"A Penny for Your Thoughts"
I sense that I need to connect to my past.
I feel that my secrets are keeping me from complete emotional freedom.
I find it intimidating to be accepted into a compassionate community when I have caused so much grief.
I do have regrets, I do have remorse and now I have understanding
I am inspired by empathetic people that have touched my heart by not judging me by my past.
People tell me “I don’t care about your past,” “Who you are today is what is important”, “You are a good person”
and I didn’t believe them.
Once I believed and realized that my life and my existence had value did I finally hear what they said,
they meant.
Today my life is blessed and I get to bless others, through my compassion, empathy, and spirituality.
I accept that I am a good person, but what does that mean? Good is subjective, I believe what they mean is what I do today will affect others positively and enhance their quality of life.
I do my best to be transparent and open so that secrets will not silence my heart, nor control it.
-Henry Frank 9/25/2015
I feel that my secrets are keeping me from complete emotional freedom.
I find it intimidating to be accepted into a compassionate community when I have caused so much grief.
I do have regrets, I do have remorse and now I have understanding
I am inspired by empathetic people that have touched my heart by not judging me by my past.
People tell me “I don’t care about your past,” “Who you are today is what is important”, “You are a good person”
and I didn’t believe them.
Once I believed and realized that my life and my existence had value did I finally hear what they said,
they meant.
Today my life is blessed and I get to bless others, through my compassion, empathy, and spirituality.
I accept that I am a good person, but what does that mean? Good is subjective, I believe what they mean is what I do today will affect others positively and enhance their quality of life.
I do my best to be transparent and open so that secrets will not silence my heart, nor control it.
-Henry Frank 9/25/2015
" Land of my Ancestors"
Grizzlies doctoring in the spring and summer,
Blackwidows doctoring in the fall and winter.
Warrior blood, fire ash, medicine blood, river water.
Supermarket groceries, Hasbro toys and Lucas films at the drive-in.
Land of the animals, ceremonies healing and reenergizing the Earth,
Trees of birch, pine, redwood, playful grandfather oaks and the happy Japanese plum tree.
Grey cement walls, metal bars and gun towers.
Land of rushing rivers, bubbling creeks and rustling leaves.
Bobcats fighting, salmon filling the net and a waving bear across the river.
Stale cigarettes, high potent skunk bud, and alcohol stained furniture.
Gramma’s house, aunties and uncles houses smelling like frybread and beans.
City streets, California highways, and rezervation dirt roads.
Walking a quarter mile dirt track that has thousands of miles upon it,
visioning streets long gone.
Ceremonial dances, sweat lodges, pow-wows and prayer circles,
Traditional singers, dancers, artists and story tellers.
Meth addiction, marijuana obsession, alcoholism,
Low self-esteem, poisonous ego, fear, shame and regret.
I have danced with the devil, battled for my soul.
Leadership only in the mind,
Respected by addicts, criminals and convicts,
Stoic so I can’t be manipulated,
and expecting the worst in people.
Acceptance,
forgiveness,
kindness,
love,
compassion,
For myself and for others.
Creator protected me, guided me, strengthened me and I know
I come from the land of the spirits.
-Henry Frank 6/17/2021
Grizzlies doctoring in the spring and summer,
Blackwidows doctoring in the fall and winter.
Warrior blood, fire ash, medicine blood, river water.
Supermarket groceries, Hasbro toys and Lucas films at the drive-in.
Land of the animals, ceremonies healing and reenergizing the Earth,
Trees of birch, pine, redwood, playful grandfather oaks and the happy Japanese plum tree.
Grey cement walls, metal bars and gun towers.
Land of rushing rivers, bubbling creeks and rustling leaves.
Bobcats fighting, salmon filling the net and a waving bear across the river.
Stale cigarettes, high potent skunk bud, and alcohol stained furniture.
Gramma’s house, aunties and uncles houses smelling like frybread and beans.
City streets, California highways, and rezervation dirt roads.
Walking a quarter mile dirt track that has thousands of miles upon it,
visioning streets long gone.
Ceremonial dances, sweat lodges, pow-wows and prayer circles,
Traditional singers, dancers, artists and story tellers.
Meth addiction, marijuana obsession, alcoholism,
Low self-esteem, poisonous ego, fear, shame and regret.
I have danced with the devil, battled for my soul.
Leadership only in the mind,
Respected by addicts, criminals and convicts,
Stoic so I can’t be manipulated,
and expecting the worst in people.
Acceptance,
forgiveness,
kindness,
love,
compassion,
For myself and for others.
Creator protected me, guided me, strengthened me and I know
I come from the land of the spirits.
-Henry Frank 6/17/2021
