Rambling Thoughts Need to Quiet

Rambling Thoughts Need to Quiet

Posted by Erin Mansfield

So many thoughts do ramble past
Some snag, causing them to persist
Looping thoughts just never end
Ideas that seemed dead, rise again
Pointless debates do vigorous battle
While shadows hide murky troubles
A whirlwind of thought, scatters a mind

Thoughts overwhelmingly fulfill desire
Seductively touching flights of temptation
Always concurring courageous adventures
Or suffocate in snares of tremendous pain
Stumbling fears of all treachery and torture
Toss one into the bubbling depths of sorrow
Unsettling highs and lows, skew perception

The stream of thoughts dwindle to a drip
A calmness clears the fog from the waters
Contented silence melts away the irrelevant
Silence concentrates focus onto the brilliant
Refining the nugget into the purest gold
Time, space and age manage to disappear
A quiet mind finds purpose in the imperfect

Gems Masked in the Ordinary

Gems Masked in the Ordinary

Posted by Erin Mansfield

A soft mixture, sweet and reminiscent of spring
The aroma carries the mind in tranquil thoughts
A gentle stir, both potent and yet vague
Layers of pure delight blossom in every color
Gratifying the heart in waves of the serene

The babble of a brook becomes a roaring river
Feathery seeds float along like ethereal wisps
Bare feet in grasses, is as to dancing on clouds
A successful find becomes a quest worthy of song
And everyone present forms everlasting bonds

Such dreams evoked when one opens their heart
To beauty carefully hidden like precious gems
Masked behind folds of the ordinary scraps
Where Angels and heirs do find their share
Lavish beyond the considerations of this land

Life: An Array of Possibilities

Life: An Array of Possibilities

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Life contains so many layers
Hues of shadows and light
Spiraling in every direction
A vast array of possibilities
We struggle with the weight
Of choices we've yet to make
Yet none know the full expanse
Held within the insignificant
An entire universe of meaning
Contained within a single drop

Is There Nothing You've Enjoyed?

Is There Nothing You've Enjoyed?

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Have you not once woken
To a sunrise in luscious color
With rays to overwhelm the sky
Or had contentment settle in
As clouds and light perform
While slow ballads dance
Within a summers breeze
Lulling you into reflection

Have you no fond memories
Of youthful, playful days
Or had a child's laughter
Renew your carefree spirit
That you've long forgotten
Or found abundant treasure
Within sleep filled nights
Of dreams that seem so real?

Mind and Creation

Mind and Creation

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Oh such a longing holds my heart
For the mystical, the spectacular
To create the surreal, the beautiful
With each and every thought

Alas, I find I lack such power
I must confess I am not God
My mind majestically carves
It needs no paint brush or pen

Yet such creation is forever trapped
Within the complacent simmer
Of an imagination lost to life
Leaving the days sparse of light

I must bridge the surreal to the real
But building bridges takes skill
The cost will vary in time and effort
And the highest price may be my pride

The perfect picture set in the mind
Will most certainly be set aside
Yet stray marks become the inspiration
The toil transforming, infusing emotion

Melting of a Snowy Heart

Melting of a Snowy Heart

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Cold and forbidding was once my heart
With no light to show, not even a spark
Numbing silence draped me in it's chill
A dulling pain blocked all my senses
As ice crept in from every direction

Yet slowly sunlight lifted over the horizon
To soften my heart and release it's burden
To melt the ice and release my shackles
To expose all feelings in this fresh season
Snow melts into a vivid spring green

Dreary's Dreadful Night

Dreary's Dreadful Night

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Thoughts upon a dreary night
Soft slumber so far from sight
Worries that hide below the surface
Conclusions rise without a purpose
My mind lost on winding paths
My heart distant and detached
Until my mind hits on a snag
Memories pour out once again
And emotion overwhelms
There is no more sun or air
Only the struggle for the surface
The crushing pain from drowning
And then once again it's gone
My feet stand steady upon the shore
The waters calm and all's secure
The sun warms the gentle breeze
It must have been some nasty dream
And yet I can't shake this dread

A Mystical Contentedness

A Mystical Contentedness

Posted by Erin Mansfield

While light dances in the night,
The fragrance like a sweet kiss
My eyes become entranced
By the harmonious movement
Of the many candle flames
Found on every table or stand
Within this mystical time and place
My eyes dull as lids begin to fall
And dreams grow ever more vivid
The room fills with the warmth
It wraps around me in it's comfort
The cool, chill air left well outside
A distant memory that one can't find
A contented smile sweeps across my face
As tender memories mix with the surreal
And music forever fills my heart

Thoughts on a Day Scarred

Thoughts on a Day Scarred

Posted by Erin Mansfield

An event to participate and cheer
Turned sour and filled with fear
In a moment that fell out of sync
Like a dream or a nightmare
And thoroughly changed lives

The confusion, the pain, the loss
The shock that gave way to tears
The heroic acts of those near
And the spoken and silent prayers

To live with those haunting memories
To have lost loved ones so dear,
To face frightening injuries so severe

Let us remember to continue to care
For many are scarred for a lifetime
A moment in the shadow darkens lives
Yet thoughtful love and caring hearts
May bring light into the darkest nights

We can't change what has been done
And so we need to lend a shoulder
To give a hand, a listening ear
To watch out and care for each other

We must not forget the many lives
Filled with sorrow and pain today
As well as each and every other day

To face such fear, such pain
Takes love, takes patience, takes time
For tears fall more abundant than rain
Yet love shines brighter than the sun

Striving for Wings

Striving for Wings

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Staring down the path already chosen
The consequences set in motion
Constantly watching for the moment
To turn around ones fortunes

So many have fallen and are forgotten
When trying to touch the sun above
Always striving for wings to take flight
Yet the skies are never free of storms
And not everything remains in sight

Then one rewinds through memories
Of both grand and simple slices of life
The amazing love for a child born
The warmth of a hand entwined in yours
Holding on a heartbeat and a breath
One must soar as far as they may go

Blessed Snow

Blessed Snow

Posted by Erin Mansfield

While this isn't exactly what I envisioned, I am pleased with the final image.  Basically, I finally combined my Snow Angel and Winter Tree drawings, with a background I created in gimp.

Longing for Summer Days

Longing for Summer Days

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Memories of lazy summer afternoons
Gently swaying in the comfort of a hammock
The soft breeze moving the branches above
Wind chimes singing their harmonious tones
As soft clouds slowly dance across the blue sky
The rhythmic sway lulls me into a haze
Dream images mix with my surroundings
As my eyes close and open of their own accord
Time passes and yet all seems to stand still
Scents of flowers and garden greens
And the faint sounds of distant conversations
Further pacify my mind into total relaxation
In such peace, I enter into a light dreamy sleep.

A Room of Memories

A Room of Memories

Posted by Erin Mansfield

The room was small and scantly furnished
An old, failing chair sat near a window
The curtains faded to a translucent yellow
A flowering fragrance, both sweet and light
Entered through the broken window pane
Yet could not conceal the distinct scent
Of so many long years of dust settling
Nothing had changed in all those years
Nothing and yet everything
For this was once a gathering place
The active center of a vibrant home
Where parents provided with love
And children grew, played and learned
Where hearts broke and healed again
Now the room is quiet and still
With only an old man and his thoughts

Love of the Night

Love of the Night

Posted by Erin Mansfield

I love the nights with gentle rain
Or a cool breeze that gently sways
Skies clear to gracious stars above
Or darkened by a blanket of clouds
While days do shine in their grandeur
A mystical thread weaves it's mysteries
Within the hidden folds of the night
In solitude one imagines more
Than can be lived in any lifetime
In groups we grow together more
With friendly songs and a warm fire
As couples remind themselves
Of a love that carries their dreams
Wherever they may find themselves.

Good Night Bear

Good Night Bear

Posted by Erin Mansfield

So I decided to play around more with the InspirARTion Windows 8 app.  The first drawing I started, developed a rather evil looking face.  As I kept drawing, it grew into something like a vampire/devil.  It was pretty cool, but not what I was after.  I decided I start over.

The next face I made, looked like an angry teddy bear.  Apparently, I need to work on happy faces.  After finally coming up with a more pleasant face, I then drew the rest of the outline for the teddy bear.  I edited my creation with the wonderful Gimp program.  I changed it's perspective and added a simple shadow.  The results are still slightly creepy, but not bad.  It reminds me of being a child and seeing some beloved toy in the dark shadows of the night.  When very young, it's frightening.  Eventually, the image becomes comforting.  The strange shadow is only a reminder that it is time to sleep, while teddy bears and other stuffed toys guard the night.

Continuing Love

Continuing Love

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Words spoken softly in the ear
A breath, soft and warm upon the neck
A sweet shiver as lips meet lips
The world pauses for an unknown time
As two hearts beat together
And they become linked forever

Somehow time passes and life goes on
Some of our days are simply routine
And our dreams are nearly forgotten
But moments of such bliss still exist
A look, a moment when hands touch
An unexpected gesture in a time of need
Or a night of tender loving bliss

A Spring Flight

A Spring Flight

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Wings fold in for a thrill ride
A rush of pure acceleration
Sudden drop, the world flies by
Spread those wings to catch the glide
Slowing down, taking time
Enjoy the flight while skies are clear
When sun kisses the new spring blooms
And the gentle breeze is soft and warm
The scene so serene and flight so freeing
Colors revived, so vivid they shine
Winding rivers play their musical sound
The mountain stands majestically above
My soul sings with it, forever it flies

A Song, Perhaps

A Song, Perhaps

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Ok, so below is a song I came up with in the shower, so the tune isn't probably that original.  I could also clean up the vocal, add some instrumental, and some verses.  Oh, and you can hear my cat in the background.  Anyway, I think that's enough fretting over my own shortcomings, here it is:

Nothing Stays The Same

Sometimes life is so great
There's always a smile on your face
And my heart wants to sing forever
But where does the time go
We try to hold on
But nothing stays the same
(nothing stays the same)

They say children grow up fast,
much too fast
And adults have far to much,
to much to plan
So the days are short
And sleepless nights are far too long
We're haunted by the memories
Of Cherished moments long gone

Contradictions

Contradictions

Posted by Erin Mansfield

Waiting for the perfect moment
Now that moments come and gone

Striving hard to push ahead
Blind to the joy within each day

The money to pay for one's dreams
Time just continues to slip away

All the time to create and play
Lack of funds get in the way

Boundless energy in a small package
No understanding of the road ahead

Experience to guide one's every move
Too tired and weary to make the way

Frustration can breed from life's recipe
But so can love and laughter