The Balance Between Wants and Needs

by 
it seems the balance
between wants and needs
has much to do with happiness

needs are part of daily life
water and air
necessities
things without which
human beings would not survive

but then comes the gray zone
the in between

is love a want 
or a need?
is belonging something we must have 
or just a comfort for a lonely heart

Perhaps these are choices one must make
and the answers differ among us
but
on balance
when needs overwhelm wants
when survival is paramount to desire
when dreams are lost to getting by

there is little room left 

for happiness


tio stib


You might also enjoy: “The Speed of Love”; “Because Once, I Was Love By You”

River Rock

by 
I plucked it from among its friends 
pushed my fingers into the frigid stream 
felt among the hard, rounded forms blanketing the bottom 
and wrapped my hand around one that 
just felt right 
 
baking in the summer sun 
toes dangling 
tingling in icy water 
my mind studied the stone taken 
from its ancient home 
 
how many years 
how many millennia had passed 
to wear away its imperfections 
grind down its edges 
how much time tossed against other stones 
before all were worn 
 
into oneness 
 
how long will it take 
to wear away my ego 
how much time 
grinding against life 
to smooth out arrogant delusions 
 
until I 
am humbled  
 
into oneness 
 
smiling 
I toss the time traveler 
home 
 
splash! 
 
 
tio stib 
 
 

You might also enjoy: “If”;  Life Journey Poems & Prose 
 
 
 

Because once, I was loved by you

by 
in the darkness left by death
as tears flow with sobbing breath
bereft and broke
a light shines through

because once
I was loved by you

your love
our life
was Everest
a dream fulfilled
a noble quest

a memory that guides me true

Because once
I was loved by you

now
standing on my road
alone
no idea where I’ll find home

but my heart smiles
my strength renewed

Because once

I was loved

by you


tio stib


You might also enjoy: “Our Deepest Fear,” Life Journey Poems & Prose

Inspiration, Andrea and Virginia sing “Hallelujah”

by 
During times of emotional darkness, I am often blessed with a connection to something inspirational. I was recently given such a gift, a video of Andrea Bocelli singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” with his young daughter, Virginia.  The magic of a father and daughter making such glorious music together brought me to tears.

I am once again reminded that we humans can create wondrous beauty.




 


hugs!

tio stib


You might also enjoy: “If,” “The Speed of Love”

The Hummingbird

by 
he visits as I warm my soul
with rays of noontime sun

I hear him swoosh and flash about
the buzz of feathered wings
drinking nectar hung for him
to fuel his journeying

he makes me pause
to wonder
marveling

how does something so small
vibrate so joyfully
to simply be

tio stib, 2022

You might also enjoy: Life in Reverse; “If” by Rudyard Kipling

A Traveller Returned

by 
a voice I knew came back today
a traveler returned

a trill above the local din
the squawking crows
the screeching gulls
the soulful doves

a simple tune
a melody
both delicate and wildly free

a voice I knew came back today
a traveler returned
a voice that warmed my lonely heart
and brought me hints of hope

tio stib, 2022


You might also enjoy: The Speed of Love; Slip, Sliding Away

The Speed of Love

by

given that light travels at 186,000 miles per second
and the moon is 238,900 miles from earth.  
it takes less than two seconds  
for the man in the moon to smile 
and warm your heart 

how fast, then, is the speed of love 
when you smile at the person beside you
and they smile back 

instant 
immediate 
faster than a speeding bullet 
even faster than Superman 

Wow! 
this means that love is beyond super fast 
and my smile is beyond super powerful 

I’m putting my love cape on 

tio stib 

You might also enjoy: Sometimes they Smile; Life Journey Poems & Prose 

 

The Dreamer

by

she sits across from me

a frozen frame in memory

 

head turned

streaks of sunshine glowing on her face

her sparkling eyes staring out the window

dreaming of the life we would have together

 

smiling

 

the waitress sets our plates before us

and the woman who would be my wife

looks up and thanks her

 

we eat our meal

greet passersby

enjoy the bliss of oneness

 

now,

years later

sitting at the same table

gazing at the emptiness across from me

 

I wonder

 

did her dreams come true

 

mine did

 

 

tio stib

 

You might also enjoy: Seekers; If

Sunday Sanctuary

by

it is quiet
blissfully calm
as I offer my thanks
for the bounty of blessings
that fill my life

a week of good people
good happenings
food on the table
money in the bank
health and wellness
hearts that care

yes
I think
I am truly blessed

and I wonder

does God care if I get out of bed today?

tio stib

You might also enjoy: High on Gratitude; Life Journey Poems & Prose

Homeless

by

my cane bumped into him on the sidewalk
stopped by stuff that had fallen from his little train
the wagons of belongings he pulled behind

we’d met before
crossing paths as we wandered unseen
unnoticed
through our silent town

and here he was again
the mutterings
the smell of tobacco and ragged clothes

good morning, I said
as he scurried to tidy up
mumbling a response
making room for me to pass

I walked by

wondering

about two solitary men
homeless in our different ways

tio stib

You might also enjoy: Life in Reverse by George Carlin; Life Journey Poems  & Prose