While in her teens and working in her mother's Music Center, Whitney wrote two musical and a play as well as writing, directing and choreographing several musical reviews.

After turning 21 and while touring throughout the United States and Canada with a 5-piece show band, Whitney began focusing on adding to her list of accomplishments as a poet and songwriter.  To date, she has written over 200 poems and songs, including 2 published books of poetry ("Inner Thoughts" and "Poems, Songs and Yellow Roses") and "The Mawuvia Suite" (which can be experienced on her "Sounds of Nirih" website).

The song you hear on her home page, "Friends" was written by Whitney and recorded by the "Sounds of Nirih" in 1980.  This song was used in one of the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethons as background to a short film of the children who were featured that year, and has also been used as the background theme during two recent American Cancer Society's "Relay For Life" Ceremonies honoring cancer survivors. 

The song you hear on Whitney's web page that talks about her experiences as an entertainer, "They Want to Hear Country Music" was also written by Whitney in the late 1980's and recorded by the "Sounds of Nirih."

During the late 1970's Whitney wrote several hymns as well as 3 complete formal masses for the children's choir at St. Catherine of Sienna's Church:  "The Brotherhood Mass," a "Christmas Mass" and an "Easter Mass" (which was written in Latin).  These hymns and masses have since been shared with other Catholic churches in Contra Costa County.

While performing in nightclubs and for private parties, Whitney is often asked to perform some of her original songs, which include:

I'm the Song of Love
And Another Day
A Lion Should Always Be Free
And The Tune I Played for You
I Love How you Touch Me
He's My Friend
Remember Me
I Know 'Cause I've Been There
Between Crowds of Laughter
In The Early Afternoon
She's Glad to See Him Home ("Karen's Song")
Till Then I Will Sing
I Wish That You Were Back With Me Again

Although Whitney and "The Sounds of Nirih" have not recorded any other songs to date, they are planning on doing this.  In the meanwhile, we will share with you just a few of her poems (below) and the lyrics to some of her songs as well as more poems as time goes on.  So, please return to this site for updates.

PAPILLON

I watched a butterfly today
And found myself thinking of you . . . 
Wanting for you to feel
The freedom of the wind . . .
To experience the beauty
Of the flowers . . .
The strength of the ocean . . .
And the warmth of a trusting friend.

I know you think I want these things for you because I love you.
Perhaps that's true, because I do.

But, mostly it's because,
in knowing you I have found
The freedom of the wind . . .
In your eyes, I have discovered the beauty of the flowers . . .
Holding your hand, I feel
The strength of the ocean . . .

And, in loving you I have felt the warmth of a trusting friend.

If, by chance, we go our separate ways, I will not be sad . . .
As long as I know that I
(If only in some small way)
Have given you a reason for
Seeking . . . Growing . . .
Sharing . . .Trusting . . .and Loving.

A GHOST WITHIN THE FOG

The Sea seemed
Strangely calm tonight,

Despite the haunting site
Of grey-white fog ascending high
Into the unseen night.

The lighthouse beacon
Burns its way
To Spirit Ships unbound.

While somewhere through the
Ghostly mist, I hear the
Foghorns lonely sound . . .

Walking slowly on the beach
With raptured heart I see

A vision drifting o'er the waves,
Drawing nearer me.

Elation is a sorry word
For what I felt within.

I thought I saw my one true love
Come sailing 'round the rim.

Sad to say, the sight I saw
Soon drifted far away.

'Twas just a ghost within the fog
That led my heart astray.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

We soar the skies of
Endless uncertainty,
Searching for a reason
For searching . . . For Existing.

Driven by our own Inner Strength
We reach out for the answers
To questions burning
Within our Souls.

We seek our own Destiny.
Why are we here?
Why have we chosen
This particular time?
This particular Galaxy?
This particular existence?

Perhaps, it is because we
Hear the cries for help.
We are attuned to them
Because it is our Destiny
To be there when they need us.

Again and again,
We reach out for them.
"Take my hand" we tell them.
"I am here to guide you.
I am here to teach you."

If we can touch the heart
Of just one being.
If we can answer
Just one single question
And spark the fire of awareness
That sleeps within ones very Soul,

Then, my Friend, we have succeeded.
We have assisted this Being
On the journey
Towards those perfections
Which we all seek.

Towards the ultimate

Glory of  . . .Love . . .

Peace . . .

Understanding . . .

And Enlightenment.

COME BACK TO ME

What magic weaves its mystic spell
And lures us to the sea?
What mysteries reach out from its depths To clutch our souls and plead?

"Com back to me, Oh Wanderer. 
Such wonders you will see
When once you shed your Earthly shell And set your Spirit free.

I nurture lives of many forms
And watch them slowly grow.
Kaleidoscopic Visions . . .
Enfolding deep below.

Com back to me, Oh Wanderer.  I've lovely sights for thee.
Dramatic scenes in wondrous hues
are there for you to see.

Perhaps a spark of lifetimes past
will open up the door.
And could it be your Soul recalls that you've been here before?

I am here.  I'll always be. 
But you, dear one, are free.
Your Spirit soars the universe
In search of harmony.

You chart your course, you set your goals in striving for the way
To reach your own perfection
And not to go astray.

I remember, long ago, when
you first came to me.
You started as a single cell
And you were mine to feed.

I cared for you, I watched you grow
Until the time had come
When you would venture on your own
And make the Earth your Home.

Come back to me, Oh Wanderer, Come, share your lore with me.
And leave a little of yourself
So others can be free."

What magic weaves its mystic spell and lures us to the sea?
Perchance, is it a "Mother's" call,
Or just a memory?

IT IS BEAUTIFUL!

A quiet scene is painted . . .
Amidst the golden haze
Of scattered flowers, are we.

You and I, the mountains
and the sky . . .

We're ALL the same.

Each, alone, exists. . . .
But, together . . .

It is BEAUTIFUL!