Poetry

FRIENDS

There are times when we despair.
Life seems hard, and so unfair.
We see the dark, but not the light,
We feel no peace; we just feel fright.
We feel depressed, we feel upset,
We feel the bite of cruel regret,
The world attacks, destroys our lives,
We lose our very will to survive.
We give up hope, we give up love,
Ignore all help from up above.
We give up laughter, give up cheer,
Give up peace, and succumb to fear.
We give up joy, grow negative,
And we give up on life, lose will to live.

But hear me out, this path is wrong.
No matter your suffering, no matter how long,
For always, whenever we feel remorse
We have been offered an alternative course.
Friends rise up, and love abounds,
Peace and joy and truth surround.
The solution to all depressing trends
Is simply the gift of supportive friends.
No matter how alone you feel,
Friends are there; friends are real.
They give us hope, they give us love,
Show us the help from up above.
They give us laughter, give us cheer,
Give us peace, and eliminate fear.
They give us joy, we grow positive,
And they give us life, and a reason to live.

-Karl Southwick-

Did You Run?

As you stand by the finish line,

Gazing back at how far you’ve come,

Take a long look far back in time

And answer me: did you run?

When you look back over your shoulder

To the things that you have done

As the world and you grew older

You will see if you did run.

Did you leave your friends behind you?

Did you take the time to have fun?

When happiness, love, and joy rose anew,

Did you leave them there and run?

When others needed you, were you there?

Did you see more dark, or more sun?

Were you like a leaf, when, without a care,

You left your family to run?

Did you notice all the scenery?

The gleaming webs the spiders have spun?

Or did you ignore the greenery,

And simply run, run, run?

So, as you stand by the finish line,

Gazing back at how far you’ve come,

Take a long look far back in time

And answer me: did you run?

-Karl Southwick-

Hope

When the darkness descends, fear fills me within

It seems all is lost and I never will win

But then comes the thought, “Things will turn out all right”

For I see in the darkness A pin-prick of light.

As long as a light is there, big or small,

It can disperse the shadows and save us all

So no matter the troubles, pain, or fright,

Hold onto that candle. Don’t smother the light.

I reach out for the light, that one tiny star.

Though it seemed difficult, it wasn’t that hard.

I close my weak fingers ‘round that bright, shining orb

Light spreads, fills the room. Darkness is no more

Now, when the sun sets and darkness arrives,

And with it it brings the end of our lives,

I do not worry, I do not fear

For that single, bright light will always be here.

As long as a light is there, big or small,

It can disperse the shadows and save us all

So no matter the troubles, pain, or fright,

Hold onto that candle. Don’t smother the light.

-Karl Southwick-

Imagination

Go to the door, and open it wide
What do you see? Are there good things inside?
If there are bad things, like hate and fear
change them to good things, like love, so dear
If something is small, you may make it large
for this is your world, and you are in charge
So welcome, dear friend, to this brand new sensation
This is your world, your imagination
So go to the door, and open it wide.
Take a deep breath, and step on inside.

-Karl Southwick-

∞Endless Possibilities∞

∞

An artist gazes at a blank page, lacking inspiration.

A traveler stops at branching paths, unsure of destination.

A leader observes the battlefield, trying to form a plan.

A student considers a long class list, deciding between choir and band.

Every day we face decisions, choices we must make,

And we are met with consequences with each path we take.

Oftentimes, we must decide between the good and great,

But lazily select the easier one, and leave things up to fate.

Sometimes a path just seems too hard, a goal just out of reach,

It simply seems too challenging, our soul’s drive it does breach.

But should we, instead of giving up, strive to reach this goal,

Our dreams can all be realized as we invigorate our soul.

Yes, my friend, that’s the first step: first you have to dream.

Envision success, and you will find it’s easier than it seems.

But if we only spend our time dreaming of things to come,

The possibilities are limited, and we shall be outdone.

There’s more, my friend, to victory than wishing it were true,

If a person doubts themselves, there’s nothing they can do.

That is why the second step is learning to believe,

This is vital for anyone who wishes to succeed.

So when your paths seem limited, and you hesitate to choose,

Remember this one lesson and you can never, ever lose:

There are endless possibilities, all a person can conceive,

The formula is simple: simply dream, believe, achieve.

∞

Karl Southwick

Learning

I never thought I'd see the day
When half the world would fall away.
First it's there, then it's gone.
Holding still, then moving on.
What once was truth is now a lie,
A win and loss become a tie.
Solid things have lost their forms,
Once-clear skies are filled with storms.
What once was sure is now uncertain,
Visible things beyond a curtain.
Knowledge gone, intelligence lost,
Receeding warmth, creeping frost.
Firm belief gives way to doubt,
All my life turns inside-out.
Of course, this does not mean a thing,
These are glad tidings that I bring.
For in order to learn of something new,
Our preconceptions we must undo.
Don't be held back by what you know,
You think you know all, but this isn't so.
Perfect knowledge is hard to obtain,
But your struggles are never in vain.
Continue to search, continue to learn,
Continue to grow, more knowledge to earn.
And when you are told of something new,
Don't flat out reject it, but let it teach you.
Open your mind, broaden your gaze,
Listen and learn through all of your days.
When new ideas come, do not be confused,
They are sure to help, when rightfully used.
So think long and hard, consider your thoughts,
And knowledge will be yours, more often than not.

-Karl Southwick

Seven Life Lessons

1)
Life is full of sorrow, life is full of pain.
Life is full of emptiness, and tears that fall like rain.
If you look at life like this, you're doing something wrong.
Life should not be dismal or dreary; it should be a joyful song.
2)
A person needs to laugh, a person needs to smile.
A person needs to enjoy life, like an innocent, peaceful child.
A life that has no laughter is a pitiful life indeed.
A person should strive to smile--laughter is a need.
3)
Waves will flow through life, waves will push you back.
Waves will try to drown you in a ruthless, cruel attack.
But do not despair, for if you endure them well,
Waves will help to strengthen you, as history will tell.
4)
Revenge never solves anything, revenge only causes pain.
Revenge will only bring you down, and may drive you insane.
It only makes men angry, and ruins the way you live.
Revenge should not be taken; instead, simply forgive.
5)
Never forget to love, never forget to live.
Never forget to offer help, never forget to give.
If you will remember this, then life will be just fine.
Never forget that honesty will help you every time.
6)
Call upon your family, call upon your peers
Call for all the help you need--they'll help you face your fears.
And when you feel alone, remember there's someone you can call:
Call upon the Lord your God, for he is over all.
7)
Enjoy the life you have, enjoy it to the end.
Enjoy your time with family, and spend time with your friends.
Life was meant to be enjoyed, but do not be led astray.
Enjoy life while living righteously, and help others on the way.

-Karl Southwick

The Purpose of Life

A person stood in Marching Band, wishing it would end.
They wished that time would go faster, so they could hang with friends.
Another person, looking back, said, "I wish I could
Go back to Delta one more year, man, those times were good.
The generation above ours, made up of moms and dads,
Looks back at their childhood, and says, "good times we had."
Go back even further, to the people 'over the hill'
You will see the pattern continues, they look back even still.
Time flies faster than you would think. Soon, all will be done.
The end is coming; it is near, the Savior soon will come.
Then you progress to heav'n, or go the other way,
and live on for eternity, until someday you will say:
"Thank you, Lord, for all of the trials that made me who I am.
Thank you for thy loving care, the guidance of thy hand."
So now you must remember, while you live here on this
Earth,The purpose of your life, and the reason for your birth.
We are here to be tried and tested, so do not give up hope.
With the help of our Savior, there is no need to mope.
Life exists to teach us, test us, not to be our downfall.
In the eternal scheme of things, trials help us all.
So gather around you all your friends, you need not do this alone.
Do your best while on this Earth, for soon, you will go Home.
Then you will look back and say, "Wow, time really flew."
But you will not regret a thing, for you will have done all you can do.

-Karl Southwick

Every Human is a Song

I gazed in fury at the sight before me,

Nothing was ever so wrong.

For there, cowering at the feet of three bullies

Was a mournful, dying Song.

This Song was not expressed with words or feelings,

It was a human just like you and me.

Every human is a Song,

We’d notice if we stopped to see.

This Song was neither gallant nor great.

In fact, it was slow and unsure.

The human was suffering a terrible disease

That made it so its mind would not stir

This Song was not intelligent,

People called it mentally slow.

And yet the bullies chose to pick on the weak,

And to them, the Song was way down low.

They called it names that pierced my heart,

They pulled its hair ‘til it ripped out,

And nobody stood to help the Song

As it gave one final shout.

Every human is a Song.

Some are loud, and some are soft,

But this Song was slow and weak,

It needed something to hold it aloft.

When at last the bullies fled,

I watched to see if anyone would come

But nobody stopped to help it out,

Or even to see what had been done.

I walked up to that dying Song,

And helped it to its feet.

I spoke to the Song to keep it alive.

My voice was kind and sweet.

It looked at me and feebly smiled.

I felt a tear roll down my face.

It said, “Thank you for what you’ve done”

And then silently left at its own pace.

Every human is a Song;

If we’d just stop to see,

And listen to each other’s Songs,

 I would choose this place to be.

-Karl Southwick

Darkened Paths

I was once a man of great pomposity,

Known for blatant, frank ferocity,

Who, compelled by curiosity,

Headed on my way.

To achieve my fame, and fortune, too,

I deserted everything that I knew,

And, leaving behind all that was true,

I traveled forth that day.

The paths were long, and often dark,

The light was oft less than a spark.

I began to wonder why I did embark

On this journey of the soul.

My coat was ripped by clinging thorns,

My shoes were wet, my pants were torn.

I began to grow ever more forlorn

As I lost sight of my goal.

And then I reached the final straw,

Upon my drive I could no longer draw,

As I was swallowed by the wood’s great maw

And plunged into despair.

All alone, and filled with fear,

Surrounded by nothing that I held dear,

Anguish became an icy spear,

Driven through my heart.

To trembling knees, I then did sink,

As all was lost, so I did think,

I found myself right on the brink

Of succumbing to the dark.

But then, to my extreme surprise,

A spectacle unfolded before my eyes:

A hidden path lost its disguise,

And like a light did shine.

A flowing strength did fill me then,

And I looked back to where I’d been,

And then looked on, then back again,

Down the paths of time.

And finally, I understood,

Why I had entered into this wood:

It had been for my own good,

This truth did I discern.

I got back up, and looked ahead,

I was not done, my will not dead,

I took a step, and, grinning, said:

“My lesson I have learned.”

So now, my friends, this you must hear:

When light is gone, and darkness near,

Do not give up, or in to fear,

Instead, just choose the right,

And you’ll become an honest soul,

Humble, happy, you’ll reach your goals.

For darkened paths play a vital role:

They lead you to the light.

The Worth of Your Soul

I’ve heard that life’s a battleground, that we wage a constant war.

I’ve heard that life is full of pain, and infinite locked doors.

I’ve heard that happiness is rare, that joy is often lost,

I’ve heard that freedom is never true, and bought at a great cost.

Now, if these things are true, my friend, then why do we exist?

Why do we keep being born if troubles just persist?

Could it be there’s something more, just waiting to be found?

Could it be that love and light are always all around?

When life gets dark, and we get lost, we often can lose hope.

We sometimes think that we have failed, and know not how to cope.

We lose sight of who we are, of who we can become,

We think that we are worthless, that our lives should be undone.

We think it would not matter if we had never been,

That none would even care if they saw us ne’er again.

We might feel insignificant, unwanted, and alone,

Stupid, ugly, an awful friend, with no place to call home.

So, what do you do when all these thoughts enter into your mind?

How on earth do you turn these thoughts into a better kind?

The answer, friend, is a simple one, you just must meet this goal:

To understand and comprehend the value of your soul.

You, yourself, are great to God, and are beloved of Him,

He wants only what’s best for you, He wants for you to win.

So, when you fall, just get back up; your life is yours to lead.

Smile, laugh, and show your love, and please, this counsel heed:

You are special, you are great: God’s love for you is true.

No one can take the steering wheel; you are the only you.

And, no matter what you think, there are those who care,

Friends in need and friends indeed, who would die if you weren’t there.

So never, ever doubt yourself; never forget your worth,

Your soul is great, and that is why you came down to this Earth.

Remember this and you will find that all will turn out fine.

Remember this and you can gain a needed peace-of-mind.

Remember this, that you are loved, just the way you are.

You are one of God’s children, a bright and shining star.

Never doubt your own self-worth, it’s greater than you can know,

Never doubt your grand potential, or how much you can grow.

And, when things get tough and hard, and life seems at an end,

Remember that you will always have some true and faithful friends.

These friends love you, just as God does, for who you are today;

They love you and wouldn’t want you any other way.

-Karl Southwick-

Families

On this mortal journey, we oft feel alone,

Abandoned, resented, joy is unknown.

We swim through our trials, but quickly grow faint,

What started as water has thickened to paint.

We struggle and kick, fighting for air,

But slowly we sink, giving in to despair.

And then, all alone, we give up the fight

And plunge into the darkness, deeper than night.

If this is our case, then why even try?

If this is our fate, why have we not died?

What do you do, when the waves start to swell?

How do you survive, and the darkness dispel?

Listen, I’ll tell you, the answer to these

Is to realize the power of strong families.

We need not live in cruel isolation,

From this our family can be our salvation.

And this, my dear friend, is the solution to life,

The answer to struggling, to pain, and to strife.

Families are the seed from which goodness is sown,

For with them we’re strengthened. We’re never alone.

So, when you’re drowning, in trials’ dark seas,

Turn to your companions, your mortal family.

Love them and help them, and you will soon find

They are a power that strengthens the mind.

So never forget, for these words are true:

Your family is there, and they can help you.

-Karl Southwick

My Personal Mission Statement

Every success begins with a dream.

Whether working alone or as part of a team.

I will never stop dreaming, as long as I live,

And when others stop dreaming, assistance I’ll give.

I shall help all my colleagues, my neighbors and friends,

I shall love them forever, for time never ends.

But first comes my family, the love of my life,

We shall stand together, through trouble and strife.

To them I shall give my utmost devotion,

Share memories and happiness, the purest emotion.

I will value integrity, and loyalty, too,

Honesty and truthfulness shall be my virtues.

I shall never give up on doing my best,

I shall never hate others, nor others detest.

To those who I meet, I will give due respect,

I shall think all my life, so I never forget.

The things I have learned shall always be there,

To build upon them is a primary care.

I shall lean upon God as I travel on my way,

Shall be used as a tool in his hands all my days.

I shall never give up, and I never will quit,

I will instead start again and build up bit by bit.

I shall work well with others, both woman and man,

I shall be there to help them, their thoughts understand.

I shall spend my life helping, to be there for my friends,

I shall guide them, when needed, through life’s twists and bends.

I will press on forever, through joy and through sorrow,

For this defines me, today and tomorrow.

-Karl Southwick

Listen

Friendship is a powerful thing, a special, helpful force.

It helps us, when we’re feeling lost, to find the rightful course.

So if there is one lesson now, that everyone should learn,

It is that friendship’s a two-way street; we must give it in return.

There are few things more important than being a great friend,

Helping one another to endure right to the end.

But sometimes, all our efforts seem to go on deafened ears.

Friends refuse to listen, and we are driven straight to tears.

Few things cause us sharper pain than good advice ignored,

So when a friend commits this crime, what good can lie in store?

Oftentimes we find ourselves in such a situation,

Reaching out to help a friend who’s stuck in tribulation.

But then they just don’t listen to our desperate pleas and cries,

They simply ignore our efforts, and call our warnings lies.

Sorrow fills our bodies as we gaze at a friend lost,

Heading down a darkened path, unaware of cost.

We try and try to hold their hand, to lead them the right way,

But they simply refuse to listen, for their hearts have gone astray.

And, for the friend giving advice, the pain is sure and real,

For they know best, and try to help their wayward friends to feel.

When a person does this thing, and good advice ignores,

The sorrow of their consequences spreads faster than a war.

Not only will they feel regret, when their path does reach its end,

But so shall feel their caring, loving, yet newly ignored friend.

So think first before you decide to go your stubborn way,

Listen to the caring warnings of friends from day to day.

Do not ignore their earnest pleas, if righteous these pleas are,

Stand by good friends, and give them heed, and you will then go far.

--Karl Southwick

Teach the Children

There are those to whom we all attribute our success:
Our teachers, friends, and families, to name some of the best.
But oftentimes we overlook the ones that mattered most,
The ones who started us on the path should be recognized foremost.
The teachers of the little ones, of us while we were young,
Who, on the ladder of this life, helped us up the first rung.
These teachers never ceased to teach, e’en though we were too small
To understand all of God’s words, to comprehend them all.
Now, in life, we may not recall the lessons that they gave,
But their importance was utmost, a life-impacting wave.
The introduction to the children of God’s word and will,
Is perhaps the most important, and bears with us still.
A simple word, a kindly deed, teaching us to pray,
Our teachers in this innocent age made us who we are today.
So never forget your importance, my friend, for it is great indeed.
After all, our Savior and our Lord said “Bring them unto me.”
You have done all that and more, yes, that much is clear.
He is grateful you helped to save the children he holds dear.


-Karl Southwick

A Place Called Peace

A dream is made of many parts,

Of hopes and smiles, of will and heart.

So when you dream, where do you start?

Desire is the key.

What do you want, what is your goal?

What is the drive within your soul?

Mine is one of joy untold.

I seek a place called peace.

      A place where skies are never gray,

Where raindrops dance, then fade away.

Cool breezes on warm summer days,

That do encompass all.

            This place is one where one can think

On ships of thought that never sink.

Where one can sit right on the brink

Of naught, and never fall.

Where one can be a prince, a king,

A maiden fair, or anything

That may achieve their fondest dreams

Without all pain and fright,

Where Friendship lasts and love abounds,

Where charming laughter doth resound,

Where flowers bloom from fertile ground

As all Earth bathes in light.

To reach this place has been my dream,

To settle by its soothing streams.

Though time has shown that, it would seem,

I shall never meet my goal.

But then I stop, and think again,

And realize how close I have been.

This Place called Peace is locked within,

Hidden inside my soul,

Where I can reach it any time,

And let it flood my troubled mind,

And share it with all of mankind

For I have found the key.

So now, when I am feeling down,

I quickly turn my life around.

For sorrow cannot here be found

In this lovely Place called Peace.

-Karl Southwick

Those Hands 

I fell upon the cold, stone ground, 

Pushed by hands unseen. 

My wrists and legs were tightly bound, 

My body filled with pain. 

Those hands, so filled with hate and spite, 

Had tied these binding knots. 

I tried to rise, but then, with fright, 

I found that I could not. 

For, while I was on the floor, 

Consumed by my own pain, 

Those hands did labor evermore, 

Clasping binding chains. 

Thus secured, I could not fight, 

Against those ruthless hands. 

They exposed my back, with skin of white, 

And then the wrath began. 

The crack. The crack. The screams of pain, 

The shredding of my skin, 

The crack. The crack. The screams in vain, 

Thus did the wrath begin. 

Crimson drops flew left and right, 

With each resounding crack. 

Rivers red cut through the white 

Of my searing, burning back. 

Those hands continued with sheer disdain, 

As ruthless, merciless beasts, 

And, in a moment of unbearable pain, 

I called on them to cease. 

Then, to my complete surprise, 

They stopped for cause unknown. 

I weakly opened bloodshot eyes; 

A light about me shown. 

Two other hands descended then, 

My limbs they did release, 

My burning wounds they then did cleanse. 

All pain began to cease. 

My eyes released their liquid awe, 

My lips, a grateful psalm. 

Then in those bloodstained hands I saw 

The piercings in the palm. 

"Oh, Lord," I said, with shaking voice, 

"Oh, Lord, where hast thou been?" 

"Waiting for you to make the choice 

To allow me to step in." 

"But Lord," I said, "Those wicked hands, 

That attacked me with such hate, 

Lord, I do not understand. 

Why didst thou choose to wait?" 

"My Son," He said, with caring voice, 

"My Son, this had to be. 

To you it is given to make the choice. 

Thou hast thine agency. 

Those hands that held thee captive, Son, 

That beat you unto death, 

To stop them, nothing could be done, 

'Till you, with dying breath, 

Called upon those hands to cease. 

You see, those hands unknown 

Were not the hands of thine enemies. 

Those hands... 

They were thine own. 

--Karl Southwick 

Stars

I looked into my friend's deep eyes,

The windows to his soul.

I saw that which he tried to hide,

His dread and fears untold.

I saw the pain beyond the panes,

I heard the unspoken plea.

I sensed his view that all was in vain,

That alone he would always be.

His cry for help, real but unvoiced,

Did pierce me to the heart.

That was when I made the choice.

It was time to do my part.

To the balcony I led him then,

To the comfort of the night,

A place where he had often been,

Though always in day's light.

I said, "look up into the sky.

Tell me, what do you see?"

He said, "I see the stars up high,

Shining down on me."

"My friend," I said, "think with me.

When you awoke today,

In morning's light were you able to see

Night's glorious display?

The stars, you see, are always there,

Always giving light,

But of this we are not aware

Until the dead of night.

All of us are like the stars,

All of us do shine.

But we'd never see this light of ours

If it were sunny all the time.

You see, my friend, we need the night,

To realize who we are.

So never try to hide your light:

You're someone's guiding star."

--Karl Southwick

Song of Storms
(To the tune of Song of Storms from The Legend of Zelda)

Ebb and flow

Come and go

Riding waves of destiny

Far away from shore

Seeking so much more

Sails a-blow

Watch me go

Off to find my destiny

Knowing I'll return once more

Sounds do form

A song of storms

Raindrops on an endless sea

Darkness all around

Waves relentless pound

Lightning flash

Thunder clash

A catastrophic symphony

Safety nowhere to be found

Cries ignored

Overboard

Drowning in my misery

Longing for my home

Shivering, alone

Still I fight

Then a light

Pierces through my misery

Beckoning me back home

Ebb and flow

Come and go

Riding waves of destiny

Far away from shore

Knowing so much more

Now I row

Back home I go

Returning to my destiny

Back on my beloved shores

--Karl Southwick