Poems by Douglas J. Olson

Inspiration comes and goes.
Sometimes it ebbs, sometimes it flows.
There is no rhyme or rhythm here.
Sometimes it's far, sometimes it's near.

Inspiration has no scheme.
It comes to you just like a dream.
Out of mind and out of sight,
Like the shadows of the night.

Inspiration has no plan.
It's built on loose and shifting sand
That forms the castles by the sea,
Where wind and waves will always be.

The clouds never break
Like blue waters do
On this Island of Pain.
How can I stand true?

The birds never sing
And the love never finds
This Island of Pain
Where the sun never shines.

The stars never gleam
And the moon never glows.
There's never a dream,
And the river that flows

Is filled with my tears
That lead to the Bay
Of this Island of Pain
Where I'm destined to stay.

There, in the distance,
The fog starts to rise,
As I awaken
To warm, sunny skies.

No longer a captive
So long lost at sea,
This Island of Hope
Appears before me.

The Sea of Serenity
Waves at the shore.
Of this Island of Hope,
I just can't ignore.

The birds always sing
And the love always finds
This Island of Hope
Where the sun always shines.

The stars always gleam
And the moon always glows.
There's never a tear
And the soft wind that blows

Is filled with my dreams
That lead to the shore
Of this Island of Hope
Where I'll live evermore.

When that special feeling
You had from yesterday
Leaves you sad and reeling,
Count on me to stay.

When your world is falling
Like teardrops from the sky,
I'll be the one who's calling.
No need to wonder why.

When all hope is fading
And everything is blue,
My palette will be waiting
To paint your colors true.

And when December comes to call
And time has run away,
The love I have for you will burn
Much brighter than today.

Where did all the flowers go?
Falling leaves in colors show
Spring is but a memory.
Distant dreams come over me.

Where do all the rivers flow?
Autumn leaves in colors know.
Yesterday is just a dream.
Can you hear it whispering?

I can feel the afterglow
Of a time so long ago
When the sun could only shine
Beyond the shadows of my mind.

Yesterday is just a dream.
Can you hear it whispering?
Love is but a memory.
Distant dreams come over me.

Emerald hills and turquoise seas
Endless canvas brushed with trees
That sway so gently in the hue
Of watercolor azure blue

Waves that ripple through my mind
Touch sun-kissed sugar sands of time
As whispered winds so softly sigh
A dreamlike lazy lullaby

My heart is but an island
Inside this castaway.
Surrounded by the ocean blue,
I hope to sail someday.

Stranded on this distant shore,
I plan for my escape.
Headed to the Bay of Love
Where calm, clear waters wait.

My heart is just an island,
So far out from the fray.
Beyond the blue horizon
I live from day to day.

Stranded on this desert shore
I plan for my escape.
Headed to the Sea of Change
Where love can navigate.

My heart is just an island
Where no one else can see
The loneliness, I must confess
That hides deep down in me.

You've gone and left me all alone -
All by myself - can't telephone.

In a world of days gone by,
A grayish gloom completes the sky.

Every day my thoughts are fleeting
As the daylight keeps retreating.

You loved me more than you could show.
I loved you too but didn't know.

I couldn't see through all the years,
But now my eyes are filled with tears
That fall from places far away
When you left me on that day.