The Perfect Poem

If the perfect poem was a perfect song
Then they both would be about the rain
The kind of rain that cleans your soul
And washes away your pain
The kind of rain that soaks your skin
And makes everything brand new
That is the type of song and poem
That I would write for you
Like the fool who waits in the rain for hours
Made famous in a Led Zeppelin song
Or the type of rain New Edition sang about
That makes your love grow strong
Because rain and poems and songs go together
In a way that is tried and true
The perfect poem is the perfect song
Is what I would write for you

When You Give Up On Living

is there a way to describe the feeling you get
right before you give up on living
as you stand on a rooftop and think about
how sweet it will feel when everything splatters
or when you know each kick will cause the rope to tighten
and it will itch worse than any new sweater ever could
as you wait for that feeling just before the knife digs deep
releasing a shower of blood that will squeeze the life out of you
imagine that moment as you wait to hear the gun click
just before the cold steel goes from freezer to furnace
maybe that instant when that handful of pills
shuts off everything inside you forever
no one knows if there is a way to describe that feeling
because everyone who got to that point
took the next step that took them away from here forever
and to those who survive there is no way they can ever say
they know what it is like when you give up on living because they are alive
the only people who really know what that feels like are dead

Love Never Talks

love never talks
sometimes it sings
usually it shouts
and in rare moments
it whispers
but love never talks
because when love
is forced to talk
it proves that love is gone
and the passion
has run out
so when the one you love
says these words one day
"we need to talk" is proof
their love has gone away

Minutes Matter

time is an abstract
but minutes matter
in a universe that never ends
a minute is finite
and can be measured
as a result each minute matters
but time as a whole does not
time is like an ocean
but a minute is like a wave
crashing on the shore
a small part of something big
that means so much more

Veterans Day

to the misguided few
who think that you
should only have one day

as they sleep safe at night
without fear or fright
of dangers that may come their way

remind them all
that we do not fall
united we stand and say

for all that you do
it is very true
every day is Veterans Day

Your Bucket List Should Be A Book

your bucket list should be a book
not only filled with big hopes and dreams
but the little things you do everyday
and the joy those little things bring
a friendly wave and a ready laugh
should be on that list each day
and soon your life will be on the path
of chasing your fears away
keep your list filled with the biggest dreams
like climbing mountains and skiing back down
but the list should also have a place where you
stopped someone from wearing a frown
as you ride off into the sunset
doing everything you wished you could do
there are many things that can bring joy to your life
and little things should be on that list too

Misery

all the choices that you made
which only grow worse each day
only prove to all that you
have no right to say
how bad your life has turned out now
you did this to yourself
you planted the seeds and steered the plow
so do not blame someone else
you are miserable now in your time of need
nothing grows in your garden except
your angry weeds

A Cry For Help From A Friend

heartless and shallow I just stood by
and ignored the cry for help from a friend
is it really my problem I thought to myself
why should I get involved at all
but as I watched her world crash all around her
my happiness was shattered as well
and bit by bit the two broken hearts
littered the ground around us
as I bent to pick up what I thought was mine
I was unable to tell the two apart
with edges as sharp as the tip of a sword
each handful only led to more pain
it was then that I learned it never is smart
to ignore a cry for help from a friend

The New America

The New America was born last night
When voices united and said
To the few old man who rule by fright
Your power is officially dead

Gone are the days when they ruled by lies
Telling us to follow their way
Now we watch them backpedal and cry
Because the old men lost yesterday

Election Day

The people spoke on election day
But did we hear what they had to say
Across the land they stood in lines
For a chance to say what was on their minds
Regardless of which side you choose
The one sure way for you to loose
Is to view the results with a cynical eye
That refuses to see the real reason why
The game has changed and the way we play
Now truly does let everyone have their say
When the candidates spoke did you look at the crowds
The people behind them said it quite loud
The country is very different today
And despite some concerns the future is here to stay
No longer determined by a privileged few
This election was determined by me and you

Pain

a broken leg
a broken heart
the results are just
the same

no matter how
we try and try
we cannot hide
from pain

a fractured skull
or shattered pride
the wound remains
as fresh

we try to be
made of stone
but we all are
made of flesh

A Place To Land

in a sense
we are all just birds
on a long distance flight
looking for
a place to land

not a home
because we know
in our hearts
that nothing is ever
really permanent

just a place to rest
for now
far from whatever
caused us to
take flight
in the first place

The Logic Of Love

if it causes you to ignore someone
to watch their every move
or kill them to keep them from leaving you
and act just like a fool
then what you have experienced
is the logic
the impractical logic of love
a simple thought or deed
that we all must rise above
how could anything so wonderful
actually be so unreal
it can cause us to be insane
this madness in the name of love
it is really an evil game
when we fall or push or shove
maybe then there is no logic
and maybe there is no love
those things that we feel inside
just some sort of energy
that has to be released
only to keep us all confused
until it is deceases

the final minute

your back against the wall
has become so common to you
that the building would fall
if you ever changed

Killing Myself

no bullet
or gun
or knife
or pill

can describe
how I
try to kill

myself slowly
every day

as I
let my life
slip away

the things
that should
come easily

are like
mountains
to climb
you cannot see

yes it would
be faster still
to end it all

with a pill
or a knife
or a gun

but would
it be
as much fun

Exotic

in the middle of a storm
a single drop of rain
lingered on her forehead
then slowly trickled down her face
first past her eyes
then doing the best imitation of a tear
tantalizingly rolled down her cheek
resting for a moment and then moving on
first her neck where the race against time
and the battle against gravity were both
suspended for seconds which
while I watched seemed like eternity
before finding the final resting place
between her perfect breasts as they
invited me in and asked me to
become one with the rain

Mr. Cooper

no one knows what is in his heart
or if he has a soul
cold and distant he looks the part
of an evil and angry troll

inside his house God only knows
the evil done by this gnome
children are taught to stay away
and never go near his home

for this time of year they all fear
the legend will come true
always stay clear and never go near
or it will happen to you

people go in and never come out
are what the rumors say
and he does nothing to change the doubt
in fact he likes it that way

the pain inside he cannot hide
when his loved one passed away
his children all grown and long since gone
never come to visit or stay

so each day he sits the easier it gets
to be the monster inside
but never forget Mr. Cooper is just
a lonely old man without his bride

The Last Note

the last note ever written
of the song that is your life
will never tell the story
of how you loved your wife
or how you held her hand
as her life slipped away
and how you hope you see her
again in heaven someday
or that your mother made you
the man you are today
and how you cried like a baby
when your grandmother passed away
the way you beamed with pride
on both your son's graduation day
or the bond you have with your sister
that will never go away
so much that you were the one
who gave her daughter away
or that your second chance at love
would be your very best friend
and when the last note is finally played
you can start the song again

When You Think You Know

when you think you know all the answers
when you think you have figured it all out
then the real work begins when you question
everything your life has been about

like can you really be happy
seeking a life of fortune and fame
or are those just the many pieces
and life is one big game

and why does the game favor some
and treat others to despair
allowing some to win a game
when the rules are so unfair

52

the number of weeks in a year
and cards in the deck are the same my dear

the chances in life you should get
to make things better for others yet

many choose not to do
the things that they were meant to

strange but true
should add up to 52

the letters in the alphabet might
sound just as nice if you say them twice

the number of the U.S. States that it would be
if you were to add Puerto Rico and D.C.

so many things that you do
will lead you to 52

the years we live before we know
we do not have much longer to go

All For The Love Of Words

to him there was no greater pain
than not being able to explain
why the words that he loved so much
lived in his mind becoming his crutch
seeing painted smiles and burning lies
soar with broken promises and anguished cries
they danced and played from noon until night
only to fade away when he tried to write
his only friends or so he thought
were the words with whom he daily fought
to give them life for all to see
but try as he might it was not to be
because in his mind where they always play
is where it seemed they were bound to stay
for love is strange and indeed unkind
when the words refused to leave his mind
locked away so many great thoughts
and his efforts to write were all for naught
to share his words for all to read
but the words loved him to much and refused to leave

Wait And See What Things Will Be

At 18 I had never left home
Years later I stood in the Coliseum in Rome
All that just to say it is true
It happened to me and it could happen to you

Never think that you cannot do
The things that will make your dreams come true
And those with hearts so full of hate
Should not be the ones to determine your fate

Even family and friends can share the shame
Of trying to keep your life the same
But never forget some things are meant to be
It will happen for you just like it happened for me

The Old Building

old and shabby and falling apart
the old building down the road once had a great start

once strong and sturdy come rain or shine
now so bleak and in constant decline

happy days are gone and the children long since grown
the old building is no longer a house and no longer a home

Time To Say Goodbye

the love I have for you is unending
and will last until the end of time
but as we grow in different ways
it is time to say goodbye

the things you do still amaze me
and I marvel at your style
nothing will ever warm and hold me
like the comfort of your smile

but love is sometimes bad for those
when the heart can no longer sing
and no matter which way our love goes
always remember one thing

words will never describe how much I love you
and it frustrates me to even try
but I have to go before I hurt you
it is time to say goodbye

Midnight And God

midnight to many is evil and foreboding
fear and anguish rule the hour
so many fools set aside time for ghouls
and ghosts and goblins and things that cause fright
but in the darkest time we see God in the brightest light
because it is in our deepest despair
that we see proof that God is there
when loved ones reach the end of their road
God is there to lighten their load
when every day is filled with trials
God helps us go the extra mile
why so much faith in something unseen
some mythical God in the sky
because someday the clock will not strike
someday we all will die
and when our souls unite in peace
and the Midnight hour then will cease
and we will see that God is time
and Midnight suitsGod just fine

The Prayer

Some wonder if there is a God
Someone to hear our prayers
And still we fall down on our knees
Even if it falls on deaf ears

Our God is said to be fair and just
And gives us what we need
But our faith and love is a must
To show that we believe

But what about those on the other side
Who want us all to fail
Do they have a different God
And will their prayers prevail

With arms upraised and heads bowed down
We ask God to be loving and kind
And we pray for things we think we need
That will bring us peace of mind

Too Educated Be Angry

if my insides matched my outsides
I would have the right to be angry
and I could do all the irresponsible things
I was always too smart to do

like blame everything bad that happened to me
on people who looked different than I do
despite knowing bad is like cars and houses
and that it comes in many colors and sizes

knowing if there is good or evil
is something we all must decide
but an education is easily wasted
when reason is overruled by the mind

Ride

dusty trails
winding roads
lonesome tales
heavy loads

blinding rain
drifting snow
stabbing pain
dirty blow

never stop
never hide
always go
always ride

When Do I Get To Cry

the word to describe the pain you caused
does not exist today
because nothing said could ever hurt
as bad as what you had to say

alone I sit and pray and wait
for a love that will never come
and all the while you are out there
knowing what you have done

the scratch of a rope around my neck
or a knife peeling away my skin
feels more loving than the way
things between us did end

I stare into the mirror
while I try to change and try
but nothing takes away the pain
when do I get to cry

There Was A Time

there was a time
when I would do
anything in the world
for you

make magic happen
at your command
and evil dissappear
with the wave of a hand

now that time
is at an end
no need to pretend
we could be friends

with a pain that crushes
all that I am
and all that I
want to be

there was a time
when I loved you
and I thought that
you loved me

Power

you lay there trembling
as I tower over you
taking every ounce of your being
under my control
you have no say in what happens next

you have no power
and I show no mercy
ruthless and cruel
I am an animal
and you are even less

Anger

anger is a disease and a drug
it makes you sick
as it gets you hooked
brings you down
while it eats you up
fuels your fire
douses your desire
and feeds your ire
but no matter how hard you try
to tame that beast each day
the cage is opened
with a simple glance
or word said the wrong way

Stolen Dreams

late at night when no one is around
the dream thief sneaks into your town
looking for some hope to steal
to feed upon and make a meal

the small town girl with stars in her eyes
now walks the streets under gloomy skies
she dreamed she would be a star someday
now strange men on her body prey

the all American football king
who dreamed one day of a championship ring
now each day robs his family blind
to feed drugs to his rotting mind

the teacher and preacher and politician
all know now that there is something missing
it was not supposed to turn out this way
as they hope to dream just one more day

Mosquitoes And Gnats And Rats And Bats

some things in life are just a nuisance
more bother than good and more splinter than wood

those things are small and rather sickly
they get under your skin and become very prickly

they steal away everything that is nice
and leave you only with maggots and lice

so much of life will turn out bad
that the few good things are a reason to be glad

Your Light Will Never Die

each life is like a ray of light
as it spreads across the sky
sometimes your light is behind a cloud
but it will never die

even in the cold dark night
your light will always shine
because inside you glows something bright
so strong and so refined

Music Of Your Life

as the notes gently fall
and the melody starts to fade
the music that is your life
tells all the decisons you made

your happiness is your ballad
your sadness is your blues
anger is your opera
or symphony if you choose

when compared to a singer
who never missed a note
your lyrics tells all who listen
every verse you wrote

You Broke My Feelings

when he was young
about four or five years old
my son once said
you broke my feelings
when I did something
that upset him
I tried to tell him
the proper phrase to use
was that I hurt his feelings
not that I broke his feelings
I went to great lengths to explain
how when someone does something
that upsets you the proper phrase
to use is you hurt my feelings
what I should have told him
was that I was sorry

When A Child Cries

when a child cries
read between the tears
behind those weeping eyes
is a lot more than their fears

the pain is often so much more
it can cause their little hearts to break
and when they cry the sometimes try
their own lives to take

so remember each sob is so much more
than a plea or a cry for attention
never deny their weeping eyes
because the results are too painful to mention

in an instant that child could be gone
a victim of their own strife
and we are left to carry on
after that child took their own life

Cold Steel Hot Flesh

the opposite of cold steel
is hot flesh
but with the flash
the barrel of a gun
quickly becomes too hot to touch
and what was once as cold as ice
is now hotter than the blood
pouring out of your body
as the flesh grows cold
and the gun stays hot

When The Arrow Is Not Straight

ever wonder what happens
to an arrow that is not straight

the answer is it is probably
broken or discarded

and never given a chance
to be anything else

and despite the limits placed
on the arrow

it still has a point
unlike those who limit others

The Sign

all your life
you sit and wait
until you see
the sign

that moment
when you know
the stars have
aligned and

the time is
finally right and
your hopes and dreams
will now come true

then you start
to do what you
were born to do
better than anyone else

and you realize
waiting for the sign
was a waste of
your time

the minute to
capture your dreams
was when you
woke up

not when some
mythical ship
finally came in

Life Is A Party

life is a party
by invitation only

not going from
day to day

that is not life
and it is not living

life is enjoying
each moment

taking advantage
of each opportunity

leaving behind
a legacy

that says
you were here

and that the party
is just getting started

Something To Die For

it has been said
that you never
really live until
you have
something to
die for

the reality is
you are
really dead
until you
have something
to live for

The Little Things

life is always about the little things
not great accomplishments
but little acts
that are the grains of sand
on the beach of where we are going
and the building blocks to
something big

the problem is we
are constantly looking
for a finished product
without realizing how many
strokes it takes to make
a masterpiece and how
many bricks it takes to
build that monument

Tell A Vision

late night viewing
of prime time shows
everything seems
like what we already know

comedies that are not funny
dramas with no bite
just another example
of what is on tonight

yet we still watch
and hope for something new
but it is the same vision
draining the life out of you

The Red Thread

In Chinese culture
It was once said
Some are connected
By a red thread
That this string binds you
All of your life
To people important to you
Like a husband or wife

To me the thread is like
Leaves on a tree
Waiting for the moment
When they are set free
But when they are together
What an impressive sight
When the thread is broken
The leaves take flight

But their time together
Connected on a branch
Brought joy to many
Then they did their dance
Each went their seperate way
But their time together
In their hearts will stay

You

there is nothing
in the world that
is better than
time spent with you

the look and smell
and taste of you
cannot be put
into words

being near you
makes every minute
away from you
torture that endures

The Heart And The Mind Of Another

the darkest place of all
is the heart and mind
of another

the hopes anddreams
that one may have
are nightmares to your brother

the things you treasure
most of all
have no value to
some men

and what you build
your world upon
is meaningless
to your friend

so keep your goals
in your sights
and never try to go

to that place that
you may think
the thoughts of
another you know

The Legend Of Blinky Newstead

A little bear came to town
Looking for a home
And someone that he could love
To call his very own

But wander as he did it seems
He could not get it right
Until the girl of his dreams
Agreed with him to fight

You see this bear had to find
The right arms where he could nestle
So he made up in his mind
To challenge girls to wrestle

So they grabbed each other
And to the ground they fell
The feelings the little bear had
Were real and he could tell

He finally found a place to rest
His heart would no longer roam
For the love he found was trully best
He finally found a home

Chances

knowing when to
take a chance
is half the battle
in life

knowing when to
take a stance
is also quite
as nice

knowing when to
stand your ground
is crucial
to success

knowing when
to not back down
is when you are
at your best

What Love Really Is

you ever wonder what love really is
more than a look or a touch
more than a kiss or a hug
and much more than the butterflies
that make your heart skip a beat
love is the emotional air we breathe
and the feelings that keep out hearts
pounding through good times and bad
but what love really is
more than how it makes us feel
is the person we are in love with
because no emotion is greater
than the person who makes you
feel that way

Merciless

evil has no bottom
it also has no top
there is no end to evil
it will never stop
despite there being
no good or bad
and it only exists
in our minds
we still can find
no end to wrong
we do to
other humankind

life is like a...,


life is like a roller coaster
filled with ups and downs
and twists and turns

life is like an elephant
big and strange
and hard to eat in one bite

When The Pen Runs Out Of Ink

there will come a time
when the pen runs out of ink
the ideas will not flow
and the canvas will remain blank

what was once a river
will be less than a drip from a faucet
where dreams will go to die
and songs will barely be whispered

until then there is only one choice
to run as fast as you can
for as long as you can
and write as much as you can

when that pen runs out of ink
when there are no ideas left
no songs left to sing
prick your finger and write in blood until you die

Too Late?

The days were too many to count
Since they last sat down and spoke
If time is able to heal all wounds
It was obvious this clock was broke

The older and wiser one had tried
To raise the younger one right
But all the efforts and tools he applied
Would always end in a  fight

The father was measured and slow to reply
While his son was angry and quick
It was hard to think they could ever find
Something to end their conflict

So the older waited for the younger to see
What lessons life had in store
And hoped that his son would be
All that he dreamed of and more

The dreams we have sometimes come true
But usually they end in pain
Especially for those who already knew
That they both had to share the blame

Too Much Freedom

in the land of plenty
where many think they are free
some will say anything
despite it offending me

the right to say what you think
does come with a cost
and the ability to think for yourself
and the lives that were lost

The Next Time

the next time
I will be happy
the next time
I will get it right
the next time
I will not need you
the next time
I will not leave
the next time
I will be better
the next time
I promise

Riot

no voice to calm the angry mob
no wasted plea for quiet
no reasoned stance
no second chance
no way to stop this riot

no peaceful past that would never last
no buildings saved from fire
no hope for peace
no calm in the streets
no truth being told by a liar

Silently Suffering

to finally be who you really are
does not mean you should
sit by quietly
as they take every chance
and everything from you

those who say
it is best to
suffer in silence
never do

and anyone
who would ask you
to be something other than
who you really are or
who you want to be
knows the power
of what you will become
and they take pleasure
in your silent suffering

Silence

the sweet sounds of darkness
can only mask the pain
the oncoming of silence
helps you live again

A Dream Is A Gift From God

If you ever need proof that God is real
Just fall asleep and dream
The beauty and majesty of what you will find
When you are relaxed and wandering through your mind
Is proof that God does love us
And God is always with us
When he allows us to close our eyes and escape the pain
Of life here on this mortal plain

Be Careful What You Do

I threw a rock
It skipped the lake
I never thought
The impact it would make

The little ripple
Turned into a wave
And crashed into
A hidden cave

Inside the cave
Resting for years
Was an angry beast
Smaller than tears

This beast was stirred
And started to spread
By land and sky
Soon many were dead

I never thought
That simple stone
Would one day claim
My own wife Joan

But there she was
Her skin now raw
Destroyed by a beast
That we never saw

She tried and tried
To fight the pain
And watching her die
Drove me insane

I lost my will
To win the game
And just withdrew
Lost in my pain

Whoever thought
So much was at stake
When I threw that rock
Across that damn lake

Steel Breeze

The roar of the engine
As it comes alive
The feel of the wind
When you start to ride

On a road that leads you
Away from all care
To a destination
That can be anywhere

Through valleys and mountains
With bright colored trees
And prairies and deserts
With rolling tumbleweeds

You are never the same
With a steel breeze blowing free
Just you and your machine
The way it was meant to be

The Estate

the state of the estate is  thin
but the knowledge contained is vast

and though they tried to search within
to find something that lasts

The Perfect Love

there is no such thing
as the perfect love
because the love
you have for another
can never be equal
and therefore never be
shared by two the same

one will always love more
give more and hurt more
laugh more and do more
and when it is over
the insides of one will
die more all because
there is no such thing
as the perfect love

Twisting And Turning

being under the complete control of another
and twisting and turning at their command
makes erotic seem like learning to crawl
all over again as emotions shatter
like a porcelin statue flung against the wall
the pieces left barely resembling
something that was once human
and now twice as needy and ready to be forced
to twist and turn again and again

The Game

if life were a game
there would be rules
and funny little pieces
to symbolize who
we want to be

we would get
do overs and
we could call
time out whenever
things got rough

there would be
cheers when we win
and shoulders to cry on
when we lose and things
would sometimes end in a tie

and if we got tired of playing
we could just quit
or at the very least
start over and next time
be something new all over again

Perfection

Finally everything was perfect
And although I never thought it could really happen
It really did
A time and a place where everyone was happy
Where everything was ideal
The peace and tranquility was indescribable
Then I woke up

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