They tides, they change. How well I know!
I see it ev'ry day!
The river's span, it changes, so!
No firm size will it stay!

I wrote about its impact, deep
I sensed in '96 *
It tutored me--my faith to keep!
and still it does these tricks!

At times, I look; its width is great!
A river, full and wide!
A ship it could accommodate
when in, has come the tide.

Then later, it's a shallow stream!
A narrow little brook!
The contrast, it is quite extreme!
This state, can't overlook.

It seems a vivid metaphor;
our life, it illustrates!
Each day we enter some new door,
not knowing what awaits.

Some days see glory and success;
some days bring pain and grief!
Each day's not full of mightiness;
our in-tide time is brief.

The river, each day, tells me this.
I look. This tip, it shares.
It tutors me, so I won't miss
the lesson--like it cares.

The tides go out in our lives too!
We're left reduced and weak.
We flow with force you can't subdue,
then soon, we're just a creek.

Our state is not our lasting place;
and yes! we'll get our wins
but just as soon as, done's this race,
another one begins!

The river tells me ev'ry day
when it, my eyes inspect.
But other lectures come my way
when it, I least expect!

There's some things, which are not too hard
to fathom coming true;
while others get us riled and jarred!
'tis what surprises do!

And while we're stunned we sense the urge
to grouse, complain and moan.
But maybe we should let emerge
the state, which now we own.

And re'lize that it's now the way
things are--can't change what's real.
The current status, here today
is what with, we must deal.

The Coffee Mill, my morning haunt
for lo, so long a time;
where I would sit and sip and want
that Oh! so perfect rhyme

has gone away, has disappeared;
it is around, no more!
The space 'twas in's been commandeered;
it's now a big toy store!

A change like this feels like a loss,
a passing, e'en a death!
But maybe it's a bridge to cross;
of fresh air, it's a breath!

It may seem odd and frightening;
not wanted; lacking worth!
But...could be, it's enlightening;
a new start--like a birth!

And no! it's not now paradise,
the state we at, now stare.
It's like observing that the dice
has stopped and we're aware!

But oft' times there's a hint we get
resulting in a prod,
which grabs our focus, hence to let
a word get through, from God.

The ladder, we don't just up, climb;
get higher endlessly;
and moving up's a curse sometime;
just ask ol' Alfred P. **

And Johnny Rocco's words--they haunt;
his retort, can't ignore!
McCloud did ask, "What do you want?"
and Rocco answered, "MORE!"; ***

Our lives are filled with ebbs and flows,
hellos and then good byes.
There's gains in both; each stage bestows
a gift of guidance, wise!

I lost Colette five years ago;
it seemed a tragedy;
we reconnected briefly, though,
then, "bye!" again, said she!

The ties were cut to days we shared,
and they were finished, done.
But still, one spot kept us ensnared;
a tie to her; 'twas one!

Her feelings, shared; they're sharp and clear!
Preserved, aren't words, which lied!
The two involved though, aren't now here;
they've passed on like the tide.

And my reaction: I've been sad.
But t'sally forth, have vowed;
A blessing in my life, I had.
I'm grateful, 'twas allowed.

Yes, they were both a gift, a gain;
and though my tide's now low;
their mem'ry, with me, will remain;
their touch will never go!

And theirs is out; now fully dry;
no high tides will they see.
But mine will come in. Faith have I
that this, once more shall be.

The bottom line is: "All Things Change"
"But Perish, Nothing Will!"
These words, Ovid did well arrange;
they sure have meaning, still.