VoicesNet.com Recent Poems of Nancy Ellen Crossland - Copyright for all poems displayed belong to author

FLOOD LIGHT by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/8/2009

Full moon
You've risen so high
A great beam;
Flood light in the sky

Do you search for lost souls
Broken hearts;
Lighting paths to find their way
Home?

The screech of the hunting owl
Breaks the silence of the night;
Do you aid in his quest
Blinding his prey
Guide of the night,
Is he also alone?

Full moon
You've risen so high
Do you hear the mournful cries
So many lost souls;
Touch them with your flood light
As they wander by

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/08/2009

TOMORROW'S CHILD by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/7/2009

You are the petals on the flower
Minutes in an hour;
Sunlight on the shadows
Of a barren room,

Laughter in the silence
Warmth when it is cold;
Pages within a book
Of a lifetime to be told,

You are the pure in heart
No faults are seen;
You love unconditionally
There is no in between,

You are the voice of God,
Whispering in the trees
You are tomorrow's child
Our hearts, our hopes;
Our dreams.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/07/2009

BEHIND VIOLET EYES by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/7/2009

Behind violet eyes;
A child of beauty admired by all,
You rode upon "Velvet"
Sharing your devotion
We were so enthralled,

Emerging from childhood
A breathtaking debutante was seen;
Gracing the movie screen,
Newspapers and magazines ,

Married so young
Wasn't meant to be,
Soon another love
Two sons later
Beloved ones
Never to cease,

A star you blazed
Across the sky,
True love eluding you
At last though
You would find,

Two hearts devoted
Would entwine,
A treasured daughter,
A perfect life;
Too short a time,
Tragedy took the love
Of your life,
Leaving you a widowed wife,

Health woes, romances grew,
Husbands many;
More than a few,
Notoriety, fame,
Accolades,
A life of parallels
This life you made,

Crusader of AIDS awareness
Became your passion,
Commitment was world renowned,

Aging beauty
Behind violet eyes,
Determined lady
A star can still be found.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/07/2009

****written about movie icon Elizabeth Taylor*****

TOO MANY MEMORIES by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/7/2009

Too many memories
Clinging to yesterdays
Memories and longing
My mind in a haze,

Must choose most treasured
Always hold then near,
But too many memories
Rob you of what is near,

Yesterday is forever gone
That time you cannot alter,
Too many memories
May make your future falter,

Looking forward
Gazing at tomorrow
Longing for days past
Lessens so many sorrows,

Keep those near forever
They are yours alone
Have faith;
Anticipate tomorrow
The future will always lead you
Home.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/-7/2009

BREATH OF AUTUMN by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/6/2009

You've whispered your voice softly
Echoing through the branches of the trees;
So green and glossy
New growth waving in the breeze,

The maiden of summer's footsteps
Skipping playfully and light,
Have faded with the falling leaves
Bidding farewell to summers bright,

Soon the chill of autumn
A gust you will release;
Beneath the gold and russet leaves
Your breath inhaled
And released,

With bronze sunsets
Persimmon skies;
Our senses you have teased;
Oh, autumn zephyr
You swirl and blow
To spark the flame
Of autumn's glow

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/06/2009

PORTRAIT OF A DREAMER by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/28/2009

Who is the dreamer?

Beyond the present
Between reality and possibility;
On the threshold of fantasy
Imagination and fascination,
Within the stars of dreams,
For without dreamers;
Only one dimension is realized
Never past the closed door
Or intrigue of the night,
Never past
The strings of the violin,
Or watching until
The birds are out of sight;
The dreamer sees the candles glow;
Within it images and scenes
With visions of a story
Flickering shadows in between;
The dreamer sees
Not Endings
But beginnings too,
Past the here and now,
Grasping at the unexpected,
Holding on for life
As it unfolds the mystery;
He takes up his pen to write.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/29/2009

EVERLASTING by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/26/2009

Lips
Soft
As budding petals
Of the rose;
Bright, vibrant
As the pomegranate
Lingers yet
The kiss
Never to be felt
As now;
First kiss
Lingers
Forever
The one memory
On which to
Dwell.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/26/2009

RETICENT BEAUTY by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/25/2009

Beauty such as yours
Cannot be concealed;
Forsake hiding away
From your splendid display
Though the wind may rustle
And cause you to sway
You can never turn away;
Stand proudly
Reveal your autumn garment
To be admired this autumn day!

ANGELS WITHIN by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/25/2008

Do we all not begin our lives as angels
innocent and pure,

With unruffled wings and glistening halos
no problems to endure?

And as we grow and take our steps
some missed with tumbles that bruise,
The paths we take and steps we walk
are all the ones we choose,

Though our feathers may be molted
and halos bent and dull,

A bit of that angel still remains
and is found within us all

THE BENCH by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/24/2008

Under a Maple tree near the city park entrance,
sits a nondescript, weathered, plain old bench,

Hundreds have passed by and many to rest
Like mothers with toddlers tying up a loose lace,
Kissing scraped knees or wiping a face,

That old bench is a meeting place Tuesdays
for widows Mildred and Grace,
Who chat over lunch that they take turns to make,
discussing TV shows, world events,
pains and aches,

Then there are old Army pals Walter and Ray, who meet on Thursdays,
Checkers they'll play,
while reminiscing about those former glory days

Who would know a simple bench with such a history
of events?

A place where love began or love has ended,
Then again sometimes where hearts are mended,

But to most it will only be
An old bench near the city park entrance

PLEA TO A HIPPIE by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/24/2008

Plea To A Hippie, a poem by Nancy Ellen Crossland from USA

Hey Man- Somethin's wrong - Why're you wearin' your hair so long,

And why not use a little soap and water,
Your "friends" won't tell you, but you oughta,

The Love-Ins and Be-Ins are a real "Put On" Brother,
'Cause you won't get a job and work like most others,

Listen Man - come on, get wise,
Sure, love everyone but not with psychedelic eyes,

You're hiding your face behind a disguise,
The actions, the feelings are all such a lie,

At night you just sit and contemplate the stars,
In the morning you wake up and don't know where you are,

You're a Person so show it,
Or else Man,
You'll blow it

PLEA TO A HIPPIE by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/24/2008

MADE WITH LOVE by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/23/2009

Forever replenishing
Our diminishing plates
From kitchen to table
With her determined gait,

Familiar cobbler's apron;
(She'd made dozens)
Perennially attired
Seemed to wear it all day
Until to bed she'd retire,

Nurturing, loving
She'd cook and bake
From soups and stews;
To strudels and cakes,

Smiles always
Laughter and hugs
Galore,
Dearest grandma
How we did adore!

Fondly remembered,
Not for being a fashion plate
It was the love she served
From her heart
Always first rate!

Nance Ellen Crossland
9/23/2009

DUO by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/23/2009

If you were a puppy
I'd be your collar;
If you were a wallet
I'd be a dollar
If you were thunder
I'd be the rain,
If you were a clock
I'd be your hands
circling you with love
again and again,
The flame of your candle
Leaves on your tree,
Always and forever
The other part of you
Is me.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/21/2009

THE WARRIOR by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/23/2008

With your glorious emerald armor
Ready to face your foes,
O Might Warrior Beetle on a quest you will go,

Shall you challenge perhaps the fearless
bumblebee?
Or hide behind a rock placed so strategically,

Will you meet a butterfly who will distract you for a while,

Or be enticed be the gossamer wings of a lovely
dragonfly,

It's time to rest,oh Warrior on the stone warmed by the sun,

A Warrior may do that - There are so many more battles to be won

MONETARY LAMENT by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/21/2008

Stretch your dollar,
Watch your pennies,
Build that nest egg high!

A penny for your thought?
Not a nickel or a dime?

The checks have bounced,
The bank is closing
Options, Day Trade,
What foreboding!

Climbing Prices, Prime Rates, Funds,
Gloomy forecast,
Consumers stunned!

Stand tall look up with heads held high!
We've weathered more,
So please don't cry,

When all is spoken,
Here's the token,

The declaration can be proudly told,
We're worth our weight in gold!

THE GIFT by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/20/2009

A rosebud closed.
Within unknown
Mystery and enchantment
Discovery
As each supple petal
Layers of beauty
Unfolds
With each sunrise
Dew glistens
Tiny mirrors
Reflecting
The Master's love
Perfection of creation
God has smiled
With the gift
Of the rose.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/19/2009

LANTERNS OF FAITH by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/2/2010

Holding the lantern before him
He cautiously walked the path;
No moon nor stars to guide his way
He knew not what obstacles
Before him lay,

With lantern flickering
Oil now sparse
He plodded on
Staying on course;
Then a faint sound
A voice seemed to say
"keep going, keep going
Don't go astray,

Increasing now the voice
Resounded filling the empty night;
I am here, may your heart
Never fear;
Here I am,
The brightest of lights.

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/02/2010

A TOAST! by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/2/2009

Raise your glass;
Be it wine, ale
Or water,
Toast the arrival
Of a new son
Or daughter,
Cheers and best wishes
For another year seen;
Welcome an old friend
A wedding celebration
In between,
Toast your loved ones
No special day to celebrate
Raise your glass
To life and love
Just to appreciate!

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/02/2009

TREE OF LIFE by Nancy Ellen Crossland

9/18/2009

Deeply grooved is your bark
Oh mighty oak tree
I trace your ridges and knotted surface
With my hands
Aware of your strength and endurance
Branches interlace
Sprouting from your core of life
Season after season
From first green
Awakening of spring
To autumn's vibrant shades
Until the last leaf
Announcing winter's frost
You are strength and beauty
You are constant
You are life

Nancy Ellen Crossland
9/18/2009