! ! Real Life Is Free Poem by Bob Blackwell

Beauty of my garden shows me that real life is free,
its colour calls out please, please stop to look at me.
I hear the wind rush through the shrubs and trees, my
music playing soft, a robins song, all sounds of silence.

To complete this sincere and peaceful picture, my
dogs, Harry sleeps beside my feet, Sparky’s half awake,
his eyes half closed, he waits, expectantly he listens,
for he lives by sounds, and reacts to those unknown.

The grass is an emerald green speckled gold by lovely
windblown yellow flowers, scattered here and there.
My cats Dozy and Iley curled up asleep upon a chair,
eyes shut tight, ears awake, tail still, they wait for dusk.

Wind blows louder, rushing, brushing trees
Music plays on its melody of love, I am relaxed
enjoying present moments, knowing life is now,
not what is promised or news reported.

Strife is everywhere, floods, hurricanes and wars,
but I do not grasp, I do not hold on to news, and cry.
I’d rather treat it with concern, help another if I can,
give a part of me to aid, assist to make things right.

Today people driven by greed for many things,
chase devils in our shopping malls and stores.
Searching, grabbing, wanting one thing, then another.
Instead of living now, they greed for many things.

They build castles to contain these many, many things,
not palaces to hold the dreams that would enable
them to see this world of ours for what it really is.
They cannot hear the wind or see the beauty all around.

They are blind, driven by the ego they worship.
Unseen the blue sky, white fluffy clouds, warming sun.
They should be lying still taking in warm air,
breathing in happiness with each breath,
and exhaling all those wanton thoughts away.


This is the way to achieve a better way of life.
Relax be still, no thoughts of what life was,
or wanting feelings for a future happy life.
The now is now and now is all the life we have,
so enjoy and do not grasp this moment, but
just live each moment as they come.

The music is louder now, strains of beauty
softly flow around me, each note lifts me up, then
slowly I descend, each note a moment to enjoy.
This is life, the wind still blowing soft now,
helps the yellow flower petals multiply upon
the grass so green, this really is a lovely scene.

Breathe in breathe out, taste the air, inhale life.
Now no wants desires, just live your life in peace.
If all do this, what a world of love this would become.
Shadow of a kite with yellow bill flies slowly by,
moving over yellow speckled lawn in search of prey.

All this just another sign of life and how we all
intermingled become a part of one big Shams.
It grows quieter now, the wind has dropped,
now it only whispers through the trees.
I hear the robins call, a petal fall, the music soften,
and I reflect once more how I listen in the stillness
to my one true self, with no noisy wants to spoil
this life of peace. I am sure real life is free.