***** of rubber bands, multicolored,
a *** of paperclips, a maze of its own
an old pink eraser, crumbling in the corner,
loose, Tylenol, Benadryl, Band-Aids, and a random stone.

Chap Stick, tape, and highlighters,
keys to locks unknown,
remote controls and toothpicks,
and shiny loose change, strewn.

Scissors, dust and a pack of gum
of the cinnamon flavored kind,
you can get lost in here
no telling what you'll find.

Down promised paths,
the treasure lies,
I hold the map,
it's in my lap,
but I dare not trust it.

***** traps have been laid,
and more than once I have been played,
so I proceed with caution,
and read the flowery lies,
at margins edge.

Tips and tricks and what fors,
all in riddle or in rhyme,
going forward step by step,
but taking my time,
and watching my footing.

Up ahead I see the prize,
that you promised with lies
but the closer I get,
the further it is away,
but not moving.

Finally, I get within reach,
and a final lesson you teach,
clear wall I cannot see but feel,
no clue to open it,
teased and stuck once more.

I once wrote a poem so sweet,
about the day that we did meet,
you were walking on the beach,
your beauty, into my heart, did reach,
walking the sand in your bare feet.

a payment taken
hours and minutes and years
no refund policy

Auburn hair falls on shoulders,
as she climbs out of the bed,
old Nolan Ryan t-shirt, her gown,
turquoise *******, a vision.

A little wiggle as she walks out of the room,
a treat because she knows that I am watching,
I can still feel the heat from last nights events,
and long for a morning repeat.

Now walking around teasing,
in fuzzy house shoes,
almost close enough to me to grab,
but giggling just out of reach.

A kiss and an order
get up, we have stuff to do,
I get up and obey,
with a pinch and yes ma'am.

Sitting in a purple tree,
with leaves of orange and green
the black iguana sits carefrer,
and contemplates a curious scene.

Below him on the forest floor
a steady line of ants emerge,
green ones from a red oak door,
with no walls and no floor.

Key ants? He wonders not quite aloud,
He drops down to try and see,
He launches his tongue so pink and proud,
and cathes snts, not one, but three.

Expecting citrus, **** and sweet,
as razored bites makes them pop,
licorice, yuck that is no treat,
he wipes his tongue to make it stop.

The other ants laugh with Glee,
the iguana turns from black to red,
extensor claws appear and ants flee
to late a swping claw strkes them dead.

Sunlight glints off of the chrome wheel,
matching suicide **** attached,
beach sand powder coated Xpress boat,
bobbing in the blue water, waiting.

Trailing around the silver 90 horse motor,
is a yellow rope harness, like arms holding on,
a red ski rope stretches off into the water,
attached to a purple and black tube.

I hear an excited "ready" shouted,
a raven and a ginger-haired pair of girls,
hang tight like turtles on a log,
wearing blue and black jacket shells.

I fire up the motor, it purrs happily,
sending a stream of white foam aft,
I throttle forward and take off,
looking into the afternoon sun.

Suddenly I turn to the right,
then back to the left into a circle,
throttling the speed up,
shooting the tube out passed the wake.

Three more circles and straighten out,
watching the faces of the observers,
tells me the girls have just let go,
I spin around to pick them up.

They float grinning and laughing,
complaining of arms of gelatin,
as they climb in the boat,
the water dripping onto my feet.

The piranhas gather at the first drop of blood,
weakness draws them in mass,
the first one takes a nibble,
then the whole mob attacks,
I am reduced to a pile of bones.

thoughts and memories,
experiences,
captured in the photos of the mind,
written down on paper.

but missing the tactile,
the smell,
the taste,
but reigniting the emotion.

swirls and whorls,
happy and sad,
love and hate,
a pattern formed.

activating want,
or firing off of pain,
depending on the scenario,
which is the story of life?

Lost in concrete canyons,
lined with glass and steel,
inhabited by metal monsters,
with shiny teeth and high-pitched growls.

The canyon floor teems,
critters following along paths,
all headed somewhere,
with a semblance of importance.

Flashing lights of three colors
seems to control the flow,
stopping and starting,
as they change in pattern.

The smell ranges from
delicious sweet somethings,
to acrid black clouds that burn
and on to aromas better and worse.

Shadows dominate most of the day
but when the sun is at its peak,
a light like no other reflects and blinds
off shiny, objects and walls, incredible.

The smells of horses
and of leather and sweat,
the sparks of steel on steel,
the metallic tang of blood.

The whoosh of arrows,
the twang of strings,
the sound of banners,
whipping in the breeze.

Hooves pound and nays ring out,
the squeals of injured animals,
the shouts of men near death,
the silence between skirmishes.

Proving grounds of bravery,
and confirmations of the witless,
these fields can make a man,
or reduce a man to a shadow.

Gauntlets worn on blistered hands,
raised high with a blade in hand,
muscles clench as the broadsword
glimmers in the setting sun.

The victorious king
views the carnage
from the top of the hill,
and looks upon his new lands.

clouds billow across
turquoise waters rippling
Caribbean rain storm

fill my simple cup
no gold or silver chalice
just love to sustain me

scorched earth
and the smell of turpentine
thunderstorm in the pines

Hidden lust behind the mask,
the come hither grin, and the lick of lips,
being someone else, inhibitions gone,
frees the self to try things, taboo.

Death stands on the edge,
ready at a moments notice,
cleaning the battlefield of injured.

The sun sets on horizons west,
the last bit of orange and blue hangs on,
microwave towers, white and red flashing,
take over the distant view as dark falls.

A Cheshire cat moon, fuzzy,
Venus shines too, blurry,
both shrouded in mystery
and in misty opaque clouds.

Orion and Pleiades, glow,
fighting through the curtain,
just a hint of their true brightness,
as the low clouds persist.

Suddenly, a breeze blows, cool,
and the skies open up,
revealing the true beauty,
of the sky, out in the country.

The milky way, a streak across the sky,
twinkling stars forming other constellations,
the moon continues its waxing grin,
as Venus winks happily, now that it can see.

Imagining desolate whiteness of the ice age plain,
my searching eyes look for anything,
in the distance, some shapes, and colors
disrupt the monochromatic scene.

Heading that way, wooly mammoths come into view,
two of them and a glyptodon, found something to eat,
a bit of vegetation, uncovered by the wind,
brown frozen and old with no food value at all.

Yet they nibble and stand guard of their find,
thousands of years later, in a place called Argentina,
this scene is excavated by archeologists,
just as fascinated by their find.

Embers light,
protection slight,
pray it holds,
til night folds.

In the eye of calm,
only you can walk,
the rest rages,
swirling around us.

Deep thoughts of love
and of the danger very real
sometimes is required
for the deep wounds to heal.

Pupils burned,
retinas blown,
stared at you,
way too long.

Inside out light
from broken suns
surrounded by dark matter.

My mood is hollow
as the wind blows through
and whistles through my soul.

The inner music
somber tones
resonates in my bones.

A smile begins to creep in
as she walks in
and applies a balm to my sin.

The music plays and you dance,
at this moment with no pants,
the bass drops with great power,
continue twerking in the shower.

The horizon should be flat and sparkling sand,
today though, dark snow capped peaks loom,
dangerous, with visible storms raging peaks,
causing avalanches down the sides.

Booming kettle drum rumbles,
golden firework flashes,
I count the seconds between,
as it gets shorter and shorter.

Soon the drops start,
pregnant water balloons,
exploding against the window,
a locomotive roar of the wind.

The last vestiges of sunlight,
blotted out as the mountain settles,
earthquake sounds blast,
and the house shakes and shivers.

Minutes pass to hours,
I'm not sure the structure can take any more,
then light begins to creep in the window,
orange and pink and blue of sunset.

I walk out onto the porch and watch,
as the mountain pushes off to the east,
and I survey the swollen soggy ground,
and the mess left behind the avalanche.

Only here and now matter,
row your boat through life's dream,
other things are but a flavor,
on the travels down your stream.

Waiting for fate,
to fill your plate,
wasting your last breath,
while starving to death.

Things outside, start within the mind,
ideas swirl and combine,
into plans and things to build,
going forward, we never yield.

Arrowheads and Flint knapped knives,
survive the act of taking lives,
whether battle or hunting game,
into the future, they ride the rain.

From sandy hills and from creek beds,
painting pictures in our heads,
turquoise beads and pottery shards,
strewed about like fallen cards.

These tell us stories from the past,
civilizations never last,
but do we heed the lessons learned?
No, we continue unconcerned.

Building hate between our clans,
left and right divide the lands,
and in the days of future time,
someone else digs up our crimes.

The monster seethes,
with pure rage,
twisting steel,
for my cage.

Lips parted,
a show of teeth,
rough and jagged,
like a coral reef.

I grin at him,
and give in,
to his love,
original sin.

I do this only,
to gain trust,
and to allow,
for bars to rust.

Sleeping now,
the monster lays,
loosened bars,
from their stays.

Squeezing through,
I will betray,
the trust I earned,
and slip away.

I run and run,
and I'm free,
emotions high,
it is jubilee.

Pain, love, sorrow, and much, much more
all contained in thoughts and words,
if they could all just fly away,
like a raucous flock of birds.

But instead, they visit me,
time and time again,
to peck and peck and peck at me,
like cold wet drops of rain.

Sometimes just one comes round,
I feed it seed by hand,
this I don't mind and manage,
problems are when many make demands.

They each take a piece of me,
I try to run and hide,
but alas I cannot,
because of me, they are inside.

Roaring cataclysmic precipice
individual drops, making music,
like fingers on piano keys,
a gushing concerto.

The mist blows upon the breeze,
soaking everything downwind,
more dripping to be heard,
accompaniment to the liquid ivories.

Gurgling singing,
from smaller streams,
cascading down
granite choir pits.

I'm the conductor
mental baton directing
orchestral parts,
as I sit along side.

Draw inhalations
and breathe out rings,
as the bobber floats,
patiently waiting.

A swig from the flask,
against the mornings cool,
a bullfrog sings from the bank,
and the smell of lake mud.

Childhood memories
swirl up from the past,
triggered by location,
tastes, sounds and smell.

The cork is ****** under,
I set the hook,
and reel in just one more,
memory to be stored and savored.

Trapped by predestination
but only within my mind,
prophecies to be shattered
by embracing free will.

The opaque box around me
shatters into a million shards,
lines of thought and paths of travel
open up before me.

The small minded stoop
and pick up the pieces,
hoping to rebuild the dream
of something for nothing from on high.

Delivery that needs to be made
I search for the lone owner
Either the recipient or the sender
This envelope feels important

Heavy in my hand as I look
but neither address is current
the tracks of tears sealing
encourage me to continue looking

As I feel someone's heart to be breaking
miscommunication on well-placed stamps
hiding love and fortune
from its rightful owners

Drooping eyes, but wired mind,
excited by coffee's caffeine,
longing for the silence,
only found in loneliness.

Karmic questions,
with no answers,
rhetorical thoughts,
always what ifs.

Questions breed answers,
which result in actions,
thoughts grow ideas,
watered with brow sweat.

Imagination skews reality,
eventually bending it to its will,
changing preconceptions,
quaking the status quo.

Down one of life's many trails,
you cannot see passed times veils,
you can make inferences and guesses,
to set yourself up to prevail.

Pay attention to the clues,
avoid all your prior miscues,
learn from those life lessons,
when asked to dance never refuse.

Meet new people and their friends,
respect their views, don't condescend,
you cannot make it all alone,
and will need them in the end.

The punch is gone,
the party slowly degenerates,
into a mass of naked forms,
on the floor.

Feeding, feasting,
moans and groans,
pure pleasure in a pile,
bodies entwined,
human and animal.

We are all animals,
at our most basic,
seeking, pleasure,
finding it, wherever.

The writhing mass,
searches, licks, fingers,
*****, nibbles, penetrates,
giving and receiving.

Drug and alcohol induced behavior,
has no rules,
only tries to please,
and to be pleased.

The frenzy continues,
as a maze of arms and legs,
and heads and torsos and tentacles,
squeal, scream, and spasm,
until all are fulfilled.

A multifaceted gem,
reflections of many colors,
red, blue, green, white and black,
arousing emotions with each sparkle.

Love, lover,
wife, mother,
an employee, and professional,
an accountant, and housekeeper.

These are but a few of the layers and faces,
that women today wear,
I thank them for doing what they do,
most of the time it is a thankless job.

With mental shears,
the ropes holding me back,
severed.

My new self,
blooms in the sun,
of a new day.

Watered by tears
of past wrongs,
converted.

Roots grow
in fertile soil,
as growth continues.

Future is mine,
going forward,
opportunities.

Pack a bag!
Get in the car.
Where are we going?
Not very far.

When will we get there?
When we arrive.
How will we feel?
Alive and revived.

How long will it take?
As long as it will.
Why does it matter?
We have time to ****!

What will we do?
Have some fun.
Enjoy each other,
in the summer sun.

Will there be mountains
or will there be beach?
I'll let you know,
just as soon as we reach.

Will we go swimming
or will we fish?
Whatever you want,
whatever you wish.

Destination unknown,
full speed travel
Straight on till morning,
questions unraveled.

Winter dry,
static sparks,
under heavy blankets,
flashing blue arcs.

My hand travels towards you
creeping with desire,
a trail of heat behind it
glowing hot like a fire.

I slide near you,
electricity pops and cracks,
when we touch,
like magnets attract.

Our touching lips,
could not be pried,
bodies come together
like full moons tide.

Our crashing waves
about to overflow,
strobing lights,
from frictions glow.

Forgotten melodies swirl inside my head,
the piano plays out a chorus that I don't remember,
it is hot, the fan whirrs above my bed,
but my soul is as cold as the night in December.

My heart beat drums out a line,
accompaniment, to the crashing of the psychic cymbals,
the lyrics ooze from deep inside, saying Don't Give up without a fight.

I run the streets searching for you,
screaming out your name, like only madmen do,
I am no longer free to choose,
trapped in this moment till I find you.

Shadows flicker in the wind,
as the trees dance to my mental music,
I need to find you now to mend,
as I walk the line of sanity, about to lose it.

I run the streets searching for you,
screaming out your name, like only madmen do,
I am no longer free to choose,
trapped in this moment till I find you.

There you are now down the way,
your beauty shining brighter than the street lights,
I run to you and my vision goes gray,
as my arms are trapped by this straightjacket so tight.

I run the streets searching for you,
screaming out your name, like only madmen do,
I am no longer free to choose,
trapped in this moment till I find you.

the drums beat out a warning,
*** dum bah, *** dum bah
as the dancers begin to spin,
the fire swirls higher, in the growing wind.

a shout rings out from warriors throats
like a trilling banshee wail,
spears raised, and shaken in the air,
a message, nobody will be spared.

a shaman joins in,
mask just like a shield,
painted like a monster,
that sets feet, running in the field.

he casts a spell upon the fighters,
and sends them on their way,
with knives and spear points gleaming,
to make interlopers pay.

as they move from the fire,
shadows do they cast,
of jaguars, tigers and bears,
tapping ancient lives past,

silent in the darkness,
through the jungle do they stride,
moving all as one,
like lions in a pride.

circling the enemy,
they attack without a sound,
leaving nothing but bodies,
stacked upon the ground.

blades and spear points drip,
like the ****** fangs they are,
a few limp and smile about,
their future battle scars.

My mind is a magician,
creating illusions to stop the pain,
sleight of hand and heart,
to comfort the emotional brain.

Some deep dark fears
to bring you to tears,
nightmares realized
emotions crystallized.

Your throne is now ashes,
you glass palace is smashed,
you could not contain
me with your disdain.

A bit of death
to steal your breath,
a bit of pain
and pouring rain.

Love came and went,
simply wrong,
I'm sure it can happen,
I see others going strong.

A wild spirit,
roaming free,
someone is out there,
just for me.

While my belief has dwindled,
and the world is harsh,
somehow I keep,
a magic spark.

I am open,
and hope one day,
that I can find,
a love to stay.

A threat and a promise
all contained in truth,
walk the line,
as the ring of fire surrounds you.

Coffee poured in my cup,
it sits there and steams,
as I go to the fridge,
and fetch a bit of cream.

Hazelnut or plain,
causes little splashes,
as I pour it in the cup,
the colors, at first clashes.

The brewing storm,
in my coffee cup,
is quick to subside,
as I stir it up.

White and black collide,
to make café au lait,
something new is born,
it happens every day.

First thing in the morning,
my thoughts are bright and clear,
as the sun shines lighter,
ideas begin to steer.

One way or another,
a poem usually occurs,
sometimes clear and crisp,
others, enigmatic blurs.

Romantic writes of love,
or sometimes more of lust,
then for a contest,
will it win or just go bust.

As I sit in silence,
Queensrÿche plays with fluidity,
I sit and write,
with Silent Lucidity.

Sun creeps over the mountain tops,
deep in the holler hiding out from cops,
copper line coils and smoke rises high,
snow melt creek cools it off with a sigh.

Lightning in a bottle, infused with spice,
apple pie and peaches, make it taste nice,
swallow it down, that burning feeling,
it lifts the veils, truths start revealing.

Moonshine midnights and the stars shine,
dew drops drip from the long leaf pine,
a log fire burns long and slow,
steam hisses and pops as white lightning flows.

Quart mason jars filled up right,
don't want any spills, ***** the lid on tight,
catch every drop coming out of the still,
on the creek bank, hidden back in the hills.

Twenty dollars a pop, time to make the dash,
selling it around and making some cash,
got to be careful, or people start talking,
then got hide as cops start stalking.

Meeting buyers on back roads,
guy just bought my whole load,
says he wants more, hands me up front cash,
guess its time to go and start new mash.

Moonshine midnights and the stars shine,
dew drops drip from the long leaf pine,
a log fire burns long and slow,
steam hisses and pops as white lightning flows.

Use the words of poetry,
to find and ease the sorrow,
find a way to enjoy,
the time on earth we have borrowed.

A huge deep breath and hold,
behind my eyes I feel pressure,
pulsating, lub dub, lub dub, lub dub,
releasing air and relaxing completely.

Thoughts now cleared,
I decide on my feelings,
choose the person I want to be today,
after all these are my decisions.

Undecided at this moment,
another inhale and hold,
released explosively,
through flapping lips, resigned.

Today, I will simply be me,
no decisions, no choice,
the real and only me,
with no filter and no apologies.

overwhelming sweetness
cupped tongue filled
the pleasure is mine

Years and years of construction,
houses, businesses, shiny skyscrapers,
an earth quake shakes the foundations,
poor designs equals mass destruction.

Islands populated to the max function,
nuclear power plants on the beach,
resorts, palm trees and pools,
tsunamis cause mass destruction.

Through mating rituals and seduction
Earth's population increase by factors of ten,
little nature still exists,
a comet erases with mass destruction.