Oh yes, we know there's times in life,
    when nothing seems so fair;
Those times when nothing else in life,
   can help us to prepare.

When those we love, pass on for good,
    they've gone to better place;
They're headed Home to Beulah Land,
   to claim their last estate.

Don't be so sad, they're happy now,
   in Heaven by and by;
They've got a home and so much more...
   a mansion in the sky.

They'll feel no pain, no sadness there,
   they'll shed not one more tear;
They'll never be alone again,
   and never live in fear!

You miss them so, it's not sunk in,
   though hard at times it seems;
You may not feel their touch again,
   but see them in your dreams!

Be glad they're gone to Heaven now,
   just make sure you're prepared,
To join them soon as your names called,
   to hold them when you're there!

Drip
Drop
Trip
Fall
Tears steamed down my face
My life was starting to change
People say they're always there
But when I need them
They disappear
I'm starting to feel
Really alone
When no one bothers
To pick up the phone
And when I do hang out with friends
I'm faced with the stress
That is my parents
My parents think I'm always gone
They say I don't help
They don't realize I try to help
But usually homework is keeping me
Sometimes I think they deserve
To be told that they don't help
My life has slowly been flipped over
And small things make me sob
But they don't seem
To ever notice that I'm about ready
To finally fall

Refusing to be labeled,
  rejecting type and cast

With choices so enabled,
  my freedom first and last

All fantasy as token,
  its myths now cast aside

My path remains unbroken,
—false branding singed with lies

(Villanova Pennsylvania: February, 2017)

Now Jesus called my grandpa Home,
   to walk those streets of gold;
To sit and chat bout all those things,
   my grandpa really knows!

There were so few and far between,
   not one a wiser man;
Yes, God Himself will find this out,
   when with my gramps He'll stand!

I see it now when gramps got There,
   he grabbed a serving plate;
To walk around to serve each one,
   to greet all Heaven's saints!

Each time I see a lightning bolt,
   or flash up in the sky;
I'll know its gramps, in his own way,
   to tell us all good bye.

So grandpa dear, we thank you now,
   all though you may be gone;
Your wisdom lives within our minds,
   your legacy lives on!

While drinking a beer on my roof
I saw a man on the other side
of this river on his balcony
set his cigarette to light.
I waved and asked him
about last night,
what are we doing
and why,
still awaiting his reply.

He went back in,
his favourite sin,
smoking with a grin
was now forbidden behind doors,
he had to come back out
again, to press his lips
and move the air
from lungs to fingertips.

How dare he be without defining,
how dare he deny the silver lining,
how could he act without any further thought
and throw away the things he just had bought.
(seemingly so eagerly)

I accepted friendship from this man.
As I took another sip from my can,
I knew that he could tell
when I noticed my own fingertip
that it was ridden with that smell.

Another dreary, dismal,
kidney stone of a day
that doesn’t want to pass.
You might name it suicidal
if you were an optimist.
The rain pearls like tears
on every wet, black bough.
Not enough bourbon in
the entire weeping world
to wash them all away.
Dreams of white beaches
and bikini clad women
just do not suffice.
Might as well go out
and sit naked in it,
become one with moisture.
The neighbors will doubtless
not approve. Better to keep
this satori to yourself.

I'd like to say a thing or two,
   and hope you will surmise;
You've far surpassed the dreams I had
   to take me by surprise!

I knew sometime I'd meet the one,
   My God had made for me,
But never thought I'd feel this love,
   true love to set me free!

I thought I'd felt real love before,
   until you left your mark;
Since reaping all you sow in me,
   I feel it in my heart!

I realize now what love can be,
   now everything feels right;
From stormy clouds to cloudless sky,
   my beacon in the night!

If I could make one word describe,
   how love has changed my ways;
I'd have to say with thankful heart,
   with you I'm still AMAZED!

The autumn wind
Is a raider
Of hue
And beauty
from flowers