Reality is a teasing uncle
Who sometimes gets my nose
I stomp like a child yelling, “give it back”
And he laughs at my naiveté

Innocence is a long lost friend
That I oft times remember fondly
If he could see what his absence wrought
He’d scoff at my depravity

Time my dishonest father
Promised me he’d always be fair
If you ask me he passes too quickly
In the moments that matter the most

Sleep my fickle mistress
Who more often than not eludes me
Not in my bed when I set out to find her
She’s ran off with my dreams to the coast

Life my mysterious woman
I can’t help myself but to chase her
Just when I think I finally found her favor
I find she has more surprises

you’ve lost that twinkle in your eye
your hair has dulled to gray
your hands are gnarled and cracked and dry
your memory slowly fades.

you’ll never get to hold her hand
you’ll never see her smile
her life on earth has just began

while yours has just  a sweet short while

how I wish there was a way
that you could somehow feel
the love inside this little girl
whose name you’ll never know

there is nothing I could ever say
nor anything I could ever do
to spark the flame of passion
I long to see in you

its like we stand on different worlds
that just happen to share space
from altogether different times
that exist in the same place

I know you hear the words I speak
see the expressions that I make
but somehow all the love I give
falls lifeless in your wake

everyone has one true love
well maybe two or three
but you finally found a true love
and I’m glad it wasn't me

I an orphaned prince, in the musings of my mind
often daydreamed in my hardship of the treasures I would find.
For fate had surely dealt me, the cruelest of beginnings
so that in that glorious future I might appreciate my winnings.

My life ticked off every box in the stories that were written,
about the orphaned princes who spent their childhoods hidden.
Someday there’d be a wizard with a sword that he would hand me
and he would take me as his ward and restore my royal standing.

I survived my evil stepfather, who had cursed me with his name
and I suffered through my childhood, but the wizard never came.
So I saddled up my lame nag and bid farewell to my old life
knowing deep within my heart fate would reward me for my strife.

After travelling countless miles my eyes have finally seen the truth
that my heart was telling lies to help me make it through my youth.
Evil deeds aren’t always punished and the just don’t always win
and there are no magic words to solve the trouble that you’re in.

Just because it rains today does not mean the sun will shine tomorrow
and life doesn’t hold a secret debt  to repay you for your sorrow.
All that a man is promised is the moment in its passing
and to live whatever life that he is capable of grasping.

Life is but a passing daydream,
that seldom does make sense.
I often wonder if I should wake,
what memories carry hence?

Yesterday a fuzzy recollection.
Tomorrow a cloudy ocean.
Today as clear as clear can be,
as preconceived as any notion.

Understanding is sometimes found,
when clarity meets truth,
but its hard to say if it was real,
once time and space have moved.

Life is lived by a routine,
that seldom ever varies.
My thoughts are often found,
where routine seldom tarries.

I awake some days to find,
the yoke of expectation
****** upon my shoulders
without want of explanation.

Hours of those days grind by,    
in meaningless frustration.
Watching my potential pass,
while occupied by occupation.

The yearning to be free,
that stirs within my soul.
Is gently lulled asleep again,
by pastimes I am sold.

Life is but a passing daydream,
that seldom does make sense.
I often wonder if I should wake,
what memories carry hence?

a pier one imports parked between
penera and penn station
a physical example of literary alliteration

Is mans attempt to organize a disparate group of words into a singlular coherant statement capable of telling the story of a life.

The art of saying as much as possible,
                                                  using the fewest words.

All the years and pages past
read only as a prologue,
the light of my soul finally strong enough
to burn away this dense fog.

As of late I’ve dreamed a dream
that I would never wake.
Only slumbering to pass the time
another step I could not take.

I let my soul sleep through darkness
while I learned how to fight.
It has woke within me now
to end this lonesome night.

The dream of survival fades
as wakeful reality takes its place.
In passing I’ve but heard of life,
now let me see its face.

Ill not let my story languish here
among its opening pages.
A story so grand it cannot not be fathomed
as the prologue marks the pages

rainbows they just fade
there is no *** of gold
happy endings only live
in the stories we are told

pictures always lie
they only show the moment
a picture never shows
after the moments over

true love’s a fairy tale
that we happily believe
and we share that fairy tale
with anyone we can deceive

the truth is found in floods
and shards of broken glass
the truth is broken hearts
and moments as they pass

there’s no life in a photograph
no real spark in a camera flash
real life is found in 3D space
right in front of your down turned face

real friends don’t live in an online book
and care about more than what quizzes you took
real support is hugs and real words we say
you can’t just click someone to a brighter day

real love exists on god’s green earth
but it can’t be found with a google search
there is life to be lived in the real sunshine
because life isn't lived if it’s lived online

I have a weird confession,
I like stopping at red lights.
In the middle of a hectic day
rush hour traffic fully underway
for just a moment stop and breath.

a whisper, a spark
is there something in the dark
a glance, a smile
a dance could be worthwhile
heart skips, mind races
is there something more than faces
a requiem for a daydream
with a deck devoid of aces

a rubix cube upon my desk
with half the colors matching
near a wayward garden gnome
what plots might he be hatching

contemplations fill my head
of life and all its meanings
a conservative at heart
despite my leftist leanings

someday I’ll find the leprechaun
hiding at the rainbow’s end
I’ll take that *******’s lucky charms
before he runs again

memories haunt my waking mind
not sure if they're even real
vertigo and déjà vu are all that I can feel

I think I’ll take another hit
that should finally stop the spinning
as my pet rock races Charlie Brown
the rubix cube is winning

perfect simplicity
so seldom does visit me
that when it’s in the vicinity
I bask in divinity

I live for a line
the curve of her spine
her curves are divine
with a bottle of wine

the touch of her lips
the swing of her hips
savor the sips
of a total eclipse

bleary eyed and weary *****
tendons creak and muscles groan
stomach grumbles and lungs lament
every shred of will is rent

dreams are beating down the door
face keeps falling towards the floor
the war against the night is lost
the darkness comes despite cost

Blurry eyes it’s one am
And sleep has yet to find me
Broken thoughts assault my mind
Can’t seem to put the day behind me

A wayward search against my will
Of missed chances I’m reminded
A fruitless search to find my flaws
By my assumptions am I blinded

The deafening sounds of a quiet night
Prevent the peace that I am seeking
All the while inside my head
Can’t keep reality from speaking

Tomorrow comes much too soon
When yesterday fails to cease its waking
The new days light on my bloodshot eyes
Another sleepless night is in the making

sweetest sounds of laughter
start to waver as they play
all the colors of the rainbow
fade to many shades of gray

i’m slowly robbed of senses
of memories that were mine
as the peaceful rays of moonlight
softly lose their shine

as i try to change
to meet your expectation
i start to loose myself
and my appreciation

it’s i who want your love
and not some imitation
of the mindless fools
with whom you feign relation

but today i’ve seen the light
from someone else’s star
and it makes me stop and wonder
if i've wandered much too far

if i finish what i’ve started
and completely change my heart
i’ll have lost what made me love
and what made me take this part

it’s the man who wasn't good enough
my only self that’s true
i only hope you see his worth
before our stories through

Sometimes you just want to be heard
even if the world understands
not one single solitary word.

You raise your voice.
You raise your hand.
You make a move.
You take a stand.

Sometimes you just need to be seen
by total strangers in a public place
without a clue as to what it might mean.

You steel your nerves.
You set your chin.
You stand up straight.
You let them in

Maybe it’s a poem, that doesn't really rhyme
or a picture that you drew
between some notebook paper lines.

Maybe it’s a blog.
Maybe it’s a song.
Maybe it’s not quite right.
Maybe it’s completely wrong.

Sometimes, you just need to be heard.

wherefore does the soul begin
is it just beneath our human skin
or is it hidden somewhere deep within
somewhere bones have never been

tell me does the soul condense
when it’s days on earth commence
does it altogether cease to be
or does it somehow travel hence

and as for its life before
does it somehow matter more
than anything that might come after
it’s ship departs life’s final shore

the night began
like most nights do
when your 20 something
and the moon is full

a random bar
a brand new friend
not a single thought
about nights end

we drank we laughed
we even sang along
when the radio played
our favorite song

as the night got older
we both grew bolder
you’d rest your head
upon my shoulder

too happy drive
that’s what you said
come back to my place
and rest instead

the two of us
on a big red sofa
your back to my chest
with our feet hung over

my wandering hand
starts to explore
along your hips
and wanting more

a slight hesitation
then a button pop
your not quite sure
if you want to stop

then you stood up
the spark was gone
the beer wore off
the lights came on

looking back I wonder now
how the night played out
if my hand wandered north
instead of south

They say, as you approach the speed of light
the energy required to keep moving forward
begins to reach infinity.  

If you give it some thought it makes perfect sense.
The past is heavy.
You can feel the weight of every moment
even if you are only travelling at the speed of life.

well aren't these walls immaculate
and aren't these doors divine
if we’re stuck in here another year
well I guess that’ll be just fine

we bought ourselves a golden garden
with a crystal chandelier
the only catch is the iron latch
that keeps us ever near

I know we said we’d see the world
before our hair turned gray
but two new cars make fine new bars
too keep those dreams at bay

well aren't these floors superfluous
and don’t these windows shine
we've hocked our youth to buy this roof
so it’s where we’ll spend our time

I walk into the wind, I stand against the fall
If any would rise against me, I'd stand against them all

I stand against the darkness, the unnecessary night
I stand against injustice, I stand with all my might
Regardless of the challenge I stand my ground and fight

Ten thousand enemies before me, thinking this might be the day
I stand and face the darkness, as ten thousand kneel to pray
I stand against the onslaught for if not I’d fade away

Battle scars adorn me, from every struggle past
Each a test of courage, any could have been my last
I stand against the darkness, the unnecessary pain
I stand and fight each battle
That I might not have to fight again

Standing still
at the speed of light
Reality goes rushing by.
Hold just one thought
with all your might.

A quiet mind
on a wave of sound.
Reality comes crashing down.
Hold your breath
til peace is found.

A restless dream
when your wide awake.
Reality has given way.
Hold your place in
the world you make.

Standing still
at the speed of light.
Reality is your frame of mind.
Free your thoughts
And enjoy the ride.

do you think
there is a chance
I could turn this all around

if I choose
to stand up now
can I lift up off the ground

in my life
have often made
a string of stupid choices

choices made
despite the cries
of many helpful voices

I believe
maybe a day
will come when least expected

where I might
forgive myself
not feel so **** rejected

You may never touch the stars,
        but your life will be infinitely better
if you reach for them anyway.

as the sun softly sets
south of Sarasota bay
the gentle waves whisper
and the palm leaves sway

a rainbow of fire
lights the clouds as they pass
and rekindles my memories
of the years that have past

sand scrapes my skin
sea salt air fills my soul
the ocean at sunset
is where my hearts whole

I come to you.
Unable to lie to myself another moment,
confessing my desires
and you turn me away.

It eats at you.
Thinking you may never see my smile again.
Fighting your demons,
you call out to me.

You run to me.
Passion and doubt tearing down your insides,
goodbye burns in your mouth.
I turn away from you.

I look back to you.
Desperate for one last glance at my hearts true desire
breaking my spirit.
I cry out for you.

You give in to me.
Your world inverts itself as you release your propriety
and abandon all reason.
You give in to  me.

I kiss your lips.
Reality melts and we are carried away in a storm
lost in a fierce embrace
I give in  to you.

I lie all the time, but it's mostly to myself.

in the early morning dark
before the sun appears
I look upon your sleeping face
and contemplate the years

years of love and laughter
of sorrow and of sadness
years we’ll spend together
years we'll miss in madness

years we'll spend with family
years we'll spend with friends
of things that we'll share daily
some we'll never share again

I can almost

smell the fresh cut grass
hear the laughter of our son
hear the crack as he swings the bat
taste the ice-cream when he’s done

feel the softness of our daughters hair
see the beauty in her smile
taste the tears that I'm sure to cry
as I walk her down the aisle

feel the warmth in your wrinkled hand
see the silver in your hair
hear the crickets sing in our back yard
as we dance in the night air

in the early morning dark
before the sun appears
I look upon your sleeping face
and contemplate the years

I’ll be there tomorrow
at least one more time
as long as the sun comes up
and continues to shine

I’ll listen tomorrow
if your heart needs an ear
I’ll help carry your burden
and comfort your fear

I’ll kiss you tomorrow
if your lips feel neglected
I’ll lift up your chin
if you’re feeling dejected

I’ll love you tomorrow
more than I love you today
I’ll love you every tomorrow
and at least one more day

dreams and memories
get muddled in my mind
I can’t remember what I've lost
or what I've left behind

it’s like an important part of me
has forgotten to exist
while in reality what’s left me
continues to persist

I sacrificed my youth
on the altar of tomorrow
the futures full of hope
that yesterday can borrow

but when dreams come true
they often lose their silver lining
that star that I've been wishing on
has already ceased it’s shining

as I wake up from my slumber
I realize that tomorrows finally here
and it’s everything and anything
I had ever hoped to fear

the question one must ask oneself
is the same one everyday
if I dream hard enough tomorrow
can I find a better way

To what end
I’m so sick of wanting
I wish that I could close out the light
Block out the noise
Ignore the world

To what end
I complete another circle
I run the race at breakneck speed
Woe to those who
Refuse to run

To what end
I long to find reason
Not just a reason but reason itself
Six billion people make believe
Everything is real

To what end
Is the universal question
To what end
God laughs at the suggestion