a collaborative piece created by Papaya and Stephan*

I know the story of an ugly old fellow
Who taunted and cursed and told many lies
But did you know that an ugly old fellow
Was merely the skin that held his disguise

"Spare me a quarter and I'll spare you the lecture"
Often he’d say to the young and the brave
Laughing they’d pass without barely a glance
Thrusting the man into temper and rage

When along stepped another into the commotion
Stopping to listen to all he did say
Shaking his head he reached in his pocket
Pulled out a quarter to proudly display

Then closed his hands into two equal fists
Held them up high as he said with a grin
"I’ll pay your offer so you will stop ranting
If only you can guess which hand it is in"

Stroking his beard the man gave a smile
"I do love a challenge, so let us begin
But once I have chosen and reveal your coin
You’ll stay to listen, and we both shall win"

The old man reached out, with hand on each fist
“Son, you cannot fool a man that’s my age”
Then pulled out from behind the younger man’s ear
The same coin that earlier the man had displayed

The look of surprise on his face was alarming
He glanced down at both of his two empty hands
Then thought to himself, now how did he do that,
I held it right there? but then said to the man

“A deal is a deal, so I guess I will listen
But I have a schedule, it’s my day to teach
Please hasten your words holding all of your wisdom
And here I shall stand till you finish your speech”

"I can say nothing you've not already learned
That each man has something special to give
To stop and to listen and open your eyes
This is how all men and women must live"

"Some will spare time, others spare a dime
Still others will play tricks as you see
You must be wise, separate truth from the lies
And always be the very best you can be"

Summer is stretching towards lost days and long nights
Autumn is seeping through the window sill and waiting in the wind
Winter is just a yawn away and will pave the path with snow as we take the slow stroll toward spring
Time will crawl and fly through moments of wonder and moments of anguish
Horror and magic waiting to be discovered and then folded and creased
and stuffed to memories of past days
Laughter to spread and tears to shed
and pain to bare and joy to share
Tomorrows secrets will soon enough be yesterdays ghost
Today we will always have to live and breath and when lucky enough
to love

Who are you
When you are beneath the blanket of the night embedded with scattered stars
What scent would I find hovering on your skin if I dared join you under the magic of your sheets
Is there a paradise of pleasure hiding just below your dress
Lift up the hem just a little
Give me a small glimpse of your universe
What secrets do you keep in the silk folds between your thighs
What will bloom as your petals part
Will nectar drip and quench my
tempted thirst
Or will flames blaze and consume my flesh and fuel the desire of my lust
If I whisper of my hearts secrets and the sins and hunger of my soul
If I lay my universe naked before you and gave you the stars of my blanket and the magic in my sheets
Would you tell me
Who are you
When heaven and hell aren't around
What do you become
When you leave your body to find bliss for your soul
Would you reveal the magic of your universe

I spend my time thinking
but all it brings is drinking
even with my eyes unblinking
I don't have an inkling

I spend my time creating
the gates of my debating
hating my own procrastinating
it's only time I'm wasting

I spend my time drinking
but all it brings is thinking
when my mentality is shrinking
I don't have an inkling