George is a llama. Technically he's a cria, a baby llama. Unlike most llama's George grows and ages very slowly. George can be found in Ohio or Peru. The jury is still out on where exactly George is only a baby though those who have heard him think he's full grown. George has a strong affinity for TerriKate. He usually thinks he's Terri's llama and this in turn causes Terri some problems every now and then. George is a wanderer. He's often very hard to find and frequently search parties are sent out to find him.
George first appeared three plus years ago. He just wandered in from somewhere and adopted Terri almost immediately. Although George doesn't stay in one place very long he still expects Terri to fill his water dish for him, even if he's 2,000 miles away. Terri manages with some help from friends around the world and George isn't too fussy about who is supplying him with things.
We're not sure that anyone would recognize George today. We only have the one picture of him and that was taken when we first saw him.

Cute little fella isn't he? He does tend to get into trouble often, usually needing someone to come and help him out. Again during these times Terri turns to her friends around the world to help with the wandering George. Of course the Phoenix will take to wing and help find George. After frequent searches for George, Phoenix has gotten pretty good at spotting George.
It took some doing but George doesn't spit like most llamas. He's been taught not to do that but sometimes he forgets when he's disgusted with someone or something that has been said. George hasn't been seen for some time but we have had word from him that he's doing well and is happy in the mountains of Oh..err Per....umm.. wherever he is.

We have an update on George!!! Apparently he's aged well and has found both a llama farm and a good supply of maca root near Ga. Terri was out exploring when she unexpectedly ran into George. It would appear there's a Mrs George, a cousin George and many other family members who are all happy on the llama farm. We're all very happy that George has been found and we hope to hear more news about him soon!

Haikus

Strongly grows the oak
Mighty wind tears up old roots
Weaker willow lives

Birds fly beneath clouds
Fish swim under ocean waves
Nature has order

Seed sprouts below ground
New life begins long journey
Fruit for our future

When nuts fall from trees
They don't fall far from squirrels
Planting then begins

Ripples of today
Move outward unabated
Into tomorrow

Sky lights up blue
Brilliant face shines upon us
Soon season changes

Petals open wide
New flower blooms this morning
Seed's maturity

Waves come ashore
Rising up then receding
Repeating pattern

Sky cotton tumbles
Wind sculpts artistic patterns
Cold tranquility

Thunder overhead
Summoned by the flashing light
Brings rhythmic splashing

Seasons changes come
Sky and ground always adapts
Each yields to the next

Time can run quickly
Time can trickle so slowly
Time always passes

Treasured Journey

Stand not alone as you travel
through the journey of life,
Move peacefully
with an open heart and mind,

Accept with joy
the love you find along the way,
From all the sources
that are willing to offer it,

Take no measure
of how much love you give,
Know the pleasures
of how much you are loved,

Yet love those who love you
with clear feeling,
Reject none among those
who would befriend you,

Forgive those
who would prove to you false,
Let not a few taint your view
of the scenic journey,

Of all those you encounter
along those paths you choose,
Treasure each one
for each one is in some way special,

The heart has so much room
to be shared,
Has such a capacity to forgive
if you but let it,

Always within a beating heart
shall there be found,
Room to accommodate one more
along your journey.

Brian Paul Sullivan ©2001

Immortal Battle

Shall I release the inner demon of my soul,
Allowing it full vent to vanquish my enemies,
Force of darkness in outpouring vengeance,
Thundering off under the cover of darkness,

Should force back the demonic force within,
Release the shudders holding at bay the light,
Blinding force rising to banish the blackness,
Overcoming the flickering illusory shadows,

Perhaps both should be evicted from within,
So a clear view shall be seen of the battle,
Watch in hope and despair as my own witness,
Knowing forevermore victor would take me,

Before my eyes eternal battle of dark and light,
Weariness of years gathering under my brow,
Exhausted merely observing the raging war,
Wonder whatever shall become of empty soul,

Time slowly passes by uncaringly unnoticed,
'Til the last grain floats down from the glass,
Ceaseless battle has engaged for years uncounted,
Glass is turned condeming me to eternities madness.

Brian Paul Sullivan ©2003

New Maturity

Look in the mirror tell me what do you see,
Years have flown by making a difference,
Sands have slowly sifted marking changes,
Some of the child remains as eyes can see,
Now is the time to reflect on yesterday,

For the path has been widely in variance,
Though roots hold firmly to trace back,
Branches of newly sprouted views arrived,
Never thought this would come to pass,
Yet perhaps this is the way to growth,

Those untaken ways from earier times,
Are now closed down out of reach,
Now so many ways to chose ahead,
Which one should be tried is best guess,
Wisdom is climbing to it's crescendo,

Mayhaps that shall be the guide for one,
Learning to see through another's eyes,
Gentled heart with gentled hand arising,
Within the bounds of timeless thought,
Lest the decaying rut rot wear out spirit,

Seek the true path for your flame within,
While finding the ways of soothing calm,
To where powers that be will guide us all,
As the last shift molds anew the essence,
New product of all our untested abilities,

In the waning springtime of our lives,
Maturity of a different sort gains leverage,
Rolling thunder of discomfitted discontent,
Shall yield to the demands of peace,
In the end that is all we truly seek,

Tomorrow shall bring thoughts unsought,
Above them all once more shall rise,
Bursting forth from the altering chamber,
Shining star ablaze with heart's compassion,
Satisfied that now you've reached best of goals.

Brian Paul Sullivan ©2004

When Haiku Met Tanka

I am a Haiku,
I only run for three lines,
economical,

I am a Tanka,
I only run for five lines,
economical,
My expression is better,
I am older than Haiku,

Poets prefer me,
More simplistic expressions,
Tanka is bulky,

Haiku is too short,
He forces painful twisting,
Very annoying,
I allow more breathing room,
By far I'm the more spacious,

Tanka talks too much,
Better to be short and sweet,
Trust little Haiku,

Haiku is baby,
Put your faith in the senior,
Tanka is full grown,
Haiku is far too tiny,
He never can stand alone,

Tanka takes up room,
Always more Haiku per page,
Tanka needs diet,

Haiku's much too thin,
Needs more vocabulary,
Need my thesaurus?
I can lend Haiku some words,
Maybe then Haiku can grow,

You are amusing,
This has gotten too silly,
I'm moving along,

You are just too cute,
I think I love you,
Even though you think I'm fat,
I will share my wine with you,
Then maybe I'll look better,

I will taste your wine,
We can get married today,
Polite family name,

We are now combined,
Haiku has married Tanka,
Family name is cute,
Our name now in gratitude,
The Tankus wish to tanku.

Brian Paul Sullivan © 2007

State of Mind

Age is just a state of mind,
Is what once was told to me,
Years have passed so in kind,
Wise words these appear to be,

A touch of grey upon my head,
Shall not ever make me old,
It matters not what anyone said,
Nor what someone has been told,

Discounting when I try to rise,
Up from my chair or bed,
My stressful yelped agonized cries,
Despite denial words I said,

While my steps are getting slower,
I don't need to move too fast,
You don't need to stand and glower,
I always make it there at last,

While I still get the urge to chase,
Each and every woman I view,
I just cannot seem to keep the pace,
Cause they run faster these days too,

Maybe I'm getting a little older,
Though I really shouldn't confess,
The air feels a little colder,
and I have less hair to mess,

I do not like to admit,
However this is true,
I sometimes have a snit,
When food is hard to chew,

The only time I can zoom,
I mean really really rush,
Is dashing to the bathroom,
But then it takes some time to flush,

I get up early every morning,
and I can well dress myself,
Still comes a sense of forlorning,
When I cannot reach the top shelf,

If age is just a state of mind,
As was once told plain to me,
Would someone please so kind,
And inform my aching body!

Brian Paul Sullivan © 2007

Forest Of My Childhood

Time rewound for me last night,
Once more I trod the pathways,
Forest of my childhood visited,
Upon a dream of yesteryear,

There to greet me at the gate,
Misplaced friends from long ago,
Standing taller than the rest,
Broad welcoming smile was Puff,

My eyes widened in surprise,
As I saw the old menagerie,
Four hoofed winged Pegasus,
Aloft with Chickadee and Owl,

Cats were singing under trees,
Branches waving keeping time,
Tails wagging as canine friends,
Raced forward barking greetings,

Whitey and Charlie coats sleek,
Flying swordsmaster leapt high,
Wally swam in gifting a shower,

For the oceans met the trees,
The shoreline made as I would,
So many years lay far behind,
As was the boy they recalled,

I greeted them with my old grin,
That had not been seen in ages,
We spoke of all that had passed,
Since I aged beyond their reach,

Then all fell silent as midnight,
Indeed the sun had tucked in,
Under the moon lit glow around,
SHE stepped forward all smiles,

Surely this was a happy dream,
One had not been seen in years,
My heart gave a mighty leap,
At her soft kiss upon my brow,

For she had seen me through,
The worst of what life gave,
My own white Angel of myth,
Or so too many made me say,

Once more in time of distress,
She revealed herself to me,
Words of comfort she thought,
Understood as clearly as ever,

Her sparkling white coat,
Glistening single magic horn,
Touching me for a moment,
Decades rolled backwards,

Then the forest melted away,
All my old friends fell from sight,
Last to linger in my aged eyes,
Angel my childhood unicorn.

Brian Paul Sullivan 2007