That look is my undoing
yeah you know the one I mean
its not angel, its not devil
but something in between.

It a look that say's "I'm trouble"
and most definitely you are
dangerous when up close
exhilarating from afar

I know there's more to you than that
perhaps Trouble is your shield
an alter ego of protection
you wear til safe to be revealed

But I'm addicted now to Trouble
thinking perhaps she is the one
Will she share herself with me one day
Unmasked, undressed, undone.

I know you're worried bout your family name
and I understand I do
But will the name give consolation
to a life lived not for you?

Will they thank you for your misery
and the sacrifice you make
Will the name still give you comfort
when at night you lie awake

I never planned for this happen
truth is it took my by surprise
And now my love I'm petrified
that no more I'll see your eyes

For they will look up at another
someone else will you call Dear
all the time remembering
the days that we spent here

Do not tell me if you love me
or if your hearts like mine, unlocked
Simply come down to the harbour
board the steamer where she's docked

She sails upon the evening tide
gangways up at seven
If your hearts to run away with mine
come to cabin two eleven

And if duty is to keep you here
and you choose to play a part
remember there's always a place
for you inside my heart.

There is a faded headstone
I walk past every day
I've never stopped to read it
least not until today

The names are hard to make out
and the numbers just a blur
There's not very much to tell you
just who these people were

It seem they were a couple
Mary-Beth and John
She passed away aged 38
He died at 41

I imagine childhood sweethearts
who didn't live that long
A short but long lived love affair
that in death still lingers on

When I close my eyes to sleep at night,
I see you lying there,
alone in bed so far away,
it just doesn't seem quite fair.

If wishes worked like magic,
that's not what I would see.
For you would be much closer,
lying next to me.

Your head would be upon my chest,
your leg draped over mine.
Softly, you'd be sleeping,
and life would be just fine.

And as I drifted off to sleep,
your arms would hold me tight.
Together we would dream the truth,
of this and every night.

That this is how we're meant to be,
together, intertwined.
Just look at all the paths we took,
each other just to find.

Did you know that you inspire me
in so many things I write
from the perfect way to start the day
to how to spend each night

The tales of hope and triumph
are all based on you my friend
For the way you handle things in life
that would have me at wits end

I know sometimes it gets too much
and you think that you are failing
just remember calmness comes and goes
to the sea on which you're sailing

And even in the biggest storm
you're never on your own
any time of night or day
just please pick up the phone

So I wanted to say thank you
for all you've given me
the hope, the dreams, the poetry
that you have made me see.

Tennessee

A quiet cabin in the woods,
selling books and cups of joe.
It sounds to me quite perfect.
Just the place I'd like to go.

Wooden windows, shingled roof,
and floors you have to brush.
A place where time moves slower,
where there's never any rush.

A swing out on the back porch.
A rocking chair, or two.
Your little piece of heaven.
Do you think I could come too?

I'd sweep the floors and chop the wood.
Split logs and farm the land.
If that was what it took for me,
to be with you hand in hand.

At night we'd watch the fireflies,
and count stars up in the sky.
Sharing cocoa 'neath a blanket,
and perhaps some homemade pie.

Our life would be a simple one,
of laughter, love and joy.
A perfect new age fairytale,
how you the girl, met me the boy.

I want to run away with you,
and leave all this behind.
Can you imagine us together,
all the adventures we would find?

We could travel the world over
or find our spot and settle down
Somewhere by a lake
thats not too close to town.

We would live and love together
eat off the land and from the lake
Being careful to be careful
and never too much take

We would sit at night and write
under blankets on the swing
Talk forever to each other
til we knew everything

In the summer we'd go swimming
skinny dipping in the lake
And lie naked on the rocks to dry
the summer sun our bones to bake

In fall we would cut firewood
then split and stack the logs
go for long walks in the forest
you and me and all the dogs

Come winter time we'd hibernate
heating soup over the fire
make love upon the hearth rug
flames and passion rising higher

Then finally in spring time
as the ice begins to thaw
we would celebrate our life
and then do it all once more

And our poetry would tell of this
of our perfect little life
A life outside the rat race
free of pressure and of strife

I want to run away with you,
think of all the things we'll see
Can you imagine us together,
will you run away with me?

The trouble with Trouble
is many things
sometimes she just kinda
gets under your skin

And you know that its wrong
and you know it aint right
but you can't help but think
about her all night

And the next thing you know
you get crazy ideas
that don't make any sense
but at least are sincere

So what do you do
when Troubles all you see
do you go and find out
how much trouble she'll be?

Along the promenade we stroll
together hand in hand
Two strangers til this very night
both in a far off land

A chance encounter brought us here
but choices made us stay
Just how this night will end for us,
alone, I cannot say

We talk of home and family
of battles lost and won
We walk as stars and moonlight fade
replaced by the rising sun

At dawn we turn and head for home
or what passes for it now
And part upon your hotel steps
with a doffed hat and a bow

Tomorrow we will meet once more
in the centre of the city square
Where we can take a carriage ride
to examine this affair

One night alone is not enough
and I feel that I want more
I sense that you may feel the same
but I need to know for sure

So as we ride the promenade
sat together hand in hand
I will tell you how I feel for you
that you may understand.

Call a                          doctor/ plumber/ priest
My heart is               broken/ leaking/ deceased
My life is                   worthless/ so much better/ over
I'm going to              **** myself/ tell your wife/ Dover
How could you         leave me/ not know/ lie?
I hope you                return my stuff/ come back/ die
I'll never                   forget you/ forgive you/ go away
I need                        closure/ a DNA test/ to tell you I'm gay
Your                           face/ crotch/ top of your back
Is                                so beautiful/ lumpy/ unusually slack
Your                           ex/ mother/ best friend from school
Always made me      great coffee/ feel inadequate/ drool
I will                           miss you/ **** you/ stalk you forever
That way we can      be friends/ get away with it/ be together
I'm sorry                   you did this/ I did this /we failed
I promise to               pay you/ dye it back/ get you bailed
Please don't               leave me/ show the Polaroids/ write or call

(*delete as appropriate, just delete it all.....)