Pretty of body and face
Overtime fades without a trace

But the beauty of mind and soul
Rarely fades and keeps us whole

Time is rarely gentle and kind
So love the whole person, including mind

Then at the end when it too goes
Will the door finally close

The temperature cools as the first star winks,
your blue eyes catch the distant glow,
illuminating the fast fading light.
edges soften, smudged by the shadows,
like a work of art, viewed from different angles,
intriguing, exciting, and different each time,
yet I never tire of looking as night falls.

Failed

Got a pile of spent brass all around me,
verbal bullets fired way too free,
little things pull my trigger fast,
no wonder my relationships never last.

That bridge has burned
that ship has sailed
this bird has flown
at being friends, I have failed

Quick to anger and to cast blame
later on I always feel ashamed,
can't say I'm sorry, way to proud
wish my mouth wouldn't shout, out  that loud.

Never learned to let some things go
all my opinions I just let flow,
don't care to much what others think,
that's why I'm alone, while I sip this drink.

That bridge has burned
that ship has sailed
this bird has flown
at being friends, I have failed

Now I'm picking up brass, but won't reload,
thinking about apologies that I owe,
to all of you I never meant to be mean
but in a mirror, myself, I have seen.

That bridge has burned
that ship has sailed
this bird has flown
at being friends, I have failed.

We say goodbye today
but we are glad to know
that you will make a new life
out in Broken Bow

A new place and new things
to discover and explore
hopefully having worked here
will help you open doors

Life has many paths
that you must wander down
hopefully for the better
as you walk new ground

No matter where you are
you know that you have friends
keep in touch no matter
where your road may end

So good bye and good luck
safe travels on the way
we will love you always
will meet again someday

nocturnal creatures prowl,
slit pupils, dilated, watch,
tapetum reflecting ambient light,
circadian rhythms lost.

hands reach out,
darkness blinds,
fingers find things,
can you identify?

clicks and pops,
echolocation.
a skill,
undeveloped.

moonless night,
cloud-covered,
complete blackness,
like sackcloth.

pure fear encased,
soundless as well,
sensory deprivation,
panic attack.

running, running,
walls, banged,
glass broken,
tree branches scratch.

or is it claws
and teeth attacking,
blood dripping from cuts,
marking an unseen path.

Reach down into
the crevasse of yourself,
find all of your fears,
and put them on a shelf.

Close the doors
and lock them away,
to be truly free,
this is the way.

Climb back to the surface
of your unbound soul,
go forward now,
you have taken control.

You have now tamed,
the beast that lives within,
and can do those things,
be comfortable in your skin

scary clowns
makeup streaming
in acid rain
laughter screaming

I feel the need,
the need to cast and wind;
for the fish to feed,
and bite upon my line.

From the tiniest of perch,
to biggest largemouth bass;
as long as my line will lurch,
each time I make a cast.

Crank baits, worms or spinners,
I really just don't care;
as long as I catch dinner,
and a few more for fun to spare.

Hitching a ride on my cigar smoke,
curling slowly into the air,
floating on my beers bubbles,
I simply am free from care.

Bass line bumps,
from the rap station,
heads all bobbing
a music vacation.

Watch the girls,
drop it low,
take it in,
that weekend flow.

Lawn chairs sagging,
the coolers cold,
hand me another,
if I could be so bold.

The bass drops
so does she
way down low

Boom, boom, boom
DJ, turntable twist
brings beat back

Shake, sway, drop
she can't stop
******'s viewing pleasure

Let it slide,
let it flow
let all the anger go.

Take a breath,
relax a bit,
don't let them get to you,
with their ****.

Whistle a tune,
with the birds,
sing on out
some light hearted words.

Let it slide,
let it flow
let all the anger go.

In the end,
it will be all right,
the sun will shine,
as will the stars at night.

Understand the situation,
knowing all your limitations,
feel the stress, then let it go,
like an arrow shot from a bow.

You have no need to worry,
tears and fears just bring you down,
you have friends here and there,
hear them sing this joyful sound

Let it slide,
let it flow
let all the anger go.

Night creatures on the prowl,
stalking their prey in silvered moonlight,
from above wings flap and eyes glow,
searching for mice and shrews.

Through tall grass and into the
plowed fields, slinking close to the ground,
flattened and oozing through mountain filtered
cool air, the tomcat searches for a meal.

Twisted X's made of wire,
strung between t- posts,
fencing off separate properties,
yet tying it together for miles.

Cattle and horses contained,
whitetail deer simply go through
or jump over with impressive leaps,
Rio Grande turkeys walk the line.

Game trails used by various critters,
criss cross underneath it,
forming tunnels in the tall grass,
a yellow breasted meadowlark perches.

Grown into trees through the years,
a historical record contained and preserved within.
single stand or multi-wire tales,
a 3000 pound Beefmaster bull just walks through.

Cowboys ride miles mending,
on foot, or horseback or trucks and ATV's.
good fences make good neighbors, especially in cattle country.

Breathing in the evil
should you exhale it?
or filter it through
layers of loving heart
and insoluble soul.

Creating kind words
excreting the evil
back to the depths of hell
from whence it came

Weakness allows
the evil to pollute
and weaken
you to the point

You become so
overexposed
overpowered
but, allow it no foothold

Unrequited pain,
cured only by death,
understood finally,
on our final breath.

engraved tombstone
tears roll
soil's handful

5 AM dark of the moon
early morning campfire
frosty ground
warm cup of coffee

The coyotes sing on either side of me
a long and mournful sound
Orion touching the horizon
Venus is on the rise

Mesquite leaves run across the ground
an army on the move
sheep quietly bawl on the distance
what passes for country quiet

As the sun begins to rise
purples, pinks and oranges paint the sky
and the few wispy clouds ignite
with awesome colors and lights

The sheep, cows, breeze, quiet music
and the fire crackles
as my coffee steams away
on the final morning of the hunt

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?

My time is done
I had my fun
I cannot mend
times at its end

I pass the torch
my body's scorched
do not cry
my soul now flies

Say a toast and drink a beer
remember good times, when I was here
remember hunting and catching fish
remember I loved you, that is my wish.

fireflies burn orange
like glowing bits of ember
inextinguishable

Entangled conversations,
hearts and minds align.
energetic interjections
send shivers up my spine.

Synced up synapses,
stimulate my flow.
from within,
I begin to feel a glow.

Shared laughter,
whispered feelings,
pressed lips,
have me reeling.

Time spent together,
mental fusion forming,
I am enamored
as feelings are warming,

Touching my brain,
I am aroused.
penetrating friction,
my love now espoused.

Finally physically touching,
we become complete.
souls, bodies and minds, entangled,
we are now replete.

tuille and silk wrap 'round
a day of celebration
a night of pleasure

Cast out your worm, Texas rigged
work the lure till you get a bite
set the hook and enjoy the fight
if not, then switch to a blue-black jig

Upon the bank, or on the beach,
in a boat, or knee deep in a creek.
with rod and line, I weave a dream,
while casting hope down the stream.

I reel it in with every cast,
unlike life, this hope will last,
optimism, unabashed,
possibilities without backlash.

Finally opportunity knocks,
you set the hook and it locks,
the fight is on, you reel it in,
in this battle, you get the win.

A red bikini,
in trout green water,
a beauty like the sun,
yet so much hotter.

Texas star ball cap,
in hand, rod and reel,
glistening in Coppertone,
she is the real deal.

Floating stringer,
clipped to hip tied strings,
I'm just hoping,
a shark wants that thing.

She sets the hook,
reels a big trout in,
but I have thoughts
of original sin.

She wades on by,
gives me a smile,
then heads on down,
the tailwater miles.

Give me road trips filled with 90's music,
take me fishing or I just might lose it,
Texas lakes, or the gulf coast,
with too much work I'm diagnosed.

I need 'Merica's, and **** rights,
and I need you to get it together tonight,
we know whats going on in the world today,
the news is all bad, so lets go play.

Drop the boat in the water and hollering WOOOOO!
full throttled boat, out on the bay with my crew,
all my buddies gathered from far and wide
we're going fishing, no matter the tide.

The water is flat and the sun is shining magnifico,
we're from Arizona, Texas, Florida and New Mexico
get together once or twice a year,
telling stories and drinking beer.

Cutting bait and casting lines,
generally having one hell of a time,
doesn't matter if its reds or speckled trout,
just put us on the coast and let us out.

I stand in the middle,
dead center under the roof,
yet still I am splashed by cold water,
both from the sides, and underneath.

The green lake water rises and falls,
as thunder and lightning crash and flash,
a slow moving storm, at mid day,
pushed by a slow breeze over me.

I am happy, as I lean on a boat,
hanging in a slip, gently swaying,
my spinning reel on a short rod
tipped with a chartreuse jig.

I drop it in the water to the bottom,
and reel it up one turn, and bounce it up and down,
a tug and a pull, and a fat white crappie,
with a black stripe and spots gets lifted to me.

Unhooked and in the basket, he goes,
several of his brethren already swim there,
their bite turned on by the storm,
I enjoy the sounds, sights, and fish.

March and April are the time
when crappie bite and winds chime
Cedar Creek, Prince's dock
it's the spot do not mock

Years of trees submerged there
fishing rods used by the pair
minnow on one jig on the other
catching crappie is never a bother

Medium shiner and red and chartreuse skirt
cast em out wait for the ****
cold Coors lite in the fridge
if not biting here, let’s try Caney bridge

Or maybe a dock across the way
down on the dam at the end of the day
but usually the dock will do just fine
under lights at dark or in  sunshine

Fill the basket with white and black
watch the cork, reel the slack
when it bobs, set the hook
paperlip slab, fillet and cook

Electric knife and old butcher block
cleaning fish around the clock
cornmeal, seasoning and fillets
a great dinner at the end of the day

Shake in a sack and toss in hot oil
toss in some hushpuppies' watch it roil.
eating on the deck with family and friends
our bellies full, the day ends

Boat hooked up
Let'***** the road
Left work early
Lighten my load

Buddies jump in
With their gear
Truck loaded down
Have no fear

Rods and reels
And bottles of crown
Headed to the coast
Jamming throwback sounds

Dinner time
Whataburger stop
Back on the highway
Haven't seen a cop

Halfway there
Need to get some sleep
But stopping at a buddies
Conversation runs deep

Morning comes
Got to get going
The beach it calls
And the tide is flowing

Check into the house
Drop boats in the water
Let's go fish
Can't stand it ni longer

Live gulf shrimp
hooks and weights
Out to the jetties
To sink some bait

Tap and pull
Set the hook
Drag screaming
The bait was took

Finally turn
This big old red
Bringing him in
Feel just about dead

Scoop him up
32 incher in the net
The tone for the trip
Has been set

10 guys  here
For three more days
Fishing trip
Memories made

Cypress branches hang solemnly
in the early morning stillness,
I feel the polar opposite,
I know the knees of the trees
hold bass and crappie
which I am here to catch.

With Texas rigged worms
and with feather-tipped jigs,
I grin with glee at the still water
and make my first cast,
waiting and salivating
with excited anticipation.

The boat glides silently,
trolling motor directed,
ultralight rod, orange and white bobber,
red and chartreuse jig ready,
wrist flick sends a ballistic arcing bait.

Landing 4 inches from the cypress knee
the bobber never stops at the surface,
sinking quickly, I lift the rod, and line runs,
reeling quickly, to prevent tangling,
I boat a sixteen-inch white crappie,
hopefully one of many.

The sun beats down
the waves make a laughing sound
my buddy sits, picking at a backlash
its a dollar a fish, and I'm taking his cash

As I catch bass on every other cast
he sighs loudly, still on his ***
I tell him to cut it and just restring
he says but I just put line on this **** thing

The wind cools the dripping sweat
while he is sitting there, I say hand me the net
as I boat another big fish
he looks for a Genie to make his wish

I look at his knees, they are glowing beet red
I am glad I put sunscreen on my face and head
he goes to stand, finally retied
he moans loudly, his knees are fried

Too late now, to apply lotion
tomorrow in jeans, he wont enjoy any motion
as the denim, rubs the blisters more raw
and I give him the total, from the fish that I caught

See I caught bass, the number  twenty three
while he was backlashed or stuck in a tree
He finally did manage to catch some
but too little to late the damage was done

He hands me a twenty
I go to slap a knee
his fist comes up and waves at me
then his ******* is finally set free

I say when are we fishing again
tomorrow evening he says with a grin
See no matter how good, or bad the bite is
its always better than work, taking care of the biz

Casting chicken liver off the levee
tap and pull, rod starts bouncing
set the hook, and reel it in
all its fins and tail a'flouncing.

Costa sunglasses cut the glare
of the green rippled lake light,
three baited lines in the water,
patience, ready for another bite.

Waiting, waiting in the sun
as mosquitos buzz around me,
a slight breeze blowing from the west
they say its when the fish bite best.

Water snakes, colored orange and black
float upon cattail rafts, soaking heat,
ignore the splashing of my cast,
one of my lines goes suddenly slack.

**** the rod, the fight is on!
Catfish tugging toward the bottom,
he so enjoyed my ****** bait,
my fillet knife, though is his fate.

Channel, blue or flathead
whatever fish will try;
will be swiftly cleaned
and served deep fried.

Filleted and battered thick with beer
the oil is bubbling and smoking hot,
hear the sizzle as they fry up crisp,
fill my plate straight from the ***.

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.

Songs that remind me of the nineties,
dripping with grunge and angst,
I sing along, unabashed
from the Temple of the Dog.

I learn that every day
is the day I try to live,
from every belting verse,
I am touched within.

Lost in the garden of sound,
I roam in the super unknown,
a slave to the audio,
downloading all into my brain.

Heavy is my head,
though I wear no crown,
as these memories seep in,
and Hunger Strike plays.

skies of green
in the distance blue
lightning golden
clouds of cream

rushing by in the wind
as it howls down the desert
dust kicked up
like a herd of bison

peck peck peck
grit hits the windows
and then splash
as the warm rain starts

mud flows in brown runnels
next to the gray chip driveway
a stray leaf, rides the flow
through mini class five rapids

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.

Rattling bones in my ears,
from bridges long since burned,
jaws open, but no words emerge,
deep dark holes, stare into my being.

Fleshless fingers reach out,
into my dreams in the night,
drawing me into prison bars of ribs,
where once lived a beating heart.

From closets, and from under beds,
and even from within the walls,
the never-ending scratching,
of them trying to get out.

Some were friends, other lovers,
all now excised from my life,
I have moved on, or so I think,
haunted by the bones of the past.

The horrible sounds,
of master padlocks
fastening, click,
sealing out a former love.

Floating in my sorrow,
bobbing along in pain,
a memory trapped,
in a glass bottle,
and the sound of broken wings.

Rotting love's flesh in a circle,
revealing the truth underneath,
devoured by your injected venom.

My feelings congealed,
and oozed to the lowest point,
where I waited to be splashed,
into a thousand drops.

an odyssey,
deep in the space of,
the grey matter corners,
of my mind.

filled with electronic pulses,
picture flashes,
of the past,
and the future.

loves lost and found,
static and music,
a maelstrom,
and a singularity.

swirling vortices
of serotonin,
and other transmitters,
forever in flux.

I hear a noise,
a question,
from a distance,
infinitesimally quiet.

God, are you there?
a voice whispered,
which is my own,
no, it is only me

Freed and relaxing
Laying on the deck
Only gentle ripples
And a brief breeze
Trade the boats stillness

One by one the stars emerge
Newly twinkling tonight

Transferring ancient light
Her eyes absorb and
Emit the stars sparkle

Laying here
And thinking of
Kissing you
Eager

The object of one's focus,
tends to consume and direct
the body chemistry.

cold,
hot,
love,
hate,

obsession,
digression,

emoti­ons,
vibrations,

Perception is your reality.

In the bottom of the quagmire
lays a pile of ancient bones,
no one ever sees them,
they are quite alone.

Once a man of vision,
who decided to hide his eyes,
so he could listen to the world,
and become more wise.

He heard the sounds of birds,
and they sounded nice,
he listened so hard,
he even heard the mice.

He heard the people's whispers
they thought that he was crazy,
others told him loudly
that he was simply lazy.

To blindfold one's self
and sit and hear all day
and to shun his work
when there are bills to pay.

Well perhaps they were right
so he left the house for a stroll,
but left the blind in place
with his life, he paid the toll.

On his first journey,
off listening his way,
into the quagmire he walked
and stays there still today.

The drops begin
but I'm on my way,
she's trying to leave,
But I need her to stay.

I'm in her drive
as the rain pours down,
with my tears,
I just may drown.

I'm just a fool in the rain
not ready for the pain,
I'm just a fool in the rain,
with roses and champagne.

Soaked and drenched,
I knock her door,
down on my knees,
upon her porch.

Thunder booms,
and lights flash,
she looks out,
her teeth gnash.

I grab a chair,
sit in the storm,
for forgiveness,
I will perform.

I'm just a fool in the rain
cannot deal with the pain,
I'm just a fool in the rain,
with soggy roses and champagne.

I sit and sit,
I am ignored,
hours pass,
I won't leave her door.

The sun goes down,
guard lights come on,
she peeks out,
sees I'm still not gone.

More rain comes,
I am resigned,
our relationship,
been redefined.

I'm just a fool in the rain
watching roses wash down the drain,
I'm just a fool in the rain,
I open the bottle of champagne.

I drink a toast,
and say good bye,
suddenly
my eyes are dry.

Climb in the truck
start to back out,
I'm stopped short,
by her shout.

She stands on the porch,
with a towel,
her face a smile,
no longer a scowl.

I'm a man in the rain,
who is sorry for causing pain,
repented for sins and disdain,
never again will I stray.

Billowing smoke,
creeps across the ceiling,
like frosting whipped and spread.

Gray-blue particles drift,
into volcanic snow drifts,
skin, stained in pattern.

Pixelated camouflage imprinted,
subcutaneous chromatophores injected,
chameleonic components supplied.

Skin *****, webbing,
triggered at a notion,
finger and toes transmogrified.

Nictitating membranes grown,
intrinsic goggles unfurl,
rods and cons added, eyesight enhanced.

Human, yet not exactly,
enhanced for performance,
evolution forced.

Fingerprints of others,
are the memories,
good times, trips, fun,
sadness, helping, hoping,
forensic evidence of life,
that can never be collected.

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.

through life's tribulations
we are molded
shaped by the hands of fate
into what we should be
through the consequences
of our choices

years and pressure
produce diamonds
the hardest most beautiful
gem in the world

Remember that
during times of pain
and struggle
you are being
reformed

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.

A floating island of multicolored boats,
clustered outside the golf course greens,
bobbing in blue waters, white waves slosh,
bathing-suited and bikinied people waiting.

A speck and a sound approach in the sky,
the first of many roaring and tumbling planes,
in different sizes, colors, and abilities,
all performing to a synchronized radio station.

As the sun sets, and the planes fly away,
sparks of blue, and green and gold start,
the fourth of July fireworks begin as
Lee Greenwood sings, "I'm Proud to be an American".

Fourth of July

Its Fourth of July, doesn't matter what year,
Friends  heading over with coolers of beer.
Wife’s in the kitchen makes guacamole,
One look at her you think holy moly

God dang she’s hot; it’s just not fair,
My buddy walks up unfolds a lawn chair.
He sits down, and cracks a beer,
Hands me one, I said glad you're here.

His wife walks up, dessert in hand,
Radios playing, hey what’s that band.
He doesn't know, and it doesn't matter,
I crank it up, the wife hands me a platter.

It’s filled with chicken and shrimp with dill,
I look over charcoal's ready to grill.
Look down at the lake, kids are all swimming,
Splashing and smiling and jumping and grinning.

Washer pit is set up, ready to toss,
More friends arrive; I say what’s up hoss.
I look around, down the cove,
Neighbors getting ready for, a fireworks show.

His wife’s bikini, man it clashes,
Mix match top and bottom, but she's hot as new ashes
We’ll sit out, under the stars,
Oohing and ahhing over flashes and sparks.

When fireworks are over, we'll grab a drink,
Ice Cream and cobbler and try to think.
How this could get any better?
Friends wife walks up, I’m glad I met her.

She says its late, thanks for having them,
But she has a date, with my friend,
And when they get home,
It’s going to be their own, fireworks show.