We all start out on a path
Of one way, no looking back
You can have it all in all you have
Me, I'll take mine

Soon enough you see, you need to watch your speed
Not all in life is all that easy
You have a choice to stay or leave
At the Detour Sign

You know you know the way to take
So why all of the mistakes
In choosing of the path, you make
More often wrong than right

But all along, wrong looks so much fun
And before this day is cooked and done
It's bound my friend to eat your lunch
At the Detour Sign

If you'll keep said path straight ahead
Not one iota or turn of the head
To the right or to the left
Then you will be fine

But that's not the way it's made to work
When lessons need to be learned
And them, we learn until it hurts
At the Detour Sign

Don’t ask me about anything
I try and stay out of what’s happening
Do my best to keep to myself
Leave life’s problems on the dusty shelf

No, I don’t know what’s going on
Either here and now or good as gone
I haven’t got a single clue
With the thought of what or not to do

Don’t assume I have sound advice
Ask me once, I’ll tell you twice
I'm fresh out of new ideas
Who you trying to kid, kid

I rarely care for what's out there
With no clue of who or what they're doing here
I try not to get too involved
In the much to-do of what’s going on

If there's anything, don't ask me
There's not a thing on which I lean
I can tell you straight away
I could care less in the mess that's being made

When I need a little pick me up
I start off with a coffee cup
The size of a gallon jug
But here's the deal, it still ain't enough

It all goes down in real time smooth
Puts me in a better mood
To do whatever it is I do
And that right there is the dog gone truth

I remember when I was young
There was no need for stimulant
To get this machine to up and run
To jump the gun on its own

But that was back, as they say
Living in my best hey days
Be it early or be it late
I was always ready, right out the gate

The old me now tends to lean
When it comes to what I eat
On the heavy side of treats
And all the fat points in between

So, when it comes to energy
I **** the snot out of caffeine
Gobble up all vitamin B's I see
Washing them down with energy drinks

Which these days seems to be
Just to keep me on my feet
Crazy as it all may seem
The greatest of necessities

We're living in these days at hand
The fall no less, the sin of man
Have caused a stir of fanning flames
In questioning, did God really say?

A sign of the times, this age-old lie
Working ever since our sense of pride
Both as of late and back in the day
To this date, did God really say?

From ancient times to here and now
So many lies that we've lost count
That over time have never changed
Like the one, did God really say?

The serpent whispered in Eve's ear
She must have not heard it clear
That very day paradise went away
With the lie, did God really say?

Man is so pleased with himself
And yet we still swim in self-doubt
Giving the whole farm away
With the question of, did God really say?

Why do I think that I
Deserve more than the other guy
Acting like it's owed to me
Bought and paid for, mine to keep

Why do I treat selfishness
As if it is mine to possess
It's not enough I want it all
And when it's gone, I ask for more

Why do I hold onto pride
Ever tight for dear life
Afraid to let the people see
When it comes to the real me

Why do I light my angry side
Any disagreement, I try and fight
Pushing back with all my might
Thinking that, you're wrong I'm right

Why do I even think
I deserve anything
Angry at my selfishness
Which in turn hurts my pride no less

When they're at their peek of brightness

She ties ribbons around the stars

She's been told by some, they like this

Highlighting who it is they are

Outside she spends her evenings

At the edge of her front yard

Reaching into the constellations

Tying ribbons around the stars

i took an empty envelope
and mailed it off to you
it told you of my feelings
more than a letter could ever do

please don't get me wrong
i'm really not that cold
i did try to write that letter
but this empty envelope here alone
in a way says so much more…

How easy it is to throw stones
At things and those we do not know
When they don’t fit inside our box
We hide it well while they get caught

The world we’re in no longer hides sin
Not that it makes a difference
He sees our deeds and inner thoughts
There’s nothing you can hide from God

On a quest to do our best
To hide it all from all the rest
To make ourselves out as saints
Two bit hero’s in rag tag capes

While carrying a load of stones
Ready, set, go, in time to throw
At those we perceive caught up in sin
Don’t look at me though, go look at them

i found out
some time ago
if you want to move fast
you must first do slow
after awhile
pick it up a bit
just make sure
you never quit
even when
times get hard
and you know they will
it's in the cards
take to heart
this timely notion
never quit
your forward motion
no matter if
it's fast or slow
hang on tight
and don't let go
there is no secret
to this life we live
don't concede
and never quit

Another year, another Father's day
Too long since mine has passed
Still holding tight the memories
Of the man that I called Dad

He did with me the best he could
Teaching me what he thought was right
Never turn your face your to evil ways
When it comes to justice stand and fight

Always respect your Mother
Loving her the best you can
And when you see those with little hope
Lift them up with the kind word of friend

Valuable lessons that my Daddy gave
I can't begin to tell
He is with my other Father now
In Heaven where all is well

If I could be half the man my Father was
Remembering all he thought was right
Like being the best Dad for his kids
Then I will have served out well my purpose in life

I'm not sure what time it is
But expect me to be late
If you have a hunch that we'll do lunch
I'll most likely be your dinner date

It's not like I don't know what's going on
And realize I have a problem
If anyone is to be late to this party
Count me as being the one

I've heard them say the day they dig the grave
I'll be late to my own funeral
That may be so but who's to know
Being cremated like a popcorn kernel

And with that said if there's any time left
I'll be late for even that
If there's any doubt, I'll run the clock out
That's one secret that's never been kept

So, don't agonize over the time
We've all heard it said that it's concept
And if you're looking for me, I can guarantee
If I'm not there yet, I'm still home in bed

I'm in here and you're out there
Looking for someone who cares
Having searched most everywhere
Have I mentioned I'm right here

Why would you leave where you were
Hoping for a shooting star
Wishing there was something more
That you wish you could wish for

When it's clear I am here
With you on the hunt out there
In desperate need of someone who cares
Have I mentioned that I'm right here

Here is where we dare to start
Throwing rocks at passing cars
Burn the whole place to the ground
In peaceful protests throughout town

Carry signs, scream and spit
Looking for that TikTok hit
Forcing fascists to see our side
Hoping they don't make us cry

Stand up for our right to be
Sitting on the wrong side of history
Start our days with blind outrage
Keep our minds inside a cage

Buying everything they sell
From the bargain basement pits of Hell
Told half-truths to bold faced lies
We'll sit back as they decide

How to best use us next
In the stirring up of social unrest
Peacefully burning it to the ground
Coming soon to your town

In my sleep I often dream
In the realm of miracles
Where my mind escapes time
To let consciousness go

Moving beyond this plain I'm on
To reach a new plateau
Where R.E.M. takes to the wind
As my dreams start to blow

I float away from this frame
That keeps it all intact
Silence is the sound it makes
Before a snore or two escapes my head

In deep sleep I'm free to leave
The confines of my mind
That to a degree, keep holding me
On the awkward side of life

And with that said I lay my head
On a pillow soft and sweet
In my bed there's no looking back
As I float off in my dreams

I like to buy different magazines
And bring them to my home
Cut out all the faces
And replace them with my own

I always look so happy
In other peoples lives
I can be the best of husbands
Along side the best of wives

It all depends on my mood
On any given day
I could be hang gliding in the South Pacific
Or hiking the hills of Mandalay

On a beach in Florida
With perfect kids flying a kite
At a Hollywood premier
My face on any star I like

I used to lead a boring life
As I sat around at home
Now pasting my face in different magazines
I go and do anything I want

I just purchased NASA monthly
Dare I go to the moon
If they picture two astronauts together
You know I'd go with you

There's this island magazine I've been saving
From a travel agency
Can't wait to paste my face out swimming
In the bluest of the bluest seas

I'll flip through all the pages
Till I come up with the perfect tan
On top of the perfect body
Then I will be the perfect man

It's not always fun and games
I do have a serious side
When I paste my face onto orphans or the homeless
Then wet the pages as I cry

There's so many different things I do
Depends on the mood and the magazine
What peaks my interest at the store that day
And who it is I'd like to be

For years now I have written down
My most likely history
A mixture of public services
Both the seen and unseen

It helps a soul to focus
On the many goings on
I'm not sure you know this
Here one minute, next it's gone

I'm talking time and memory
As they seem to coincide
And you like me just might be
Along for the ride

That's why this mission that I'm on
From day one to write it down
Of the many things I've done
In a life of lost and found

Are equally important
In the major and minor scheme of things
Helps me to stay focused
In hopes I keep my memory

The ghosts of those long deposed
A-list Hollywood Actors
Are rehearsing their parts in the graveyard
Of the not so happily ever after

They come out at night in time to recite
Lines from their last endeavor
Not sure if they know, they died long ago
Or even would care to hear that answer

Wondering how they're not drawing the crowds
As in the day of the Silver Screen
There's a whole host of reasons in this ghostly season
As to why they are no longer seen

If they made their way through the graves in the day
They'd see all their fans paying homage
Getting their pictures made beside the graves with their names
Able to share in that special moment

But alas the ghosts of those long deposed
A-list Hollywood Actors
Will continue to rehearse their parts in the graveyard
Of the not so happily ever after

How many have rowed
To keep this boat afloat
Through years of tears and fears
Here is our hope

That we will hold on
As the sea takes its toll
On those near and dear we hold here
In fear of being alone

To row this boat
In its struggle to stay afloat
Here is where we're well aware
This boat is our home

As we continue to row...

People are amazed when I levitate
Inquiring minds would like to know
How they too can bust a move
Clear their throat and start to float

What happens is most of the action
Comes from my ears and eyebrows
My knees start a slapping when I get them to flapping
In the direction of North to South

With the crossing of several fingers
Along with both my eyes
No longer a need here to linger
As I lift up towards the sky

The motorboat sound that comes from my mouth
Really isn't necessary
It just adds some pizzazz to the moment at hand
And lends to the fact of the extraordinary  

What's a trip like this without showmanship
To leave the crowds flabbergasted
When flying around, here and there, there about
Who among you would have guessed that

The best way to levitate
Is in the flapping of ears and eyebrows
With fingers crossed plus eyes at all costs
If you ever did doubt what it's all about

You're bound to find out this is the best way
If you ever do try and levitate...

Everyday another page
Is taken from the book of life
With no way to read ahead
And with that said, no looking back

You can dog-ear several pages
And be stuck on repeat
Because life is what you make it
In the way you daily read

You might think that if you skip past
A paragraph or two
Some of the trash you're dealing with
Won't come back to haunt you

You can read it in the finest print
Or large letter edition
Whatever way you read today
Try and make it your mission

To strive and be the best of reads
With each turning of the page
This open book for those who care to look
In what you daily have to say

The best advice that I have
Is that it's best you don't look back
Keep sharp both your heart and mind
On the path that's straight ahead

Do not waste your precious time
Wobbling from side to side
If you always do what's right
Things will go good in your life

These lips are here for you to read
Won't you please pay me heed
A promise here for you to keep
You from wandering in too deep

Keeping both your heart and mind
On the sign of the times
Telling you what lays ahead
If you do your best and don't look back

I remember clearly the day we met
Which makes it seem like only yesterday
Memories cherished, memories kept
And a promise to forever, never give them away

A timeless legacy of family and faith
Between you and me to help carry it on
Adding doses of love along the way
Knowing full well we'll never go it alone

I promise you with this lasting truth
Whatever you and I are going through
I'll hold on tight and never let loose
Being more than ready to grow old with you

It's not hard to find we're still young in mind
With brittle bones that hold tender souls
We moan and we groan like we've been in a fight
And still not yet ready to give up the ghost

It hasn't been perfect, but we have been blessed
In all of the crazy that life's thrown at us
Still standing strong, last time we checked
Attributed to the power of love

I promise you with this lasting truth
Whatever you and I are going through
I'll hold on tight and never let loose
Being more than ready to grow old with you

I refuse these days to play the game
Of being shoved in the path, of an oncoming train
Get my ****** in a bunch with The Screaming Mimi's
To succumb to the fact, of being lost in the weeds

I refuse to use the Crazy Glue
To stick with their brand of demented truth
To belittle, berate what others might say
And base everything on Gender and Race

I refuse to side with the side that lies
Which by todays standard is both left and right
A circle that's bent still has no end
It just wabbles along till nobody wins

I refuse to let go and relinquish control
To the shallow in root and most gullible
Who believe what is said void of the facts
Drool on command while bobbing their heads

I refuse to join hands in this Zombie dance
Or fly in the plane on its way to the crash
I'll continue to say when it comes to this game
My answer's the same...I refuse to play

I would like sometimes
To just up and leave
Be gone till no one
Is out looking for me
A secret hiding place
That only I can keep
Off in the distance
A fading memory

Holding onto the whisper
That's never heard from again
Unfolding the map
That leads to Neverland
Embracing the fact
That no one knows who I am
And if there's anything left
I'll leave even that

Escape from the place
That I was last seen
Permanently erase
All thoughts of me
Change every trace of my name
You would ever care to think
Do all this and call
Myself history

Somewhere over the rainbow
Things seem to have lost their way
Since Dorthy took to-the sky of blue-in a big red ballon
Nothing has been the same

The Munchkins kept munching on lollipops
And have put on their share of weight
Things were much worse than anyone thought
When the entire land of OZ was caught stuffing face

If you find it sad, all the flubber and flab
Then welcome to the club
And speaking of such a line of fitness clubs
Might just be the rub to do the job right

Leave it up to the Flying Monkeys
To be the first when it comes to a plan
To turn things around with a quick calorie count
And the implementation of a strict sugar ban

Of course there was an uproar
Especially from the Lollipop Twins
Whose lollipop guild wouldn't stand for such swill
Above all are our laws and sweets are a big part of them

Which started a peaceful riot
(AKA) an all-out war
When the argument said how they should live
All they really want is to be left alone

And of course, once the damage was done
The Wizard of OZ got involved
Making it very clear we'll take over from here
But none of this fuss was the government's fault

As crazy as it sounds there's a lot of it going round
On this and that side of the rainbow
On the day Dorthy left was the start of this mess
Isn't that the way things seem to go

Live and let live, the little people insist
In Munchkin and lands beyond
Be it a hit or a miss, it is what it is
Just shut your monkey mouth and move on along

life can be
a tragedy
then again
filled with glee
all depends
on the steps you take
all of it being
one step away

You need to learn the lessons
When they bring up the facts
Momma says don’t do this
Dad says please do that

Don’t follow in fools footsteps
Learn from their mistakes
Hold tightly onto wisdom
Don’t give the fool a break

Our hope and prayer is this
That your efforts will succeed
And that the good Lord up above
Will meet your every need

And though he will watch over you
You still must do your part
Meet him in the moment
He’ll meet you where you are

Follow the path of justice
Be blameless in your stance
Make the best of opportunity
And every circumstance

Give account of yourself
Show your heart to be true
Giving more than you’re allowed
In everything you do

Take these words to heart
With the time that you have left
Momma says don’t do this
Dad says please do that

History Repeats
man's not so lavish deeds
with select memory
on the company it keeps

falling into line
with those out of their minds
wrong is never right
yet sown so many times

History Repeats
the side it prefers to lean
all we tend to be
is part of the machine

standing in this line
we all fit the crime
you can see it in our eyes
not a one puts up a fight

History Repeats
like there even is a need
to grow a load of grief
in the planting of that seed

falling a bit further in
the ditch we have been digging
past advice withstanding
never taking what was giving

You find yourself in a daily hell
Battling your mental health
Feel you’re on this field alone
The strength you need, as good as gone

From where you stand you see the hill
But struggle to muster up the will
Well laid plans inside your head
Up and gone, good as dead

As this daily battle rages on
Promising once again you will but won’t
Knowing full well that you need help
It’s hard to win a war within yourself

The more you war the less you’re dealt
On this battlefield of daily hell
Shoot to ****, but you only shoot yourself
In this endless war for your mental health

In an effort to try and set things right
Take this wise old soldier’s advice
Drop your guard and the facade
And  give the battle over to God

The 50's they found Elvis
And boy oh boy could he swing
The best part about him though
Is the boy could also sing
Of course there were many
Who tried his bell to ring
But it was only Elvis
That Rock & Roll crowned King

The 60's were invaded
By a drove of English blokes
From the Beatles to the Kinks to in between
The Rolling of the Stones
But we opened up some Doors
With a few bands of our own
As we headed further down
The road of Rock & Roll

We then watched the disco ball
Spinning round and round
As so went the 70's
With their ups and downs
Suddenly grinding to a halt
Barely with a sound
As fast as it came in
The 70's done left town

Then came in the 80's
Without much fanfare
Out went the disco
In came the hair
Not much more to talk about
That's about it I swear
When it came to the 80's
Not too many really cared

The 90's didn't just drop in
It was more a lunge
They called it rightly Nirvana
The day of the grunge
If you were not up with the times
Then you were counted out to lunch
But with the Jam Aunt Pearl made
I could never get enough

Now we're in the new Millennium
With the singers and their songs
Where went the Rock
Did it Roll off on its own
Never did it say goodbye
Before it was all gone
But I bet the bottom line
It won't be gone for long
Long live Rock & Roll

Not really sure I’m ready
For the day I die
Never been that steady
When walking along this crooked line

I say that I love Jesus
But how much of that is true
Is that just a line I feed upon
To try and make it through

When I get to Heaven
Standing at the Pearly Gates
With the lip service I gave him
Will that be the day God hesitates

Straddling the fence
More often than any man could count
I just hope through all of this
God’s righteous judgment doesn’t count me out

If I’ve relied on works alone
To work my own salvation out
The only thing that it would show
Would be the worship of myself

And if that is all I have
I’m much worse off than I thought
I need to give it all to Jesus
And the healing grace of God

There is nothing better
In this world you’ll find
Than the stealing of watermelon
Straight from off the vine

Makes them even sweeter
If there’s a challenge to the cause
Being chased by buckshot
Or old man Jamison’s dog

Running cross an open field
One dangling from each arm
Just make sure you’re fast enough
Where you don’t buy the farm

Make it to the edge of woods
Count yourself as lucky
If both you and the stolen goods
Arrive at the scene Scott free

There’s nothing better in this world
That you my friend can find
Than in the stealing of watermelon
Straight from off the vine

I truly believe
All they said to me
Lived on the edge
Of just wait and see

But as far as they came
Those days went away
No longer the standard
The innocent age

Never a worry
Of what was to come
Live and let live
Loved everyone

Placing ourselves
On center stage
Is the day that it fell
The innocent age

A fairy tale read
In the brightest sunshine
With little time left
We all closed our eyes

What once was our calling
We should have saved
Now desperately longing
The innocent age

I'm surrounded by these strangers
Though they say that they know me
I don't feel that I'm in danger
Well maybe to a slight degree

They also say they know my name
Even that I struggle with
It's gotten worse as of late
The older that I get

I have heard the whispers
And rumors going round
Speaking of dementia
But not who they seem to be talking about  

I have asked the ghosts if they know
That visit when the others have gone
We carry on conversations
Just them and me alone

I shuffle the halls and scratch the walls
Hoping they could offer something
Only if those walls could talk
But some folk aren't that lucky

Here I am at it again
With the same strangers from yesterday
No idea of why they keep coming back
As I sit here and stare off into space

Things I see I don't believe
And don't quite understand
If you ask me with certainty
Things are quickly getting out of hand

If I had to choose my next move
According to the plan
What I would do is follow through
With more supply and less demand

But as it goes there's an undertow
Just below this sifting sand
You should know to grab a rope
As things are quickly getting out of hand

From all I see and often need
If given half a chance
I guarantee that yes indeed
We could change our circumstance

If I had my say the takeaway
Argumentatively man to man
We'd find a way to shift the blame
As things are quickly getting out of hand

People keep talking disasters
The end is near keeps bending my ear
Doomsday sayings on my Instagram plastered
Let me here make one thing perfectly clear

Feel free to feed your screaming Wild Banshees
I'll do me with my hammock out back
If they drop the bomb, I say what's the harm
It'll just give me more time to relax

I won't have to pretend to be sick that day
With no one there to answer my call
Down at the store when the store is no more
I'll just take the entire week off

I might even do a tad bit of fishing
Ignoring all the NO TRESPASSING signs
I'm sure the law that day will have more on its plate
And me tossing my line will be least on their minds

I might even dare to exceed the limit
And on top of all that, leave my license at home
Being the rebel I am, always smack dab right in it
When they say to do, chances are that I won't

I'm going to sit back relax and enjoy all the silence
Without the noise of the Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Clogging the air on their way to nowhere
Just wake me up in time for my meals

So go ahead and have your fun when you drop the BIG one
I'll be in my hammock out back
Just kindly hold down the noise as the Earth explodes
Some of us here are trying to relax

You made God another promise
That again you failed to keep
With the everyday say of life in the way
Finding yourself in it neck deep

Born out of good intentions
Even displaying your membership card
Of course no one dared to mention
You fold like a cheap suit when times turn hard

But thank goodness we serve a good God
Who knows us all too well
And that untold promises are more often swept
Into the bin labeled as Self

And what do we do in the meantime
But add more to the growing stack
The promises saved and those newly made
Letting them go then taking them back

We to often make God a promise
Then along the way fail to keep
With the everyday say of life in the way
Finding ourselves in it neck deep

This field we're in is but a test
Where we'll come clean or turn out a mess
So many things we must address
Which way do you lean

Some struggle strong along the way
While others say it's a piece of cake
There's much to gain from our mistakes
Either erase or press repeat

How many here would volunteer
When what's ahead is none to clear
In the wondering of, what are we doing here
The water's getting deep

With life in hand, we take it on the chin
More than once if not then and again
If not a total loss, does that mean we win
In all the things we need

Feel free to add it to the list
One way or another we'll make it through this
Don't change the channel, it is but a test
In the wiping of our slates clean

I keep looking for that one star
That I wished upon back then
When you and I once were
Before we lost what could have been

It would shine its light on us at night
Like it had nothing else to do
Reminding me as far as I can see
That yes, wishes do come true

But not everything works out quite right
The way we'd like them to
Hence the star I keep looking for
To let it know I'm missing you

I'll continue with this journey
Gazing on the stars at night
And when I find one that feels right
I'll wish I may then wish I might

Find the one I'm dreaming of
In these starry skies of blue
To let me know through it all
That yes, wishes do come true

Talk about Galactic problems
Rising from the dust
Yet not quite at rock bottom
This spinning Hunk of loose Space Junk

From one end to the other
Throughout the galaxy
Known to every Alien and their mother
As a floating globe of useless debris

After years and years of tossing trash
By now you would have thunk
We would have gotten our act together some how
On this rotund ball of spinning Space Junk

Given the chance you know all too well
We'll leave leftovers in our wake
Famous for our wars and landfills
In the messes that we make

Scooting through the universe
Litter bugs on the run
Used to be known as Planet Earth
Now a rolling ball of senseless Space Junk

Underneath sweet Southern skies
Watching life pass us by
Not a care I swear to where or why
As we lean back and close our eyes

Down here is where things slow a bit
Pretty close to the point of quit
Not at all bothered a bit by it
That is just how we all live

Being that we're neighborly
Waving from our front porch swings
From early morning to late evenings
Might throw a howdy or two in-between

There's not a lot that gets us down
When we're this far from unwound
Feet firmly set on the ground
With heart and head, heaven bound

Underneath sweet Southern skies
We find we need no reasons why
To lean back and close our eyes
As life outside slowly passes by

I found myself on the verge
Of tossing out this poem
But the green in me said wait and see
It might just be recyclable

Perhaps someone else could use it
Bits and pieces, if not all
They could have a line or two that rhymes with a few
Of the stanzas I used to make up this poem

So, I set it out on the curbside
With a sign reading free to a poet in need
Which didn't take long till one came along
And snatched up the poem from the weeds in my lawn

Feeling proud of myself for the effort
In this poetic environment
Showing the world that I care and am well aware
Being willing to share with what little I have
in the recycling of this poetic trash

And to think I almost tossed it
Which should be a lesson to us all
If you think what you have is nothing but trash
The trash that you have could be recyclable

We're all told to be careful
It's been known to break some hearts
In the mad rush to be helpful
The jealousy of love

It'll slip up on you in a frenzy
Ripping out your foolish heart
When you least expect you have the need
The jealousy of love

How many times have you been warned
Far more often than not
And yet here you are back at the door
The jealousy of love

Like a fruit, forbidden you
Bitter to the tongue
As it sits in wait to make its move
The jealousy of love

Caught up in the dilemma
Do you stay or move along
With no one the clear winner
The jealousy of love

If everything was perfect
And life was but a breeze
I'm not sure exactly
How that would feel to me

If life was but a song
That we all could hum along
I'm not sure how right that'd feel
If something was not wrong

If everything was right side up
And not a thing was upside down
Would we ever really know
When the good times roll around

Can we take this opportunity
To realize what we should know
How things would not feel right
If something was not wrong

If you're late coming to this party
In the perfection that you seek
How on earth can you be happy
If you never have a need

I believe they both go hand in hand
Never travel far alone
Because right would not feel right
If something was not wrong

Pardon me, please
While I sneeze out some lines
About these allergies
That have put a halt to my life

They’ve got my eyes running
Same as my nose
Whether I'm out here flat-footed
Or over there on tippy toes

I find it hard to breathe
With this pollen floating around
Beaten up in this brutal fight
Daily down for the count

My eyes itch so bad
Driving me over the edge
To where I could take a garden rake
And scratch them out of my head

Downing fistfuls of Zyrtec
Like they're going out of style
These allergies are not done yet
On this there's little doubt

That my head is beyond stuffed
To where my ears can barely hear
I would not be lying to say I've had enough
Of the pollen count this year

These days I keep you will find me
Footloose and relaxing free
On some far-off sandy shore
The thoughts I weave, I guarantee
You're soon to see are not too deep
On that you have my gentle word

If by chance you could, you should
If you would in all likelihood
Somehow find the perfect time
To some degree be more like me
A connoisseur of no needs
At this time...
with time out of mind

Over time you'll find that I
Am the kind to fit the crime
And easily could get used to this
Here's the thing, if you spread your wings
And dream your dreams inside the dream
There's not a thing in life that you will miss

So, hop on here if you dare
A place where there are no cares
Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride
Guaranteed to feel free like me
When you come to see you have no needs
At this time...
with time out of mind

I needed to do some shopping
On poem ideas I was running low
So I checked out the local flyer
To the downtown Poet Store

Just to see what they had on sale
Some of my friends they call me cheap
But why pay full price if you don't have to
On all the rhyming words I need

The front page slapped me in the face
With the Spring Cleaning Sale Galore
Everything I needed was half price
So I headed straight to the Poet Store

I ventured up and down the isles
Filling my basket with the best of rhyme
Getting a few extras of every word
So I'd have them when the time was right

I stocked up on love and encouragement
The right words I carefully chose
Because in my experience
You can never have too many of those

I even took a few from the back
Down a darkened isle where the lights were low
Being a poet my mood can rapidly change
And what words I might need you never do know

With my basket full of wonder
I felt my day of shopping done
Confidant and ready
To go home and continue in the writing of poems