There once was a man who quickly became loved
And treasured in this land
He seemed to have it all looks, brains, and women
All in the palm of his hand

No matter what he did he achieved
Blessings seemed to over flow
But from where he came and what was his game
Not a soul seemed to know

He helped the towns to prosper
Gave to charities and was adored
He quickly climbed the social and political ladders
So it didn't seem to matter where he had been before

Until that one day where everything changed

The changes at first were very subtle
Like lines of age upon the face
As he started grasping at straw this man of the world
In his laying it all to waste

One day a woman slipped through his door,
the straw that broke the camels back
As she disappeared, rumors grew and whispered
with each and every passing day
Stripping away the peoples trust much like eroding soil
His world that day started crumbling and exploding all around

This man of mystery, this man of burning straw
Would soon succumb to the pleasures in shame
Below his line of character and above it all
Lies burn away held to close to life's flame

The people learned a valuable lesson
When trusting mere man he can let you down
The man who once made them all smile
Now has left them with a frown
As he now crumbles and falls down
Like wasted straw scattered on the ground
This man of straw, this Straw Man

I walk along these city streets
Traverse these country roads
Conversations with the souls I meet
Setting down our heavy loads

Helping to build it brick by brick
The pathway of mankind
Placing markers along the way
In case I come back to visit sometime

Arriving at the center
Where man has made his stand
The crossroads of all humanity
With high hopes and less demand

I come here bearing gifts
Everything it is I have
As the years have filled my pockets
With empty promises

Of all man has to offer
Of all that man has done
No one is the victor
In life's battle never won

So I continue to walk these city streets
Traverse these country roads
Conversations with the souls I meet
Setting down our heavy loads

first love, a blue coyote-
- first heart, a red red moon

first day's not dawned-
love sings a song
a'top a desert dune

genesis of loneliness-
indigenous to wistfulness
- first cry of love
against the first night sky

blue coyote sings
to a red red moon.

r ~ 10/3/14