When We Meet Next Time

We will talk of solutions
Not problems

And how we will get
Things done

All will arrive with
The answers

Until the problems we face
Are done

The enemy is still standing
Before us

No longer needing to use
Their guns

Their goal is to try and
Destroy us

And their target as always
Our sons

On The Edge Of A Killing Spree

the edge is where your sanity sits
as you try to walk the line
between model citizen and mass murderer
waiting for that special time
when the thread snaps and the rope breaks
and your actions cannot be controlled
only the freedom that comes from the release
of your angry and burdened soul
you start with a knife and end with a gun
while the blood begins to rain
the freedom has given you ultimate power
but also has released your pain
no longer average or invisible to all
now everyone will see
the one they ignored and stripped of power
is on a killing spree

The Walk

the walk that leads the way back home
has twists and turns and bends
and though the road is rough most days
your journey never ends

to see the path you choose in life
as you face all of your trials
is not an easy job for most
but is one worth the while

Voodoo Chants and Mystical Rants

Dark of heart and weak in faith
Mystical chants start in a place
Where practices that you fear the most
Come to life from an unlikely host

The Voodoo man and the Lady priest
Work to have their powers unleashed
To make those who have gone before
Appear again to you once more

To share the wisdom of the past
And let you know their love will last
Until the day when all can be
Together again where love runs free

Courage

a strange word
courage
not easily
defined
standing up
to injustice
quickly comes
to mind
being who
you are
when others
tell you
that you should
not
and risking it
all
for just one shot
but maybe
courage
is simply
realizing
if you fall
the most
important thing
you can do
is once again
stand tall

Healing

The pain you feel
Can only be healed
When you are free
From what has to be
The limits placed
On space and time

The light in you
Can only shine through
When you are free
From restraints that bind
And limit your mind
And allow you to shine

Deep

As our bodies entangle
I fall deep inside your mind
Deep inside your heart
And deep inside your soul

For the moment we seem
Destined to be one
Deep inside the other
Until neither can tell

Where or if or when
This will end
All we know is
We must go deeper

Examine Yourself

Life is always a blank canvas
And each stroke of the brush
Creates a different world
Some of those worlds are perfect 
While others are flawed

The Lady In My Life

The lady in my life
Is someone I can never have
She is affectionate and loving
Warm and kind and gentle
And she belongs to someone else
Despite my efforts to be near her
To touch her and to be a part of
Something and someone so loving
And so kind
I know she can never be and
Will never be mine

Next Time

The next time
Will be better
Than this time
Or last time

Because we all
Know what happened
The last time
And we said

That was the
Last time that
Something like that
Will ever happen

Overthrow The System

no use wasting time
fighting the system
the system must die
cut off the head
and place it on a spike
take an ax and
hack off the legs
throw what is left
into the river
and celebrate your victory over
your oppressors
and their attempt
to control how you live
and who you love
any system not designed by you
is not for you
and should be destroyed
a bullet to the brain
of the thing that causes pain
is the only solution to
the new revolution

Overnight Sensation

Spent your whole life waiting for your big break
The only thing that mattered were chances you did not take
No one cared about how you spent your time
They were only worried if the damn thing rhymed

Never mind that you doing this has taken several years
All of your mind and heart and your tears
And then you finally come to the realization
You spent your life trying to be an overnight sensation

11,000 Pizzas

starting a
new relationship
is like getting
11,000 pizzas
the reality is
almost everyone
likes pizza
but what do
you do when
you get so
much of
something you
like all at once
do you take
it slow so
that it will
last forever
do you rush
in and get your
fill until you
get so sick
that you never
want to see
another pizza
again
or do you savor
the moment
and realize
that every pizza
is different
all 11,000 of
them because
each time you
enjoy a pizza
you are not the
same person
you were
when you had
your last one

Miles Away

reaching for
the things
we desire
most only
seems to
cause them
to always
escape us

amazing how
troubles are
always close
no matter
what and
good things
are always
miles away

Sitting On The Window Sill Waiting To Fly Away

Each day I watch
The window sill
As a mother bird
Sits on her nest
Waiting until
Her baby bird
Will one day
Fly away

Suspended Automation

that point where you realize
you are in way over your head
and nothing you can do will fix it
is suspended automation

The Last Time I Saw Happy

The last time I saw happy
She did not see me
Her back was turned
As she hopped into a taxi
Heading for the airport
To catch a flight
To the perfect life
Or perfect vacation
Or perfect something
Most of us will never know
She used to know me
A long time ago
When everything was new
And wrinkles were
Changes in what
Happened next
Not folds in your skin
She still looks great
The way she did when
We turned sixteen
And learned to drive
And eighteen when
We left home
Now she is off with someone else
Doing the things we used to to

Face To Face With Death

Strange how when you finally decide to live
You come face to face with death

After making the decision to not
Let life pass you by you find yourself

Moments from dying

The irony of seeing your life
Flash before your eyes moments

After you decide to no longer play it safe
Is the type of cruel joke

That only God and the devil could appreciate

Life Is Like A Balloon

Ever notice how life is a lot like a balloon
It starts out small
Gets bigger when you put more effort into it
And no matter how big it gets
We still try to make it bigger
Sometimes things explode and fall apart
But usually left alone the air slowly fizzles out
Leaving a shriveled mess at the end

The Reality Of Fantasy

The lines are gone where they were once drawn
Hidden by the mask that you wear
To watch you destroy yourself slowly
Brings everyone down with you
Hoping this nightmare that has now become
Every minute of every life that you have ruined
Will soon die but we all know that this is just
The reality of the fantasy you created
For yourself that we are forced to live through

Thieves

There is nothing on this planet
Worse than a thief
A person who steals from another
Is the lowest form of life
To ever crawl the face of the earth
Whether it is money or an idea
A person who would stoop so low
As to steal from someone else
Should never be allowed to profit
From their cowardly way of life

Church

the true
definition
of church
should
be people
not buildings
or doctrine
or religion
because
who or what
you
pray to
means nothing
if there is
no one
to do it

Hair

To a woman it is her crowning glory
To a man it is his sense of pride
Why do so many people use hair
As a place they can go and hide

Some see it as a thing of status
Others as something to tame
Most see living without it
As some kind of scandal or shame

There are many who cannot manage
To grow hair that is long or is big
So they pretend others do not know this
By adding on hair or a wig

Some can only imagine
And think this obsession is weird
Hair on your head is a distraction
But I wish I could grow a beard

working class blues

this job is the worst
and the boss is an ass
things would be better
if they did it my way

that was my idea first
my co-worker has gas
a reprimand letter
I deserve more pay

Graduation

no ceremony
or cap
and gown will
officially announce
when you are
over someone
or something
or worse yet
both

the time to
move on is
apparent to some
and abhorrent to
others but
we all must
graduate
someday

overcoming a
fear or a
challenge is
the same as
conquering a
curriculum
but we seldom

celebrate
the things
that bring
about the
biggest changes
in our
lives

When The Apple Realized It Was Not Forbidden

Have you ever wondered what it was like
When the apple realized it was not forbidden
It was probably a lot like the time
When you gave up your childhood dream of
Being a cowboy or a princess or whatever
Your dream was before reality smacked you
So hard that you were happy to settle for a job
You hated just so you could shrivel up and die
Like a bad apple infected with worms
Rotting at the bottom of the barrel infecting
Everything it touches

any road

flying high
above it all
free from
the restrictions
of the ground
there was
no pressure
to follow
any road
or any trail
or any path
because the complete
blue canvas leaves
no marks
or footprints
and no evidence
that anyone was
ever there

Love Is Not

Love is not for the weak of mind
Or the faint of heart or those
Who live in fear

Love is not for the broken spirit
Or the hopeless lot or those
Without cheer

Love is not for the tortured souls
Or the hapless losers or those
Afraid to take a chance

Love is not
For many or any of those
Who fear romance

Variation On A Poem Noir

I was very happy in my Blackness
Both as a Black man and
As a man without a direction
Until she came along
She was everything I was warned about
And told never to bring home
She was then and still is now Satan's sister
The walking description of a
Blond-haired blue-eyed devil
With a passion for everything
That she was always forbidden to have
And this time it was me
I had the chance to walk away and
As I turned in another direction
To return to my roots and my family
Out came her claws and her hooks
And the temptation for something forbidden
Was more than any man could withstand
But just as it is the nature of the scorpion to sting
And for the snake to bite
When you have been blinded
It is impossible to see either
Until it is too late and your fate has been sealed
A gun or a knife would have made more sense
And the first time she struck should have been the clue
But seduction and betrayal are the perfect combination
Of pleasure and pain and she used them both
First to infiltrate my family and replace it with
A family of her own pulled from deep within me
And then to turn that family against me
To make all that is mine despise all that is me
And having accomplished her goal of the
Seduction and elimination of one Black man
She like the heartless predator that she is
Moved on to the next leaving me in my Blackness
Both as a Black man and
As a man without a direction

Last Night While You Were Dreaming

Close your eyes for a minute and try to find
That world of your dreams that you left behind

Last night while sleeping you became someone new
Who could do all the things you always wanted to

You had meetings with world leaders and talking trees
And collected magic pollen while flying with bees

While visiting a land where people never grow old
You danced with the devil for a pot of gold

There were mansions and music and amusement parks
Along with lots of things you could only do in the dark

Of course you were there with the love of your life
Reunited in your dreams with your beautiful wife

Sadly your dream will soon come to an end
As you wait for nightfall and to dream again

Old Friends

Old friends have the best of systems
One will talk while the other one listens
It does not matter what time of day
As long as the other has something to say

Sometimes the need is really strong
And because these two really get along
Neither feels that it is a burden
To make time for the other when they are hurting

While listening to the refrain from a friend
It seems the troubles will find an end
Just as they did the other day
When the two old friends had something to say

Outside In

All that is bottled up inside
Desperate to get out
Will find a way to exit today
Just select a route

A knife is quick and cuts real deep
Into skin steel does slide
A gun can do real damage too
With a bullet in my hide

The flow of blood will cleanse my brain
And bring my pain to an end
No longer going slowly mad
I let my outside in

and suddenly she turned....,

and suddenly she turned and realized
standing behind her was what she feared most
her past had returned to haunt her
in a way that she could never imagine
every effort to change from who she used to be
now had crept up behind her and would soon
overtake her forcing her to face a reality
she put out of her mind years ago

she thought to herself how unfair it was
that all the fear and shame she used to feel
had finally turned from a full roar to
a low moan and here she was once again
starting over having to relive a pain too intense
for words to ever describe

now she realized what she had to do
no longer was she going to be controlled
by a past that refused to let her have a future
she was no longer in a position to run from
what she used to be and from now on
she was going to run towards who she had become

she turned to face the crowd as she grabbed
the microphone and asked
do you want fries with that?

hey
life is art!

With Pen In Hand

With pen in hand
I stab at your heart
With words that bite
And soothe your soul

I challenge who you are
Fight who you will be
Support who you once were
While I reject your indecision

I kidnap your thoughts
Making them my own
So that you will always know
A pen in hand strikes twice as hard

A Prayer For Parents

Each night before you fall asleep
And pray to God your soul to keep
Do not forget to take a while
And say a prayer for your child

Pray that they grow strong and tall
Though your heart wants to keep them small
Pray that you know what things to say
That will help to guide them on their way

Pray that they will find true love
The kind that comes from up above
And pray that when they rest at night
They spent their day doing what was right

Pray that they will have a life
That is blessed with a husband or wife
Who will make their life so worthwhile
As they pray for you and your grandchild

Dreams A Father Has For His Son

From the first breath that your Son takes
Until your dying day
The dreams a Father has for his Son
Will never go away

The hopes and dreams you have for him
Are different from your own
If you were King you wear a crown
But leave your Son the throne

Wanting more for him than for yourself
Is proven every day
The empire you build will go to him
Even if he goes his own way

The legend says to a warrior is born
A Son who is a coward and lazy
But as a Father gazes upon his Son
He knows the legend is crazy

This is a smaller version of himself
Full of his fire and zeal
How could anyone doubt that he
Could be anything other than real

The Well

The well of talent is not eternal
Like hopes and dreams the well runs dry

Leaving us thirsty for one last drink
A chance at fame before we die

To be unforgettable in a world
That barely remembers we were here

Leaving something that is not forgotten
To not be remembered is our greatest fear

the child in the mirror

not only
are children
a mirror
to our
past

they are
a glimpse
to a
future

that is
not only
theirs
but ours
as well

a child
at play

is the
adult
at work

dreaming

of how
it used
to be

and how
it will
be again

someday

Brush With Greatness

Bold and strong
Or thin and frail
Will each stroke
Tell a true tale

Greatness for all
Or a few
Can paint recall
The real you

Some use ink
Others choose words
Stop and think
Make yourself heard

On A Shelf

If I could keep you
On a shelf
Safe from harm
And for my self

I would never
Ever have to fear
A thought of harm
To you my dear

You would be safe
And well protected
With other things
That I collected

But life I fear
Does not work that way
And on the shelf
You would not stay

You want to be
On the ground
Away from me
Not safe and sound

No shelf for you
Just hope and trust
As I watch you do
The things you must

The Music Of Madness

The soundtrack of you losing your mind
Is filled with the trumpets of regret
And the strings of despair
While that constant drumbeat you hear
Is your sanity slowly drifting away
Towards that song where high notes
And the darkest corners of your mind dance
Where light and sound are afraid to see and hear
What will become of what is left of you
When the music finally stops

brainwashed

happiness
is not
what someone
else
has
or says
or does

the only
person
who can
define
what
makes
you happy

is too busy
being
brainwashed
into
chasing things

that
only matter
to people
who do not

things
do not
last
and can
be
replaced

your
thoughts
and feelings
cannot
so
make sure
they are
always yours

do not
pursue
things
you do not want
only
to bring
happiness
to others

pursue
things
that will
bring
happiness
to yourself

and
do not
let
others
brainwash
you

with
goals and
ambitions
that are
not your
own

Such A Pretty Girl

This poem is dedicated to the memory of my wife

Joan Elizabeth Mitchell-Nelson

on what would have been her 53rd birthday.

Joan was such a pretty girl
Everyone would always say
Joan was such a pretty girl
In each and every way

Joan had such a pretty smile
On such a pretty face
Joan had such a pretty style
All frilly filled with lace

Joan had such a giving heart
Filled with so much love
Joan always gave from the start
What a gift from God above

Too bad that such a pretty girl
Too soon had to go away
Too pretty for this ugly world
Too pretty for this day

Set Me Free

My heart and soul will always belong to you
From the moment I first saw you
Standing in the pale moonlight
A princess removed from her fairytale
You made time stand still as everything
And everyone around you faded away
The thought of belonging to someone else
Will never happen because how can I
Give my heart and soul to someone else
When they both already belong to you

When The Merry-Go-Round Stops

the room is still spinning
but the ride is over
hope is gone
no lucky four leaf clover
the best you can do
when the merry-go-round stops
is know that you had fun
and it is time to get off
few will remember
that your ever took this ride
the only ones who matter
will be there at your side
so let them know you love them
as you wave good-bye
for some there is a ride much better
waiting when they die

What Comes Next

What comes next is no surpise
The time to live again is here
Truth will win out over lies
Hesitation doubt and fear

Similar to being born again
The time to start is new
And not allow my self to descend
Into madness that is not true

dance

at first you glance
then look away
we do this dance
we do each day

you know that I
am what you seek
yet when I try
you do not speak

I catch your eye
you smile and turn
you seem quite shy
but then I learn

no not a game
but just a dance
it seems a shame
we have no chance

maybe some day
we both will find
a better way
to pass the time

until that day
I smile again
you turn away
a new dance begins

When The Day Begins

When the day begins
The people with the brightest outlook on life
Are the ones that cause the sun to rise
Birds to sing and flowers to bloom
We all wake to a world that is created by the best of us
But as the day wears on it is easy to see
Those who look at the world through hearts that are black
Spend their entire day putting out the light
Of those who bring happiness to this world
Those who have hearts full of darkness
Take joy in making sure the light struggles to be seen
And as the day goes on and the light gets dim
Those with the darkest spirit celebrate
As their darkness covers all
And once again drowns out those with the light

another day

today is just another day
all the same since you went away
spent all day in bed
feeling sad wish I was dead
wanting you here with me
but I know it will never be
when you died you took my heart
and my soul fell all apart
never want to smile again
just wish this pain would end
how I want to hold you near
and your voice I long to hear

Everyday Ordinary

take joy in the
everyday ordinary
the morning shower
the broken shoelace
the same route
to and from work each day
the same dinner routine
celebrate the fact
that through ordinary
real genius is created
doing something enough
times makes it clear
how to do it better
every discovery is not
born from finding something new
it is often the product of
doing something that is
everyday ordinary
in a better way

The Painting

Above the mantle the painting sits
Aloof and distant and removed from it all
Unlike everything else in the room
The painting works with both nothing
And no one as it draws you in
Only to turn you away as you wonder why

Friends And Enemies

Hold fast to those who are really your friends
The true test starts when rough times begin
Though some may smile at you and say
That you can count on them any time any day
The real test comes when things get rough
And all the words in the world are not enough
When rough times toss you around like the see
Or leave you feeling like hanging from a tree
A friend is with you in tough times and then
The enemy will you see after the rough times end

Mistaken

never make the mistake
of thinking that what
you see is all there is

what most people
will accomplish with their
lives has nothing to do

with the expectations
of others and has
everything to do

with the goals they
have for themselves
and their desire to make it

I Would Rather Die Than Love Again

I would rather die than love again
So leave me to my tears
I know this pain will never end
No matter how many years

I would rather live my life alone
Instead of losing someone else
Because since you have gone
I cannot even love my self

time versus happiness

despite what many may think
time and happiness are not friends
think about it
when did a good time last forever
it never does and it never will
because time hates happiness
with a passion that runs deep
think of it this way
in the battle of good versus evil
happiness is good and time is
determined to make sure happiness
does not last
best memories are fleeting
best days are rare
and best years are so uncommon
they are numbered and arbitrarily decided
your best years to earn a living
and the happiness you experience
while you follow your dreams
are limited by time
and not by the happiness you experience
when your dreams come true

Fathers And Sons

How do fathers
Who grew up without fathers
Raise sons to be fathers
Who know what it means
To be a son

Growing up without my father
Made me want to be better
At being a father
More than anything
And anyone

Always fair and firm
Along with loving and giving
My best efforts to be a father
No matter what all seemed
To be wrong

No expectations from me
Or any pressure to be
And always saying
"I love you"
Never got the job done

Maybe it is too early to say
It will always be this way
Both saying "I hate you"
With no love for their father
From either son

It was more important to me
To raise them to be
Independent and strong
Than to try
And be their friend

But I have done all I can
To help both become a man
Despite how it hurts
And how it can possibly get worse
My job is done

When It Meant Something To Be Black

I grew up at a time when it meant something to be Black
A time when you fought and sometimes died for your
Right to cast a vote or sit at a lunch counter
Now it seems all Black means is how high you jump
Or if you embarrassed someone when you dunked a basketball
And even worse how much you shocked the world through
Music and lyrics and rhymes and behavior that goes against
Everything we were taught in Sunday School and in church
The appreciation for Martin and Malcolm and Miles
Is now replaced with an endless loop of samples and beats
No longer original works from Hughes or Baldwin or Giovanni
But a new breed of Cats who see green as the new Black

La Contra Cantata

some lives are just a joyous song
while in others the music does not belong
while the rhythms swirl and the chorus sings
to some it does not mean a thing

they hear no notes nor feel the beat
nothing will get them on their feet
no reason to live or take a chance
and let the music make them dance

At Night

the cool
dark anguish
that is
our lives
at night
is only
seen through
the eyes
of those
who seek
to do
things they
would never
do in
the light

the mask
we wear
at night
is never
seen in
the day

the lies
we tell
and the
lives we
pretend we
live are
the darkest
corners of
our deepest
fears finally
set free

we paint
our faces
to hide
who we
really are
as we
meet others
who will
be someone
totally different
by day

and yet
we celebrate
and cherish
the chance
to lie
to ourselves
as often
as we
can as
soon as
the sun
goes down

Each Day

Each day is the opening
Of a brand new play
Today it may be a comedy
Or a drama may come your way
It may have a short run
Or it could be here to stay
The one thing that is certain
Is that you are the star today
So know your part and take a bow
Act One is underway

teaching our hearts

unlike time and love
the heart does not
last forever

but just like
time and love
the heart is
fickle and faint

and despite knowing
each day the heart
will be beaten and
battered and bruised

by the ones we
love the most we
still live and laugh
and love and teach
our hearts to forget

Playing By The Rules

can anyone who
plays by the rules
ever come out on top

or does the mere act of living
favor the bold and daring
as opposed to those who
sit and wait for
whatever hand fate
deals them

since life is not
a game how
can there be rules
and since there are
no rules how can anyone
possibly play by them

there are things we
all should know and
should do when it
comes to how we
treat each other

but success and failure
should be based on
how hard you work
not being in the
right place at the right time

sunset

as the summer sun draws closed this day
and the cooling breeze passes your way

you feel the wind renew your soul
as you watch another day grow old

from where you sit all is quiet and still
the summer sun settles down just beyond the hill

you think about the things you did this day
and all the others things that you let slip away

what a perfect way to bring the day to a close
as the cool summer breeze fills your heart and your nose

and you wish every day could end this way
as you search your heart and you begin to pray

you thank God for his wonderful gifts so plenty
any you ask his blessings for those without any

for your family and friends you pray for good health
and ask that God bless them all with good wealth

for yourself you ask God for your soul to find rest
because you know tomorrow will bring your faith a new test

The Journey

a bead of sweat forms
on your forehead
and slowly trickles
past your eyes
setting of sparks
as it captures the
beauty of your gaze

next it seductively glides
across your cheek and
pauses briefly above
your lips taunting and
teasing me to come and get it
and just as quickly
the invitation is snatched away

the journey continues to the
edge of your chin where that
simple bead of sweat now must
decide to become a cliff diver
and splash down between your
beautiful breasts or continue
the slow seductive path along
the graceful curve of your neck

as the erotic ballet continues
the bead of sweat becomes a
graceful swan swimming across
the contours of the placid lake
of your neck and once again
it tantalizes and beckons me

to rescue it from this seductive
voyage and mingle it with the
sweat from my body
that at the same time
is performing a similar dance for you

Haunted By The Past

Those haunted by the past are destined to repeat it
Said the ghostly old lady who appeared in a dream
Frail and nearly lifeless she shook as she spoke
But her words went through me and settled on my heart

The image was clear but her message was strained
Was it to enjoy each day before time slips away
Or was it to never live with a life full of regrets
Plan for the future and but keep all things in context

The answer it seems none may never know
But is a dream just a dream or does it mean more
All things in time will be the things that we hold dear
And maybe with time her message will become clear

What Others See

The zoo that is your life
Looking out while others gawk
Filled with turoil and with strife
Only you hear them as they talk

Look at those ears and that nose
Are words that crush your soul
You feel lonely and exposed
As their words take their toll

But your mirror has many sides
Most that others will never see
They feed on your fears then hide
So who is caged and who is free

Independence Day

Injustice anywhere leads to oppression everywhere
Declare today as your Independence Day from
Blindly and blandly following those who would
Rule others with their hatred instead of their hearts

Let the fireworks that light up the sky at night
Resembling the most beautiful flowers in the world
Plant the seeds for the constant fight for freedom
And justice and equality for every person on earth

Somewhere In Me

somewhere in us all
exists the chance to be
everything we always
dreamed we would be

successful and rich
and good looking as well
but there also exists
that part of us that is
more mirror than man

that part only reflects what
we see in others
more wimp than woman
it will always say
we are not good enough

and it is that part of us
that will always keep
our dreams from coming true
there is a lot to be said
for hard work and control

but somehow those things
are never talked about
the same way we talk
about a lavish and
luxurious life

most of us want
the fabulous life
but many of us are
just afraid to admit it

live like a millionaire
for a few minutes each day
if only by thought if you
cannot afford the deed

because the chance to
be who we always dreamed
of being is somewhere in you
and it is somewhere in me

The Ghost Over the Hill

In the still of the night
When the moon is heavy
Never travel by the light
Or venture near the levee

For the ghost over the hill
Is still looking for a soul
And she remains there until
The waters grow still and cold

They say the ghost is lonely
And she is searching for her love
The truth is known by only
The ghost and God above

And maybe just one other
Her lying unfaithful mate
Who fell in love with another
And sealed her tragic fate

The legend says she fell
As she waited for his boat
Her soul doomed straight to hell
Because she could not float

Others say the way she died
Was from a jealous rivals hand
And that her lover lied
When his boat came upon land

Now they total twenty
Who have died in mysterious ways
And some think that is plenty
Who have seen the end of their days

So never love someone so pretty
That they are wanted by one and all
And never go near the levee
At night or you will fall

Never trust a cheating lover
And more important still
You do not want to be another
Victim of the ghost over the hill

Inspiration

Inspiration is that bitch who got into a fight with your ex-girlfriend Muse
Everyone always told you they looked and acted just like sisters
You just had no idea there were so many of them
Other women tried to stop the fight
You lost count somewhere around ten or eleven
Now everywhere you look there she is or you see someone who reminds you of her
Of both of them actually and you struggle trying to figure out what you did wrong
You were never serious about that other woman named Jealousy
She was just a coworker you had a drink with one time
You regret the day your assistant Envy introduced the two of you
But that was enough for Inspiration to go running back to Muse with the whole story
You tried to explain your side but Muse was done with you
Inspiration stood there listening to every word with an evil grin on her face
Now the two of them are fighting in a winner take all battle for your soul
And you wait hoping both of them will take you back

THIS POEM WAS FINISHED AT MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY, SO THIS IS FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2012

Ready

There are many different types of ready
Some are born ready while others
Spend a lifetime waiting on a chance
That may never come

The worse kind of ready is to be like a dancer
With two left feet that no matter how much
You practice you will never be as good
As you are in your dreams

Or a carpenter who spends every day
Of his life building the house of the future
With great innovation and improvement on design
And then open the door and watch it crumble at your feet

Or like a poet who feels the joy and sorrow
Of every great moment and tragic event that happens
And only is able to write what you are reading now
To me this is the worst kind of ready of all

In Any Language

In any language what we never say is always the same
The failure to tell someone how you feel about them
Or the inability to say job well done when it is deserved
Is the same whether you are right there or a thousand miles away

The most powerful language on the planet is not English
In fact the most powerful language is not even spoken
That language is a smile followed closely by tears
Neither says a word but both speak volumes

Unless you are alone a smile and a tear get the same results
The attention of whoever is near you at the time
No one can resist a smile or a tear because they both contain
Our entire existence wrapped up in no words at all

Happiness and sadness or good and bad
Heaven and hell or love and hate
What we never say is the same
And it is always the same in any language

the power of the pen

the power of a letter
not an email or text
has magic all unto itself

unlike and email or
a text which seems
to be in some sort of
suspended automation

the power of the pen
is tactile and timeless
and honors the writer
and the recipient

tweets and texts
and emails are
created and deleted
in an instant

while a letter
involves a lifetime
of learning to
commit to the
power of the pen

Speechless

the thought
of you
leaves me
speechless
and takes my
breath away
everytime i
see you
coming i
fumble for
words to say
desire drives
me crazy as i
see you walk
this way
i long to
say how
i feel
maybe it
will be
today

secretely
i stalk you
and hide
as you
walk by
hoping that
someday
it will
just be you
and i
and then
you turn
and speak
and i see
desire in
your eyes

and once
again i am
speechless
and let
the chance
go by
but in my
head i
know each
and every
day i
pray a
little
speechless
will finally
go away

A Hard Look

a hard look
will tell
you
what the
mirror
will not

what family
and friends
are afraid to say

for fear
their honesty
will drive
you away

a hard look
will tell
you
that time is
the enemy to
all

and time
wasted
is the
friend to
none

you see
the person
you have
always been

but time
sees wrinkles
and lines


and the
hard look
will tell
you despite
the lines

getting older
is natural
and you
you will
be fine

Each Day

We all know it is safe to say
We die a little more every day
The things we know that are really true
Are the things that we really have to do

Show the people you love so well
What they mean to you or time will tell
The story of the time you lost
And that you paid the tragic cost

Of waiting until it was much to late
To let your love reverberate
In a way that leaves no doubt
That you know what love is all about

The Last Poet

The last poet sat alone with pen in hand as he cried
To bring beauty into this world some way is all he really tried
Despite his efforts and daily dreams to make the world seem fair
The last poet realized his efforts got him nowhere

Despite the words and images that flowed each day from his pen
He realized no matter how hard he tried men would still sin against men
Those who robbed and killed and stole and lied were things he saw each day
The poet wrote about it all and cried then threw his pen away

And from his seat in the village square where he once wrote it all
The last poet stood and walked away as he watched all around him fall
The world has changed so much he thought maybe now it is too late
To tell mankind this downward slide does not have to be our fate

The Oldest Son

The oldest son is the only one
Who carries the weight of the world
On his shoulders

Every hope from his mother
And dream of his father
Every fight for his sister
And problem of his brother

Yet no one bothers to ask his thoughts
Or goals for life so it seems
The oldest son never gets to live his dreams

To everyone he is born to be king
Inherit the land and all that is seen
But inside he longs to sing and play
And he wishes life would turn out that way

So put aside your thoughts for him
Allow him to follow his every whim
And be who he is meant to be

As Strong As I Have To Be

Muscles and memories fade with the years
Those things we can all plainly see
But it is only with the passing of time
We are as strong as we have to be

Each day should bring wisdom
Love and respect and a place for you and me
Now you are gone and I am someone
Who is as strong as I have to be

I wake up alone leaving you in my dreams
As my tears crack my mirrored face
If life is worth living then why does it seem
That my life has been such a waste

some deserve to die

a sad reality of this life
is some people deserve to die
for crimes committed against
those who cannot defend themselves

innocent children are victimized
by cowardly adults or even worse
other children who decide to
take advantage of someone who is different

the golden rule
is just that a golden rule and not
the silver exception or the bronze guideline
and should be interpreted as such

A Gift For My Mother

The perfect gift for a mother is love
Not diamonds or pearls or money
With powers granted from God above
She makes cloudy days sunny

For each birthday filled with homemade cards
You smiled and cherished each treasure
And though later years brought different rewards
Your love and support is forever

As years go by I value the time
And all the lessons you taught
I realize now the perfect gift for you
Is something that cannot be bought

Anniversary

To my beautiful wife Joan Elizabeth Mitchell-Nelson.
Today we celebrate our 30th anniversary.
Rest in Peace with God in heaven my Angel

Thirty years ago today you agreed to be my wife
A day that forever changed my life
Your commitment to me was to give me your love
Now I feel it each day from heaven above
As a husband I can honestly say that I was bad
But yours was the best love I ever had
You stood by me above all else
And never doubted me when I doubted my self
Now for me this day is filled with tears
No one to share with my daily fears
We talked about how we would someday
Sit in the Florida sun and watch our grandchildren play
Now I just go through the world alone
No grandchildren and our son is grown
I had the greatest gift in life
Thirty years ago today you agreed to be my wife

wins and loses

winners are neither born or made
despite the lies they tell
a millionaire is a poor man with money
while the homeless are rich
where it matters most
having it all
only matters if you
give it  all away
over and over again
once it is gone if it
never comes back
it means it never was

Father's Day?

While most men celebrate this day
Not me since my wife passed away
And my sons are now both grown and gone
No reason for me to carry on

About a holiday that only brings
Back bad memories of shattered dreams
And gifts worth their weight in gold
That or either lost or too damn old

My home is empty like my heart
And now it is too late to start
Another life with somebody new
Or a second chance at love so true

No reason to look for a card
Or grandchildren playing in the yard
Or expect to hear someone say
Have a Happy Father's Day

brothers

one brother grows up physical
the other rather quizzical
still every one could see
both different branches
from the family tree

their parents did not mind at all
in fact they rather had a ball
watching the way the boys did grow
each shining in the light
the other did not know

though one was really rather small
the other one grew straight and tall
and no one would dare say
how the same seeds
could sprout in different ways

each loved what the other did
and never really tried to give
a reason they were not the same
it never did seem strange
one good at books the other at games

listen

words
worth
hearing
do not
come
easy but
when they
do
listen
and hold
on to
each one
as if
what was
said
was
your
only
reason
for
living

learn
to not
only to
listen to
what is
worth
hearing
but
learn to
understand
what is
meant by
each word
and
phrase

nurture
what you
hear
as if
words
worth
hearing
were a
garden
filled with
the most
beautiful
flowers

and then
and only
then
after each
flower
petal
stem and
thorn has
been
examined
should you
speak

the train

that magic time
when late at night
falls asleep
and early morning
starts to stir
a train rumbles
through every town
everywhere at once
singing the same song

telling you it is
time to move on
telling you
that whatever has
you trapped in this town
is not as important
as listening to
the whistle and
climbing aboard

like the sun
in the morning
and the moon
at night
the sound is
constant
until you finally
hear that whistle
calling you

and then you know
not only is it time to
ride
you know the destination
and the journey
are only important
when you realize
that it is time to go

On The Subway From Newark To New York

an exotic and mysterious
asian woman sat across from me
on the subway heading
from Newark to New York
me a tourist on my way to see
the Thanksgiving Day Parade
and across from me was the most beautiful
exotic woman I had ever seen in my life
her beauty was stunning
as I sat hoping my stolen glances
would at least get a smile from her
surely the beauty of the
churches and temples in her homeland
all pale when compared to her
my mind wandered
to who she was
what she did and who she did it with
all the time wishing it was me
though rude to stare
I could not turn away
the shape of her face
her jet black hair
I was lost in the
graceful elegance of her neck
and the perfection that she was
both of us clad in
black leather
hers delicate and light like her
mine heavy and dark like me
she held me in a spell
that was hypnotic and mystical
and as she got up to leave
I hoped she would invite me
to join her and as she left
a part of my heart left
with her and will forever
remain on that subway
from Newark to New York
or was it Jersey City?

The Lady New Orleans

never try to figure
out the mystery
that is the lady who
is New Orleans

she seduces you
into thinking
she can be yours
when she knows you will
never have her

she watches as you
come calling
come crawling
inviting you always
while rejecting you
every day and in every way

some actually
think they have a chance at a
woman so elusive that when
she takes off her
mask she still
remains hidden

and as you yearn for her
pine for her
long for her and
whine for her

she just looks away
because she knows
you will be back
tomorrow

finding a friend

it is hard
to define friendship
because it changes
from day to day
a friend you
meet tomorrow
may not start
that way
a kind word
to greet you
that somehow
makes your day
could be
the sign that
someone
new has come
your way
so each day
we must be ready
and always
look within
because you
never know
when you
may find
a friend

what i am

what i am
is many things
but not as many
as what i am not
maybe that is why
so many people live
a life that is empty
they are too busy
trying to be what
they are not and fail
to recognize what
they truly are
a painter decides
he wants to sing
rather than spending
his time making
beautiful things
and an actor
refuses to take
the stage to prove
he is more than
reading words
on a page
and i refuse
to record it all
despite that being
my only true call
as life slips away
now i see
very few ever
become what
they were meant
to be

This poem was written on Saturday, June 7, 2012 but I fell asleep before posting it following a loss my team suffered earlier that day!

The Contest

Two teams enter the playing field
With the goal to come out on top
One team leaves as the winner
And the other team does not

Neither team knows the other well
Something that matters little today
For as near as everyone could tell
Both teams came ready to play

The side you root for is pretty clear
Your players stand straight and tall
The opposition is also easy to see
For their team is petty and small

The game starts out as you had hoped
Your team is first to score
But the contest is far from over when
Your team gets knocked on the floor

Fight as they might your team does not win
Inside you know this is not right
How can that team of bad guys win
But they were the better team this night

As the tears flow and the players hug
Everyone says a final good bye
For now the contest has come to an end
Despite your team giving it their best try

A year from now this game will be played
Maybe with the same teams on both sides
Until that time there will be one whole year
For your team to nurse wounded pride

Details

letting fate decide
is very easy to do
when planning your
own outcome
is all up to you

leaving it all to chance
to see who is on top
is better left to details

Two Sons

Two sons
A world apart
Bound by name
Not by heart
Each sees the other
As a threat
Neither has seen
The other yet
They talk and know
One day they will meet
Until that time
They barely speak
The older thinks
The younger is to blame
For his missing father
And his shared name
The younger feels
That he is second best
Never knowing that
Love is not a test
And the father waits
Until the day
When his two sons
Go far away

The Future

close your eyes and think about the future
what do you see
a sleek world of ultramodern buildings
or do you see land that was destroyed
after a disaster from something from within

the decline of man

each in turn to do their best
but none has yet to pass the test
for life is just a race to see
if the winner is you or me

many seem to have it all
but still refuse to heed the call
can anyone ever say
they did their best every day

but even this simple life of mine
will lose the race against father time
as we all grow older in every way
the decline of man is here to stay

the rope

pulled tight or hanging loose
the results are the same
long before you realize
you never know if you have enough
are you at the end of it
did you do yourself in with it
can you climb it
tie it or knot it or jump it
can you swing from it
is it rough or smooth
worn or frayed
tied in a bundle on the end of a stick
or used to walk across
the balancing act that
has become your life

When The Game Is Over

You will know when the game is over
When you have no more chances at bat
There is no time left on the clock
Your horse has finished last
You have been knocked flat on the canvas
And you have to decide to run or rumble
Will you play the game again or give up
The answers are always around us
The challenge is finding the right question
And deciding that the game is not over
Until you say it is over

The Visit

while time erodes us all away
there will come a time someday
when a loved one must make a hospital stay
and for many that visit will come today

despite the brave front they put on
we know their time will soon be gone
loved ones gather and stay too long
to ease the guilt of what they did wrong

the loved one wants us all to come near
we gather for the last words we hear
it is the ravages of time we fear
that is taking the life of who we hold dear

Something New

Each day as we grow older
One thing seems to be true
The world is so much colder
And we rarely see something new

In a world once filled with wonder
For the old there is not much surprise
We mostly see mistakes and see blunders
Not looking through childlike eyes

New gadgets do not hold our interest
And technology for us has no appeal
The things that should be the simplest
Now have become a really big deal

But the young find these things amazing
Choosing to jump on each modern fad
While the old insist on not changing
Missing out on those things makes us glad

That way we old stay empowered
Always being able to say
To the latest fad of the hour
We did not need that in my day