America the Beautiful,
You’ve sold your liberty
That Christ laid out so dutiful
And gave to you and me.

The pilgrim’s feet that once trod here
For faith through Living Light
Have passed in vain this lowland weir;
You’ve shuttered out His might!

Heroes of old whose life was tried
Through freedom’s lifelong plan;
The sacrifice of He who died;
Is lost on modern man!

Patriots of our history
Decreed to mortal man
With God there is no mystery
The years our soul will span.

Grace was given freely to all
From sea to shining sea
That we might live and on Him call
To gain His liberty.

America the Beautiful,
Turn from your forlorn ways
And seek His rich and bountiful
And freely given grace.

Copyright © 2009 Keith Blackie

As time has come
and years have passed;

reminiscent;

Days flee so fast.

In all of five
I did not know;

inadequate;

Feelings still grow.

Tarry five more
and ten had gone;

revitalize;

A fresh new dawn.

Ten plus five made
untold sweet zest;

dependable;

My heart is blessed.

Then ten times two
had went away;

companionship;

Two meet each day.

Now five by five
each day is bright;

reverberant;

Echos each night.

As time has come
and years have passed;

reminiscent;

Days flee so fast.

Copyright © 2009 Keith Blackie

High atop a soaring mountain I stand alone.
What lies beneath, besides my tired soles;
they have carried me well; I have no regrets.
Euphoria envelops my being, my soul cries out!

This mountain cares not that I am here.
This earth feels naught;
the patter disappears without a trace,
the somber noise deafens the quiet.

Visages dance proudly in the distance,
reflecting across gently flowing pools;
spittle of the sky dampens my spirit;
this pinnacle has been conquered.

As I reprise my role in days gone by,
I am reminded of rainy days.
Drenched overcoats bemoan the deluge;
Why must it rain!

Copyright ©2008  Keith E Blackie

As shadows fall on my heart
and evening grows near.
A groaning call from the dark,
stirs dreadfully grim fear.

The howling winds at my back,
cuts deep into my brain.
The frightful bends and the crack
of trees expose my pain.

As thunder claps in the night
and lightning fills the sky,
the timid act on their fright
for fear that they might die.

The woe inside is conceived
from stories filled with dread.
when not denied, but believed,
into that realm we tread.

Have no dread of idle fear,
for it can do no harm.
Keep instead a beaming cheer
and spread a joyous charm.

Copyright © 2009 Keith Blackie

Upon this Earth, oft we’re blest
with joys beyond the stars;
and we pine for those who left
with years of painful scars.

Eternal rest now dear child,
upon that fateful shore
and find that peace not beguiled
by those we all abhor.

Spirit, now we ask of you,
life short, but yet complete.
Give this Phoenix all her due
and make her life replete.

Those whose will, ill they carry
across that great divide,
to the depths, let them tarry
where ne’er a soul shall hide.

May Heavens gate open wide
and let your spirit dwell,
while those who care not have died
and spend their death in hell.

Dedicated in Memory of Phoenix Sinclair – June 2005 – Winnipeg, CA

Copyright © 2008 Keith Blackie

Duty beckons me once more,
I dare not turn away,
faces of the weak and poor,
who come to me this day.

Fearless men and women all,
who came before my fate,
mantled on their vesture wall,
upon these sands of late.

Sorrow me nay, but for those,
with dreams of liberty,
sweeping out across the floes
of dunes and sky and sea.

Violent tones upon my breath.
Pray I escape their ply!
Feeling not the sting of death,
as others ’round me die.

Silence weeping as you read
of things across that sea.
Keeping close my love instead
forever with you be.

Copyright © 2008 Keith Blackie

Lethargic Sun why must you tarry?
Cloud puppies seared in the sand
beg of your quick passing.

Short lived they are, lucid dreams of past;
a state of being endures
to wander aimlessly.

Where are the puppies I so long for?
Upon the breast of the mountains
have they sojourned in peace?

Shall I ever reach the pinnacle
where so few have trod before?
surely the Sun does know.

Twilight looms on distant horizons
where but a few dare follow,
except brave cloud puppies.

Oh Sun I beg, return to me soon,
to warm my soul with your smile,
and return cloud puppies.

Copyright © 2008 Keith Blackie

Brief – compelling, comforting in its own right;
Bringing the flutter of life, high upon majestic waves;
Bent trees, as if weighted atop, tells of its passing;
Life springs forth, welcoming its cool crisp attention;
Stark – the reminder of days when ne’er wind blew
Across deserving and undeserving alike;
When memories of those whose faces were touched
never knew of things to come.
Harsh – truth of being, hides contentment,
As closure beckons the weary traveller to rest
and feast upon the richness of blessings it delivers
in an infinite path to unknown destinations.
Calm – lying unseen, unheard, forever gone,
yet passed in thought, remembered for a lifetime,
comfort given, promises fulfilled, heartily thankful
as life begins anew offering its own rewards of wind