We hike the trails where emerald silence grows,
The forest hums beneath the morning light,
The mountain breathes in rhythms nature knows.
The beach wind plays with gulls in seaward flight,
We splash through waves, our footprints wash away,
The forest hums beneath the morning light.
By lakes so still they mirror skies all day,
Canoes drift slow like dreams in midday sun,
We splash through waves, our footprints wash away.
Through wooded paths, the deer and foxes run,
We pitch our tent where starlight softly lands,
Canoes drift slow like dreams in midday sun.
A fire is born from our own weathered hands,
We share our tales until the embers die,
We pitch our tent where starlight softly lands.
We hike the trails where emerald silence grows,
The mountain breathes in rhythms nature knows,
The beach wind plays with gulls in seaward flight,
We share our tales until the embers die.
The chance to change always exists
A prompt of willingness will lead
Giving way to the clearing mist
Patience, boundaries, are a need
Just like a tree takes time to grow
A prompt of willingness will lead
All that you love, is what you know
Space brings reflection, wisdom and peace
Just like a tree takes time to grow
Negativity to release
Let the wind be your friend today
Space brings reflection, wisdom and peace
A life given, no dues to pay
With righteous free will on your side
Let the wind be your friend today
You're ok, you don't have to hide
The chance to change always exists
Sun can shine with the moving tide
Giving way to the clearing mist
Heidi Sands
5/7/25
(C)opyright
8 syllables
Across the valley, green pasture and the hills
I imagine dancing to freedom I feel
Lifting my toes in the daisies, full of thrills
Along the river, my spirit flows surreal
It's a taste of heaven on land around me
I imagine dancing to freedom I feel
In the sky, large birds soar so effortlessly
Peace comes naturally, not something I chase
It's a taste of heaven on land around me
I stand strong in the heights, bad things I erase
Enjoying a new life with things I create
Peace comes naturally, not something I chase
I'm part of life's production, lessons and fate
I'm becoming everything I want to be
Enjoying a new life with things I create
My mind absorbs the landscape, all that I see
Across the valley, green pasture and the hills
I'm becoming everything I want to be
Lifting my toes in the daisies, full of thrills
Heidi Sands
4/29/25
(C)opyright
O’er gentle sunrise, tender peace abides
Light risks striking shadows of darkest night
Moon and stars flow, cling to the sky as guides
Glowing on wings, beyond the clouds of white
Birds and angels sing as the silence cries
Light risks striking shadows of darkest night
His still voice from heaven stirs hearts so wise
For those who know His beauty lives in love
Birds and angels sing as the silence cries
My heart is grateful for hope from above
In melodies of grace, His song concludes
For those who know His beauty lives in love
He confirms that His love never excludes
Holy light blesses all souls who believe
In melodies of grace, His song concludes
We rejoice in His birth each Christmas Eve
O’er gentle sunrise, tender peace abides
Holy light blesses all souls who believe
Moon and stars flow, cling to the sky as guides
I hold three magic rocks, in my hand
Rolling them over and over and over
Leaving this reality behind, far behind
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crafty moon sends her light, gently nuzzling
Rustling in the winds, songs of peace and praise
Endless dreams swaying, dancing, in full swing
Fairytale wishes fade as starlight prays
Where love sought her kiss, beneath angel’s wings
Rustling in the winds, songs of peace and praise
Hopeful bursts of grace still the swords of kings
Washing away shadows with light that glows
Where love sought her kiss, beneath angel’s wings
Songs of passionate nights stir life that knows
Beautiful tears, kindness, restoring hope
Washing away shadows with light that glows
Melodies in rich rose teach minds to cope
Winter fades into spring’s breathless debut
Beautiful tears, kindness, restoring hope
Nirvana of grace stirs life, all brand-new
Crafty moon sends her light, gently nuzzling
Winter fades into spring’s breathless debut
Endless dreams swaying, dancing, in full swing
His light fell over the shadows
lifting the solemn spirit’s gloom
stirring precious people, He chose
revealing who rose from the tomb
making a way for believers
lifting the solemn spirit’s gloom
love for even low achievers
grace so alive it halts the skies
making a way for believers
the song that no voice can disguise
melodies rich with peace and love
grace so alive it halts the skies
this is wonder from God above
come down to offer us His Son
melodies rich with peace and love
I hope to hear Him say, well-done
His light fell over the shadows
come down to offer us His Son
stirring precious people, He chose
Winter’s chill is in the air, a frosty gasp
washing twilight in gentle, glistening songs
breathless dreams hesitate, rising from God’s grasp
hopeful hearts reach out, knowing their love belongs
wintery tongues tell their lies in glowing rhymes
washing twilight in gentle, glistening songs
each life is filled with blessings in pleasant times
I sincerely believe in His blazing fire
wintery tongues tell their lies in glowing rhymes
His love is taking me higher and higher
without Him, I’d be baffled by the wild storms
I sincerely believe in His blazing fire
because of this awesome love, who always warms
I keep praising the One who died on that cross
without Him, I’d be baffled by the wild storms
this love and grace I attempt to get across
Winter’s chill is in the air, a frosty gasp
I keep praising the One who died on that cross
breathless dreams hesitate, rising from God’s grasp
The tide cannot go on dark on my feet—
in winter you move but 'specially move,
but from within its grave, your bracing cease,
this time of year where a fog I look through,
in the sea that passed your own footprints by—
in winter you move but 'specially move
with a current that to my living cries
like a wild channel, me to go to you,
in the sea that passed your own footprints by;
that beach still comes in waves, lost to my youth;
I comb for our memory's ebb within—
the forming seagulls in the ice air blew
away. My part of you in deep ocean,
though in the swell, your ghost returns, nimbus—
I comb for our memory's ebb within
as winter going out now approaches;
the tide cannot go on dark on my feet,
though in the swell, your ghost returns, nimbus—
but from within its grave, your bracing cease.
Bullies
Unrestrained, belligerent bullies abound,
In schools, institutions, and in businesses
Who create ruckuses that serve no purpose,
But to show passionless feelings of meanness,
Filled with vindictiveness, jealousy, and spite,
In schools and institutions and in businesses.
Indifferent to others, they harass and fight
Irresponsible for the scars they impart
Through their vindictiveness, jealousy, and spite,
Employing words and actions to poison hearts
And disrupt the flow of cordial interactions,
Irresponsible for the hurt they impart.
Temper-tantrum clods using intimidation
Who are conceited, narcissistic, and deranged,
Disrupting the flow of cordial interactions.
From the cradle to the grave, they seldom change,
Unrestrained, belligerent bullies abound,
Conceited, narcissistic, vain, and deranged
And create ruckuses that serve no purpose.
When rainy skies are gray and sun shines through
Remember to look up for the rainbow
Colors bring clarity to what is true
When things are foggy and it's hard to know
A direction for your purpose to grow
Remember to look up for the rainbow
Give yourself comfort so that you can go
To places where your soul will be at peace
A direction for your purpose to grow
Catch the wind for your tension to release
Carried by the airstream currents of love
To places where your soul will be at peace
Every mountain stands witness above
Positivity fuels strength from within
Carried by the airstream currents of love
Watch the landscape change through every mile
When rainy skies are gray and sun shines through
Positivity fuels strength and a smile
Colors bring clarity to what is true
Heidi Sands
6/16/24
10 Syllables
(C)opyright
Dementia and Reflection
Years hence beyond the glow of self-confidence
When age 'clipses youth and the body weakens
And pills prescribed are swallowed to prevent
Further, worsening of the brain’s cognizance
As the soul pleads relief from the crippling disease,
When age 'clipses youth and the body weakens
And palsy, skin-mottled hands feel ill at ease
As forgetfulness succumbs to hysteria
And the soul pleads relief from the crippling disease.
Pertinacity strives sans euphoria
And dementia replaces the genius
With forgetfulness and hysteria
Interrupting daily living continuous
As the soul meanders without permanence
And insidious dementia robs the genius
Of faculties, dignity and consciousness;
Years hence beyond the glow of self-confidence
When the transient soul searches for permanence,
And pills are swallowed to retain cognizance.
The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. - Dolly Parton
Weeping, like a willows graceful waft, pleasing
Even the heart will melt in the doubtful breeze,
Moving calmly through the night, gently teasing
Weeping, like the leaves who fall upon their knees,
Echoed by souls poised in resilient prayers,
Even the heart will melt in the doubtful breeze,
Weeping, with tears who tempting nature compares,
Silent, each raindrop aspires to remember
Echoed by souls poised in resilient prayers,
Weeping, steady hearts are blessed by November,
Lightest drizzle reveals what psalms are singing,
Silent, each raindrop aspires to remember
Weeping, famous hush rainfall shall be bringing
Past the sprinkle of wisdom thru the ages
Lightest drizzle reveals what psalms are singing
Rainfall grieves as it drenches our heart’s pages
Weeping, like a willows graceful waft, pleasing
Past the sprinkle of wisdom thru the ages
Moving calmly through the night, gently teasing
Spring rolls into the valleys and hills
Leaving mountains with dots of white snow
The warm breeze chases away the chills
Robin bounce along to cawing crow
It's a wildlife dance to welcome spring
Leaving mountains with dots of white snow
The wind chimes sway in air as they sing
Anticipation, no wonder why
It's a wildlife dance to welcome spring
Puffy, white clouds float across blue sky
Bushes sway with buds ready to bloom
Anticipation, no wonder why
The birth of flowers, still in the womb
Soon, the vibrant colors will be born
Bushes sway with buds ready to bloom
Last autumn's leaves blow wrinkled and torn
Spring rolls into the valleys and hills
Soon, the vibrant colors will be born
The warm breeze chases away the chills
Heidi Sands
4/16/24
9 Syllables
(C)opyright
Wisdom beauty style and class
ignites the white house Obama
block party I'm in awe an yet my
shyness overwhelmed me I'm
awakened by the Harold washington
library simply taken by the youth center
my dad worked 131 st altgeld garden
many days of street jazz and speakeasy
time passing our lady of the gardens
writing plays for the church who am
I why I am king I am woman I am me
I am American native American my
ancestors were the founders of Chicago
Chekogo dusable museum John Batiste
funny curly blonde head African American
poet who am I why I am me I am you
1. If you could look into your future and choose one day to see what would happen, what day would that be and why...
~~~
When death calls my name, as I walk my last mile,
Will the stars shine like they did the night afore?
Twinkling in still skies, glittering to beguile.
When the end comes will I know what to adore?
Will the tears fall or will I fear death’s dark call?
Will the stars shine like they did the night afore?
When time has passed, will the end come at nightfall?
Or will I learn death may bring joy to my soul?
Will the tears fall or will I fear death’s dark call?
When I pass, will God send down hope to console?
Will I remember the good, forget the bad?
Or will I learn death may bring joy to my soul?
When hearts remember my light, will they be glad?
Did I leave this world better than it once was?
Will I remember the good, forget the bad?
I hope I gave someone a reason to pause.
When death calls my name, as I walk my last mile,
Did I leave this world better than it once was?
Twinkling in still skies, glittering to beguile.
Specific Types of Terzanelle Poems
Definition | What is Terzanelle in Poetry?