Empathic Pastures: Poetry of the Awakening

By Clayton L Sanders

Empathic Pastures is something special, the journey of how i went from a literal coin toss with life and death.
I posted heart of a poet on facebook that night of my darkest despair to see if anyone, other than family or friends gave a dam about me, had nobody said anything...the next morning I was taking my truck headlong into a big rig.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9780988004214

Book preview

Empathic Pastures

Clayton L. Sanders

Copyright © 2012 by Chris L Souliere

Printed in the Canada

The book author retains sole copyright to his contributions to this book. All rights reserved, including moral rights. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage retrieval system without permission in writing from the author, or ACCESS copyright except by a reviewer or academic who may quote brief passages in a review or critical study.

All poetry herein contained remains the sole property of the author in perpetuity.

Cover artistry by Angela F Underhill, visionary, Divine Goddess on Earth Savior and heart of this poet

Enjoy the journey, it’s a hell of a ride, Namaste

Dedicated to

My mother Deanna, who made me

the man I am and my Divine

Goddess Angie, who makes me the man I am becoming.

Acknowledgments

William Arthur Parry, lifelong friend, blood brother, man among men for his staunch support and steadfast friendship these many years.

Special thanks to Dale Harrington who introduced me to the Calgary poetry scene. My poetic friends Sheri D Wilson, Wakefield Brewster, Kirk Miles, Kirk Ramdath, Erin Dingle and Melvina Germain master wielders of the word.

The Edmonton poetry festival, Calgary Peoples poetry festival, Single Onion Poetry Group and Raw Salvage, proud supporters of the arts and poetry in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta Canada.

Kootennany, Astral Harvest, Inshalla, Mad Hatter, Motion Notion, Friendtropy, Freezer Burn, Symmatree and Intention music festivals for opening my eyes to a much bigger, brighter world.

Most grateful and humble appreciation to:Angela F Underhill, Shauna Frederic, Kathleen Knowles, Jean Murray & Maggie Morris for hearing my plea that dark night of my despair and making a difference in this mans life.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

The Man Inside

Angels Come

Promised Land

I Care

Everything You Need

The Dollar Spent

Sorrow’s End

Spirit Root

The Angel’s Tale

The Broken Angel

A Love Like This

Angel Kisses

A Goddess Comes

Stardust

Letting Go

The Fertile Seed

Smile

Rescued

Spirit Of Love

The Angel’s Return

Forever Burn

Angels Of Peace

Live In Peace

Men Of Peace

All Eternity

Never Surrender

Timeless

The Birthday

Sacred Rose

Still

Love Is Empty

Forever

Just Another Day

Mended

The Present

The Strength Of Love

Missing You At All?

Indigo Ignited

A Little While Longer

Heartache

Angels Lost

Angels Exist

Guardian Of Angel’s Light

Love, Laugh, Sing

Casualties Courage

Beauty Of Love

An Angel’s Love

Blue

One Voice

Around The World

Renew

The Grip

The Hunt

Man I Am Today

Another Day

Nothing Can Defeat

Love That Remains

Indigo

My Evening Star.

Evolution

Seeds Of Peace

Love

I Shout

The Link

Just For Me

Forever In Love

Frozen Tears

What Is Love

Freely Shared

Good Things Come

Tide Of Love

The Return

Castle In The Sky

Forever Showing

One

Let It RAIN!!

The Shoulder

Let Go

Heart Of A Poet

Heart Of A Poet 2

Vintage Rare

Love’s Blossom

Baby I Love You

A Moment Ago

Farewell

Angel Upon My Shoulder

Embrace

Freedom’s Angel

Angels On The Way

Normandy

Tears Of Snow

The Welcome Of The Forgotten Wood

Indigo Adores

Phoenix Rising

An Angel’s Birth

Best I Ever Had

To Give

Indigo Harmony

One Day More

Forever Paired

The Healed Heart

Faith, Hope And Love

Heart Of Gold

Boundless Joy

Eternities End

The Last Word

A Host Of Angels

The End

My Heart Speaks

Why Tobacco

Amazed By Angie

The Candle’s Light

Love Is The Source

The Helping Hand

Winter’s Way

No Longer Alone

Old Souls

Unbreakable

Where Love Burns

Amazed By Grace

Beneath The Snow

This Love You Give

A Few Words

Rejoice

The Messenger

Winter Keeps

Angel Of Emotion

The Price

The Moment

Fragile Beauty

Ode To The Fallen

Half Hearts

The Path

Lifelong Love

Everlasting Warriors

The Letter

Renewed

The Mother’s Call

Live Forever

Reclaimed

Tranquility

Ode Canada

The Rainbow

The Masks We Wear

Four Legged Memories

Today I Awoke

From This Moment

I Understand

To Never Part

Realization

With All I’ve Got

Alone

My Response

Battered Angels

Wings Of Love

Sorrow’s Mask

The Blink

Puppy Love

The Gift

Stolen Youth

Never A Guarantee

I Dream

To Mend

When All Is Black

A Company Of Angels

Coping Mechanism

Blue Oasis

We Share

Value

Discarded

The Shift

Goddess Of The Indigo Moon

The Rope

The Robin

Decisions

The Roaming Poem

The Rider

Cindy My First Love

Clayton’s Prayer

Evil Stalks

We Are One

If You Only Think

Praise

Gaia’s Prayer

God’s Green Earth

I’ll Always Be There

Goddess Divine

This Heart Of Mine

Peace Is The Key

I Believe In Angels Too

The Willow

The Spirit Within

The Test

Faith

Tracks

The Whisper

The Sparrow

Wonders Awaited

Full Circle

Gift Of Love

Unfurled

The Man Inside

Inside this man, sorrow battles joy,

Life trying to claim my inner boy,

Rich in love but a pauper I am,

But for everyone else give a dam,

Inside this man, there is much pain,

As my spirits light, I try to regain,

From the darkness, always repressed,

Where love dies, as unexpressed,

Inside this man, my heart beats,

Writing emotions on paper sheets,

Hoping someone will see or hear,

My lingering sorrows hollow fear,

Inside this man is a beautiful soul,

Trying not to become hard as coal,

Unable to write about loves beauty,

Or perform his messengers duty,

Inside this man, is light restricted,

By many sorrows he had not predicted,

That would leave him mouth agape,

Wonder how his spirit would escape,

Inside this man, exists a true self,

Collecting dust high upon a shelf,

Safely kept from the ravenous jaws,

Of demons waiting with razor claws,

Inside this man, a war still rages,

Written over years on yellow pages,

Until at last, to dust they crumble,

Leaving no trace of my spirit humble,

Inside this man, my heart is beating,

Even when all seems to be defeating,

Until rivers of tears my soul has cried,

As I give a glimpse into the man inside.

Angels Come

Angels come, in all shapes and sizes,

With eyes open, the heart realizes,

Ever present, Angels do truly care,

They heal our souls, when in despair,

When you feel, life is at an end,

Angels come, as visions or friend,

Take your hand, when your reeling,

Saying that, God knows the feeling,

Giving love, when none is around,

Showing divine love, can be found,

Don’t shed tears, be light of heart,

When life crumbles, or tears us apart,

From behind, a hand on our shoulder,

Our spirit guides, as we get older,

Showing us where, good things await,

Revealed when, it’s allotted by fate,

Angels are invisible, others are not,

Ready to give, the love they’ve got,

To lift us up, help renew our spirit,

Their words wisdom, if we can hear it,

Angels are there, ever holding our hand,

Know where we’ve been, they understand,

Seeing the joys, our highs and the lows,

Each step on the journey, the Angel knows,

They can see, if we’re happy or pained,

Knowing lessons learned, or wisdom gained,

Unable to take our pain, or sadness away,

Giving courage tomorrow, is a better day,

Yes they do come, in all sizes and shape,

Some normal, others leave us mouth agape,

When you come to, the end of your life,

Each Angel was, family, friend or wife.

Promised Land

Once more in life, true love grips,

From head to toe, and my fingertips,

My heart skips, I’m all a flutter,

Love lifts me up, from the gutter,

Always in life, for love I’ve searched,

Then one day, on my shoulder perched,

A beautiful bird, who then began,

To sing love, to this tortured man,

Who in despair, Had given up hope,

Each day the same, trying to cope,

With the emptiness, in his heart,

Tearing him slowly, to pieces apart,

A lonely soul, to death was bleeding,

Just a little love, he was needing,

To help him face, the dawn each day,

Only love would, take the pain away,

Carried as a burden, upon his shoulder,

Each day his reflection, getting older,

When from Heaven, the Angel finally came,

Calling out to his aching, heart by name,

Saying dear man, I know how you feel,

Let me show you, a love that’s real,

That won’t desert, or ever harm you,

Nor make you worry, or alarm you,

Instead I’ll nurture, help you to know,

What love is, by everything I’ll show,

In spirits name, to open your mind,

To a love so rare, it’s one of a kind,

The kind of love, to take you away,

As you forget the pain, of yesterday,

Open your soul, let every wall drop,

I’ll show you how, to make sorrow stop,

Open your heart, let this love lead you,

Not wounds of the past, forever bleed you

Come share your soul, for I understand,

And I’ll take you to, the promised land.

I Care

Love to all of you, love and joy unending,

I share my heart, all peace I’m sending,

To each one of you, wherever you are,

May my awakening, heal your every scar,

This life is not an easy one, few really care,

Isolated within themselves, unable to share,

The love we feel each day, filling us full,

From the corners of Earth, we feel the pull,

Of one love kept at bay, by the dark desires,

Evil fearing the light, of loves global fires,

Trying to keep us in slumber, never to awake,

Bombarded by negativity, hoping we will break,

Sadly some fall to darkness, their light lost,

In this battle for peace, there’s terrible cost,

Of so many other souls, simply wanting to live,

In a world sharing love, we all want to give,

Don’t weep for them, or feel your heart break,

Pray to the Divine, that one day they awake,

Their light at last, by blessed stroke igniting,

A new light worker born, to join the fighting,

For that’s what this is friends, a timeless war,

To end all sorrow, so peace reigns once more,

So we can have a world, ruled by Divine love,

Black raven dies, by the beak of peaceful dove,

This global light of love, is awake, growing,

Around this angry world, words of hate slowing,

The clouds of storm departing, the sky now blue,

Words we hear more often, are called I love you,

If you read these words, your purpose doubting,

To simply give up on life, you mind ever shouting,

Know only this my friend, that I used to live there,

Now awake in global love, for all humanity I care.

Everything You Need

I was lost in the woods, for love I had searched,

Suddenly this bird of love, on my shoulder perched,

You spoke those words, that gave me sweet peace,

All my sorrow is gone, from the dark I see release,

On knees I cried, by your love away I’m swept,

The prophesy at last, has now been finally kept,

The greatest love I’ll know, found me in the wood,

All is now progressing, as it naturally should,

I have never felt safer, than in your arms at night,

Never more at peace, than when you hold me tight,

Feeling your breath upon me, each night we sleep,

So lost in love, filled with happiness I weep,

Overwhelmed with such joy, you found this lost guy,

Granting me love freely, to last until I must die,

A love unlike any that, this heart has known before,

You lift me up darling, all my faith in life restore,

All my life I wanted, love I didn’t have to fear,

Then cupid brought me a message, loud and clear,

"Here is the love, for which you were intended,

Unlike all those others, who had only pretended,

A woman unlike any, your heart has ever known,

No longer in life will you, walk this road alone,

An angel from so many, for you I’ve hand picked,

Not like those who had you, blinded and tricked,

Merely look into her eyes, you’ll see the fire there,

Of a love burning brightly, for a lifetime to share,

This woman amazing will show, what love is about,

Won’t leave you screaming, someone let me out,

She will give you love, that will flourish and grow,

Many gifts of peace and happiness, she’ll bestow,

She will love you eternal, from spring to December,

This love will be one, the whole world will remember."

The Dollar Spent

I watched them in a diner, with more food than one can eat,

While outside the door a beggar sat, no shoes upon his feet,

I heard voices inside echo, won’t you please get rid of that,

In despair I felt my hopeful heart, become a little flat,

Told the beggar sitting there, friend I feel for you ya know,

He said, if weren’t for corporate greed, I’d still be C.E.O,

They altered the books then used me, as part of their device,

It cost him his wife and children, I felt my heart turn to ice,

I reached in my pocket saying, here I hope this helps my friend,

It’s just a dollar yet I hope, some of your hunger it will mend,

A tear came to his eye, he said, thanks for helping in my need,

Blessings be upon you, this starving mouth you’ve helped to feed,

Further down the road I walked, saw a young girl standing there,

Looking in her eyes I knew, for a price, her body she would share,

Not for herself she said to me, it’s all for my sweet little boy,

My husband was a drunk and left us, I do this for my pride and joy,

Starve myself to death if needed, there’s nothing I won’t do,

In order to ensure each day he lives, his skies are always blue,

He’s my whole world now you see, he gives me everything I lack,

When this world I find myself within, again turns away it’s back,

Into my pocket I reached again, would this gesture save her,

None the less my hand held out, a dollar was what I gave her,

A tear ran down her cheek right then, she said thanks for this,

Gods love shine down upon you sir, as my cheek she gave a kiss,

An hour down the street I went, where I found the sidewalk blocked,

The crowd stood there shouting jump, never had I been that shocked,

A person like anyone stood there, ten floors high up on a ledge,

Yelling don’t come near me or I promise, I’m jumping off the edge,

Sitting on the ledge I talked with them, why suicides the answer,

They said my life is over now, my mom passed away from cancer,

Into their eyes I peered intently, saw the pain awaiting there,

I reached into my pocket giving, the last dollar I could spare,

Tears welled in their eyes, as they asked me the reason why,

I have all I need in life I said, you need this more than I,

When this world closes in, you find this darkness all around,

Look at this dollar given, remember this new friend you found,

Years passed me by so quickly, like turned pages of a book,

One day I decided for each of them, that I’d have a look,

The task was not an easy one, yet each of them I did find,

For one dollar I had given each, the results amazed my mind,

First I found the beggar man, the dollar one I did bestow,

Who told me the kindness shown, did more than I could know,

He had left the restaurant, with the dollar a paper bought,

Went to the shelter for his suit, an even better job he got,

A few weeks later I found, that once desperate now older girl,

Who told me how much my gesture, had helped her heart unfurl,

She told me how she went for help, to get her off the street,

The dollar was bus fare, to the shelter where they could eat,

As I sat there with my boy she said, I did much contemplating,

About what the street held in store, she knew the fate awaiting,

She got two jobs, worked so hard, to put her son through school,

Who was a few weeks away from creating, a never ending fuel,

I searched hard to find the third, I couldn’t find them anymore,

When late one night I was awoken, by an Angel at my front door,

She said on Earth it is my duty, to record within Gods book,

I see your name is Clayton, hmm let’s just have a look,

I have so many things undone I said, so much I wish to do,

The Angel said I’m sorry but, God wants a word with you,

It was then I understood the words, that the Angel said,

For when I turned and looked, I had passed away in bed,

So when you see someone downtrodden, take the time to see,

That life changes in an instant, they could be you or me,

Don’t look back and wonder, just where your life has went,

When you can change a life today, by a simple dollar spent.

Sorrow’s End

I see you also, all that you will be,

In every way, your love sets me free,

The love you give me, is unimpaired,

As rain falls my love, freely shared,

Within you I find, what love means,

Never portrayed, in any movie scenes,

My heart lost, kept