Passionate purple prose,
wrapped in ruby red refrains,
silken similes like satin,
mixed with meteoric metaphors.

Riddled rhyming rhythms,
vexed by vital verses,
initiated introspective introductions,
excellent excited endings.

A vibrating feeling,
in the middle of the night,
vibrating cell phone,
sheds glowing light.

A pressed button,
and a soft hello,
you don't have to look,
you already know.

A silken voice
sets your mind at mass,
she says I'm sorry it's late,
but can we talk, please?

The longing in tone,
the cracking of voice,
in need of sleep,
but you have no choice.

Conversation ensues,
settling minds and hearts,
I miss you and love you,
is like a poisoned dart.

I'll be home soon,
at the end of the week,
those telephone touches,
runs a tear down your cheek.

Nasal breathing from the herd,
the splashes of tails and hooves.
Yaw, and get along,
the slap of a rope on a leg.
Cattle and river's smell fills the nose.

I spraypaint the stars across the sky,
I paint the night with black,
I send goosebumps down your spine,
you never remember me, you're an amnesiac.

I send the sun up every morning,
the waves on the ocean are for you,
amethyst colored mountains tipped with snow,
on the horizon is always new.

Shining gray at midnight,
the light of the moon,
sets your eyes a sparkle,
your heart I try to harpoon.

Poetry and music,
I write to catch your heart,
you enjoy for a moment,
then I must restart.

I shall never give up,
my love shall never die,
the only thing I will do,
is forever continue to try.

Stand as you will
with my sly smile
and deft touch
I will melt your heart

A love on the rocks
Finally ends
Maybe then
The heart can mend

Long piles of scallop and small sea shells
Searching sharks teeth between the swells
a newer place today, different back then
I reminisce and I begin to grin

Summer fun on an islands beach,
Its namesake takes a plane to reach,
from cities north, drive 45 to the south,
until you run out of road, at the gulfs mouth.

61st street, turn to the right,
sparkling waves, at midday, is bright,
A giant crab, with an Italian name,
a fixture for years, it remains the same.

Memories made through the summers of youth,
family reunions, we met as a group,
The water is muddy, but it was always fun,
soaking up the Texas summer sun.

Some say it springs eternal,
but to me it feels infernal,
glowing embers smoldering,
but no help to the weight I'm shouldering.

The things you could never say
arranged in flowing verse and rhyme,
interpretation is up to the reader,
but your feelings out, prevent crime.

Release the demons
on to the page,
ink their blood
on center stage.

Give them life
inside of verse,
bottled up inside,
they are far worse.

Cathartic feelings,
with stroke of pen,
The poem's lines,
contain all of them.

Blackbirds fly
from the pie,
just like thoughts
flee the mind.

Sometimes they stray
like Bo Peep's sheep,
lost along the way.

Residing inside
the life you give,
glass houses shatter
if hard words thrown,
love is work to maintain,
I am a carpenter of words.

In the falling evening light,
the radio plays by wire,
Billy Joel swears the truth,
We didn't start the fire.

It's in the air tonight,
as Phil Collins plays the drums,
the melancholy melody,
drives us deeper into glum.

But suddenly a knowing lick,
the riff it, does begin,
Steve Perry doesn't stop believing,
we break into a grin.

My love curls into the sky,
smoking from our lust,
as the cigarette burns,
orange flaring afterglow

Each word an image,
sceneries of smeared ink,
the journey unfolds,
page by page.

A million passing faces
on the highway and back roads
a two finger salute from the steering wheel
anonymously passing, never to be known.

Eye contact and a nod or a hello,
passing down the hospital hallway,
in 12 different facilities over 17 years
simply another possibility passed by.

A road passed by, and a wonder
where does that go, as a bicycling child
heads down it at full speed
with a look over his shoulder.

Random chance, or is it fate or destiny,
that set people in our path?
I like to thinks it's free will,
as I like to be in control.

Oh how we may be different,
if we knocked on random doors,
with a smile and conversation,
in a huge sky rise apartment building.

The many combinations,
mind-boggling statistics,
of the paths, we could cross,
yet we are unable, due to time and distance.

Fog and haze,
create a maze,
ever-changing in the breeze,
want to know? just ask the leaves.

A ship with no rudder or sail,
adrift and at the whims of the current,
seeing where it will travel,
enjoying the experience.

Prowling the oceans clear blue,
from bottom to top and ranging far,
looking for love and food,
with little else in mind.

With just a sip or two,
crystalizing emotions,
as the amber fluid,
jailbreaks my tongue.

X Y Z axis locations,
changing at my command,
thinking outside of 2 dimensions,
allowed outside the boxes boundaries.

With the beat of wings,
from the cage, I fly,
circling the moon,
and penetrating the clouds.

Clearing a space,
to soar,
aloft under the stars,
on the edge of space.

The baggage, the pain,
some call it the monkey,
it lives on our backs,
and makes us feel funky.

The decisions weigh down,
like a ton of lead bricks,
all piled up together,
like the game pick up sticks.

If you move the wrong one,
they'll all tumble down,
buckling your knees,
sending you to the ground.

Sometimes though,
you can set them aside,
have some drinks with some friends,
or go for a ride.

These are the moments,
you pray will endure,
but they never will,
as there is no simple cure.

Sunfish, koi, and angels,
swimming in the sun,
copper glinting reflections,
watching them is fun.

The shadows and reflections,
chase each other on the wall,
much like their wet cousins,
chasing baitfish in the fall.

Sticks and stones may break my bones,
but from words I run and hide.
microaggressions and slights felt,
In my safe space, I want to cry.

I stick my fingers in my ears,
and say la-la-la-la-la,
if I start to feel offense,
I can not see, through another's lens.

My opinions and ideas,
I cannot justify,
because it's right,
is always my reply.

I cannot tolerate anything,
outside of my beliefs,
if I don't agree with you,
I'm calling the ACLU.

Whining and crying,
my skin is so thin,
I am pure in heart and mind,
contrary to me is full of sin.

The Information has been posted
on, paper, sign or online hosted
open your eyes and read
sometimes it plants a seed

Of knowledge that you need to know
so you can plant it and let it grow
into a question or a decision
so you can choose and with precision

Open your eyes and you will see
information for you and me
keep your head up and pay attention
read the print and do as bidden

Signs, signs, signs everywhere
read them and show you care
about the time it took to make them
and the information that it’s conveying

Documents or Directions or Instructions on paper
read to the bottom, or you’ll wish so later
or maybe it’s on a screen in digital ink
pay attention or you will sink

Into a pit full of frustration
or suffer from a fit of consternation
read it carefully line by line
or suffer the consequences of not reading the sign.

A piece of reality broken free
Into distant wonders we can see
That nothing is ever truly free
Not even the light we use to see

Through the mirror of our eyes
We seek to find the perfect prize
Though we shouldn't be surprised
We always are when at last we die

A piece of reality in the wind
Hoping the universe will mend
Hoping that god will soon send
Some one for us to befriend

Alternate realities through the fold
Some of them have broke the mold
All of us are bought and sold
By others who are so bold

A piece of reality on the waves
Floating into darkened caves
Being pursued by those that crave
To never ever enter a grave

But alas time is up
We all grow old don't stay a pup
It is time to fill our cup
And have a toast before we sup

A piece of reality now no more
It could not survive the utter bores
Simply looking for easy doors
And finally slipped between floor boards

Upon the meadow green, she stands,
creamy white sheep, walk near,
blue gingham dress, ***** in the wind,
auburn locks held by hands.

Shepherds crook, gleams in the sun.
leaned up against a nearby tree,
a spotted heeler pants at her side
just returned from having fun.

A pond glows silver down the hill,
an acre mirror reflecting light,
a whooshing sound from behind,
as the breeze turns the windmill.

A scene set and burned in my mind,
to be traveled to, at my leisure,
to escape the day to day.
a better one I've yet to find.

Fangs bared,
saliva drips,
the fear is real,
beyond my grip.

Lungs burning,
as I run,
the Sprint continues,
I have no gun.

Swerving left and right,
jumping fallen trees,
bite off a scream,
as I flee

Slipping and tripping,
crawling away,
footsteps continue
coming my way.

Hiding now,
eyes closed tight,
getting ready,
for a fight.

Footsteps walk on,
as they pass,
wonder how long,
reprieve will last.

We shoot across the galaxy,
riding the comet's tail,
thousands of miles an hour,
leaving a shining trail.

Stopping here on earth,
for a hundred years or less,
leaving a scar on hearts,
for life is such a mess.

Touching other souls,
sending them reeling from the collision,
just like an asteroid impacting satellite,
controlled with imprecision.

So leave your mark while your here,
because remember time goes fast,
then once again into the universe,
time on Earth never lasts.

But the moment never lasts
and leaves me wanting

I smell you in the perfumed breeze
of juniper and lilac
I feel you in the summer rain
cold, yet warming to the soul

Distance increases want
as I love you from afar
waiting patiently for your return
**** the pain, with moonshine from a jar

I taste you in the pinot grigio
served at dinner time
I sop gravy with crusty bread
with you on my mind

Car door opens and chimes
I come running out the door
scoop you in my arms
a kiss to make up for lost time

The sadness
wave crested,
over took me,
washed me
into the
sharp coral
of despair;
I began
to bleed.

The cold empty beach,
seeping sand into my soul,
the cold crashing waves,
longing for swimmers.

The undisturbed *****,
raid tide pools, brazen,
while green leaves blow,
across silent silicate.

The world is a vampire,
it feeds on you, slowly,
year after year,
frustrations and agony.

******* the life out of you,
allowing you only moments of peace,
small bits of joy and love,
to let you recharge.

Then the feedings begin again,
perhaps this is the matrix,
and we are but rechargeable batteries,
powering something, of which we are not aware.

Farmed in massive arrays,
and kept alive for power,
and the amusement,
of our owners.

Lost in the desert of my brain
traveling over sand
in the distance
emerald green

To the west sparkling blue
to the east gray and white
I dare not look behind
an all consuming fire is there

I walk and walk some days
never getting any closer
to any particular destination
as if on a treadmill

Then at times
I am spring-boarded
right into the verdant forest
with scurrying critters and singing birds

Or suddenly afloat
on oceans blue
with a cold drink
and bikini girls

Sometimes though
wrapped in the arms
of the woman I love
in a deep embrace

These are the times
when the words flow
seeping onto the screen
through the tap, tap tap of the keyboard

This is when clarity
takes me on mental vacations
and my mind sings
and I follow along

A riddle of life
full of strife
choices are scary
be ever wary

In a state of fugue I left
my mind broke in cleft
in a new place awoke
clouds were billowing like smoke

Thoughts are scrambled
life has been gambled
to leave, get off station
and go on permanent vacation

Dimensions combine in the stream
coalescing thoughts in the dream
pin ******, on my head, cold like rain
even in my sleep, cannot escape the pain

Roaming the depths,
the city's bowels,
a maze of catacombs,
and sewer pipes.

A ray of sunlight pierces
my monochromatic depths,
a lone beam, reflected through a storm drain,
projecting a beautiful shadow.

Intrigued, I look into the light,
blinded, not by the brightness,
but by the beauty standing within,
is she an angel, a fairy, a dream.

Red hair dances at her shoulders,
the breeze a choreographer,
bronzed skin glows, as her shoulders
are revealed by her white tank top.

I find myself staring into a pair,
of deep blue eyes, I begin to drown within.
suddenly I realize, that I am being seen by her,
no longer hidden in my dungeon existence.

Lost in the city's sin,
despair pools into a pit,
as you slowly start to sink in,
you cannot stop it.

The vocalizations of pleasure and pain,
sound out into the silence of the night,
their steaming liquids fall like rain,
the pleasure overcoming fright.

As needles bite and inject,
and you sip the demons in a cup,
addictions, bacteria, and virus infect,
and all you hope to do is wake up.

The darkness fuels
my muse's motor
she is set alight
in dark shadowed corners

Comes awake as sunlight fails
and the creatures come out
the ones that scurry
the ones that ****

My muse is a demon creature
gathering power from fear
as the last light
is flushed from the day

Thoughts mesmerize
and form on the page
starlight inspiration
muted on full moons

And at full power
during the eclipse
and overcast nights
dripping rain

In the corners and inside rooms
I swear I see others loom
but when I stop and look once more
no one is there, not even hiding behind the door

Shadow men and full body apparitions
slide through the dimensional partition
to appear for a moment in my life
do they need help with their strife

I've seen them at home and many more at work
in hospital corners do many of them lurk
sometimes sitting at empty desks
you'd think in death they could just rest

At the edge of my vision is a door
I can see the universal core
The spirits flow like energy
or is my imagination getting the best of me.

Silica sparkles as the clouds part,
full Moon light illuminates the barrenness,
Mesquite leaf shadows like feathers,
tickle the prickly pears underneath.

In the darkness I feel eyes,
staring and studying me,
I click on the flashlight light,
nothing, no one at eye level.

I shine the beam around,
on the ground, thousands of sparkles,
reflect in the projected light,
frost, dew, jewels, I do not know.

To my knees I go,
studying the shimmering specks,
I suddenly realize why I felt watched,
spiders, hundreds of tiny spiders.

Their eyes like miniature mirrors,
staring at me, and sending my light,
back in my direction
signaling me their presence.

An army marches,
through fallen leaves,
ready for battle for food,
but I am not their prey.

A song for you I would sing
I would buy a diamond ring
a verse or two I would write
and read before we say good night

A fancy meal I would cook
or read out loud your favorite book
all the time I have to spend
on my heart you can depend

All these things where to woo
and hope to snare the heart of you
but all I needed was to say
that I love you on that day

Ancient artifacts warehoused,
dilapidated memories of yore,
unsealed time capsules scattered,
as cardboard and tape give way.

Dusty tchotchke avalanches,
spill remembrances haphazard,
photos curl as chemicals expire,
recollected thoughts stored in pencil.

Edges of old diaries eaten,
rodents and roaches survive,
on forgotten verse and rhyme,
and feelings of love and loss.

Pages scatter like leaves
blown about by the wind,
as it passes through gaps
in roofs and plaster and lath.

Needed no more, exhaust rises,
excavation equipment and bulldozers,
push it all in a hole, under urban renewal.
sealing it forgotten, in a concrete topped grave.

Hidden in aubergine shadows,
fading into colors, darker,
the sheer dripping despair,
unconsolable.

Hints of words whisper on the wind,
reverberated voices, persuade things,
actions, ideas, unspeakable,
piqued, neural gears begin to spin.

Unbidden instructions begin to elaborate,
a plan seeking revenge starts to unfold,
behind eyes, crimson dripping blades,
smoking gun barrels, and deep pits gleam.

An aberrant smile appears,
teeth showing, grinding,
barbarous design conveyed,
a baleful, carnal laugh escapes.

The final shovelful of earth placed,
leaves, dumped from a box, cover over,
an incinerator for gloves, clothes, tarp and shovel,
ironclad alibi, the cold case dropped in a drawer, forgotten.

Instructions should be clear and concise
no interpretation, where you may pay the price
not told to me in fables, parables and verse
they should be without question and well rehearsed

No loop holes or areas of gray
applied across the board with little to say
or left alone entirely, if it affects no one at all
why waste the words, don't make the call

Don't tell me words of man come from on high
they are simply means of control, not words from the sky
some make perfect sense, though written too long
others no longer apply, or are simply wrong.

Mirrored footsteps on pine needles,
oak leaves crispy crack each step,
I can hear faint breaths from behind me,
but each time I look, nothing.

Faded shadows swirl behind trees,
faces in the gray and black bark wink,
taunting me, feeding on my paranoia,
birds fly, startled by something not far.

Knocking sounds in the distance,
something flies by my head,
a rock bounces across my path,
a giant splash from the creek.

I proceed at my own risk,
large footprints in the mud,
suddenly I am surrounded,
a dozen deer run by, tails flagging.

A mountain lion screams in the distance,
is that in fear or warning,
either way I walk in the territory,
of large hairy beasts, afraid, but unconvinced.

Steel rail sections of rusty brown
create a steady heart like beat,
as iron wheels travel quickly
over the girder bridge.

Pale naked trees stand still,
despite the metallic music,
a final autumn leaf falls to the ground
dislodged by the smoking train's whistle.

Oranges and ochres and touches of green,
paint the day with brushstrokes of fall,
anonymous passer-bys, notice nothing
in their shadowed silhouetted existence.

Friday night let's have some beer,
all my rowdy friends are here,
blondes, brunettes, and redheads too,
tight blue jeans, what a view.

Sawdust covers up the floor,
let's do some shots, who wants one more?
Blake Shelton sings some drinking songs,
smiles and laughter didn't take long.

Let the work week drain away,
hit the dancefloor, come on lets play,
belly rubbin' and boot scootin'
woo's and hollers and some hootin'.

Chris Ledoux sings "County Fair"
I kiss the redhead on a dare,
she's all in and kisses back,
all my buddies jaws hang slack.

The rest of the night we dance away,
and then watch the sun come up on the day,
breakfast anyone? my buddy screams,
and so we live the weekend dream.

A little red Dachshund,
lies on a rectangle green mat,
curled into a c, and looking at me,
soaking up stripes of sunlight,
as they filter through the blinds.

An old wooden school desk,
it's platform once again in use,
ready to write on golden lines,
as it is every day at this time,
on line ruled stripes of sunlight.

A millipede crawls up a dresser,
like interconnected living links of chain,
it dances to the sound of a box fan,
swaying in its breeze, I do not fear its bite,
as it is made up of stacked rings of sunlight.

A black and white cat chases nothing,
intermittently across the living room,
curious, I watch closely, nothing,
ah there it is, a bit of reflected sun,
the size of my watch face runs across the floor.

Context clues and imagination,
coloring conclusions in shades
of blue, red and green.

Red for passion,
blue depression,
and the evil green of envy.

Fiery thoughts of her encounters,
icy cold azure, cause it wasn't me,
and viridian coveting of her.

So many emotions,
the choice is hers,
I wait.

Mental stains
On my brain
From things that I have seen

Brutal strain
From the pain
Due to places I have been

Emotions drained
I feel the chain
Information gleaned

Window pane
Reveals the bane
Life is not pristine

Fresh and tender,
gangly limbs grow,
young leaves flap,
in the wind.

Young buds form,
longing to blossom,
unspoiled petals,
contained within.

With impatience I wait,
longing for spring,
and the warmth of the sun,
to open the blooms.

I hum in anticipation,
flitting back and forth,
checking on the progress,
of the future nectar.

Morning light filters,
through layers of fog,
as the mockingbird sings,
and ducks quack.

Southerly breeze,
ripples lake water,
crystal flashes,
from the sun.

Coffee smells,
from inside,
as the blue heron,
patrols the shore.

Fox squirrels,
chase each other,
through cypress knees,
this Christmas eve 2016

Roaming through the neon lights,
a taxi ride after a flight,
drinks and smokes at the bar,
now I'm walking roaming far.

Dollars in a slot machine,
pull the arm, spinning things,
they all line up and lights flash,
now I have lots of cash.

Across the walk, I simply stare,
cowgirl floats up in the air,
I go in and the music starts,
the excited beating of my heart.

Drink induced hyper-feelings,
watching her leaves me reeling,
as she dances upon the table,
has me feeling fully unstable.

The bounce of breast and fling of hair,
and her twerking derriere,
beats of Jimmy's "Purple Haze",
cannot blink, my eye agaze.

Spinning movements dropping low,
liquid motions, music's flow,
the smell of jasmine and of  sweat,
suddenly I feel in debt.

Making dollars rain on her,
she is a  twisting, spinning blur,
help me, help me, my mind has flown,
and now all my money has been blown.

The music ends with money piles,
she waves at me and she smiles,
a wave of sadness rolls over me,
but just a fleeting moment, I hear a new beat.

Time has to commit
that's all there is to it
traveling the path unknown
not in a party, but, all alone

There is never enough

Only one lifetime-full
pull the thread off the spool
when at last it comes free
say a fair good bye to me

Farewell my friend

Seamstress of eternity
forever bound, to hearth and tree
flying under stars and skies
ever living, never dies

I am here and always will be

In the fields of memory
everlasting you and me
so when you touch another's soul
to live forever is the goal

A lifetime of remembrance

Not what I had in my plans
to live that long, and give a ****
souls at rest will never be
satisfied, like you, and me

None of this is guaranteed

Turn emotions of all kinds
into words upon the page
a new world forms
in the minds eye
and sets a brand new stage

Beautiful images fill my head
the words ignite a memory

Love expressed through looks and verse
Never to be shared
But if ever given the chance
I'm sure you would be there

Love to give
builds up and spills out
as a fine line of poetry

You think you have done it,
job complete,
the end.

But what you really have done
is bounced,
a ballistic arc of life,
the journey's not complete.

Each bounce is but a step,
graduation,
college,
graduation.

Job,
promotion,
marriage,
parenthood.

Anniversaries,
birthdays­.

Weddings,
funerals.

However
you measure time,
like a flea hopping,
life is a trampoline.

Just bouncing along,
until there is,
no spring left.
death.

Misted mountain Meadows,
manifest melancholy mysteries,
mirrored mystical marauder's,
make magical mischief.