.

Twisted vines of thorny fingers
Wrap the entrance to this place
Ripping flesh and bandaged whispers
Outlines dark of sadness trace

Carving names in weathered forecasts
Those who fall before it’s due
Leaning off to glimpse the future
Never once a grumbled clue

Placing frowns of lost persuasion
Drawing lines in charcoal sands
Daring one then yet another
Shouting out in loud demands

Gather here for time is wasting
At the edge where hearts now break
See the waves return to sender
Out beyond the landslide wake

Take your spot, a crowd is forming
Cloudy skies now call your name
Step up to the planned formation
Only you are now to blame

Spread your arms in bird-like fashion
Don’t forget that you can fly
As you find your destination
Following the tears you cry

You will reach the sorted bottom
Where the rocks predict your fate
Hurry now, the sun is setting
Doomed horizons will not wait

.

The grapes,
dangling from a leafy vine,
an off-season vintage
in well water dreams
where I come out the victor,
the gallant one
who leads her from the wine
to savor the brandy
poured slowly,
steadily
with affection

but

It is just a dream,
as I awaken
to realize
the alcoholic content
does not meet the region
along a hillside vineyard,
dripping into a café carafe
tempting fruits
that are far sweeter
than something
produced
with feeling

Each day brings with it change,
something new waiting,
maybe good, maybe not so much

Everyone views things differently,
sunny days or rain, each
hold qualities that can be either

Regardless of how you take it,
you are never wrong
no matter what someone may say

Just remember this,
you are who you are
and you are special

There will always be those
who try to knock you down
with whatever force they can

Stand strong and understand
you can't be everything
to all people

And neither can they,
no matter how much
they act like they can

I looked inside my heart
and found her in the corner,
then asked her how long she had been in there

She said it’s seemed a while,
but she was disappointed,
to understand that I was not aware

I gazed into her eyes
and thought she looked familiar,
then wondered if she’d been there all along

She said almost forever
and that she had been singing,
just hoping I would hear her loving song

Did it go like this?
A hummed for her a stanza
and saw a smile turn up on her face

She said, yes that is it,
I guess you really heard it
the whole time I’ve been singing in this place

I really liked her song,
the beat was smooth and steady
It seemed that how I walked was like a dance

Just like a metronome,
clicking to a tempo,
hypnotically it put me in a trance

I buttoned up my chest,
real tight around the collar
to make sure that she would not run away

And listened to her song,
remembering her smile,
forever in my heart I know she’ll stay

X

Steel follows steel,
a click clack rhythm in
metronome vibrations lulls nervousness,
counting forgotten miles
in heartbeat pulsations
of desired destinations

Endless tracks hug
winding ways carved through nature
Windows frame new beginnings,
watching mountain peaks
pass by in snow capped splendor
as flashing red lights hold up traffic

Facing forward,
leaving behind what was,
heading north on a one way ticket
to my imagination’s quest,
chasing a dream that hopefully waits
just beyond the next crossing

.

How many long days,
how many lonely days,
how many silent days
will it take
till I stop checking the clock,

**** it!

.

Pacing backstage like a bull in the batter
Thrashing about as if china exists
Driven to drink by some wine on a platter
Blowing off steam for he could not resist

Snorting a scene when the lines are recited
Reading the script just a few seconds more
Up with the curtain by hands so excited
Wishing the winter had closed every door

Shoveling snow in a thong made of paper
Counting the flakes that attended his show
In the front row as the smiles did taper
Sat an old woman he knew long ago

She held a bag printed green with a flower
Wore her hair up and her underwear down
Gazed up at him as if she held the power
Reached in her satchel and pulled out a crown

Glistening gold trimmed in jewelry gleaming
Something indeed that was fit for a king
Pinching his skin just in case he was dreaming
Thinking it must be the silliest thing

Low went the lights with the audience hushing
Now was his time as he stood on the mark
Hoping that nobody noticed him blushing
The brightest of red in the darkest of dark

Then as he spoke in an accent so fitting
Words written out by some dude named Shakespeare
Looked to his feet where the crown was now sitting
An inscription inside “For a lousy King Lear”

He searched for the woman and noticed her leaving
Screaming out loud, “What’s the meaning of this?”
When she looked back, now his eyes not believing
She wore his face as she blew him a kiss

Had he gone mad as the world became hazy
Spinning in place, royalty gone insane
“Give me your praises,” he shouted like crazy
“Tell me you love me and tell me your name”

“I’m called Cordelia and I far from love you
Your acting *****, you’ve no talent at all
I’ll give you no praise, no that’s something I won’t do”
And there she stood as the curtain did fall

She started to laugh as the sirens were blaring
They carted him off on a stretcher of gold
To the asylum with everyone staring
Tossing the tickets that they had been sold

Then out of nowhere the crowd started cheering
She took his stage, now her kingdom, she swore
Taking a bow, the applause so endearing
She had no choice but to give an encore

.

It was on a wonderful summer morning when
sun warmed emotions met at the intersection of our hearts
Love bloomed in fragrant bouquets of forever dreams
while cattails and lily pads dotted flowing streams of affection
Every winding path led to a place we’d always longed to be where butterflies accompanied us to afternoon picnics on grassy foothills
and lemonade kisses tasted sweeter than lavender honey
Soft breezes sung to us in symphonic whispers
as sprawling oaks reached overhead in canopies of shaded bliss
Blue skies caressed our bodies as we tenderly embraced
the beauty our love had sculpted on the landscape
and all was perfect in my world –

then came winter

.

I look for the truth
as I follow deception
Seek happiness
neath the darkest of skies
Whistle a tune
when my last breath is leaving
Accept the pain
as the mourning dove cries

Call out your name
when the echoes defeat me
Stand on my mark
while I’m pushed to the side
Harbor my strength
in a weakened dimension
Live everyday
when it feels I have died

Chasing a dream
that is still running faster
Lost in the scene
fading farther from sight
Penning a poem
with hope you will read it
Sending some love
in the words that I write

Then if I see
I have made your life better
Squinting my eyes
in your bright smile’s glow
I’ll walk away
as a teardrop is falling
With a goodbye
that I wish was hello

.

Standing alone with my shadow,
watching the sun disappear
Fighting the minutes till darkness,
when you’ll no longer be here

During the day you are with me,
wherever I seem to go
But as the evening is starting,
nothing beside me does show

I thought about writing a poem
something with you I would share
Though as I now look to find you
sadly you’re no longer there

I wonder each night what you’re doing,
who do you follow around
As I just hang around staring
at a blank spot on the ground

I guess you are off with another,
while I’m here holding my pen
Once more to wait on the sunrise,
hoping you come back again

.

I circled the rumors in red on my sheet
Sat there and looked for a while
Planned out my day just a start to the week
All in a wait and see style

Considered telling, but then changed my mind
Fractures in time will be known
Feeling betrayed in a truth that does blind
Shunning the light that is shone

So many pass that do not disappear
Hoping the news will retrieve
Headlines and sorrow and shedding a tear
Praying the masses believe

Drinking the praise through a white plastic straw
Savoring every drop
Laughing inside as they digest it all
Knowing someday it will stop

Ordering stones with a carved epitaph
Dictating words as they’re bled
Counting the frowns in the day’s aftermath
Watching from shadows ahead

I could be wrong, I have been there before
Choices I tend to conceal
Though I do know there is one thing for sure
This is not one they will steal

.

The last petal fell,
shivering on winter's cold ground
and looking up at the now barren stem
asked, " Why did you let me go,
I was the one that stuck with you
when all of the others left,
leaving you alone to face
the coming frigid season?

The empty stem, leafless,
void of its once lustrous color,
waving in the chilly winds answered,
"Don't worry, come spring I will
have many new wonderful petals
adorning me, making me
beautiful once again."

"I know, but none of them
will be me," replied the last petal
as it died.

.
I have tasted tear drops
Acid from my eyes
Streaming under muted smiles
Cutting deep into my skin
Leaving trails of sadness
Glistening reminders
Along lonely cheeks
When damp expressions
Weren’t expecting rain

.

Some words heal
Some words sway
Some words leave
Some words stay

Some words calm
Some words soothe
Some words swear
Some words prove

Some words smile
Some words sneer
Some words hurt
Some words cheer

Some words stop
Some words flow
Some words tell
Some words show

Some words whine
Some words scream
Some words pout
Some words dream

Some words heal
Some words ache
Some words give
Some words take

Some words praise
Some words shame
Some words rave
Some words blame

Some words love
Some words hate
Some words help
Some words rate

Some words sing
Some words cry
Some words lift
Some words sigh

Some words rhyme
As you can see
But all words work
In poetry

.

I stood at the crossroads, staring at
directions collected to confuse me
Seeking a shadow that was not my own
Finding street signs pointing towards my dreams,
where my new life might lead
and with closed eyes I move forward

Heard the *** holes laughing
Paused for a passing thought
Felt the sun on my shoulders
Sang a song in my mind without words

Then walked towards the future (let the potholes laugh)
My head held high, one step at a time

Alone, I think not,
as a face appears on the horizon, and she is smiling,
waving me on, challenging me to the tape
Reminding me that the finish line,
is just the beginning

.

Melting away in the past
What was, what I have lost
Tears form thoughts
Thoughts bring tears
Black and white vintage
No happy endings
What could have been
Your smile etched
Pain driven vacancy
Wondering answers mount
Dancing alone forever
Caught in my own web
Waving goodbye to shadows
The end has come
Blowing kisses on the wind
Finality penned
In soon forgotten ink
Too many sorrys
From these lips
Eternal frowns
Curving end of days
Nothing lasts
Finding one word
Can change everything
As the "and" is now gone
between
You
Me

I stood there staring at the thick drapes
as my cat sharpened his claws
pulling at the fabric, exposing some light,
knowing full well I should just walk away

But I could hear a loud commotion
coming from just the other side

And as I reached for the split
a little voice in my head said,
“You really don’t want to
know what’s going on out there”

But my cat meowed, “Oh go ahead,
curiosity never hurt me!”

So I opened them

Now I wish I hadn’t
God I hate that **** cat

Beware the shadows that harbor the fear
Wearing a smile to entice
Bringing a storm to the lingering clear
More than enough to suffice

Coloring clouds in an off center shade
Planning apart the disguise
All that will glisten, the edge of their blade
Steel once embedded the skies

Preying the fool on your worries does rest
Hands over eyes now the view
Changing the truth into lies is the quest
Oh its so easy to do

Words made of candy to sweeten the pain
Sugar attracting your stare
Waving good bye to the few who remain
Brother and sister beware

Through wooden blinds, uneven slats
the sun it does appear
Beyond the storms of later night,
clouded thick of fear

With pleasant breeze of air to flow
and wishing wells so deep
Dreams cast in coins to bottoms fall
that this your heart shall keep

For in this winded poet stirs
a passion constant strong
The feel for words to touch your soul
amidst a summer song

With distant far off tendencies,
to reach is not a chore
So through these words I hope you find,
it’s you I do adore

And I shall take this sunrise glow
with every breath as new
Believing it is sent with love,
to me from only you

Inspires love,

a rose, maybe
a kiss, often
a smile, possibly
a song, might
a touch, perhaps
a poem, sometimes

you, forever

I can’t stand the thought of
sitting on a street corner,
writing on the curb
with white chalk in the rain

Outlining puddles
in runoff contaminants,
bleeding into the asphalt,
following cracks and crevices

of the last poem I wrote
in permanent ink,
when the sun danced
across her smile

and my words
brought blue skies
to the pages of
my heart’s desire

I hate chalk…..

.

I sit alone atop a mountain
my guitar in hand
peering out over the valley below
beyond green patched rifts
playing in the key of lost dreams
fractured chords out of tune with
decisions in distorted decibels
high volume idiocy wailing
as I telecast amplified questions
which now return to me
in the feedback of my own doing

Someone playing a concrete violin
with a jackhammer
on a midnight sidewalk,
street lights gawk,
flickering fascination,
tuning keys locked,
rosin swipes declined

chalks marks hold hop scotch trinkets
tossed into the numbered squares,
pawned now for a glass of chardonnay
and a plate of cheese

Paneled walls ache
of yesterday’s smoke rings,
scentless air fresheners,
hanging Christmas trees
presumed innocent,
only here for the music
and rear view mirrors

lipstick traces on a folded napkin
crimson half circles
prints on either side
someone will be kissed tonight

I’ll take it with me
I love the flavor