a spouse's Life –
Yet held hostage by the memories –
of the other half.

Where are my "wings" that I may soar –

through these stormy gales –
through a realm of shattered dreams –
a waste land of broken promises.

What Lingers now remains –

only an unwilling chattel –
suborned to the will of fate's design –
swept away –  adrift on a tide of memories.

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

HOPE - 101

                                  [PHOTO Credit:  A wild rose -- my photo, my camera July 2011]

(This is just for all the 'HOPEFULS' who think tomorrow will be better -- bah hum bug ! dht-OCT 2011)

HOPE is a terrible, deceitful, two-faced entity.

It will keep you warm now and again –

but when it withers and fades –

the cold always comes back –

more bitter than before –

for then one feels the loss more keenly –

after knowing what could have been!

No matter how 'bad' my Life is –

I Never lose HOPE, that someday –
somehow -- a chance will open up –

and I'll be able to have a better Life.

How does that saying go –

Where there is HOPE -- There is Life.

So I must have Lost some of my Life –

when I Lost some of my HOPE!

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

WHAT ONE SEES

                      [PHOTO Source: GOOGLE online images "rainbows"]

(When I look around, my senses perceive a world of wonder that fills my Heart and lifts my Spirits. dht-OCT 2011)

BEAUTY is everywhere and unique to each eye !
WHAT one sees as ordinary, another sees with wonder!
WHAT one sees as junk, another sees as treasure!
WHAT one does not see, another sees with awe!
WHAT one exclaims over with "Huh" ? --

   another says "Aha"!

I hope your day is filled with --

   WONDER, TREASURE, AWE,

  and "Aha's" !

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

WHILE

[Photo Source: My photo, my camera, a rose in my yard]

(In a surreal maze, while the storm clouds gathered above, my senses were assailed with the sounds and fragrance of a beautiful morning. dht-OCT 2011)

WHILE –

Hope whispers in my Ears –

LOVE murmurs to my Heart –

Faith confounds my Spirit –

Reality confronts my Eyes –

Essence of Life bemuses my Nose –

Salty Tears clog my Throat!

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

Just Memory Scraps

                             [Photo Source: Google online images – see photo for credit]

(I wrote this on 3 Oct 2011,  looking at my Life as a quilt made of scraps of the Fabric of my Life. dht)

                                           ---------------

The Memories of my Heart are like quilting scraps -- stitched together by Time -- the Pieces forming the Patterns of my Life.

This Piece is from the time I lived with my BELOVED Maternal Grandparents -- where their LOVE wove a Pattern that is forever with me.

Another Piece is from the young sailor that I wed -- and began a Journey on rough marriage seas.

Ah! Then there is my child's Pieces -- a mix of patterns melding in betrayal, rejection, lies, abandonment, and disillusion -- beginning from an early age through the senior years.

Now, here is a Piece just completed -- hardened by Life's experiences -- yet still sentimental and capable of Great Compassion and Sensitivity.

Some pieces hold secrets and surprises - all in a delicate design of whimsy.

The Artistic Eye will notice the eclectic theme in the quilt of my Life's memories.

Yet beneath the layers of quilting, a Life filled with dreams, memories, and recollections subsists.

My eyes close tightly as I try to stop the tears.  My throat is tight with despair and regret and sorrow, for the Missing Pieces that will Never be a part of the whole.

The emptiness from their absence leaves an incompleteness, a void, that can Never be bridged by any expanse of Time.

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]

BY WHAT NAME

  [PHOTO SOURCE: Google online images – fractal]

(I wrote this, 6 Sep 2011, thinking about what I did Yesterday and what I need to address Today. All the while, I know there will be 'left-overs' that will not be done Today, and will have to be done sometime in the Future. I speculated upon what keeps me from completing all the things on my 'DO TODAY LIST'? Is it -- the over whelming tasks, energy levels, health issues, emotional baggage, fear that I won't have anything to do when the 'list' is done? Chuckles! -- There is ALWAYS things to do on the 'DO TODAY LIST' !!! dht-2011)

By what name the Past --

     be Yesterday

By what name the Present --

     be Today (Now)

By what name the Future --

     be Tomorrow.

[Dorothy Hazel Tarr - 2011]