This . . . Is About Life: Book Ii: Fulfill Your Dreams

By Randi Owens

The poems in this book were written over a period of 21 years between 1974 and 1995. They were written when I was focused on venturing into life as an adult and continuing forward into the birth of my four children. My family, writing and poetry proved to be a valuable lifeline when I believed I would be alone and needed to forge my path in life if I were to succeed.

Poetry can provide therapeutic relief from worries and life's excess stress. It invites readers to incorporate their thoughts and emotions into the words, creating the opportunity for temporary breaks from everyday life encounters.

Though the poems, I learned that it was okay to be upset, smile, laugh, cry... and to simply live. We can intertwine and cross what's real with what's fantasy... if only just for that moment in time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Sep 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480865747

Randi Owens

Writing began as a form of escape for Randi from her world of reality, allowing for self expression while living in a foster home with biological siblings and several other foster children. Some poems were written without thought, while others were written as a form of communication without the element of verbal interaction on occasion. She joined the USAF upon graduation from high school, where she remained for 5 years receiving an Honorable discharge once her commitment was complete. She received an Associates degree from Anchorage Community College, Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Eastern Illinois University and a Certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor from the College of Great Falls. Her professional career consisted of working as a Youth at Risk Program Manager, Chemical Dependency Counselor, and Licensed Professional Counselor among others. Her chosen careers permitted her access to another of her passions in addition to writing and poetry, that of offering care and service to individuals in need of therapeutic intervention. Randi has lived in Alaska for over 27 years with her husband of over 40 years and their 6 adult children and grandchildren.

Book preview

This …

Is About

Life

a collection of poems from 1974-1995

by Randi Owens

Book II: Fulfill Your Dreams

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Copyright © 2018 Randi Owens.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Archway Publishing

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.archwaypublishing.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-6575-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-6574-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018951125

Archway Publishing rev. date: 8/23/2018

Contents

1974

On My Way to College

How Fire Begins

My Friend Gwen

I Give Up

What Is the Meaning of Hate?

Why Dream?

The Death Plot

A Lying Friend Is Not True

The Ocean Water So Blue

Window Washers

My Life of Dreams

A Short Stop for Me

They Are Human, Too

Adam

Mary

The Tiny Hill

If I Don’t Pass

That Feeling of Sorrow

High Hopes

Happy Birthday to You

1975

I Stand Alone at the Doors

Our Arrival

Young Love … and I Still Love You

Do We Deserve Better?

You’re Always by My Side

The Circle That Thought It Was Square

The Impossible Dream

Inspiration

My Truth of Love

Why Me?

The Shaky Thief

I Want to Be Rich

Some People and Their Thoughts

Maria Q.

Green

Basic Training—Sgt. Kitto

Ask Yourself, TSgt. Williams …

Flight 109—Basic Training

Trust

Elena, I Remember

Capricorn Eli

Crying

A Small Romance

As I Watched My Window Darken

I Was Meant to Stand Alone

From Iris to Ireland

Money-Hungry Witch

True Lovers

1976

The Night Lover

What if This Was the End?

Daddy, Please Don’t Cry

Feelings

What Is Your Objective?

Pedro, Don’t Go

C. M. Puckleberry

My Image of Me Today

My Momma

1977

Our First Wedding Anniversary

There Is Lasting Pain and Forgiveness

On This Day

Our Love

You Are Going to Make It

Only God Is a Real Friend to Me

My Friend Hui Chiu

1978

That Hurting Feeling

What Was Taken … Is Forever Lost

Leaving Me Hurt and at a Loss

No Christmas

Smiles and Cheers

Only Once

To Be Known

Zarranda Zoe

From Beginning to End, Starting All Over Again

Pain

1979

Failure

Little Kenny Knottingburg: How Old Are You?

Looking Within to Decide

Why Doesn’t Somebody Give?

My Nobility at Risk

My Wish, Dream, and Prayer

You … Yourself!

It’s Strange

Out in the Country

Sonny and the Yankee

How Can I Help You … Lost in Between

Happy Valentine’s Day, My Love

Morie

Do You Love Me?

If I Had Two Days to Live, I Would …

1980

Fraternal Twins

Missing You

With You Gone

Miss Fat Pat

The Democracy of Today

Did You Know …?

Decisions

1982

The Battle of Regret

The Death of a Poem

A Lack of Faith

Let This Day Be a Special Day

Traveling Home

1983

Lost Art

Don’t Look at Me

My Symptoms of Pain

1984

I Have Found What I Was After

Easter Fun

1987

You Remind Me of …

Look at the People

Spiritual Food Cake

1989

Graduation

1990

The Flower of My Dreams

If You Want to Be Truly Happy

1992

Silly Sandy

Transition

1995

I Feel So Dead Inside …

You and Me

A Mothers’ Suffering—Don’t Give Up

I Carry My Cross (Memories)

Friendships

Randi Owens,

Author

Emily Autenrieth,

Editor

Kimberly Gallardo,

Illustrations

Carlos Owens Jr.,

Contributors

For each of you, Dare to Dream.

Introduction

I wrote the following poems over a period of twenty-one years, beginning when I was venturing into life as an adult and continuing forward into the birth of my four children. The poems proved to be a lifeline when I believed I was alone and needed to forge my path in life if I were to succeed.

Poetry can provide therapeutic relief from worries and life’s excess stressors. It invites readers to incorporate their thoughts and emotions into the words, creating the opportunity for temporary breaks from everyday life encounters. Through the poems, I learned that it was okay to be upset, smile, laugh, and cry—and to simply live. We can intertwine and cross what’s real with what’s fantasy—if only just for that moment in time. I invite you to enter the world of a young woman willing to dream of possibilities in life, bringing to light your personal thoughts and emotions along with you.

1974

On My Way to College

I may not make it to college on just my concentration.

It’s better to be on my way regardless of the situation.

Sitting around doing nothing isn’t what I have in mind.

Getting out to show my gratitude for what I’ve been through is more in line.

I know college costs a lot of money, maybe even more,

But it’s better to get an education than to sit around and become a bore.

As I’m on my way to college, it’s a most important dream.

I’ll never make it until I choose to fulfill that dream, it seems.

How Fire Begins

Fire in the woods moving toward Mother Nature to destroy with its flames

Has a life of its own as it stretches out while avoiding the slight rain.

The people watching the fire believe that with the little rain it will be doused.

Others are running home to find a way to protect their house.

How fire begins is with