On the surface I am happy.
Its quite the masquerade
I'm the jolly friend, always smiling
To find a way
To veil my true feelings in a shroud of dismay
Because the surface is crumbling
Under the roars of self-hate

Swing on the wild side if you must
Mingle with masters,  pare down your craft
Let not the magic in you, wrinkle  or rust
Apply and polish  that draft!

Learn what it is to shape your style
Follow your dreams to completion
Take in those experiences, stay for awhile
Writing is never -exhaustion!.

Take all advice, others may offer you
Build up your daily reserve
Pick all the apples,  poets may proffer you
Write whatever you deserve

Make it a habit to test out your words
Dance within visuals of fun
Try as you might for all that you write
Today  the writings begun.!

Author Notes

Optional
© Marshall Gass. All rights reserved, a month ago

Let me tell you again about the dream I have where I wake up in a bed across the Atlantic.

The dream where you are settled on my skin, still asleep.

You are all lips and freckles.

In this dream you speak before you wake and you tell me, “hold my hand, hold my hand,” and your voice to me is like god ****** gospel.

When they open, your eyes are not your eyes—they are more like the only navigable sea I’ve ever known, and you’re looking not at me, but past me.

The dream where the air around us thickens and I reach out a fingertip, but when I touch you I go right through you.

Our skins ripple and move in waves as we fade into shades of cerulean that soak into the sheets, disappearing like bathwater.

I heard this all from the grapevine,
curiosity killed the cat…
so… seems unlikely that my dog killed your chickens
just give the poor dog a bone
it's pretty much genetics
all that nature versus nurture
even he makes mistakes…
let's let boys be boys
bygones be bygones
you should always love your neighbor
I know you eat chicken too
we can't be having the *** calling all the kettles black
you know what they say?
If you can't beat 'em,
                                          join 'em.

Her eyes in the moon
Reflection of a dreaming
That I can't awake

A following sun
Now that I am forced to be
A ring in a tree

Futile in my ways
One sees beyond shallow grave
Gurgle in the creek

Can there be so sweet
Your hand making me complete
Sun kissed cool in the twilight

In a circle rule
Come a stroke now of midnight
Silence flies the owl

Twenty-four hours now
Making my day complete
Blue sky , clouds pass by

By a dank , stinky waterway
Blowing off all my care
Swarms of tiny black insects
Biting me everywhere
Around the bend so listless
Hovers a barge's spotlight

Now I was feeling cold as a stone
So I knew that it was time for me to go
I roared down the highway
To that trucks diesel smell
Seeking shelter in the middle of the night
Somewhere , where they treat you well
A red light dangles from a window
Lady Nightly is leaning against the door
She says, "Won't you come on in and I'll
be your ***** ."

Oh , welcome to the Hotel , Alabama
Such a secluded place , "such a secluded place"
Such a must see place
Book a room at the Hotel , Alabama
Put away your fears , "put away your fears"
She'll be waiting there

She'll twist your time so swiftly
Make you taste all of her amends
She knows all the right moves
If not she'll call in her friends
The moon ago was arising
She covers all of your bets
Pure pale skin in the moonlight
A taste I can't forget

I call up the dispatcher
"I won't be in on time"
Lamenting he said ,"Where are you this time?"
But his voice just got more distant
As I turned away
Forgot all about him as I dove back in bed
(Then she turned over to say)

"Welcome back to the Hotel , Alabama
Such a lovey place, "such a lovely place"
Always has a place
"Welcome to the Hotel , Alabama"
What a pleasant rise , "what a pleasant rise"
No need for disguise

My senses now reeling
Gin and tonic would have to suffice
She said , "Once , twice , now let's make it thrice"
There in the muggy bedroom
We were joined like a beast
We slapped our steely bodies
But couldn't satisfy it in the least

The rising sun glared at me in the face
She was standing by the door
"Y'all have to stop by on your way back
And I'll give you more"
"Oooh , aah ouch !" said I to the lady of my night , "It's more than I perceived .
You got a facebook page , one that I could like ?"
(And all she said was),"It's time for you to leave"

So welcome back to the Hotel , Alabama
Such a distant place , "such a distant place"
Such a must see place
Welcome back to the Hotel , Alabama
What a pleasant rise , "no need for disguise"
You can always book a room at the Hotel , Alabama
Such a lovely place , "such a lonely place"
Such a distant place . . . . . .