If I could pray,
if I could sing,
if I could say
what tomorrow might bring

If I could explain
these years passed by;
If I could name
these feelings of mine

If I could wish
on lights afar--
If I could miss
the place where you are

If I could wonder,
if I could be,
like steady thunder
across the sea

If I could master
all of your needs,
in storms and laughter;
If I could plant love's seeds

If I could weather
all of our storms;
If I could measure
the breadth of your mourns

If I could be useful
and make your lips smile;
If I could be useful--
have the spirit of a child

If I could promise
to make you fulfilled;
If I could not be listless
and let our love build

If I could give you the moon and the stars
I'd keep you safe dear, from all of life's harms

Tonight may be,
as you shall see,
the final withering blow

Never again
shall I ever depend
on he who made me so

Tonight I take flight
from your hate-filled spite
and take refuge in my dreams

To places divine
in this heart, mine
spirit shall be redeemed

Tonight is the end
and pray God I mend --
though some wounds will never heal

Curses and blame
to my constant shame;
no more will you reveal

Tonight I'll be gone
across the barren lawn
though I know I shall return

To broken dreams
and piercing screams;
blows that sting and burn

Tonight you have won,
the cycle begun --
despair, pain, and grief

From you I fear,
though I stay near,
no salvation or relief

Tonight I shall die;
none to hear my cry
None to save me from your soul

By Jon Owens

The Beach.
Endless crashing on the sand.
The water itself takes on an essence of vitality,
the indefinite violent breaking of the waves
is as real anywhere ocean meets land
as it is in our own lives.
Our own tireless crashing with the sands of life,
as it were, is very much like
our hardest of times...

By Jon Owens

Not skin or bone,
But wood and stone,
The Earth's most patient charge,

Nor muscles weak,
But Nature's sleek
Could serve as tool and targe

'Gainst those of man,
Who, strong of hand,
And dark of heart would rule,

Who would Earth churn,
And burden turn
Upon the baited mule.

Should She find rhyme,
Or reason, time,
Man's future will be bleak,

For nature's might,
Shan't only slight
Or wear defenses meek,

And those at large
After the charge
Will live to join the clan

Of heartless, cruel,
And fateless fools
Who tried to tame the land.

By Jon Owens

For Rachel

Oh, when I see your smiling face,
My soul is wont to jump and race
For, passion lies
Beneath those eyes
Of flawless, cunning, endless grace;

Or is it when I hear your voice,
And be it then by chance or choice,
My prime disguise
Of quiet buys
No strength against a faultless poise.

Your written words are slowly poured
In such a way to strum the chord
To keep my heart
Two worlds apart
From any ill life would afford,

And journey into dreams, it's true,
Is something I look forward to,
Though for their part,
They cannot start
To take the place of one like you...

My Rach

For Jon

Tourquoise-light eyes
burn into blue--
no hint of disguise,
no doubt of you.

Baritone sighs, low,
tremble through soft lips
as your eyes glow;
warm fingers find my hips.

My name resounds
as your laughter fills
my heart, and I am bound
by love's sweet-slow chills.

This I know, though time shall flow,
I want you, to have and to hold.

For Jon

Hush darling baby,
I can't stand to see you cry...
hush darling baby--
Listen as you sigh

You worry that I'll leave you,
you're scared that I may go...
hush darling baby,
I love you more than you can know

Let me hold you in your sorrow baby--
let me make your troubles no more
Let me, let me love you baby,
don't fear me anymore

Hush darling baby;
wrapped in my tender embrace
Hush darling baby--
Let me kiss your smiling face

Not one more kiss,
though you may miss
the way I cupped your cheek

Not one more threat,
to make love a bet
will ever make me meek

Not one more fight,
filled with spite
will ever make me sad

Not one more sigh
from these lips of mine
will ever make you glad

Not one more blow
from the lips I know
will I ever choose to hear

Not one more lie,
to my bitter cry;
no to another tear

I don't love you now,
you lost, somehow,
your compassion and your grace

But now, a smile;
a laughter blend
to ease harsh lines from my face

Its my Independence Day--
a freedom from the painful way
I loved and lost, but now can leave this place

Remember where your footsteps lead,
down the winding, riant way;
where love and laughter so do blend;
a felicity I dare not say

Down the winding, riant way
souls stumble and topple as they mend;
a felicity I dare not say--
to see tears of joy, I recommend

Souls stumble and topple as they mend;
bitter wailing turned to a bray--
To see tears of joy, I recommend
as a soul who learned to pray

Bitter wailing turned to a bray;
an alto smile and tenor laugh blend--
As a soul who learned to pray,
a dear ally, I do commend

An alto smile and tenor laugh blend;
leading each other through the way--
A dear ally, I do commend,
to uphold our souls, come what may

Leading each other through the way,
where love and laughter blend;
to uphold our souls, come what may--
Remember where your footsteps lead