Behold The Empty Grave

His Spirit now possesses  me

I’m free to speak His will

We both point to the King of Kings

the lamb slain on the hill

The hope of mankind glorified

our ransom now is paid

His power is revealed to all

behold the empty grave

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A Wish and a Prayer

The morning sun lights up my room

and slumber sets me free

My thoughts are quick to run to you…

another day for me

A cup of coffee on the porch

I try to plan my day

I’m so detached from everything…

my heart is in the way

A gentle breeze caresses me

as if by some design

The wind chimes add a melody

to thoughts within my mind

I’m down to wishes and a prayer

a miracle will do

If wishes really could come true

I'd wish my life with you

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Sleep My Darling

Darkness now caresses me

and life does ebb and flow

Moments now are all I have

before I have to go

Shadows move across the wall

and memories say goodbye

Peace now settles over me

while tear drops fill your eyes

Darling I will miss you so

you've been so kind to me  

Always there no matter what

please set my spirit free

Sleep my darling, it’s alright

there’s nothing more to fear

Fly away on angels wings

we'll meet again my dear

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Silent Witness

Ever watching over me

the keeper of my ways

Countless battles fought for me

when evil sought forays

Silent witness of my life

eternal messenger

Oracle of prophecy

celestial harbinger

Servant to the heirs of God

and guide to heaven’s door

Spirit sent from Paradise

on wings I soon will soar

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Stepping Stones

Stepping stones to God knows where

with stops along the way

Looking for my place in life

I’m still not there today

Chasing  phantoms endlessly

across the paradigm

Slaying dragons one by one

and wasting precious time

Surely a design to this

an inner voice does say

Someone left the stepping stones

to help you find your way

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Another Lesson Learned

Sometimes I sit alone and cry

when no one else can see

Emotions bottled up inside

I have to set them free…

So much has happened In my life

the years have been so hard

I struggle just to face each day

my heart I have to guard…

I’ve always trusted everyone

and some have hurt me bad

They took away my innocence

I gave them all I had…

The motives of a predator

not easily discerned

Disguised in clever attributes

another lesson learned...

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Regrets

Regrets are daggers in my soul

the bleeding never ends

The disappointment always near

 to cope I still pretend

If I could see you once again

so much I’d want to say

I've spent a life time missing you

I love you still today

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Unspoken Truth

Autumn winds begin to blow

a gentle rushing sound

Golden leaves that once were green

fall gently to the ground

There’s not much left on these old trees

soon winter will be here

The leaves they soon will all be gone

In spring they’ll reappear

In silence these majestic trees

declare unspoken truth

A generation comes and goes

the torch passed to our youth

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Surreal

Her memory still comes back to me

though faded by the years   

Sometimes I see her in my dreams

and then for days the tears

My mind accepts reality

but deep within my soul

A longing to transcend this world

and hold what darkness stole

At times she reaches out to me

her presence I can feel
Although she's standing close to me
it all seems so surreal

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My Father

So now it all comes down to this

I’ve said my last goodbyes

I’ll hold his hand and try to smile

while tear drops fill my eyes

Tonight he’ll pass through heavens gates

and loved ones he will find

His journey here is now complete

the pain he’ll leave behind

This letting go is hard to do

I’ve struggled everyday

I see the look upon his face

he waits for me to say

Go on my Father….please let go

I need to see you nod

The angels wait to take you home

you’ll see the face of God

For Michael

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The Humble And The Proud

The humble often seek his face

In times of great distress

They know their fate lies in his hands

their weakness they confess

The proud refuse to call his name

their will they do impose

They run towards calamity

their folly soon exposed

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Raindrops

The raindrops gently falling now

a pause to this long day

Hypnotic sounds now luring me

to places far away

A healing balm for this old soul

I soon begin to yawn

Its power now possesses me

to slumber I am drawn

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Hollow

My days pass by in random paths

no meaning to my life

A withered soul of many years

regrets are more than rife

So hollow and devoid of love

and longing for the end

I’ve lived alone so many years

no reasons to pretend

My spirit died so long ago

I’m now the walking dead

What memories still remain with me

they flicker in my bed

I once knew love so long ago

but fools did take her life

My world came crashing to an end

It ended in one night

She was a diamond in my life

so brilliant in my heart

A treasure so remarkable

I loved her from the start

Tonight when slumber comes for me

I won’t look back again

I’ll drift away eternally

and there I will remain

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Three Candles

Three candles burning in the night

they each pertained to me

Each one had meaning for my life

a dream, or so it seemed

One was future burning bright

another was my past

The third one showed my present day

the moments moved so fast

I leaned to look into the past

my youth was on display

I can’t believe some things I did

thank God they’re  yesterday

The present seemed so real to me

I knew what I would see

The circumstances I controlled

I’ll chose what they will be

The third a mixture of the two

my visions not so clear

The past and present hand in hand

some outcomes brought much fear

I have a chance to change it all

by learning from my past

The present  still belongs to me

the die is not yet cast

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Brianna

So beautiful and delicate

this woman I adore

The moment I laid eyes on her

my spirit wanted more

The words she spoke possessed my heart

and echoed in my mind

I knew she was incredible 

most gracious and so kind

Everything within my soul

cried out she was the one

I didn't waste a moment more

until her heart I won

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The Poet

Deep reflection fills my days

unspoken words abide

Quite often seeking solitude

within the countryside

A poet with a simple life

connected to  his youth

Dissecting years of memories

presenting hidden truths

Each year the Autumn days compel

the poet to his pen

Soon friends and lovers reappear

and writing then begins

Emotions trapped within the soul

Connect to memories

An avalanche of pain begins

and drives me to my knees

Sometimes regrets are pushed aside

When fate reveals the plan

A path was forged to bring me home

I now can understand

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Dark Clouds

The ocean sounds still sooth my mind

I’ve walked this shore for years

Whenever I felt  overwhelmed

this helped to calm my fears

Dark clouds portend sad days ahead

they greet me one by one

A winter storm is on the way

and lightening has begun

So little time I now have left

before they lay me down

So many thoughts go through mind

these moments most profound

This life we live so very short

a flash before the  eye

I once was young and unaware

how fast it’d all go by

I never thought it’d seem so clear

what life was all about

 A time to live…. a time to die

Reality now shouts

I will not pass this way again

my change will soon be here

I’ll travel to another place

and leave behind all fear

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Golden Leaves

Golden leaves throughout the trees

there’s still some red and green

Autumn winds will so soon be here

in time to pick them clean

Soon the colored leaves will fall

when skies are blue and clear

Show their beauty one more time

and then they'll disappear

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Fate

My graduation came and went
was time to leave my home
The whole world lay in front of me
so much I wish I'd known

I set my course for wealth and fame

my compass tried and true

I never factored fate at all

It brought me straight to you

The deviation from my course

a blessing in disguise

I almost missed the treasure trove

the hesitation wise

So many blessings came my way

as if they had no choice

Someone was watching  over me

a life time I've rejoiced

I never reached those lofty goals

instead I found much more

A wife who made my life complete

and children we adore

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Baby Please Go On

It  seems so very clear to me

that you've been moving on

You’re distant even when you’re here

and not where you belong

I just can't reach you anymore

no matter how I try

And even when we’re all alone

there's sadness in your eyes

I’m begging Baby please go on  

can’t take this anymore

I hope that somewhere you will find

what you've been looking for

Just close the door as you walk out

no need to say goodbye

I beg you please don’t turn around

won"t let you see me cry

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Tethered Souls

Consuming heartache never ends

as years go passing by

A wounded spirit cannot thrive  

no matter how they try

When tethered soul mates rip apart

there’re like the walking dead

A mask is worn for all to see   

pretense displayed instead

Sometimes the hurting is so bad

the angels start to cry

The overwhelming emptiness

another day we die

For LJ

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Autumn Winds

Autumn winds have now arrived

the trees begin to sway

Golden leaves reflect the sun

but soon they'll fall away

Intermittent rushing sounds

give notice to us all

Something new has just arrived

it truly now is Fall

All of nature seems to sense

great changes soon will come

Leaves are falling from the trees

the season has begun

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Autumn Days

Autumn days have now arrived

our summer slipped away

Red and yellow hues proclaim

the change is underway

Soon the leaves will start to fall

the trees will go to sleep

Temperatures will start to drop

and fire wood we’ll  keep

All of nature hurries now

There’s no time for delay

Soon the winter winds will blow

and snow will fall for days

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Swept Away

Subtle moments here and there

a million dollar smile

So absolutely beautiful

I watched you for awhile

A poet in the league of stars

I loved your writing style

A hundred poems from your soul

but never were compiled

The moments that I spent with you

most precious to my soul

So caught up in the ecstasy

and soon I lost control

Was swept away on tidal waves

and soon far out to sea

A broken compass in my hand

and no one there with me

In time I found my way back home

but not without the scars
I swore I'd never love again
nor look up at the stars

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Place Of Relevance

So isolated and alone

trapped in a prison cell

For years the tools of my employ

communicated well

Adjustments now more difficult

my whole life rearranged

Soon the moment will arrive

and everything will change

The chains that hold me very close

will fall upon the floor

I’ll run away from everything

and will come back no more

I’ll fly away on angel’s wings

then soar beyond the stars

I’ll find a place of relevance

a body without scars

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Tonight

Tonight has been so lovely dear

I wish you wouldn't go

No need to have to leave tonight

besides… there’s so much snow

Let’s take this to another place

we haven’t known before

Continue what we started here

and sharing so much more

All Rights Reserved Jon Arno 2012

A Second Chance

So many times I've thought of you

and whispered out your name

Then drift on into memories

the heartache still remains

I've had a lot of time to think

on how it all went wrong

I beat myself up pretty bad

you know I'm not that strong

I'm clinging to a ray of hope

our paths will cross once more

A second chance to be with you

just like it was before

Tonight I'll pull the pillow close

pretend you're here with me

I'll go to sleep and dream of you

and hold you endlessly

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My Little Paradise

Its nestled in a mountain range  

and far from city lights

A place of gentle solitude…

my little paradise

Oasis from another life

where time slows down its pace

A haven from insanity…

the madness of the race

A simple place I now call home

surrounded by a stream

Moonbeams grace the sky at night

and laughter fills my dreams

The giant pine trees touch the sky

mountains topped with snow

The forest hides its treasure trove

at night the afterglow

I couldn’t ever ask for more

each day a new surprise

Another chance to distance me

from tragedy and lies

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Reasons To Believe

Twas He alone my heart did seek

to fill the emptiness

A void so deep inside my soul

and so much restlessness

The raging storms had humbled me

they brought me to my knees

The cares of life deceived my soul

and darkness covered me

I cried unto the Lord most high

He heard my desperate plea

Removed the curse from off my life

and set my spirit free

There now is meaning to my life

And reasons  to believe

A peace has settled over me

Twas blind but now I see

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Autumn Years

In the Autumn of my years

reflection rules my day

winding paths of memories

with stops along the way

Pausing at the forks again

examining the choice

Changes I would surely make

and even  raise my voice

Funny how we clearly see

when looking from behind

It all seems so predictable

yes each and every time

What will winter years be like

when looking back again?

Hope that I will leave in peace

surrounded by my friends

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I'm Still In Love With You

So many years have come and gone

I can’t believe it’s true

I find myself still looking back

on days I spent with you

I’ve followed you throughout the years

albeit from afar

From time to time I’d hear your name

my heart is still ajar

Sometimes a face book photograph

would brighten up my day

A snapshot from another time

with words that you would say

I gathered courage yesterday

and emailed late last night

My dear, I’m still in love with you

was all that I could write

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Melodies

Melodies dancing in my head

         so precious to my soul           

The songs we sang so long ago

emotions they control

Some take me to another time

when  I was so naïve

They fit so perfect in my life

they shaped what I believe

Some held me in the worst of times

while others set me free

Sometimes so precious in my youth

  they often spoke to me

All Rights Reserved Jon Arno 2012

A Fire Burns

It seems so distant to me now

and memories fade each day

What happened to our way of life?

I really just can’t say

Somehow a stupor settled in    

and apathy laid waste

A generation lost its soul

and values were replaced

My heroes disappeared one day

and rights turned into wrong

Confusion now so strong and clear

To whom do I belong?

Yet now inside a fire burns

I know we're still the best

I pledge allegiance to the flag

my hand upon my chest

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How Beautiful

How beautiful she looks tonight

as slumber holds her close

Her spirit off in dreams somewhere

oh what a lovely pose

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Clinging To A Ray Of Hope

So many times I think of you

and whisper out your name

Regrets have often punished me

while taunting who's to blame 

So bruised and battered in my soul

this heartache never ends

I try to make it through each day

sometimes I just pretend

I'm clinging to a ray of hope

our paths will cross once more

Sometimes I even fantasize

you walking through my door

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I Tried So Hard

I tried so hard to make it work    

you finally took me down

I couldn’t hold on anymore

and in the end love drowned

You pushed me down into the depths

Of heartache and despair

I didn’t go without a fight

I struggled hard for air

I tried to hold on to our dream

but in the end  It died

Your secret life was hid from me

so many times you lied

Death has it’s freedom in the end

perspective lights the way

In retrospect I can’t believe

I let you...make me stay

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Forever Be With You

So many years of memories

they gather here for me

Each time I come to visit you

your spirit sets them free

The silence here is so profound

my thoughts so clear and true

Perspectives are in harmony     

there all in tune with you

I wish that I could turn back time

and hold you once again

To run my fingers through your hair

and see your lovely grin

I long for days so long ago

when we were young at heart

We couldn’t know a day would come

when we would be apart

One day My Love I’ll come to stay

forever be with you

We’ll walk  in places yet unknown

the sadness we’ll undo

All Rights Reserved Jon Arno 2012