I build a bridge to you in hopes
to dispense past indiscretions
I don't claim perfection as my
wake has swallowed up many
Face to face and eye to eye, I
humbly regret any pain incurred
Separation and time apart has an
uncanny manner growing bonds
Recalled epic memories that can't
be replaced fill constant daydreams
Time and space fill gaps yet we
hold on to the past for keeps.

I set you free
as my cup is full
My resolve to carry on
has diminished to zero
Our future cut short
far too soon yet necessary
I need honesty and trust
I require love and happiness
Fly free
free of me and my heart
no need to remain friends
or acquaintances of old
Reminders and photos
relinquished to rubble
I choose to move forward
free of you
free of drama
just simply...
free.

Smooth and silky
with a hint of
pure vanilla bean
you entice
any willing palate
Glazed upon any
cake or cookie
you shine above all
Rich and creamy
stuffed in my
favorite donut
you pleasure my
appetite
paired with
a hot spicy tea.

Far to often we are
failing to involve
ourselves to make
a difference today

B Y S T A N D E R
standing by on the
sidelines as an
common onlooker

Take a stand and
do something to
affect or effect the
world you live in.

Driving down the open road
with the top dropped and the
tunes blaring on high
You break out in song like
no one is around
Singing the lyrics aloud
as if you wrote them personally
You don't know these people
so you perform it as if you were
in an MTV video
You get the head bob in full swing
while throwing your hands to the sky,
well one hand... safety first
The groove can't be contained
and while others stare in awe of
your carefree antics
There is always one who joins
in the fun, however they have
the windows up, but find the
time to peek over and pay
homage to greatness.

You had me at chocolate
then you didn't stop
Baked to perfection
slightly golden brown
and balanced to a
soft & crisp touch
I need you to be warm
with milk chocolate
oozing
on my finger tips
Not to thin as you can
be lost in my
ice cold glass of milk
For me, no equal
exists to you
By the dozen
I consume you
without reservation
to my diet
Shaped to any form
or on a stick
you complete me.

My first memory of you
was simplistic,
however poignant
Although you have changed
over the years
my favorites
are a constant
From the first bowl
of the day
until a late night
micro meal
I was comforted
Oh the sugary milk
at the bottom
The crunchy goodness
in every bite
The artificial fruity flavors
and twisted colors
Even the healthy
nut riddled brand bits
You have your place
in out hearts.

CHALLENGE
what you think to be true
whenever you are told no

CHALLENGE
the status quo
the way it was done in the past

CHALLENGE
yourself to be better
your children to be better than you

CHALLENGE
political leaders to be real
me.

On a lonely diet buster of days
I watched you conspire to break
my will and **** if you didn't
I tried to override you with my
strength of character and you
put me to shame on purpose
So many of your friends have
tried and failed in the past, but
you take the cake and fed it to me
OK... I give up this once for you
just 1 CHOCOLATE CHEAT DAY
Do I cheat with cake, candy bar,
chocolate milk, donut or pie
I want and need you to help me
process my feelings about my
dependency for you.  My love
for you is limitless and strong
Just once this time and I'll be good
I can control the urge... I can.

Awaken from a torrent dream
perched on the edge of bed
reflections of
Christmas Past
encapsulate my groggy mind

Grandma asleep
protecting the gifts and tree
from my stealth like
sneak tactics to preview
what Santa left behind

I miss her loving smile
rarely seen in any photo
I miss her hugs & snippets
of wisdom in which I've
passed along to my seed

Longing to see the complete
family gathered as one
in celebration of the
seasons offerings as we
sing, feast and love.

As a child of the sixties
I've seem my share
the names and hatred
legislation passed to
bring a semblance of
equality
Those that came before
black and white
that gave their lives
I salute you
no greater sacrifice
could  I imagine
Have we not learned
from the past
Have we not buried
those demons
We all deserve
CIVIL RIGHTS
to just be
Still we have a
way to journey
on this front
Speak the truth
always
Do what's right
always
Don't hide from
injustice.

I Climb & Descend
without pause
never concerning
myself with fear
I have faith in
relationships
the monogamy
of an endless love
Two lives intertwined
to bring forth maximum
passion and goodness.

Meeting for the first time
is a humbling affair
As we put our best foot forward
to over impress

Attempting to say all the
right things and be courteous
we fail to realize
that we are playing the game

We dress our best and primp
like we are attending our own wedding
A CLOSE ENCOUNTER that only
gives that one first impression.

I see in your greatness
looking on up high

I notice your shapes
your pillow appearance

Faces in the crowd and
a beauty that is boundless

I've flown through you
and walked amongst you

Set against an azure blue
background, you pop

You fluffy and pillow-like
fragile water vapor mass

Silver lined and transparent
I see you for who you are.

Always there when needed
like an friend from the past
In my time of sorrow & grief
or to lift my spirits after a
lost love, you step in on time
Without a word you listen
and provide stable advice
like a warm thick blanket
I digest everything you
place in my path to enrich
my soul with consequences
I need you as much as you
need me and you know that
we are so so good together
Temporarily in a better place
your sweet and savory treat
empowers me to feel loved
Bitter sweet in defiance, I
yearn for more, however
I to have limits and must
overcome the rich decadent
demons of faux friendship.

Often we struggle to communicate
without understanding... YES we
listen, but fail to hear one another.
Playing the arrogance game of who
is right or wrong, failing to concede
our position out of boastful pride.
We starve ourselves attempting to
get it accurate, when the process
is simple. Be open and honest,
concede your position now and
then and always listen instantly.

Many of us tend to
play the game of
martyr and feel
sorry for ourselves

Nothing ever
goes our way
along with the
conspiracy theories

The world is
constantly
battling against
them for no reason

If there was a
COMPLAINT FORM
to fill out, all trees
would be in fear

There will always
be someone with much
worse circumstances
than our issues

... remember that.

You are a part of my life
with no escape

Murphy's Law personified
only to me

A conspiracy which
boggles my mind

The stress you provide
knots my gut literally

COMPLICATIONS...
I dislike you fervently

I question your timing
as you always appear on time.

In many ways we are different
color, race, ***, nationality and
heritage to name a few

The parallel is that we are similar
views, make up, character and
love of art, sports and culture

Many fail to understand our
connection and the levels that
it is built upon over time

Perfect, we are not... however
as a unit we move as one and
combine our strengths.

Can't help myself
as I watch your
mouth open wide
as you attempt to
cover it up by hand
Your eyes close ever so
tight that a single tear
trickles down your
soft feminine cheek
My involuntary reflex
takes hold I mirror
your weary action
Ironically, everyone
near me reacts in a
similar fashion thus
becoming infectious
Not bored or tired,
however sometimes
it just happens to me.
Did I drool as I check
my dry chin... whew,
not this time.

Raised to believe what you are told
sometimes they didn't get it right
Beneath the muck and mire reveal
true to life issues with consequences
Fact checks confirm what we all know
however the need to triple check remains
The CORE VALUES we poses make us
who we are and build our character
Days by day we seek to stay connected
to friends, business colleagues & family
Have we lost touch with the personal
affect of shaking hands and saying hello?
Face to face and not only by computer screen,
fax or twitter.  Keeping it real and honest,
telling it strait with confidence every time
Deep within my core, I value; GOD, family,
good friends, hard work, peace and love.

Coming from afar to ravage and malign
Designed to destroy without cause
We pray for deliverance from above
A cunning virus that cares not about
age, race, color, *** or creed
We pray for families, first responders and
our leaders
2019 you supposedly arrived taking lives across the globe
We pray for peace, comfort and healing to the victims
2020 you consumed world economies to the brink of collapse
We pray.

Often the game is played
  between two, yet the field
is not inclined to be level

Stakes can be skewed
  as one seems to invest
considerably more

Sublime to understand
  is it love or common lust
that shadows the path

Flirtatious & alluring
  nature compels us to
act frivolous at best

What is real or are we
  to apt to wear our egos
proudly on our sleeves

COY SENTIMENTS
  reveal inner shyness
longing to be freed.

Alas clarity culminates
  and true selves must
disclose their secrets.

Either an
enthusiastic expression
or most epic poem
commonly used in
musical terms to
achieve powerful
expression & emotion
My muse
my CRIMSON RHAPSODY
of deep passion and love
You are epic and
compassionate with a
true heart of platinum.

Imagine a
prolonged
day of work
culminated
with a hot
scented bath
to sooth and
relax your
mind, body
and soul
As your limp
brain ponders
an eminent
peace &
slumber
You slip into
600 count
freshly
laundered
CRISP LINEN
sheets that
caress and
stimulate
your senses
from shoulder
to toes and
back again
Eyes closed
and mind
totally cleared
of the days
grime
You fall
deep to
an ultimate
REM state...
Goodnight.

As you are suspended in grandeur
with your brilliance that
illuminates all in your company
I witness your purpose

Your elements refract and
sparkle brightly on high
I need you more that
you need me

A pattern that streams
across the room
worthy of any photographers
lens, beauty personified.

I have you wrapped in my arms
stretched out on a red leather sofa
  facing one another we connect
   as we often do with eyes engaged

After a gentle loving kiss to remind
you that you are forever the one
  I get you to close your beautiful
   blue eyes and relax deep into me

Our CUDDLE TIME is precious
in securing optimum mental health
  and releasing the stress of the day
    until we are mind-clutter free.

Another perfect
summer day
and I caught you again
I don't apologize
I didn't want you
but here we are
You trying to keep me down
like "The Man"
opressing humanity
Nose running like
an open tap
You have on my second
box of Kleenex Cool Touch
I love that stuff
Eyes watering after relentless
sneezing to go with
the nagging cough
I feed you
because the
old wives tale
tells me to
You've drained all
my energy
I'd reference Sampson here
but I'm a bald dude and
it doesn't seem fitting
All-in-all I really dislike you
as you attempt to rob me
of a few days
So I rest and regain
my tactical advantage
with lots of O.J.
and Chicken soup.
In the end I will win
the war, but you
have this battle.

I took it upon myself
to Disconnect for a day

No Social Media
No Twitter
No Email or Text

I was looking to unwind
in a totally different way

No Calls
No Visits
No Car

I drank in the scent of roses
while watching clouds dance.

I walked
I listened
I relaxed.

Selfies are
semi-ego driven
to a degree

They show the
best and
worst of us

Captured via
photo or video
for all posterity

The extreme
pursed lip pucker
to appear ****

Cheeks slightly
withdrawn exposing
the DUCK FACE.

Having been led to the table of no return
we remain seated and partake of the
entire meal without a word being uttered
Suffice to say... we become ceremonial mutes
as we follow the crowd in a deafening silence
to protect the impending and rogue untruth
Whatever it may consist of, we remain complicit
in the lie of the day much to our surprise
the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM shows no
mercy and yet some foe needs to raise up
to keep it real thus expose the beast and
center the universe once again.

Captured by our love
we share an esoteric
  connection that only
   we can understand
Thunderstruck by a
beauty inside & out
  a mesmerizing trait
    shared by very few
  Opposites in some
manners yet common
  simultaneous thoughts
flow between us.

I can't exit you from my mind
all that you encompass in me
controls my emotions
Your ESSENCE envelopes my soul
it completes me to my core
My adoration of you is primal
every fiber within me loves you
a healthy respect in tune
with an acknowledgment of
your sensual persuasion
drives me to you
I can't get enough with
no desire to stop.

I said it out loud
for all the world
to take note

EXCLAIMATION

I spoke it into
existence for me
to act upon

EXCLAIMATION

My dreams and
aspirations of
future endeavors

EXCLAIMATION

My time to shine
on a global stage
w/ no reservations

EXCLAIMATION

Seeking the path
to fulfill a destiny
sought from the past

EXCLAIMATION

Seeking not to malign
my future with ill will
I grow in spiritual faith

EXCLAIMATION

Weeping for humanity
my heart is heavy, yet
hopeful for redemption

! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Frustration continues to mount
as our communication lines
get crossed once again
I say right and you hear...
left
Drama is incorporated
into everyday life
a senseless lesson in futility
I say her and your all consuming
jealous mind
assumes that her is chasing me
I need to EXHALE at times
relax and be patient
I love you and only you
however
common ground is needed
understanding is warranted
and listening is essential.

This year I'm set free
as far too long
I've delayed the inevitable
to move forward
Bearing witness
to my ability to prosper
I claim back myself
New fruits blossom
and life continually cycles
I can breathe with
the piano lifted away
I can see with
my focus readjusted
I can love
as I am able to live.

We are all a bit tough on the outside

however it takes the complete

EXTERNAL GRIT to crack on

Bolstering ourselves to always be

more and assist when necessary

is a key element to having what

it seriously takes

Constantly judged how tough we

are inside, we tend to be judges

the interior incorrectly for the

benefit of external beauty, as

our roll models share our view

points.  A do what it takes

attitude helps to shine.

I lift my EYES
to appear not to leer at her chest
the trunk which she carries her valuables
is beaten and tattered

I double take with my EYES
and lock on her rear end
As fins on the old Cadillac
flair like none other ever made.

My wandering EYES
are fixed on her ******* frame
the cabriolet  matches
her pristine interior to a T.

I long to see you
touch you
and love you
No phone calls
emails or texts
To be with you
FACE 2 FACE
provides
no substitute
for live interaction
I need the emotion
I crave your
intimate kiss
I require the passion
that fills my heart
To witness your beauty
is an honor
An embrace
of carnal pleasure
gives rise to
my lasting love
for exclusively you.

Where do you hide
after the rain subsides
Why do your brilliant
colors disappear
The elusive *** of gold
albeit a myth
we still seek your end
On rare occasion we sight
a double or triple version
of your faded spectrum
We stop in wonder
like children viewing fireworks
Once again
you depart from us
Houdini-like...
right before our eyes.

Blended and aged to perfection
semi sweet or dry to taste
you pair well with any meal

We toast with you
and celebrate special occasions
when you get all bubbly

Rosé
Blush
Blanco
Burgundy
Chianti
Moscato
Reisling
Pinot Noir
Malbec
... just to new a few

My carafe breathes
with FERMENTED GRAPES
fill my Waterford crystal glass

Poured to perfection
I drink you in
you complete my day.

I still see your face
as I sleep in a restless peace
We gaze into one another's eyes
like it was always the first time
We loved in secret
and later openly without regard
forever against the world
A lasting connection that transcends
true love as the vacuum
of us was greater than all
So young we were, but found
our way back and still
our timing was fleeting
We can never recapture that spark
as you were that dream
that I could never conquer
that far reaching love
that could never be attained
Destiny... we had it all
however you required what
you were told was more
Just like me, you failed
and remain unhappy
Time will tell, but the
FIRST LOVE will remain
first, but certainly not last.

Morning glory of love inspired
by waking to your angelic being
The honor of your presence
lying close to me, reveals passion

As my hands caress you effortlessly
gliding across your silky frame
I see you for what you are to me
my muse, my woman and my love

--------------  FLIP SIDE  --------------

Another day of hell is looming
upon opening my eyes to this stark view
Why are you still here, I ask myself
when near you I cringe in despair

Touching you is furthest from my mind
as the true passion is dead
I see you for who you really are
an adulteress, a scheming witch and a royal B.