Dear Diary,

I recently had the honor of attending a charity book signing for my dear friend Roberto Vecchi, author of Dragon Within: Redemption. During the course of the day, I was able to read several of his pieces and a few of my own. I really like reading poetry aloud to others almost as much as I enjoy reading it for myself or of * gasp * writing it! ;) And it occurred to me that most my pieces are inspired by something or someone (now you're all gonna wonder if I'm writing about you....probably so....lol) But two pieces that were read during the after party had multiple layers of meaning and the genre quite effectively got a heated response from most of the listeners. I wrote a piece about these two poems and what they mean to me (not really the same thing they mean to most who read them). I was surprised to find that I have not yet posted my poem about those selections. So here is one of my poems inspired by a truly gifted writer.

REDEMPTION'S SONG

Lines don't tell my story, the curve is my domain.
Colors bleed and blend and then my soul it shall contain.

Yearning passion longing for the moment of melted walls,
seeing only what I see through filter colored halls.

Slipping through the ether sipping sounds of madness when,
my self is seen and splayed for sight between where I have been.

You know me, show me, lift the veil, to worlds I've never been,
and mark my path of memories for whence I come again.

I knew this place and walked with grace of courage, love, and might,
and walk it still between the rays of blinding love and night.

Within I see and know my will that never will I part
from life and death and majesty of beauty in the art.

But execute that will to be of perfect mind intent
or risk the lines of madness chained and to this hell be sent

Of perfect will, imperfect thrill, and passion focus shifted,
never knowing quiet peace until the fog is lifted.

Dwelling here is not my pain but lessons to be learned,
of patience, peace, humility, and this is when it's earned.

Seek within the fire raging, welling from the source,
and see the beauty of the life lived with no remorse.