Here we are going nowhere now
Faster than ever before
Not sure of when nor even of how
We bit into this rusty lure

Today lives seem to blow in the breeze
Through branches of rotting trees
Somehow I feel the greatest of need
To repeat the branches of rotting trees

Take the pickaxe and dig up the grave
Unmarked is the one in which we play
No sense in holding it in
Well dig it up then fill it all in again

We all want certain things in life
Standing in line with the question why
Hope against hope not what we deserve
Don't think about it nor whisper a word

Most times find our heads stuck in the mud
No way to move and here comes the flood
Thought at one time if we just let it be
Have I mentioned the branches of the rotting trees

If we cut at those branches, strip off the vines
The fruit it still rots before it's time
And here we are still standing in line
Again with the question of why

I talked with a poet friend
On the phone today
Can't say I didn't find it all
More than a little strange

The conversation went quite naturally
No bleeps, burps, or dead air
Funny she should call me
Me being here, her being there

I understood her English accent
Her, me my Southern draw
We both got a good laugh in
Isn't that why she called after all

This is something I have dreamed of
By chance to one day meet
Some of the special friends
That I have made through poetry

So this day I will remember
In my diary, pencil it in
That poets have real voices
They don't all just talk with pens

Nothing ever seems to work for me
The way it normally is planned
When the crowd all sits down
That is when it is I stand

When they're no longer taking questions
That is when I raise my hand
No nothing ever seems to work for me
The way  it normally is planned

Things always seem to go
A tad bit different for me
Just a tick or two off
From what they call life's normal beat

People often wonder
Exactly what it is
That continually brings about
This life of quirkiness

I can hear the whispers
There must be a cure for what I do
But ten out of ten doctors surveyed
Say they have no clue

So I'll just continue living and loving life
Exactly how I am
As long as I'm happy with the way things are
I see no need to try and understand

I'm thinking of the 70's
And how it'd really be a hoot
To bring that one thing back
That we all secretly would love to do

No I'm not talking discotheques
Or the donning of leisure suits
I'm talking about stripping down
To nothing but our tennis shoes

We could start out in the mall
Since that's were most of us hang out
Amid all the teenage screams
Between all the incredulous shouts

With security running here and there
In a tizzy there about
If they have the nerve to catch us
No way are they going to pat us down

We might even get our 15 minutes
As news camera closely chase us
Blurring out our naked bodies
Leaving only happy faces

Spending most the time in edit
As we bend to tie our laces
So grab your canes and grab your walkers
And we'll head off to the races

Of course that is a major problem
Barely spry no longer young
With the drooping of most everything
Being issue number one

And seeing most of you in your birthday suits
Doesn't sound like that much fun
And how in the world can we call it streaking
When it'll be more like hobbling

Life is a bully
With a tinder side
Slaps you round hard
Then makes it alright
Gives you a kiss
Before it pulls out the rug
Throws rocks at you
In case the rug's not enough
Life is a bully
That's is a fact
Tinder or not
Just watch your back

The doctor told my daddy
He's got weeks to live
He came straight home to tell my mom
And us hungry kids

With not a single penny saved
Down at the local bank
My daddy made his way out back
And started digging his own grave

He picked the sweetest resting spot
Underneath the maple tree
So when the leaves decide to drop
We can rake in his memory

My daddy winked and said all this
With the biggest of his grins
Coughing up a spot of blood
We decided then to go back in

Things are mostly quiet
Around here these sad days
Ever since the hand of death
Put my daddy in his grave

I'm now in that maple tree
With no one to push my lonely swing
Thinking of my daddy
Waiting on those dropping leaves

After all these years
of having pen in hand
Being high on ideas
and low on demand
Writing the same lines
over again and again
Throwing in a new noun
where an old verb had been

There's nothing new
under the sun
The sky is still blue
the North has still won
I still talk with a draw
before I've even begun
In the spitting of words
where I'm just having fun

Never had any problems
deep in my soul
Where the dark side of me
takes over control
A Pulitzer prize
has never once been my goal
I just like to rhyme
with the stories I've told

So if you'll please pardon me
as I get back to my pen
I feel another poem
is trying to let itself in
Like every other time
this is how it begins
After all these years
of having pen in hand

What is it I'm looking for today
Something that I'm not
Something that I wish I had
Instead of what it is I've got

If I had what I admire in others
Would I be happy then
Would that bring true satisfaction
To this shell that I'm residing in

Or would it be a false worldly peace
Just enough to blind the eyes
What is true to them, to me may not be
Nor what it is I need in life

So let me take this very day
And not wish for the could but grasp the can
Not looking for what it is I want
But look to who it is I am

I've got enough food in the pantry
Enough water in the tub
Enough gas in the generator
Hope I've got enough of enough

I've got enough color in the T.V's
Enough batteries in the remotes
I've got enough Cheetos in the stairwell
Enough to make a blind mouse choke

Enough crosswords to keep me puzzled
Enough coloring books to spread my art
Enough soap and shampoo samples
I'll stay clean enough through 2024

I've got enough Reynolds aluminum foil
To cover every square inch of wall
Enough ammunition if there's trouble
And enough guns to shoot it all

I've got enough jelly beans and peanut butter
To span across the state
Now I only need to find the money
Enough to pay for all the freight

I've got the radio for transmitting
Bee Gee albums for talking jive
When I get that Saturday night zombie fever
They also help with staying alive

I've got enough ice cream in the freezer
Vanilla Chocolate Swirl
Pretty sure that I'm now ready
For the end of the world...

Life's a kitchen floor
That gets walked on constantly
Be prepared to mop

this tear
starts here
deep within my heart
the loneliest part
keeping clear
the pathway for my tear

makes its way
to my face
no other way to go
but through the lump in my throat
at a steady pace
as this tear finds its way

into the chilled air
free and clear
then down along
a path well worn
this tear
ends here

I started having hair
Grow off the top of my ears
Which at first glance
Looks a little bit weird

But after awhile
I gave it some thought
And now use it as a comb over
For that spot that's bald

Why is it in life
That the innocent so often die

Taking with them our hearts
For all that they are worth

Do they take our hearts up to heaven
With the soul purpose to mend them

Slowly giving back portions when they feel
Our hearts have had time to heal

Hello, this is Lonely calling...
Remember when we sat in your room and did nothing
We sat there for days with nothing to say
Then you found a friend and gave me away

I'm just calling to say that I want you back
I miss all the nothing in the nothing we had
I find by myself there's more nothing to do
Which makes me more lonely than I was lonely with you

Hello, this is Lonely calling...
I'm pretty sure this is your number I'm dialing
Are you so busy you can't give me the time
The least you could do is pick up the line

After all that you and I have been through
You'd think you could give me a minute or two
I guess if I had I could do with another
Could you dump your new friend and send them right over

Hello, this is Lonely calling...
How could you leave me this way without even knowing
All of the heartache that I would go through
Missing all of the nothing that we used to do

Hello, Lonely still here...
Just thought you should know if you even care
I certainly wouldn't have called so much if I had known
That what you most wanted from me was to be left alone

What kind of man
though never planed
would feed his family
from a garbage can

The kind of man
that has struggled through life
the kind of man
that finds it hard to survive

What kind of man
would rather sell his soul
than to take his family
down that rabbit hole

The kind of man
that never got a break
and doesn't want his kids
suffering from his mistakes

What kind of man
could this be
though the struggles are real
would never think to leave

The kind of man
I would hope to think
would do the very same thing
if it were you or me

That's the kind of man
that I want to be...

It's a fine line...

Between love and hate
Between good and bad
Between the heart and the break

It's a fine line...

Between what is and what was
Between here and there
Between it all and never enough

It's a fine line...

Between right and wrong
Between hope and despair
Between silence and song

It's a fine line...

Between you and me
Between joy and sadness
Between the sky and the deep blue sea

It's a fine line...

I have this special mirror
That hangs upon my wall
No outwardly reflection can be seen
For it searches deep the soul

There are days when I am passing by
That I divert my eyes
Afraid with one haunting glance I'll see
Deep into this so called life

It can be overwhelming
This feeling of fear and doubt
When I look too deep I'm afraid I'll see
The reflection is of myself

I pray this day carries a blessing
With tender arms that embrace you
That you learn from all its lessons
As you take hold of God's truth

That as you stand on life's horizon
You sing all the songs unsung
That you catch every shooting star in passing
Every time that you look up

May every need in your life be met
May love in its love clothe you
May smiles turn up when your name is mentioned
As each day is made brand new

I pray you always find your way
Whatever direction you are tossed
And the faithful truth that grounds you
I pray it never will be lost

When your train pulls into the station
May it always be on time
With every turn that you are taking
May life's treasure be what you find

As each day carries a blessing
With tender arms that embrace you
Learning from all life's lessons
Standing firm on all God's truth

I woke up this morning
To quite a surprise
I had a 42 chest
And round shapely thighs

The hair on my face
Had been replaced
With voluptuous lips
And rosy red cheeks

Guess all the dreaming of women
That I always do
Went straight to my head
And changed a thing or two

I went to the mirror
As every man would
And thought to myself
That I look pretty good

So I searched my wife's closet
Found a little red dress
Nothing to fancy
But enough to impress

Off of the hanger
I pulled it down
Then headed out the door
For a night on the town

Dinning and dancing
In all the places I'd been
I break a few hearts
Cause I don't really like men

I tried to explain
That I woke up this way
Neither delusional nor crazy
And certainly not gay

I'm just thinking I think
Of women most all the time
It must have swirled in my head
Till my body fell into line

I'm not really sure
What I'm going to do
But enjoy being pretty
For a moment or two

Just when my wife
Was warming up to the idea
I woke up again
But this time back to a man

The one thing I learned
Out of all this craziness
Is I look good in red
So I'm keeping the dress

What if you were given a YEAR to live
What changes would you make
Would it change your attitude
On what you do and say

Would you now give to others
Or sit in your world and fret
Over all the things you didn't do
And all the things you did

What if you were given a MONTH to live
That really isn't much time
To do the things that you need to do
To say all your goodbyes

Would you live each day to the fullest
Try and bring about a change
Would you pack up your bags for storage
Or give them all away

What if you were given a DAY to live
Would you view it differently
Feel a crispness to the air
That before you didn't see

Would you find yourself soul searching
For a God you used to not believe
And would you do it desperately
Weeping down upon your knees

What if you were given an HOUR to live
Could you make do with it
Would you stand in the wings idly
And watch the seconds tick

Would you tell all those around
To take life for Christ and live
And that no matter the time
To not give up and quit

Your down to your last minute
I hope you've spent it wise
Now all for you that's left to do
Is lay down and close your eyes

On my desk...

I have this very special Rolodex
I keep it filled with poems and ideas
When I'm in need, I crack the lid

It's no surprise...

I find them easily cause they're alphabetized
From A to Z...I have been saving
Pull one out for most any occasion

Wedding day...

Called to give a toast, I know what to say
I've done my best on this several times
I've even done it in the form of a rhyme

If there's a birth...

I look under B for rhyme and verse
So I have the right words I need to say
On this special day of all days

If I find a girl...

And want to give her and I a whirl
I flip over to L for the things I like
Or even love if given the time

So you can see...

Why I keep my Rolodex under lock and key
If it ended up lost or in the wrong hands
It would certainly throw off all that I am

Here in this my darkest hour
Chilled down to the marrow bone
Once a vibrant now fading flower
Where soon only weeds will grow

I had thought myself invincible
Here now holding auditions with death
As he freely asks morbid questions of me
Standing naked with no dignity left

Too late now I find myself looking inward
At the empty boxes lining my soul
Knowing full well that I was forewarned
That one day this bell would toll

Looking back on the years I have wasted
At mine and others expense
A bitterness so strong you can taste it
The flavor, my own detriment

I clearly see what could be to late for me
Breathing out my final battle cry
When in the end neither fame not fortune
Could replace my need for Jesus Christ

When ever it is I look at you
What could the difference be
Out of all the words that you spew
And a boat tossed on the sea

To say you have a hard time
Is to say the least
A rudder for your tongue you'll find
Might better suit your needs

How many raging forest fires
Come from out your mouth
In ignorance your tossing gas on it
As flames come pouring out

And if they don't move fast enough
Your fanning of the flames
With destruction from the tongue
In all you have to say

Instead of holding higher standards
Your lowering the bar
If you have no need to reach
You'll never reach that far

So batten down the hatches
Put the lighter down
Set the ladder to the side
Until you figure out

How it is you get it done
In the world in which we live
I can tell you from experience
With the tongue is where it all begins

down south we love our goobers
salt em up and set to roast
eat em by the dozens
drink em in our cokes

fix em fancy in deserts
peanut butter pie
big and small all size and sorts
eat em till the day we die

granny loves to cook em
goobers in green beans
adds a bit of crunchiness
to the down home sunday dinner scene

with newspapers set out on the floor
in front of  television sets
cracking shells like walker texas ranger
does good for nothing yankee heads

buy em hot and buy em boiled
along the roadside stand
spilling goober juices
all over the cars naugahyde rotan

finger licking greasy
from out a planters can
down south we love our goobers
like you done heard me said

Take a left on Almost There                        
And a right on Never Mind
Head straight onto Backwards Place
Passing by Not On Your Life        
      
Stopping at the corner of                    
Touch To Much & Not Enough
Right across the street from              
The ally way of Just Because

Where you'll find a man that's selling            
Bags of wants and needs              
So that you don't waste your trip
Of your day in Absurd City

Have you ever chanced upon a poem
In which you stopped and cried
Never knowing the reason why
This one poem turned your life

So much so you took the poem
And turned it into song
In which the world all sang along
Righting all its wrongs

Where the essence of this one poem
Poured out the sweetest melody
One in which the birds did sing
Bringing on an early spring

All from this one poem
That you chanced upon that day
Bringing to your life a change
Over what it had to say

Do you take time out to listen

Or lend a helping hand

Do you see what others are missing

And try to give to them

Do you only give the basics

Or go much deeper than that

Do you spend time well, not wasting

Giving  till there’s nothing left

Do you try and solve the problems

Give a good listening ear

Is your shoulder easy to cry on

Are you comfort between doubt and fear

Do you try and do what’s right

In all that’s done and said

Guess what I’m asking at this time

Is do you do your best

just beneath the surface
i have all these knots
some are tied with purpose
others only passing thoughts

both can be a burden
twisted ends all frayed
just beneath the surface
where these knots get in the way

it is just as i suspected
a lonely echo to the sound
can't remember where she left it
another day down for the count

some folk accept the fact
she has bought all that she owns
and with what little she has left
her heart beats alone

they hand out prizes to the winners
sympathy plaques held out for the rest
another night of T.V. dinners
where loneliness feeds itself

she tries her best to overcome it
her thoughts like a broken home
feels she's the only one in the running
as her heart beats alone

never once trusted much in love
says it's a drug that doesn't last
anyways she could never afford enough
if the truth in it be said

certainly didn't wish for it
the direction her life's been thrown
but when it all comes down to it
her heart beats alone

It's not the cough that has you off
Lay back relax you'll soon be seen
The fever you've fought
has to do with your thoughts
In today's realities

If you're looking for the cure de jour
He's got just the thing
As you slip into bed
he slides into your head
A visit from Dr. Dream

His prescriptions don't come in a bottle
For a pharmacy, there is no need
The only pop em if you've got em
to bring you back from rock bottom
Comes to you in your sleep

Stick out your tongue saying ahh sawing logs
While the good doctor takes a peek
In the back of your mind
where nightmares spend their time
Examined by Dr. Dream

As you toss and you turn in your never-ending search
Hoping one day to be free
From the thoughts in your head
that are best left unsaid
Spreading like some dreaded disease

You spend the night looking for answers
Hoping to find some relief
While the good doctors' bedside manners
increase the chances
A visit from Dr. Dream

I decided today was a good day for a smile
No matter what mood I was in
I went and brushed my teeth twice over
So I would have the shiniest of grins

I stepped out into the dreary overcast morning
Determined not to let it crimp my style
Thinking about all the good that life has handed
Who out there wouldn't break into smile

Most people viewed me with suspicion
Wondering what it was I was up to
I just smiled without any conditions
Even threw in one or two thank you's

After a while people couldn't help but smile back at me
A contagiousness at it's very best
It soon caught on like a wildfire my friend
People smiling where ever they went

Feel free to try this out for yourself
Takes no planning, you can do it right now
All you need is the right attitude along with a grin
Perhaps then the whole world will join us in smile

World weary...
Defined by the past
Until you settled
On this vessel of peace

Enlightened...
Clear state of mind
Now on a mission
Helping others to find

World weary...
Moving beyond
The negativity of this plain
So many are on

Bringing to fruition...
In thought and in deed
What so many are missing
This vessel of peace

one step
in any direction
one step
is all it takes
one step
of misconception
one step
could be a mistake
one step
before the other
one step
the right or left
one step
sisters and mothers
one step
boys and men
one step
forwards or backwards
one step
acquaintance to friend
one step
friend to lover
one step
reaches the end
one step
to greater awarness
one step
releases hate
one step
to realize
one step
is all it takes

I set out one fine day
Along life's endless highway
Where I plainly thought that
I could travel on it my way

Until the day I ran into
A beggar who I thought I knew
Who carried with him a special gift
One he was willing to let loose

He gave to me the gift to try
No need to ask or question why
Take it with you, you're bound to find
How it changes others lives

The only condition he said to me
Is that I give it out freely
To those with no hope along the road
To all the lost and needy

There and then I soon found out
As I went from town to town
The special gift he'd given me
Was the one of self

I gave to those who did not earn
A lesson I was soon to learn
It's best to give and to mean it
When there's nothing in return

This gift I found helped those around
And most of all I did find out
I can not lie to my surprise
It mainly helped myself

Could I have a piece of poetry please
With a slight rhyme on the side
A haiku or a sinew
On which a man could dine

The tastiest of tidbits
That I would care to read
Just enough to fill me up
This plate of poetry

Pour on the best in condiments
Cut a limerick from the bunch
Now with all of that said I think
I'll sit down and do lunch

Why is it, we as a people
Continue fighting Black and White
Instead of truth and justice
Between the wrong and right

To many of us wearing
A righteous crown of thrones
What we need to value
Washed out by the storm

Could we not see it coming
Blinded by our pride
Are we not  brothers and sisters
The same color on the inside

Is it to much to ask
That we all get along
And not judge each other brother
By the color in which we're born

Then perhaps, we as a people
Will not see the world in Black and White
And every day embrace the grey
In a world that's color blind

Please let the records show
That I am an innocent man
Sure I was at the scene of the crime
Sure the gun was still in my hand

If I may be permitted to approach the bench
With my perfect alibi
Since I was nowhere near the scene at the time
And clearly did not commit this hideous crime

I even brought in a credible witness
My dear old sweet mother to vouch for me
We were in her kitchen exchanging culinary secrets
I'd fill the court in on all the details but it's a secret you see

And to tell the truth the details might bore you
And who's got time to sing that song
Now Judge you know I've been here before
And have I ever steered you wrong

So let's just let the records show
That in no way was I involved
Striking it clear and ending it here
Calling this whole thing off