I'm clever almost never
That's untrue, I am quite daft
I once came close to dying,
I got stuck under a raft
Sarcasm is my strong suit,
I use it when I can
This fact became a nuisance,
When I worked for Uncle Sam

In class I played the clown,
I was often tightly wound
Always acting out
The court jester to the crown
I know how this must sound
A rotten apple on the ground
Just don't beat me while I'm down
I might shock you with the knowledge
I still have parents who are proud

See, Im verbally proficient
Surprisingly efficient
I'd cast you out like bait
Cause I’d much rather be fishing
I'd cut you down with such precision
If this was my decision
Without any permission
I'd stitch up your incision
That seeps down in your torso
And turn it into a tradition

My verbiage is unrelenting
Savage and outstanding
There's thought behind my speak
I'm a primed linguistic freak
Destroying all on-comers
Feasting on the weak
Tiptoeing like a sneak
Subdued and quite discrete
Let's hope we never meet
If we do you should retreat
Along with your whole fleet
Like the shepherd to his sheep
Go on head back to momma
Continue ******* on her tete

You can't handle what I'm dishing out
It only adds to my mystique
I'm steadily reminiscing
Back to when Caesar led the Greeks
Conquering all his enemies  
Well established as elite

Your eyes were shaded by a vision
When stricken with a nasty condition
Embarking on failed missions
Should I even bother dissing?
All while leaving a lasting impression
On the mouth you never were kissing
To only end up missing
The target you were *******
Without help or assisting

From beginning to the end
I'm burning bridges I can't mend
Breaking all the rules no one would think to bend
Born to live until we're dead
No more all this wishing
That you were dead instead
Using the brains inside our head
And coming to a conclusion
Your brains' been underfed
Relying on the masses
To muster up intent
Resolving every problem
With a bandaid made of lead
Surviving on a crumb of bread
Its only temporary
A fazed out forgotten trend
Like disco and bellbottoms
Or mohawks and shaved heads

It's time we payed back our debt
Make sure the homeless are all fed
Put these issues to rest
Tucked away in bed
It's not time for story telling
The fairytales of past regret
Back before our needs were met
Finding solutions to our problems
We mustn't ever forget

I'm having an affair with words
They take away my breath
Words tell me what I need to hear
Without missing a step

Words work on my emotions
I'm transcended by their displays
There's legitimate anticipation
Within each and every page

When I look away for too long
There is a longing that takes place
The wonder of conclusion
Vanished, without a trace

Words help me to liberate my own ideas
In the subtlest of ways
Or when my faith seems in doubt
I am enlightened by a phrase

Their sense of humor is unequaled
Words teach us and inform
They can be as cold as ice
Or soothing, kind, and warm.

Words hold many of life's answers
To questions that we seek
When written, we can convey
Much more than when we speak

Words empower, words are strong
They help decipher right from wrong
Words can guide you,
Lead you home
Words are your friends
When you're alone

Words can help, or they can harm you
Depending on their use
Words can fool you, or misguide you,
Lie, or tell the truth

What I love, are words' transparency
Written right there in black and white
If misconstrued, words can lead to tragedy
Although the stories' plot is trite

We must take part in the mastery
Of each and every words avail
So that the notions we wish to ration out
Are nothing but...
The finest of detail.

Precision personified
Never at a loss for words
Or ****** with a mouth for war
That's when devastation's heard

Instead, a calming smoothness
Inspiration from inside
This, in my opinion, is the greatest use of words
And the peak of humanities pride.

What do you see when you're looking back at me?
A smile so personified
You're unaware you've been deceived

But if you look deep into my eyes
You'll catch a cloudy undertone
A sadness that you'd never guess
Is mixed with the grandest rage you'll ever know

The mask we wear acts as a filter
To shield others from the truth
But the most jovial of my days
Were lost way back in my youth

The smile, a reminder
Of days from long ago
No longer any relevance
****** into the undertow

Inside the belly of a whale
My life ended, as a meal?!
Let's take a look back on it now
And all that it entailed

To quote the great Captain Ahab
"Thar she blow"!
Or the Doors' Jim Morrison, who said "This is the strangest life I've ever known"

To send away the demons
You must cast the first stone
But be sure to have a witness
Never try it while alone

This ensures your safety
Keep your distance from the scene
Maybe you'll wake tomorrow
And it will all have been a dream

Be sure to check all of your limbs
Try remaining in one whole piece
Compelling as this may seem
Still no need to call a priest

Nor the admiral of the Navy
Or our commander in chief
They'd just as soon have you locked away
Right after they've been briefed

Thrown inside the dungeon
Tossing away the keys
Oh, you'll have your day in court
With a story that not a soul believes

Instead just hold your head down
Walk away, sight unseen
Accept it as a learning tool
Claim you were only being green

The curiosity of a cat
Landed you inside the belly of the beast
And if you hadn't thought quickly on your feet
You'd have been a savory feast

However unbelievable
This somehow is the truth
Not just another fairytale
But be sure to have some proof

Something from your journey
Something visible and real
Unfold it like an onion
Shed a tear with every peel

Help to remove every layer
Until you reach its core
No more self discovery
For you to explore

Just misguided youth
Pent up energy in spades
Clear of all transgressions
That caused you to disengage

Fall back on your laurels
Wash away the mange
Look over the horizon
Start fresh and turn the page

Reread every chapter
With the knowledge you now hold
Except this time around
Try doing what you're told

You'll be shocked by what you see
No more cloudy haze
No more hiding behind masks
Only clarity for days.

Uninspired
Unemployed
Need something to fill the void
Be it love or be it peace
It’s too high up, where I can’t reach
I wish I could say I’ve tried and failed
Only God knows that my ship has sailed
I’m way off course, I ride the waves
Hoping that, I’ll be saved
A hand to grab me and pull me in
A new life waiting to begin
I take a step to a sight unseen
I’ve lost my drive and have no dreams
Nothing for me to seek
It appears my ship has sprung a leak
I make promises that I can’t keep
The days give way while I’m fast asleep
I find a land where trees can speak
A guiding whisper in the leaves
The land provides all that I need
On solid ground the ocean deep
The mountains high up at its peak
A single tear runs down my cheek
The void’s now filled and I’m complete

I lost my inspiration long ago
Not quite sure where it's gone to
Somewhere around the time we went our separate ways
You know that I still think about you...
I still think about you.

My heart could not bare to be alone
Or spend a long time without use
I know that it's not your problem anymore
But after all, you were my muse.

Until this very day, I stare into the sky
Wondering where things went wrong
I admit I made mistakes along the way
Mistakes that can't be fixed with a song

And although I've managed to move along
The things I said then, still haunt my days
But I can't take it back now... No, I can't take it back now
"Forgiven" is just a fleeting word we say

Ever since that time, clouds have hovered overhead
With thunderstorms hot on my trail
I'm just waiting for the skies to open up
But I'm well aware that ship has sailed

I pray, that someday we'll wash ashore
Unto an Island made only for two
Then, we can live out the rest of our days
Under the shade like castaways, if we so choose.

This can’t be what’s really going on now
Taking it in, slick grin, mixed in with the same scowl

None of it matters,  
What’s done is done
I could’ve tried harder
I could have won

It’s time to save, or give away freely
It’s all insane, please stack it up neatly

I can be wrong, darlin’, I’m only one man
It’s borderline freezing
Come, take my hand

They swept you away, and let you down easy
To my dismay, repeating, exceeding  

Every single day I live, gives away it’s true meaning
Left alone in my bed, could be self defeating

I raise up from my bed, tell us what you’re feeling
I’m in need of aid, to begin the healing

All that is important,
Under the stitching and the seems,
Is a vast, solemn assortment, of runaway dreams

Lost in your smile
Lost in your smile
I want to get lost in your smile
Have that feeling I haven't felt in a while
See the twinkle that gleams in your eyes
Like the stars way up in the sky

Feel your hair tickle the nose on my face
As I hold you close; clenched, embraced
I want to whisper sweet lies in your ear
How we'll run off and just disappear

Hold your hands, together in mine
Forever, until the end of all time
I want to press my lips on your forehead, so dear
Make you feel like there's nothing to fear

Rest your head on my shoulder
As we grow older and older
Caught up in a spell to which there is no cure
And never knowing what life has in store

Love, reigns over any ill will
That's hidden, out of view or concealed
There's been nothing more powerful
Nothing so strong
That filled what was empty until you came along

Nothing ever so moving
Nothing more as intense
Could have pleased my dry palette
You've somehow managed to quench

What loving proof, is deemed unfair
If you danced away like Fred Astaire
No timing, rhyming, or cold stare
Can equally compare

The anguish if I lost you; dear
From the once conqueror of fears
Holding on to memories, Then ****, it disappears

We could reminisce when we grew old
To way back in the day
Together, holding hands
From Brooklyn to the Bay

The cost is just a fraction
Of the amount that I would pay
To reach our love’s conclusion
If only for a day

You always tried to encourage me
When my head was in the clouds
And if our love became complacent
There was laughter to be found

You always kept me guessing
With your flare for life itself
I thought about confessing
The hand that I was dealt

It’s impossible to recreate
The pictures frame by frame
No time to rush, no time to waste
Our love could never fade

We set it free into the universe
With a message soft and pure
It traveled on an unknown course
But it was too hard to ignore

It’s mission to connect the dots
Of love and hates demise
It would appear you put me on the spot
Through a lame disguise

The gift of love in ones grasp
Will surely slip away
Don’t focus on the  memories of past
When there’s still some time today

A way to compensate your fears
A way to feel redeemed
To spend the duration of my life
With the woman of my dreams

I found my old box of markers
I'm going to create some art
Not sure exactly what it is I have in mind
But I shouldn't put the horse before the cart

Mainly I just doodle, I'm whimsical and free
Sometimes, I draw straight from the heart
I enjoy using lots of different colors
While making others feel as though they are a part

Pictures of things in all shapes and sizes
I've got creativity just oozing out my pours
Could be a fierce dragon, or fluttering butterflies
But their beauty could never be ignored

I'm always opened to new suggestions
Ideas can be contagious in many ways
My mind does tend to go off on tangents
And a picture says what a thousand words can say

Some pieces can be pinned up on the freezer
Others, should be framed as works of art
You will never know until the work is finished
And you can't finish, until you start.

Today is a new day.
A fresh start.
I move forward to what is to come.
There is hope for my future.
I work towards a goal and do not stop until I have reached it.
Then, I make a new goal to work towards.
I am relentless.
There will be obstacles.
I do not succumb to the endless distractions in and out of my line of sight.
I will be heroic.
Taking on the challenges that lay in my path as I make my way.
It will not be easy.
It is my expectation that it will not be, and if it comes easy to me then I am not doing it right.
That has always been the way.
I bask in the idea that there are some people out there who would like to see me fail.
It is all the motivation I need to obtain the success I have envisioned for myself.
I will triumph.
I will leave a legacy behind me that I am proud of, that will stand the test of time.
Death may come to my body, but in the minds of others, I will live for an eternity.

No time to refine the conceptual mind
Patterns are formed, developed,  defined.
Look within and you should find
Who bares the fruit at the end of the vine

Is reaching the pinnacle of perpetual life redefined  
Worth the risk of committing a crime?
Go, hide away.....
Run for cover.....
You can get what's been lost some other time

In the shadows as in the light
You still shine
Like a shooting star, afar, on a cloudless night
Past the moon, so soon, so bright

If you deny, it's a lie, not the truth
From all we were taught and we learned in our youth
All alone or in a group
Everywhere that you look there is proof

He who climbs the tallest tree
Has the rights to the fruit
Whether he's disheveled,
Or in a suit
Eye on the prize, worlds collide
No dispute.

You're in my head
You're on my mind
I think about you all the time
I'll pick my heart from off the vine
And turn it in to a fine wine

Days go by and I wonder why
Our lives got so intertwined
I play the tape back on rewind
Not sure of what I expect to find

Some might say I'm walking blind
Into the darkness of the night
But you're the sunshine in my eyes
That guides my way, no regard for sight

Even on a cloudy day
In drenched clothes caught out in the rain
And my entire life in disarray
You're still perfect in every way

My reward for being me
Is the sweetness of a jellybean
Or the softness of a puffy cloud
Awaiting me in my dreams

Journey to a far off land,

Forget about events transpired

Stare into the bright lit tube

Powered through its wires

Click the switch, surf the waves

Before deciding on a channel

That allows you to open up your mind

Never more than you can handle

Relax

Grab a snack

Sit there in your underwear for all I
care

Ponder life's mystique

Let your worries drip away

With your drivel as you sleep

Covet every moment

Every sitcom and commercial

No matter how risqué

Or otherwise controversial

Laugh until your hearts content

Clap when the audiences cheer

That you should become part of the culture

Surrounded by your peers

Cry with every parting

Of favorite characters parts portrayed

The actors most relatable

The true "stars" of the trade

For tomorrow is another day

To face the daily grind

No fast forwarding through the days events

Or pausing, until quitting time  

Set the DVR, to view at some other time

Shut your eyes and get some rest

Or Netflix and chill and hit rewind

Play back every missed detail

You somehow overlooked

Or better yet, hit the on/off switch

And open up a book.

There is a fungus growing
On my feet between my toes
I think they call it toe cheese
Admittedly, it’s gross

My hope is that it goes away
Or at least draws to a close
I sprayed it with some medicine
At the root of where it grows

Suggestions are all welcomed
As I weigh the cons and pros
The time I spent in treatment
Wasn’t what I chose

If I could hide it I would do so
Like the boogers in my nose
But there’s really nothing that can compare
To the fungus between my toes

There’s itching and discomfort
It’s will, it has imposed
Maybe I’ll just wait it out
Or until something explodes

I realize that this topic,
Is silly and obscure
I just wish that it would go away
I wish they’d find the cure!!

I want to climb up a redwood tree
Kiss the face staring back at me
I want to cry into the ocean
Be overcome with emotion

I want to sing in the open wind
Explain to you my devotion
I want you near as the fire burns
I don't want to cause a commotion
But I've succumb to your potion

I want to walk holding hand in hand
Through the park like couples do  
As long as I feel the notion
Do whatever you choose to

I want to feel your body next to mine
At night in bed or at the checkout line
As we grow old like a real fine wine
My heart belongs to you

I want to share in what the future holds
Carve it out into a plaster mold
I want to share my world with you
If you'll allow me to
Don't let my heart grow cold

Is a **** considered art?
Especially if done well?
Own your stink and wear it well
Mastered, certain, to excel

Let it go, loud and proud
Hot air rises, I just found out
Subtle hints, a certain smell
Right before the dinner bell

Try spinach, cabbage, as well as milk
For the best results
I think you’ll find it helpful
If you were to start a cult

Train yourself to **** at will
Fog the mirror near the windowsill
I meant no harm
Relax, act chill

Pay it off, with a dollar bill
Then blame the dog
For a cheap thrill

A silent assassin
Creeps inside your nose
Just one whiff is all you’ll need
For you to become exposed

A toxic mix so strong it knows
To run for cover before it blows

Dog snores in a dim lit room
His coat is shiny
Just got groomed
He wakes up from a noise downstairs
His curiosity peeked, leads to an inquisitive stare
He hulks up like a pit bull, with nothing to fear
While he’s softer than a teddy bear
His eyes are brown,
round, not square
Shifting himself into 2nd gear
A bark so loud, it fills the air
Danger, I sense danger,
Of that I’m well aware
Times like these are seldom
Times like these are rare
A little like a scare, in a dogs nightmare
Protecter of his masters care
And the noise downstairs
He likes his toys
He’s debonaire
My best friend, with room to spare
Intelligent, would describe him fair
With so much love to give and share
Not everyone can feel this way
Of this, I am gratefully aware

I bake my words, served to you with love
Until they've simmered through and through
And although they may seem meaningless
I still recommend you slowly chew

There is a flavor to my words
The ingredients, I myself grew
Each morsel hand picked to be used
For the stew made for just us two

A dash of this and a dash of that
All while conscious not to include trans fat
A healthy meal of friendly chat
That's where I see us, that's where we're at

The stove acts as the interpreter
That transcends consumption into fact
And it's the essence of a home cooked meal
Which allows for opposites to attract

I put my soul in to my soul food
I stir up the fun in my fondue
Just as I do with my advice to you
To be washed down with a frothy brew

I speak with good intentions
I'll use my past experience as proof
You'll see....
I'll have you dancing beside your tastebuds
Before this evening's through
With song in heart and stomach full

Dear Departed Friend


Ten years ago today
A good friend passed away
It's not so much he died
But the circumstances at play

I found him lying dead
In a red pool of his blood
He handled his inner demons
The best way that he could

His pain had been released
And was laid to rest in peace
But leaving in his wake
No answers could we reach

He wasn't in poor health
Never asked for any help
He was always in good spirits
Held the aces he was dealt

His demeanor never worsened  
He was a very well liked person
Always offering a hand
Kindness, he was well versed in

It was just the man he was
He smiled just because
Always looking out for others
But he did like a good buzz

He could put away his liquor
A tolerance that never quivered
But even he surpassed his limits
And with gun in hand he pulled the trigger

A disturbing revelation
For his loved ones in the end  
A discerning final memory
Of my dear departed friend

You broke the chains that bound you
You stepped out of your own way
You headed down to the bayou
With a heart that’s brave

Would you love me if I had no money?
Would you pack your things and leave?
I know this may sound funny
But I can hardly breathe

I have stood beside you
I’ve backed you through it all
I never could have imagined
How in love with you I’d fall

I confess I took you for granted
Looking back, a sight to see
To be standing right beside me
As the transcending king and queen.

If you promise not to hurt me
I'll give you all I have
Don't you dare desert me
That'll only make me mad

Never break the circle of trust
It will merely make me angry
When in doubt, shout out loud
You know that drives me crazy

Turn in your keys when you're done
Be sure to lock the door behind you
Take all of your belongings
I ought not have to remind you

I'll be waiting with open arms
For your anticipated return
Nonjudgmental looks of censure
Only unyielding concern

That you return back to me safely
Unscathed or worse for wear
Humbled, yet aware
Till our love is mended and repaired

I've only ever aimed to please you
Bring you joy where there was none
Day to night and night to day
Under moon, the stars, and sun

I promised to provide for you
Protect you from all harm
But nothing ever seems to go as planned
It's what gives life it's charm

Mutually agreeing
No battle to be won
No making up excuses
What took forever to get done

There's a sensible explanation
Why things are the way they are
No boundaries or obstacles
Could make me feel I've gone too far

The end from our perspective
Maybe a minute, week, or years
It's unknown what's in store for us
Don't be suppressed by fear

Spread your wings and fly my bird
Embark on dreams set way too high
As you soar up into the open sky
Happy you're alive.

Just a moment of silence please
No point in looking back
Prayers for all our fallen men
For their-heroic acts

Dreams were lost in battle
Fathers, brothers, sons
How are we to carry on
With no more smoking guns?

There’s simplicity in chaos
Our bodies still feel numb
Underneath the battle scars
Are layers tightly spun

What act of valor did our soldiers learn?
Watching men die never to return
Life goes on, until it burns
Wasting time, no great concern.

They’re still fighting far from home
Into the abyss of the unknown
Caught up in a spiderweb
Made from flesh and bone

We owe a debt of gratitude
While our way of life remains
A safety measure as it were
And all that it contains

Stand up tall and salute
To the flag we share with pride
While nations all around us fall
How many more must die?

Wars are fought but never won
That’s why we must carry on
We pray for peace under the sun
Embracing all that we’ve become

Our voice and thoughts burn in our brains
There’s still hope which we now contain
Nothing comes without change
A life of peace, that still remains

I wish I weren't so shy
Had the confidence to try
Set my paralysis aside
And just be satisfied I tried

But the fear is all consuming
That I may somehow be denied
My inner demons multiplying
Disabling my once sound mind

I'm socially inept
There's nowhere left to hide
Cozy, snuggled in my comfort zone
While I'm left swallowing my pride

I'm conflicted by a yearning
A feeling deep inside
To seek out a companion
The Bonnie to my Clyde

A forever tender lover
Our bodies intertwined
But I can't seem to get past the part
Where I look them in the eye

It's got little to do with my self image
I think I'm one hell of a good
guy
It's just so rare that I meet someone
That's in rhythm with my vibe

It may be the signal that I'm sending out
I've gone along for the free ride
I'm always caught up in some traffic jam
That's wasting all my time

Traveling down a winding road
Without a map to guide
Headed toward the future
And not the past I left behind

I'm constantly contemplating
Whether I'm the one that's to decide
Am I qualified to be tempting fate
By choosing my own bride

Did I miss my window
Should I peek out through the blinds
Will I be disappointed by my bride to be
Or be content with whom I find

Shall I put faith into the process
Leave my worries by the side
Find a place to settle down
Recite the words that bind

I know my reservations
To you may seem benign
But the clock is tick tick ticking
As the days go slipping by

Standing on an island
Far from the city lights
Eating lots of coconuts
Taking little bites

Waiting to be saved
By a passing ship
Or a plane that’s overhead
I sure could use a lift

Fending off all predators
With a rock and stick
These are not just metaphors
I just can’t get a grip

I take walks through the jungle
Not sure of what I’ll find
Searching for some sustenance
To somehow stay alive

I’m not quite sure how I landed here
Or if I’ll ever leave
Just one man on an island
Equipped with all I need

However, lonely without companionship
That’s the thing I miss the most
Plus my friends and family
All while pinned along this coast

My days, they run together
My ways, they fall apart
On this land so desolate
It’s completely off the charts

My memories are all I have
There are those I choose to ignore
Was I sent here by design
Or did I wash ashore

Through the sleepy eyes
Of an average man
Devised to rule
With a heavy hand

Built an army
Of men with dreams
That formed a bond
Through camaraderie

We won the war
Of transparency
But at what cost
Was bloodshed freed

The rich, the poor
The in-between
Hold up dollar signs
And salivate with greed

To watch it grow
What was once a seed
And harvest crops
With ingenuity

Reaping the rewards
From the fallen trees
We mustn’t take for granted
The clean air that we breathe

With a healthy winning attitude
And prosperity achieved
Now you and I can carry on
Chasing after dreams

Roaming this earth with eyes wide open
Each step leading to an inevitable conclusion
Praying, wishing, hoping
To be vanquished from delusion

Apologetically inclined to greet the masses
With whom there could be no substitution
Allowing me my penance
For a most obscure intrusion

Announcing my presence the only solution
No witchcraft involved or magical potion
Just plain and simple
A raise and promotion

Bewildering faces at the thought or the notion
No dry eye in sight
Nay a gentle touch
Nor equivalent motion

An overlooked confession
An unwanted devotion
That inevitably always leads
To a misguided explosion

Thunderstruck and moved by emotion
Brisk and alive we set aside our aggression
And conduct without hesitation
The mathematical quotient

A perfect infusion of time and of space
Taught only at the most expensive institutions
Or figured out in Layman's terms
By just listening to our intuition

Praying, waiting, wishing, hoping.