I’m a princess of Egypt –
My mother was the Queen of Denial.
She ruled her domain
With a scepter of shame
Kept her dignity all the while.
The rules of the kingdom
Not spoken at all
Kept the terror of truth at bay:
Daddy’s not drunk
He’s asleep on the floor
The wolf is not at the door.
It didn’t really happen
If you don’t talk about it.
You are just like everyone else.
The pain that you feel will just go away
If you keep it all to yourself.
Don’t talk about it,
Don’t think about it,
Don’t do anything at all.
Keep it inside,
Hold it inside,
Your home is in Egypt’s wall.
But I heard a story
Said I could be free
If I opened my heart to the truth.
Told all the tales
Let out my fears
And regrets of my wasted youth.
But I’m not going home anymore
Egypt’s a dream I don’t need
There’s freedom to be had
When I let it all go
And face every day unafraid.
And I’m gonna talk about it,
I’m gonna think about it,
I’m gonna do what needs to be done.
Gonna let go of pain,
Won’t live there again,
‘Cause Egypt’s no longer my home!
Jane ‘05
(this is about recovering as a co-dependent)
Category Archives: Poetry
What can we offer
What can we offer to those who come after?
Stories of battle and victory?
Triumphant shouts and accolades?
Treasures retrieved and dragons destroyed?
Sometimes, it seems that the song that I sing
Is more of a dirge than a dance.
The smallest of joys seems forged from great pain
And defeat seems a constant refrain.
The lessons seem to say that happiness is snatched
From the teeth of a merciless beast:
To take for the moment the juice that is there
Lest someone else take it away.
But if I change the view from my analytical chair
To a wider and longer perspective,
I see I have a bigger part
Than the walk-on role in this play.
And little decisions and actions I take
Have an influence on time’s river course
And thought that I use to contain or express
Is noticed, is rewarded, is blessed.
And the child that I teach or the friend I encourage
Can multiply the fruit of my work
If I just keep planting and trusting the One
Who will gather all things in His time.
Jane 9/2010
Disappearance
It’s sad to see you disappear
Slowly fading away
I hardly noticed it at first
The barest hint of gray.
The words you spoke were not so firm
Your laughter slightly absurd.
You looked past me when we spoke
As you seemed to ponder each word.
The change was oh so slow —
I thought I’d accommodated.
I thought I had learned to accept
This different way we related.
But you slipped ever further away
I could not hold you in place.
We were strangers who barely touched
Till you no longer saw my face.
I grieve the past and the future
Find it hard to enjoy the today
It’s easier to never approach
It’s easier to walk away.
But I open my heart to the pain
Seek patience to carry through.
And long for the day when once more
You will be the real you.
Jane 2006
Like Jesus
Give me a heart like Jesus’
One that is wholly devoted to God.
Give me a voice like Jesus’
That echoes compassion and love
Give me eyes like Jesus’
That see beyond the shame and fear
Make me like Jesus.
I want to reflect your image oh God
The way you intended it to be.
I want to be your hands and your feet
Bringing your kingdom to all that I see.
Give me ears like Jesus’
Hearing beyond the anger and pose
Give me a mind like Jesus’
Discerning the truth from lies
Shining the light in the darkness
Make me like Jesus.
Jane 2020
WHEN I FIND MY WAY HOME
You can take a picture, you can write it down
When I find my way home, I’m gonna come right back to town.
Stompin’ through the streets and kickin’ up the dirt
When I find my way home, you’re gonna have to change your shirt
Runnin’ through the alleys, climbin’ up the trees
When I find my way home, I’ll be fallin’ on my knees
Listen for the foot steps, put your records on
When I find my way home, We’re gonna dance until the dawn.
When I find my way back home, I know just what to do
I’ll be lookin’ for a party and a couch to crash onto
And when I find my way back home, I’ll never have to doubt
That being part of something is what life is all about.
Speakin’ with a stranger, everywhere you go,
When I find my way home, I’m gonna bug someone I know.
Lookin’ for the street signs, make another lap,
When I find my way home, I won’t need to read a map.
Tossin’ and turning, no matter where you lay your head
When I find my way home, I’m gonna sleep in my own bed.
Retracin’ all my steps now, lookin’ for a clue,
When I find my way back home, I can spend the night with you.
When I find my way back home, I’ll know just what to say
I’ll tell you how much I love and I’ll never go away
And when I find my way back home, I know I’ll never doubt
That being part of something is what life is all about.
Tim Cooper Circa 2006