The Camel Saloon . . .

In a drastic effort to become my favourite barkeep Russell Streur has graciously published me on his brilliant LiteraryZine The Camel Saloon.  He published not only my most recent rambling poem but several of my photographs as well . . . please stop by and see not only my work but that of many other talented artists.

To share an excerpt of  Russell's words on the publications:

"In baseball, it's called: hitting for the cycle. That is when a batter singles, doubles, triples and homers in the same game. I'll call it the same at the Saloon, hitting for the cycle, because I've posted you at the Saloon for your poem, at the Gallery for RBW State Park, on the Postcards Page for Penns View, and as a Kindred Spirit. That's 4 for 4, and a first for the bar, and duly noted in the history of the joint. How about that for business?

Here are the links to your work:


http://thecamelsaloon.blogspot.com/2010/07/wounded-and-in-need-of-protection-you.html


http://camelsaloongallery.blogspot.com/search/label/Carmen%20Schreffler


http://camelsaloonpostcards.blogspot.com/search/label/Carmen%20Schreffler


Kindred Spirits and the history of the joint can be found on the links in the right hand column of the blog."

Thank you Russell for being my favourite barkeep! 

Go and visit the Camel Saloon!  Grab a drink and have a listen to the great yarns being spun.

Nothing in Return . . .

The labyrinths on Karelian part of the White Sea was made by proto Lappish breeds at the end of the I b.c.  According to Irish and English ancient legends the fairies danced on labyrinth spirals in the moonlight; in accordance to Norwegian popular beliefs stone rows made by ice-giants; by Swedish tales labyrinths mark the enters into underground palaces. Most of modern researches consider labyrinths as religious structures.  *courtesy of  http://heninen.net/labyrinth/english.htm

Wounded and in need of protection you stumbled into my garden.

Your wounds raw and in need of healing.

I tended to them and watched as you grew stronger day by day.

I outwardly asked for nothing in return.

I dreamed a thousand dreams for you.

I learned to read your moods, your growls, and your eyes.

I watched as you stumbled and got back up again.

I resolved to let you dream your own dreams.

Wounded and in need of protection you returned to my garden.

Your wounds once again raw and in need of healing.

I tended to them and watched as you grew stronger day by day.

Still I asked for nothing in return.

You gave me love, support and friendship.

You gave me laughter when all I had were tears.

You gave me . . .

you.

I dream a thousand dreams for you.

You dream of a road I cannot see.

I resolve to let you dream your own dreams.

Live, Laugh, Love . . .

Poe Mountain

 "People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life.

A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave.

A soul mates purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life, then introduce you to your spiritual master..."

******

"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts."

— Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia)

I think it seems "easier" to believe that we have no choices

that we are dealt the hand we are given

and that we are helpless under our own circumstances

that is all up to fate and out of our influence. . .

And yet for me that approach to life feels very heavy . . .

For me knowing that I can choose

 to strive towards a goal,

to change who I am

to discover what I am

to create who I am to become

to influence where I can

and to be influenced by others and

learn from my mistakes

lightens the struggles of the path that is life . . .

******

Soul Mates . . .

you meet them they come into your life

100 miles an hour

they feel as if they have always been there

 that you would be lost without them

We cannot choose who they will be

When they will arrive

What they will show us

What will show them

We cannot choose when they will leave us

We can choose

to relish the moments

we are granted

the joyous and the painful

to examine the images they present to us

We can choose to allow them to be

with us as long as they are

and we can choose to allow them to go

when they need to go

Love,

Live,

 Laugh!

And try like HELL not to see the same mistakes in the mirror again!!