From the moment that I saw her
It was her radiant allure
Having left a trail of broken hearts
In pieces on the floor
It added to her mystique
Her abilities, and more
Whispers heard from ear to ear  
Grew her legend and her lore

Rage
There is a rage that’s festering inside me
A rage so close to despair
Had I known it would be to my detriment
I would’ve been more prepared

I did not see it coming
It’s been hidden for so many years
Now it’s trying to resurface
It really grinds my gears

I do not get along with my demons
A sighting of one is quite rare
Mine is staring back at me
Unforgiving and unfair

He hits me, he hurts me
He’s always right there
But despite all of my complaining
I think we make a real good pair

Someone told me long ago
There’ll be rain before the storm
I didn’t know how far they’d go
To tell me I’d been warned
Then something caught me by surprise
I didn’t even realize; the truth
That the sunshine had broken through
It was shining down on you
The way it glistened on your hair
It was to me; so unfair
How something so beautiful and rare
Had evaded me for such time
You were so fine
It blew my mind
Then we gently brushed our skin
It was the beginning of something;
I was so sure
But then you turned away and walked out of the door
But I just had to know your name
So I ran after you to explain
And express to you what was on my mind
I asked you to accompany me
You smiled at my bravery
And were smitten by my charm
All the rain went away; and I was warm
It was the sunshine having its own way
And every day since that day;
I’ve felt reborn
Maybe it was the rain before the storm;
It’s hard to tell
For in love with you; I fell

The smallest creature walks the earth
Wondering where the rainbows are
He’s seen them in the past
He’s seen them from afar
He’s not in any hurry
As he walks along the trail
But the sun is nonexistent
As the scenery grows pale
The clouds have grown too heavy
The wind is on the gain
The sky has turned from blue
Into a melancholy grey
Then the floodgates opened
Pouring down with rain
But out of it came beauty
Too hard to explain
A rainbow in all its glory
That it tickled his small brain
The creature stood in awe
He wanted to be sure
That if it were a rainbow
He need not wonder anymore
Once he was assured
He went about his way
Wishing that the rainbows
Would surface everyday

Rainbows and waterfalls
A steady misty breeze
Different species everywhere
Hidden in the trees
A tropical oasis
A paradise of peace
A getaway from everyday
Where the woods replace the streets
With the sound of crashing water
She sings out natures song
With chirps and squeaks
Lows and peaks
Maintaining all along
A steady path
Amidst the jungles wrath
Where weak gives way to strong

The rain had come and gone
The sun shone bright and proud
We all gazed up at the spectacle
At the rainbow in the clouds
All the colors of the spectrum
The *** of gold a tease
Waiting on the other side
The end just past the trees

From a drizzle to a pour
Cold raindrops hit the floor
Splashing down where puddles form
Seeking shelter from the storm
No *** of gold at rainbows end
Clues I know not where or when
As gray skies hover overhead
Under covers in my bed
Pitter patter on the roof
Is all I need to hear as proof
As the sound on window panes
Is all that lasts or still remains

‪May we learn to read the leaves‬
‪By their patterns on the ground ‬
‪And listen to their rustled words‬
‪That the wind helps to pronounce ‬

‪May we learn to read the leaves‬
‪By their color in the spring‬
‪Or from falling down, unattached ‬
‪To any living thing ‬

I’m surrounded by stories that I haven’t yet read
stories of my childhood that I was read to in bed

Read to in bed,
Read to in bed

The pictures
The pages
Something to be said

The dragons and demons
All needing to be fed
The last final pages
Always leads to “The End”

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

In the garden of the fallen
The reaper spreads his seeds
Only one thing seems to grow
Among the brush and weeds
Ravens perch as gravestones bloom
And the reaper sows his crops of doom
The loss of souls, some too soon
Rest at peace under the howling moon.

I write to rebel against silence
With words that are chosen by me
Putting my pen to the paper
I spill my proverbial beans
I tell all with no hesitation
My secrets are blood on my sleeve
If only to rage against violence
And live my whole life comfortably
But the times make it harder to do so
With all that I hear and I see
Thousands of innocent dying
By wars being waged overseas

I reclaim my life that was taken from me
I’m now at peace with the moon and the stars
Yet, I still raise my fist to the heavens above
For leaving me with so many scars
It isn’t so easy to make a good life
Expectations can be through the roof
I am a perfect example of that
I’m standing here as living proof
The goals still remain
To reclaim my name
And rid myself of the worry
That causes the pain
That’s where my peace lies
As I dwell the round earth
To my God-given name
I was given at birth

She walked in puddles
Under the willows in the rain
With an umbrella, for the weather
Walking down the lane
Her cottage around the bend
With chimney stacks; red
A short walk to reach comfort
For a hot meal and soft bed
She wore a simple yellow dress
Not dressed to impress
Because she knew the weather forecast for the day
She entered into her home
Made of mortar, bricks, and stone
An inviting home, in every sort of way
She settled down to rest
And wasn’t expecting any guests
When she heard a sudden knock ✊🏻 upon the door
She was startled quite a bit
The porch light wasn’t lit
So she couldn’t make out who it was for sure
She asked who it was out loud
But didn’t hear a sound
And that only made her concerned that much more
She turned on the porch light
There was nothing there in sight
But the knock was way too loud to ignore
So she went and got a knife
To fend off for her life
Or for whatever they had in mind or in store
Then came broken glass
A man was coming fast
Now that he had worked his way into the house back door
She screamed for all to hear
But her voice had disappeared
She was frozen in her fear
And quite as a mouse
🐭
He chased, she swung
They fought, he won
And now that man is sleeping soundly on the couch
He knew it wasn’t good
When she was lying in her own blood
When he woke up and saw what he had done the next day
He took some time to think
Had several high proof drinks
And decided to keep her as a conversation piece
ashtray


It’s sad when evils done
And even sadder when it wins
But now that story’s over
So a new one can begin

Red leaves in the forest
Through the thickets comes
A hefty steed and a rider
In a red hood and red gloves
She was headed to her grandmas
To see if she was well
She didn’t live nearby
So it was hard for her to tell
She made it to her grandma
And everything was swell
But something wasn’t right
Grandma was much more hairier and smelled
And with a certain look
She saw grandma’s big teeth
And then she saw an arm
By the bed underneath
She looked up once again
And stared into its eyes
And said the hungry wolf
On such a big surprise
“The better to eat you with my dear”
And he leapt up and devoured
That poor girl; little red
So the story now is over
Because everyone is dead

A red spot in the sea of green
As I stare into the trees
Wings, and feathers, and a beak
Leaves me silent without words to speak
Crowned in all its majesty
Spreads its wings to fly
Swoops and glides to lovers peak
Not lacking skills to try
All alone, not in a flock
A solitary bird
Flying all around from here to there
Leaves me speechless without words
With twigs and sticks it builds its nest
Eyes as black as night with puffy feathered crest
All the while, it chirps and sings
I’m obliged with all the joy it brings

‪A red sky is baptized‬
‪The break of dawn ushers in‬
‪Hidden behind loose clouds‬
‪Sends shivers down my skin‬
‪The sun is aglow‬
‪Unresisting its fate‬
‪As the spinning earth, trembles‬
‪Not too soon or too late‬
‪A timed evolution‬
‪A welcoming state‬
‪Just God and his paintbrush‬
‪Oh, how he loves to create‬

Blunders of soft intellect
Not to be taken as a fool
Red markers mark the mistakes made
For the lessons learned in school
Just like in life with red tape
Obstacles abound
And if you show up unprepared
You could end up underground

It was as if a mirror image
A reflection of my life
Looked back at me and chuckled
Which only fueled my spite
I was driven then
To forge ahead
To keep my honor
Lift my head
To make things right
In the eyes of one
And look off into
The setting sun

Release is near approaching
Counting down the days
To be free and be redeemed
For the weak in which he prayed
He’s no longer stuck in his old ways
His mind is clear of sin
At least he’d have you think
As he says so with a grin 😈

‪I cannot wish the pain away‬
‪When you had to go and couldn’t stay‬
‪My heart could not bear to be alone‬
‪Now quiet inside my empty home‬
Walking down an empty hallway
Leading to empty rooms
I had inhaled all your essence
I was overwhelmed; consumed
A pilgrimage towards disaster
To eradicate my woes
With a bandaid for my heartache
As you made your choice; you chose

You make me want to spend
Tease my inner beast
Hold you down, restraining
Biting flesh for feast
You conjure up my feelings
To escape; release
All my inmost inhibitions
Until I find some peace
And realize all life’s secrets
That put my mind at ease

Release me from my shackles
Where I’ve been vilified and scorned
Unlock all the cages
Open all the doors
Allow me to embark on quests
Places I’ve never seen before
To broaden my horizons
And walk along the shores

Resist, resist, resist the urge to kiss
Look down, below, there's something that you missed
Breathe in, breathe out, the air between your lips
It seems, you've made, the top of every list

Hold on, hold back,
Before you make a fist
Delayed, restrained, ******* at the wrist
The judge, proclaimed, an order to desist
By now, we've learned, we finally get the gist

If, there was, any inkling of a doubt
Just know, I hold, and carry lots of clout
Supreme, in dream,
More than I'm allowed
My fear, out loud, that no one hears me pout

Games, are played, in the presence of a crowd
I spoke, was heard, and made everybody proud
From far, and wide, circling every town
We made, it clear, there is no need to shout

I've done, my share, both in and out of bounds
Like here, on earth, afoot on solid ground
Resist, resist, the urge to call it quits
I had, no idea, this ended with a twist

Focusing on the negative
Going way off the track
Headed towards disaster
With no way to turn back
Offering up a solution
As to counteract
The grandest illusion
Not fiction, but fact
Forgive the intrusion
There’s no one under attack
Only resolution
As white is to black

Resting teddies under sheets
Blankets tucked in tight
Bunny rabbit counts his sheep
That leap, to sleep, at night
Little teddy smiles in bed
Big teddy wears a frown
They lie awake, with different takes
While bunnies safe and sound….   asleep

My mind and body can’t agree
On what the hell to do with me
See, I’ve lived my life afraid to live
I’ve got so much more I still can give
But I am selfish, an introvert
I shy away when I feel hurt
Protecting all that I hold dear
Living out my days in fear
I shudder at the thought of change
That somehow I’ll drown in the rain
Barely noticed, I feel restrained
From the noise inside my brain
Nothing ventured
Nothing gained
Enough to drive a man insane
And now it’s time to end the game
No contenders, mine to claim
It’s hard for me to explain
Like art, I feel stuck in a frame
No excuses, none to blame
I’d surrender if it’s all the same
And live my life that’s too mundane
While ending up in the hall of shame

Who could believe
What happened back then
When I was a little wee lad
I could climb a tall tree
Play reveille
With a bugle given to me by my dad
I’d wake up the town
With that loud trumpet sound
And to be honest, I wasn’t that bad
The people would stand
Raise their right hand
And salute with the pride that they had

They reveled until daybreak
They drank, and sang, and cheered
They welcomed anyone to join
Offering everyone a beer
A smile that’s so inviting
Completely, and utterly sincere
May as well see what’s going on
And gauge the atmosphere

They continued to play
Though the echoes remained
As a sign of what was to come
They blew us away
As we stood in dismay
Seeing where they had come from
A full on display
Of the trumpet and bass
In a place where blues can be found
The harmonica played
As we clap and gave praise
When the room shook, and so did the ground
As you came near
You could certainly hear
As the band grew increasingly loud
They played through the night
And into the day
Just to appease the large crowd

How a droplet ripples
Expanding throughout time
Every decade adds a layer
To our extended paradigm
Now seconds turn to minutes
Soon hours into days
Century upon century
Still remains the unexplained

Time is up, rest your head
The rising of the spirit
Born again, life’s too short
You should reach out and grab it
Before it’s gone
Slipped away
Such a nasty habit
Wasting time
Left behind
The trick is not to fear it

Riveted
At attentions peak
Stunned by natures beauty
On this chilly winters eve
A gentle breeze
That whisks the trees
The simple pleasures
That one receives
In the winded current
That floats about the leaves
Is peace in all its majesty
And timeless memories

My reflection makes me look away
From a toothless grin
That the years have left me shriveled up
My skin now paper thin
But in these eyes
Is an old, but wise
Soul who’s long been cursed
Stand in my shoes
And you’ll see
How the roles were if reversed

I left her there in the dust
What I thought was love
was just lust
I believed only her I could trust
About intimate secrets discussed
But she sold me out for a price
What she said wasn’t very nice
Before I trust again, I’ll think twice
Too scared of rolling the dice

My senses all have run amok
Since I first laid eyes on you
With lively colors, I nip and pluck
In my kaleidoscopic point of view
And although this may come as a surprise
I think that we both knew
Your color schemes are flush with love
With such pretty vibrant hues

“Run for the hills!”
I heard in my ear
A sound of distress
With underlined fear
“Run for the hills,”
And never look back!”
Then the voice disappeared
Stopped dead in its tracks
Maybe that voice
Was the one in my head
Warning my conscience
Of an untimely death
So I took off and I ran
To escape my own fate
Through hell, I had passage
To the white pearly gates
And when I arrived
An angel was there
To lead me to heaven
To help me prepare
For what was to come
For the inevitable fact
So I ran for the hills,
And never looked back

There’s no time for sleep
When emotions runneth deep
And when emotions get the best of me
I can’t control the beat
Of the thumping in my chest
I grow weary, I confess
Of situations I detest
Both with and without stress

When bat meets ball
It makes a loud crack
It may be gone
It might be fouled back

It’s a game of inches
You never can tell
But if it’s a home run
You can bet they’ll all yell

Oh, look at that!
It’s a ball through the hole
The right fielders got it
He’s going to throw home

Is he safe?!
Is he out?!
It’s the umpires call
The ump called him safe!
The catcher dropped the ball

The boy who was safe
Runs with glee
Wow!, What spirit!
What a great team!

A casket in a wasteland
Placed on powdered snow
Left to be discovered
In a hundred years or so
The chest adorned with carvings
Flowers, skulls, and bones
Shut tight, not to be opened
Just to perish under stone
Closed off from the elements
To ensure safe passage home
Or spend and eternity, never to be found
Left in solitude; alone

A safety umbrella  
Out at sea and afloat
And the city that lies within
Is filled with bright colors and hope
It’s a bustling small city
With buildings and homes
But it’s easier to shout
Than to call on the phone

Echoes heard as I rest in bed
As sounds of nightmares dance ahead
Hello!?, hello!?
But no one hears
Just empty space
Between my ears
My greatest triumphs
My greatest fears
All washed away with salty tears