They built a nest of feathers and twigs
The sparrow, and the weaver
While admiring how the dam was built
By the curmudgeonly old ******
All day long they sang their song
Amidst the making of their dwellings
Then rest their heads and prepare
For their favorite story tellings

From the seasonings you use‬
‪To that oh so pleasant smell‬
‪The aromas from the kitchen ‬
‪In someways, casts a spell‬
They come from far
They come from wide
From tales of what you can provide
‪My stomach growls‬
‪My mouth has drool‬
‪My tastebuds yearn‬
‪My eyes get full‬
‪Using only the ingredients ‬in front of you ‬
‪You turn them into something beautiful‬

The stars come out and masquerade
Through the sky on full display
Resting on a bed of leaves
Just under the leaning tree
That grew tall along the grassy knoll
Crooked over earth and stone
The sun must say it’s last goodbye
To make way for the diamond sky
Jewels in clusters
Stay bright at night
To reach the stars and hold on tight

Was it the bell on his collar?
Or maybe his marbled pattern fur?
But really, it was his comfort
That I look back fond on how things were
He was as docile as ferocious
Each obstacle achieved
I’d send a stick one thousand feet
Just to be retrieved

He was just a greenhorn
A rookie of his trade
He was berated by his coworkers
For the mistakes that he made
He eventually got better
And earned a higher wage
And before you know it
He was locked in and engaged

A thunderous ovation!
He bowed down to the crowd
It lasted for a minute
The crowd was very loud
He stood there with conviction
His performance was elite
In the role in which he played
A liar and a cheat
There was no room for error
So he rendered it complete
As he smiled at the roses
Gathered by his feet

Tattooed on her shoulder
Was a colorless rose
Outlined as if it were dying
Given its pose
Hunched and dejected
By the path that it chose
Just to end up as colorless
And the ghost of a rose

The garden flowers
Are fresh with dew
The morning air
Is sweet perfume
Just past the gate
The sun’s awake
Farewell to the sleeping moon

You can lead a horse to water,
However, you can not make him read
Unless of course, that same horse
Joins a book stampede
With flamingos, turtles, monkeys, elephants, and geese
All carriers of literature
Carrying three, four books apiece
Ingrained in imagination
When nursery rhymes made sense
Hidden between the pages
Is where the situation’s best
The anticipation of conclusion
The ending of the tale
Will it be successful?
Or like so many others, fail?

I’m approaching a doorway
With the doors now ajar
That’s been protecting the contents
Of a once fallen star
They tried to contain it
But the bright light shone through
They were told not to enter  
But their curiosity grew  
A sacrifice, a martyr
With caution, subdued
They burnt into ashes
As if right on cue

The Grim Reaper lurks in waiting
A montage of my story told
My life flashes before my eyes
Though I haven’t yet grown old
A film of a fine life lived
Fighting for more time
Each minute that passes by
Cherished and refined
Peeking around each corner
Waiting for my soul to rise

In the deep dark dead of night
There’s charcoal colored skies
That suffocates the light, the stars, and fireflies
The atmosphere is crude
In an egocentric mood
An agitator, mischief maker
With something more to prove
Such as a smile lit up in the sky
Or a fluorescent crescent moon
To see and sit back and behold
This panoramic view
Because after all, there’s not much more
You can or cannot do

You don’t know what it’s like  in my shoes
Instead of love songs, I sing the blues
From heart ache to heart burn
I watch and I learn

Searching the globe
Until my heart implodes
Caving into my chest
No more and no less

Alone all my life
Through trouble and strife
I bow my head
Dejected, I fled

I ran and I ran
All over this land
I ran for cover
Over and over

Lost in a spiral
I’m stuck in denial
My cup runneth over
Hoping to discover

The meaning of life
But the sun is too bright
The moon and the stars
I’m stuck behind bars

Imprisoned since birth
Scouring the earth
For love understood
And for the greater good

I want to escape reality
Re-create my fantasies
Slip away, with the breeze
Track down an old memory

Will I find new discoveries
Reaffirm your trust in me
React to your blatant tease
Or lay myself down to sleep

Wake up, and sense relief
Hear your words and feel at ease
Do what’s right just to appease
From a novice’s expertise

They say good things come in threes
But will I let it get the best of me
Turn myself into a freak
Or will I find what it is I seek

You may choose to call me weak
Judge the company I keep
Run from danger, hide and seek
No more to be said as talk is cheap

Sow my oats I intend to reap
Fulfill promises I try to keep
Settle down, near a creek
In the moment, mine to seize

No more rules, I turn my cheek
Do or don’t, as I so please
End up arrested, handcuffed by police
Or walk the line till I succeed

I daydream in my daydreams
About the bright light up ahead
That’s even bright when my eyes are shut
Or just lying in my bed
I daydream on a colossal scale
Great goals to reach and more
But the light always shines its brightest when one is on the coastal shore

The words fly off the pages
The pages fly out of the book
Becoming doves towards heaven
At first glance or look
The sunlights on the water
The sailboat sets its sail
On to great adventures
That’ll someday turn to tales
About the fierce encounter
With the granddaddy of whales
🐳
Or the serpents in the water
The shark fins in plain sight
Then there’s the squid 🦑 with its long tentacles
That put up the biggest fight
These are tales that will be read
In books with written word
Then all will know first hand accounts
From the sailers that returned

That nudiustertian morning
(The day before last)
You put forth the effort
And stayed true to task
You were aware of the dangers
That no others could grasp
Yet you fought, though outnumbered
By taking a stance
From a cruel hearted world
Given chance after chance
Moving onwards and upwards
As we try and advance
Through our own secret battles
But only at first glance

The skies cast a periwinkle blue
Over vast stretches, in plain view
Along the boundless horizon
Over waters edge
Where the two connecting blues
Inevitably meet again
To decipher where the ocean and the sky begin

In the stillness of the midnight hour
When shadows rise, to take power
They seek out to maim; devour
Those who fear and cower
And in the thoughts of mindless men
That wait out their lives to be born again
There are no words to defend
As they stay silent, still, and idle

Relinquish all the fairytales
As reality sets in
A daydreamers worst nightmare
Halted, before it could begin

An imagination that’s run wild
Alluring and a tease
Condemned for all damnation
To capture and release

An epic journey adventure
To the depths of the unknown
Fear of falling and of failure
No comfort for the soul

Always facing danger
Adds to a building plot
Your choice of weapon is quite puzzling
After all, it matters not

The winners been decided
The battle has been won
The troops are still divided
The war is not quite done

Who shall play the hero
In this epic tale?
Who will save the princess?
Or locate the holy grail?

Is there a fire breathing dragon;
Lying amid the caves?
Does your army adhere to their king?
Is there not one of them that’s brave?

What will happen when you find the beast?
Will it suffer it’s defeat?
Or will you shiver in your timbers
Run and yell “retreat”!

The imagination is a fickle
thing
It must endure and run it’s course
It’s what conjured up a Pegasus
From a plain old rocking horse

It’s a gift for all the children
Blinded from the pain of life
It’s a comfort for a timid mind
To be the hero of the night.

Warped and numb
I sink into my bed
Feeling like if I continue on the track I’m on
I’ll soon be dead
Neurologic sensory overload
Brain is fried
It’s been turned to mush
Paralyzed, I think I’m what’s for lunch
Never felt so completely out of touch

When I speak, I’m hardly heard
There’s lack of power in my words
It’s like my words don’t carry weight
Until I write them on a page
Because the silence in my rage
Ignites when everything’s contained
And I say things out of spite
Despite how ugly and deranged
My sentiment might be
It’s a complete catastrophe
But, when said, I feel relief
From both my friends and enemies
That’s why it’s important just to say
Communicate; portray
The many shades of grey
And ideas put on display
That could turn to violence
If some things aren’t changed

He was catharsis with his paintings
He creatively reached release
Then he’d infuse it with the paints he used
And he painted what he pleased
Whether landscapes or a portrait
Or an abstract just the same
All express emotions
Like the love, the joy, the pain

The summers heat
In hot dry waves
Domino’s and lemonade
Sandals, shorts, bikini strings
Ocean views and summer flings
Relaxing down by the pool
Not a single thought of work or school
These are just some things we do
When we are a kid

It’s a treasure and a find
The sanctity of mind
A scarcity of complexity
Looked on by jealous eyes
It’s a glimmer of true hope
To whom do we all cry?
It’s addition by subtraction
That’s separate from divide
It’s a choice that we’ve been given
To heal the bitterness inside
It’s the attitude of gratitude
And the reason not to hide

‪A clock reminds us that time never stops ‬
‪Never forgoes it’s hold‬
‪So take time to read ‬
‪It may plant a seed‬
‪Of ideas that continue to grow ‬
‪There’s no time like the present ‬
‪Or a particular segment ‬
‪Of time to relinquish control ‬
‪So squeeze every minute ‬
‪While you’re still in it ‬
‪And you have some semblance of soul‬

‪I haven’t done much with my life‬
‪And before you know it, it’ll be gone‬
‪It’s not worth wallowing in my misery‬
‪Like some sad sad song‬
‪My perception needs to change‬
‪Shift, and rearrange‬
‪Pick the lock that’s on my shackles‬
‪And free myself from this cage‬
‪Stand up to my demons‬
‪Allow myself to breathe‬
‪It’s not what I’ve always wanted‬
‪But it’s more than what I need.‬

Impoverished boys
Homemade toys
Not enough to eat
Yet, still their smiles sparkle bright
As they don’t comprehend defeat
Brand new day
Kids at play
No one‘s keeping score
They play for just the fun of it
Who could ask for more?

He could disappear like magic
Out of sight and mind
He could disappear completely
Or just listen and unwind
To the sounds that fill the room
The whispers and the things assumed
About he who left us way too soon
To morph inside a big cocoon
Then spread his wings and fly
But my question still, is why?
Why vanish to the stars
While we’re in traffic in our cars
You could be halfway to Mars
Or not nearly at all

A kaleidoscope filled with neon colors
A flashback filled with thought
Visualizing every lesson
Of everything you’ve ever been taught
Hoping to find your peace
Down a narrow path
The effort makes you tired
But you somehow have to laugh
Because what is it all for?
A caged up spinning rat
Testing us for observation
Telling us how the earth is flat
Messing with our minds
Big brother in the sky
They’ll tell you I went crazy
But not the reason why

A kiss by the wind
In between trees
A kiss on the forehead
And one on the cheek
My mouth has a grin
When I kiss your skin
When your lips touch mine
And the stars are aligned
As are the planets
The stars filled the void
Something created
Something destroyed
The yin and the Yang
It dangles and hangs
On the coattails of a whisper forgotten

Sunlight through my window
In between the hanging shades
Bouncing off the mirror
Where much darkness still remains
Brightening up the dresser
The closet and door the same
Introducing morning
In a short game of charades

There was no need to fret
The night that we first met
When we sang together
A perfectly matched duet
You struck a cord
While it thundered and poured
To a packed house trying not to get wet
We each sang a verse
For better or worse
With the lights shining down on the set
We weathered the storm
While cozy and warm
On a night that I’ll never forget

I remember the day
I sacrificed the sun
The moon and all the stars
The laughter and the fun
I remember the day
The day I saw you last
Summer in the backyard
Horseplay in the grass
I remember the day
Your arms fell by your side
A tear fell from your eye
All gravity defied
I remember the day
You took me by surprise
Making funny faces
Seducing with your eyes
I remember the day
You took my hand in vein
Did your best to explain
How teardrops mix with rain

Why venture on in a trivial pursuit
When you quibble and pout
eating passionate fruit
You hunger, you need
You wish to proceed
Despite all the hurdles
You constantly leap
To avoid any conflict
Any variance of trust
You do what you will
You do what you must

The pages lift our conscious mind
Through stories that stand the test of time
Truth and tales can both be found
On pages that are leather bound
Imagination is in full effect
And is often how our time is spent
A holiday, or some time alone
Can inform with more knowledge known

I remember moments of bliss
Which takes me back to the time
When our two lips kissed
And you became mine
We knew not what love was
But we loved our time shared
Like the games that we played
Hide and seek, truth or dare
Those are the times
Which none can compare
And in your eyes I stared
Like a breath of fresh air

A smile, a wink
Holding hands in the park
Made up of magic
That ignited a spark
Innocent and pure
We danced and we sang
Laughing out loud
Seemingly nothing to gain
Only lighthearted fun
Under trees in the sun
And when all was said and done
Our victories were won
And although they were small
We stood proud and stood tall
Because we had each other
In the fall, after all

1000 poems speak volumes
A picture has no words
There is beauty in the two of them
It’s just something that occurs
If they’re done correctly
Each one forms a work of art
To be read or looked upon
As matters of the heart

Moon shadow glistening over salt water seas
Beach sand covered feet
Salt water breeze

Full moon looking like a big wheel of cheese
Calm and serine
Mind put at ease

Waves crashing at the base of the beach
The sky seems within reach
The moment
increased
By a fatal disease

Lying down;
Resting in peace
No need to worry
It’s just a figure of speech

My fear was evanescent
But it happened all the same
Shouting out my own inadequacies  
Wondering who’s to blame
Instead of being whimsical
While dancing in the rain
If just not to face reality
And return from whence I came
Back to meet my maker
The collector of my soul
I’d leave today if it were up to me
But I have yet to meet my goal
To overcome my obstacles
And forgive my biggest foes
And to strip myself of armor
And be totally exposed

The waves break to form a mist
Against the violence in the sea
Where head on head collisions
Are a common sight to see
Their magnitude, tremendous
With power to be sure
It’s a spectacle on full display
And its natural state is pure

Fingers interlocking
A momentary glance
A silly smirk from ear to ear
The scent of sweet romance
Connecting hearts form one
Where nothings left to chance
Asking if she’ll go with me
To the ballroom dance

You exacerbate each moment
As though I wasn’t there
Invisible to feelings
That let me know you care
With your never ending laughter
Your crocodile tears
Your general misunderstanding
Of how to disappear
Fade into the night
But out of all the darkness
Comes a glowing light
A serpent and a sphere
A metal shield and spear
To battle back the demons
That suffocate with fear
As you skulk around and ****
Without a chosen God
And manipulate your victims
With just a subtle nod
You’re the villain in my thoughts
Who can’t be sold or bought
Just a cold stare and a place in hell
Where your gifts are often sought
But you have no soul to steal
You just keep spinning your own wheels
Chasing after every high
To know exactly how it feels
You’re brutal and your crass
Without a touch of class
You’ll go down in history books
As how to finish last

Emerging from a blossomed lotus‬
‪She’d found enlightenment and chi‬
‪A vital element, to be at one‬
‪With all life and energy ‬

‪The pappus of the dandelion ‬
‪Floats away the seed‬
‪Until all have gone, with budding fruit ‬
‪To fertilize and breed‬

To sprout and be reborn
Seeking warmth in rays of sun
And shelter from the storm
That inevitably will come

It’s nature we should nurture
Find balance, inner peace
It’s within our rights to have it
And well within our reach

There’s a noodle in my strudel
A pastry light and brown
We don’t know how it got there
But was lucky it was found
To bite into my strudel
A surprise, you could tell
Could cause me to get sickly
But eventually get well

Somewhere in the distance
The world comes to an end
Some call it a horizon
Some call it their only friend
Either way, the sun will set
The moon will rear its head
And gleam just like a lamppost light
Through the window on my bed

‪I’m taking in nicotine ‬
‪Coughing up smoke‬
‪Air becomes fleeting ‬
‪Volunteering to choke‬
‪Leaving me breathless ‬
‪Yet, unwilling to cope‬
‪Taking a slide ‬
‪Down a slippery ***** ‬
‪I’m at my wits end‬
‪And at the end of my rope‬
‪Until I quit once and for all‬
‪Because death is no joke‬