there are dreams
and there are fantasies
possibilities vs. delusions
but what is the difference
in the beginning, perhaps nothing
but somewhere along the way
you begin to hear a voice
a stirring
a thought
a question?
and, if you stop
and pay attention
the voice gets louder
until finally
you open your mind and there it is
the sign in front of your life
Fantasyland is closed today
tio stib
damn sick, you know, that awful flu
slipped and fell on doggy do
triple booked, what could I do
have you met the new guy, Lew
slipped out to sip a little brew
Giants lost, the Seahawks too
burned the Sunday evening stew
blame it on my low I.Q.
what’s with all the ballyhoo
just what did I promise you
really
what else is new
tio stib
2017, 2018, 2025
He asked my thoughts on politics
but before my mouth could move
he stormed ahead with words of dread
drowning out the room
and on he roared, a raging flood
I chose to bide my time
for it was plain enough to hear
I couldn’t change his mind
no reasoned fact, no cautious note
no plea for honesty
was going to change this zealot’s fears
about humanity
I smiled and offered my goodbye
I scarcely think he heard
for he was talking to himself
since no one else concurred
a sad day for democracy
sad for humankind
when we fail to listen with respect
for want of open minds
tio stib,
2017, 2018, 2025
mine has been a life of doors
big and small
open and closed
inviting and threatening
each an opening
a passage into possibilities
each time
anxious
hopeful
fearful
I knocked
years later
I smile
remembering those many doors
recollecting those imaginings
those discoveries on the other side
sometimes more
sometimes less
but always a step forward
always an action of consequence
tio stib
my face begins
to bead with sweat
the time has come
fate must be met
oh, how I dread
times tempest tossed
such moments when
I feel so lost
how can I choose
the path to take
how do I know
what choice to make
the clock strikes twelve
life laughs at me
okay, old man,
what will it be
my stomach stirs
the pain endures
my vision fades
to ghostly blurs
a pleading voice
in front of me
his scoop awaits
what will it be
I step forth
with strength renewed
clear on my path
my goal in view
I know for sure
what I must say
“Give me the flavor
of the day”
tio stib,
2015, 2025
there
there it is
so close
so very near
so very clear
a mesmerizing feast for a starving soul
yes
parched lips spoke in silence
finally
a weary mind moaned
at last, the dream attained
or was it the gods laughing
he stopped
smiled
just another mirage
on the desert of dreams
and he pushed on
tio stib
2016, 2025
I live a funny fantasy
that I control how life will be
if only I pay constant mind
to details of my daily grind
I keep a list
of things to do
and push myself
to follow through
for if one thing
does not get done
I can’t pretend
I’m having fun
I do all this
to sideline stress
it seldom works
I must confess
and people?
they’re such a mess
for often, every day it seems
I find others don’t support my dreams
they ask that I give up my list
I fume
I pout,
I’m really pissed
so I sit and ponder here
do I give up this list so dear
what is it I really fear
if I stop controlling life
will this result in constant strife
if I slow to let love in
will pain clutch my heart again
the truth, of course
is sadly clear
this game that I hold so dear
simply masks
what I most fear
that love will hurt
if it gets near
tio stib, 2015
Come Out, Come Play
cold
naked
hard
it shrieks
piercing down the empty streets
the wind [thrashes every door
you can hide from death no more
the restless souls stir in their beds
haunted by an ancient dread
the walls cannot keep out the fear
the truth that fate is always near
far beyond where wrong knows right
the sun peeks past the edge of night
and streaking ‘cross the stage of day
light calls to life
come out
come play
tio stib
2015, 2025
I often return to Marianne Williamson’s thoughts on fear when feeling small and lost. Her words never fail to spark the light of hope within me.
tio stib
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are born to manifest the glory that is within us. It is not within some of us, it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear our presence automatically liberates.” others.”
-Marianne Williamson, “A Return to Love, Reflections on the Principles of ‘A Course in Miracles’”
hush
the white oblivion
whispers
hush
let go
surrender frantic thoughts
hush…
forgive the past
the sins
the separation
hush
the white oblivion
whispers
as first snow
gently blankets my soul
Tio Stib
2014, 2019, 2024
