The Army's taking over,
The Army's taking over,
better run,
avoid the guns.

The streets are full of chaos,
The streets are full of chaos,
all around,
blood on the ground.

The government is falling,
The government is falling,
but that's the goal,
there's no control.

In the village there's a riot,
In the village there's a riot.
Trouble ahead,
more fear and dread.

The shops and homes are burning,
The shops and homes are burning.
Political games,
will fan the flames.

The new President is speaking,
The new President is speaking.
Different time,
Same lies and crimes.

You stole my heart.
You stole my soul.
I'm off the rails.
There's no control.

You stole my strength,
You stole my pride.
I'm alone and lost
and cold inside.

You stole my smiles,
You stole my joy.
There was so little
you did not destroy.

You stole my vigor,
You stole my grace.
Now I'm wounded
in a desperate place.

You stole my light,
left me trapped in black.
You stole everything...

...and I want it back.

The stars are beautiful.
Twinkling across the great night sky.
A warm and gentle breeze fills the air,
Insects chirp in the distance.

The moonlight dances along the grass.
Dogs howl nearby.
A lightning bug rests silently
against a giant leaf.

It's a rather lovely night.
But I don't enjoy any of it.
Because it's 3 A.M.
and my eyes are wide open.

When I'd rather be asleep.

Didn't find what I came to find,
No calm moments, no peace of mind.
I'm off the grid and over the line,
So I can leave these **** things behind.

Didn't see what I came to see,
No restoration, no drive to be free.
Now on the road and I think you'd agree,
that whatever will be will be.

Didn't feel what I came to feel,
Just endless shadows, nothing was real.
Packed up when the lie was revealed,
and I'm not interested in cutting a deal.

Didn't learn what I came to learn,
Now I've been tossed aside, spurned.
And perhaps this thing I haven't earned,
but I'm gone now... and I'll never return.

Yesterday I realized,
Of all the things that matter to me,
Ultimately, only few are critical.

Alluring as you are,
Laughing alongside me.
We dance the night away,
And seal it with a kiss.
You look at me with passion,
Seducing me with your piercing gaze.

Love is such a fleeting thing.
It can catch you off guard in an instant.
Eternally, I wonder: Why?

I have a little box.
It's plain and sturdy and it locks.
It's a proper place,
for the cold disgrace,
of my souls great paradox.

It's old and made of wood,
but I wouldn't change it if I could.
As there's something stark,
In its scuffs and marks,
That can only be called good.

It's stood up over the years.
It's held on to my dreams and tears.
It's dark and it's dusty,
but remarkably trusty,
As a means to make peace with my fears.

I have a little box,
and if only it could talk,
It would tell a story,
of pain and glory,
and a life filled with hard knocks.

Touch.
Sense.
Heat.

Passion.
Sweat.
Energy.

Alluring.
Purposefu­l.
Bold.

Intense.
Primal.
Freeing.

We are different.
We are unique.
We may look threatening.
But rest assured
that is merely due to
our excess of social awkwardness.

We may be quiet.
We may not look like much.
That's okay though.
Because we travel
the lesser known path.
We do not fear the unusual.
We embrace it.

And in doing that,
we become beautiful
in our own way.

Won't you join us?

Hello poetry,
Goodbye, stress.
Mental recovery,
Escape from the mess.

Hello poetry,
Goodbye, aggression.
Spiritual healing,
a calm decompression.

Hello poetry,
Goodbye, rage.
Fighting my demons,
Page by blissful page.

Hello poetry,
Goodbye, worry.
Weaving stanzas together,
In rhythmical fury.

Hello poetry,
Goodbye, confusion.
Where wordsmithing magic,
exists in profusion.

Sorry sir, you're here too soon.
Please take a seat in our waiting room.
Listen for when your number's called.
It may be a awhile, after all.

Be sure to fill out the forms with care,
and take time to mark in every square.
If you miss even a single one,
Your chances of success are done.

Try to ignore the unpleasant smell,
and that guy speaking loudly on his cell.
You must realize that on the whole,
These things are beyond our control.

Yes, this may use up most of your day.
How long will it be? We can't really say.
At least forty minutes it's going to take,
as half our people just went on break.

Two hours later, front of the line.
You want to be done with wasting time.
We can clearly see your nerves are fraught,
but it appears that have you missed a spot.

To the back of the line to make your correction.
Believe us, it's for your own protection.
No jumping ahead, as the rules dictate.
Once again sir, you'll have to wait.

We sense your patience is quickly fleeting,
but any anger would be self defeating.
You're back at the front, with forms composed.
But sadly, this office has just been closed.

You love me,
but don't show it.

You hurt me,
but don't know it.

I give things,
and you take them.

I share dreams,
and you break them.

You trap me,
but don't see it.

You kiss me,
but don't feel it.

I get up again,
one final try.

I leave forever,
a cold goodbye.

It is damaged.
It is burning.
It is destructive.
It is haunting.

It casts a light in the darkness,
It brings warmth to the freezing,
It brings food to the hungry,
It brings help to the stranded.

It is vicious.
It is primal.
It is roaring.
It is fierce.

I do not know.
You come to me in search of answers
that I cannot provide.
The glass is cloudy.
An endless fog envelops me.
Impossible to tell
if it's day or night.
Clarity has abandoned me
on the lonely shore.
The distant muddy thoughts
keep me company.
As to the meaning of this,
there is only one response I can give you:
I do not know.

Sharp.
Vicious.
Deadly.

Polished.
Rigid.
Intimidating.

Grinding­.
Primal.
Violent.

Who says a poem has to rhyme?
Why can't the words alone be fine?
If I don't follow a meter line,
Is that in and of itself a crime?

Who says a poem has to rhyme?
Why can't it be unique, sublime?
What if I do not focus on the time,
but just take the vision and make it mine?

Who says a poem has to rhyme?
Why can't discordant verses shine?
And if the sentences don't align,
Can't they still be beautiful by design?

I don't feel anymore.
No one's out there keeping score.
Things aren't as they were before.
I've been violated, ******.

There's no emotion at my core.
My heart is sealed, I locked the door.
I've no desire to search for more.
Everything around me, I abhor.

An endless ocean, can't see the shore.
The soldiers fight an endless war.
What's left of me is on the floor.
I don't feel anymore.

What do you do when there
are no more days
and the planet burns up,
from eternitys blaze?

What do you do when when there
are no more years
and the stasrscape wraps you
in a blanket of tears?

What do you do when the
still of the clock
brings the tale to a close
and the door becomes locked?

What do you do when the
moment, so terse
highlights the finale
of the whole universe?

Take me down to Broadway,
Let me hear the music play.
With a stiff drink in my hand,
There is where I want to stay.

I always love these Nashville nights,
no disagreements, no petty fights.
Just you and me and the music scene,
as we dance amidst the lights.

The manager yells out: "Last call!"
But I don't want leave the music hall.
Maybe just one final tune
before we heed the call.

At three a.m., we're still nice and warm.
The end of the night is taking form.
On to the street in the pouring rain,
we wander through the storm.

I always love these Nashville nights.
So many sounds, so many sights.
Now the shadows guide us home,
and we dream of new delights.

I am often asked:
"How can one find poetry in such a damaged and desolate world?"

The answer is simple:

Poetry can be found anywhere.

It is the sorrow that drives our tears,
the sunshine that brings us joy,
our companion in the darkness,
and that which guides us to the light.

It is the music of our spirit,
the gentle beating of our hearts.
The triumphant wind on the mountaintop,
a source of comfort in a rainy forest.

It is the scream of a father in pain,
the gentleness of a newborn child.
It is the chaos of a raging river
and the calm of a summers day.

Poetry can be found anywhere.

5...
4...
3...
2...
1...


Darkness.
All I have left is darkness.

No.

I can't do it.

I reserve the right to be as angry and stubborn as I want to be.

This is a vicious world.

and I cannot sit idly by while injustice tears us apart.

This stops now.

I will fight for what I must.

But I refuse to put blinders on

and pretend everything is okay.

If you're going down that road,
you'd better know the code.
They say cyberspace is wild,
if you don't get decompiled.

Colon slash slash,
the future's coming at you fast.
Click click click,
Let the website do its tricks.

Do you ever wonder why you're chosen,
as the screen just sits their frozen?
Or do you ever stop and think,
before you follow that next link?

Simple language, ones and zeroes.
Utter madness, villains, heroes.
It's my fixation, it's my drug,
At least until somebody pulls the plug.

I thought it would fail,
because I just wasn't slick.
But I trained and I practiced,
and I learned all the tricks.

Then on March 31st,
I dressed in a black suit.
Topped it off with white gloves,
then went in search of my loot.

I was laughing and smiling,
gotta keep up the disguise.
Or you'll never succeed
when you're pedaling lies.

They fell right into my trap,
bought every last word.
The lines between truths
are now perfectly blurred.

I've got every one of them,
in the palm of my hand.
Simple props in my stage show,
and support for my brand.

When it's all over, I'll leave
in the smoothest of ways.
And you won't believe
what I've got planned for May.

I want to be a bona fide superstar.
With a house in Malibu,
and a garage full of fancy cars.

I'll be the hottest new thing on TV,
with two broken marriages
and three kids I hardly ever see.

In Hollywood, I'll be a cinematic force.
Earning tens of millions just to
give them back in the next divorce.

It'll be big news when I get arrested,
and the Judge lets me go
because of how much I'm invested.

If you've got the green, you've got the power
to do whatever you want to
any time, day, or hour.

Even if I get washed up and near broke,
MTV will give me
my own reality show.

That's how it works in this novel construction,
the audience feeds on conflict
and destruction.

My fans will never really know the pain.
Until they find me dead,
with a needle in my vein.

My knees are hurting,
but my hair isn't grey.
My abs aren't flat,
but I still enjoy playing sports.

I go to bed earlier,
yet I still want to have fun.
I don't move as quickly,
but I still love to dance.

I'm a littler wiser in moments,
but foolish in others.
Sometimes I'm the adult,
Sometimes I'm the kid.

I accept the fact
that middle age comes for me.
But I reserve the right
to stay young as long as I can.

I could be mad that my tire went flat,
Or thankful I have a car that runs.

I could complain how I hate my job,
Or be happy for a way to provide.

I could be mad there is no hot water,
Or thankful that it's clean.

I could complain about eating leftovers,
Or be happy my belly is full.

I could be mad I have no free time,
Or thankful for my friends.

I could complain about the faded shirt,
Or be happy I have clothes.

I could be mad about the cost of the medicine,
Or thankful I'm not staying sick.

I could complain about eating in tonight,
Or be happy the lights are still on.

I could be mad that I cannot take a vacation,
Or thankful to have a home.

I could complain about the life I think I want,
Or be happy about the blessings I have.

She cringes as the car pulls up.
Then he stomps through the door.
A grab and a slap,
and she falls to the floor.
She cries, she cries
and begs for no more.

She hears the angry voice,
and she tries in vain to hide.
Knowing the fury,
That he's holding inside.
She cries and she cries,
She's so sick of this ride.

She escapes the next night,
in a bold, daring ploy.
No longer his plaything,
No longer his toy.
She cries and she cries,
but now they're tears of joy.

What am I doing here?
I don't even know.
Just counting the cars
On the freeway below.

Feet on the sidewalk,
and hands on the rail.
My spirit is weakened,
My skin becomes frail.

The grey clouds above,
drop a torrent of rain.
A fitting addition,
to the depths of my pain.

I have no home to go to,
and no place to be.
My eyes are wide open,
but there's not much to see.

What I am doing here?
I don't even know.
Just counting the lights
as the cars pass below.

I'll hurt you,
I'll love you.

I'll kiss you,
I'll shove you.

I'll hold you,
I'll break you.

I'll caress you,
I'll shake you.

I'll harm you,
I'll crown you.

I'll honor you,
I'll drown you.

The beast awakens from the murky depths.
Thrashing about in the bowels of the sea.
Blue calmness turns violent,
As the erupting rage bubbles to the surface.
Soon, it can no longer be contained.
A merciless tidal wave
is heading for your shore.

And I cannot be held responsible
for what follows.

A grand concert hall in London.
A fancy penthouse suite in Hong Long.
The Pacific Coast highway in a Ferrari.
Enjoying the view from the top of Mt. Everest.

The smile of a child lost long ago.
My bedroom from 1993.
The lakeshore where I had my first kiss.
A warm hug from my grandfather.

So much to see, so much to feel,
but inside I know that none of it’s real.

I have a little light.
It doesn't shine that bright.
But as long as the way ahead is lit,
I know I'll be alright.

I have a little light,
That gives me comfort in the night.
It never stops its gentle glow,
Even when I think it might.

I have a little light,
It's a somewhat simple sight.
It keeps me warm in Winters peak,
and saves me from the icy blight.

I have a little light,
And if you look at it just right,
You'll see the world before you
blanketed in a dazzling white.

I am broken.
I am neglected.

All the good parts of me
slowly rust away
and vanish into dust.

The beauty that once was
is no more.
This world I wanted to make better,
has destroyed me before I could.

I don't care if Monday's great,
Tuesday, Wednesday keep it straight,
Thursday things just may negate,
but Friday I'm in Pain

Monday might just bring some rest,
Tuesday, Wednesday pass the test,
Thursday I'm not even stressed,
but Friday I'm in Pain

They say beyond this filthy door,
is all I've ever dreamed and more.
I take a step forward and reach for the handle,
Guided by light of a distant candle
A voice in the shadows hollers: "No!"
and suddenly my hand lets go.

My body grows paralyzed in fear.
Am I better off in the darkness here?
I dream of mountains and roads of gold,
A place that's bright and warm and bold.
But what if, when that door is open,
There's only a world that's bent and broken?

The door, so curious, is tempting but,
I think it's best if I leave it shut.

Imagine all the people
who, when faced with Instant Karma,
staunchly refuse to Come Together
and Give Peace A Chance.

A man's heart forgets about Yesterday,
As he lives in darkness Eight Days A Week.
Will he ever know, as he stands in the Rain,
that All You Need Is Love?

Across the Universe, the stars dance,
and children run In Strawberry Fields Forever.
Like Dreamers Do, we try to make the most of life.
In other times, we learn to simply Let It Be.

I am wounded,
but no one wants to heal me.
I am wounded,
but no one seems to notice.
I am wounded,
but I still get dirt thrown on me.
I am wounded,
but the world doesn't care.

Spinning violently through the air.

                       Terminal velocity is my friend today.

                                                  Faded memories flash in my mind.

                       As the rugged ground draws ever closer.

I see the taunting glares of the clouds.

                       My legs get cut out from under from me.

                                                   Life thrashes me around a little more.

                        Faster and faster, the descent into chaos.

I can’t help but start laughing.

                         As the world falls apart around me.

                                                   Maybe this is what I deserved after all.

                         I barely have time to say my goodbyes.

Before everything turns to black.

This house lies in rubble.
A veritable pit.
Are there not more remains?
Is this all? Is this it?

My skin is damaged,
and stained with red blood.
Devastation comes
Like a torrential flood.

There was no sympathy.
We never had trust.
In the shadows of betrayal,
I fade into dust.

I only wanted an hour.
That's all you ever had to give.
The other twenty three were yours,
To live the life you did.

I only wanted an hour,
but you always had other plans.
You never wanted to sit with me,
You never yearned to understand.

I only wanted an hour,
It's really not that much to ask.
Just sixty minutes of the real deal,
but you wouldn't drop the mask.

I only wanted an hour,
Even on that final day.
Until the end, you still refused,
and just let me fade way.

I've trudged the ice,
I've paid my dues.
Please rid me of
these winter blues.

No more sleet,
No more snow,
Life below zero
has got to go.

I'm done with frailty,
and done with death.
I'm sick of the chill,
riding on my breath.

This awful winter,
hurts so many things.
Now I'm ready to hear,
the Robins sing.

613 200 Hours
25 550 Days
13 Cars
11 Jobs
9 Dogs
6 Surgeries
5 Children
4 Grandchildren
3 Marriages
2 Siblings
1 Weary soul.
No regrets.

She left me and I don't know what I did.
She drove away in the night and took off with the kids.
She ran away and I just don't understand.
She used to say that I was her perfect man.

She left me and even stole a lot of my stuff.
She never told me she thought things were so rough.
She just up and went like a shot down the street.
She seemed eager to leave this despair at my feet.

She left me and took every penny I had.
She tore me right down like a woman gone mad.
She hopped off the train and burned down the whole track.
She left me and I don't think she'll be back.

Do the thing you love to do,
Who cares if nothing of it's true?

Fiction and fantasy: Fun, Ideal,
So much better than the real.

Just make it up for me as you go
Exaggerate, but keep the flow.

Fake and phony are the right decision,
Treat me to your distorted vision

Make it as good as it can be,
I don't need the truth to be set free.

Left eye,
Right eye,
How's your vision?
Clear or fraught
with indecision?

Follow the light,
and ignore your  
your dread.
But be careful not
to move your head.

You must endure
these tests
a plenty,
If you hope to earn
that twenty / twenty.

Get the money,
Move the tickets,
We're gonna have a blast.

You won't want
to miss this,
the best spots are going fast.

It'll be historic,
quite incredible,
If you believe the hype.

We're planning
an epic party
of a unique and crazy type.

So maybe
we lost the caterer,
and a few headliners ditched.

Ignore the rocks,
and tiny tents.
We had to make a switch.

We admit, it seems
that several things
have gone a bit off track.

But doing this was
a massive risk
So won't you cut some slack?

Crowds are angry,
Walls close in,
The workers want their pay.

So we'll get out
while the getting's good,
and party another day.

When your words are not your words,
and you keep writing undeterred,
What does it really say about your person?

Those are my dreams and fears and thoughts.
That line was never yours to cross.
Suddenly, the situation worsens.

You never had permission,
To break right in and steal my vision.
I do not take such violations lightly.

Those are my emotions and my voice.
Now you've gone and made your choice,
and a punishment is coming to you rightly.

That's what I think about you, thief,
as I work through this rhyming grief.
Like a dagger you have pierced my soul right through.

And these words I can only guess,
You'll swoop in and steal like the rest,
as that seems to be the thing you like to do.

Welcome aboard it's nice to have you here,
Come join the folks who want to disappear.
We will answer any questions now, although
our destination's not for you to know.

Place your luggage in the bin and take a seat.
There's plenty of lost people here to meet.
We've got killers, fools, and broken hearts,
And souls smashed into near a million parts.

Odds are you'll find a desperate soul or two,
And be sure not to fully trust the crew.
You may be growing uncomfortable inside,
but that's a part of what comes with the ride.

Pay no attention to the safe that's always locked.
The dining car is open and fully stocked.
On this railway, you'll find everything you need,
Even if in the end you have to bleed.

There's not much time now left before we leave,
So say your goodbyes and don't forget to grieve.
Because once this train gets rolling down the track,
There's no one that is going to make it back.

Rusty chains,
Years old pains,
A faint soul awash in the rains.

Live free
and you'll see
what this existence can be.

Imprisoned
just isn't
the fate we envisioned.

Live free,
turn the key,
Just do it for me.

Metal bars,
And deep scars,
Are no replacement for stars.

Hear my plea,
and to a wondrous degree,
Live free.