i licked the head
of my pen
then commenced
to imagining
diving deep
into my mind
with no telling
what i would find
eyes that flittered
mind that fluttered
hand that held
a pen that stuttered
with nary a
question why
i wrote down
what came to mind
and that which did
come to mind
poured itself
out in rhyme
to think all this
started with
a simple lick
of the pen

When I feel on my neck
My babies breath
When she thinks I'm asleep
And plants a kiss on my head
When she fills the air
With her tumultuous laugh
As she winks at me
Without a word being said
When she gives me much more
Than I should be allowed
When I feel her warmth
In a winter's crowd
When she gives me a clue
To her mysteries found

These are the things
That I smile about

When she reaches for me
And takes hold of my hand
As she gives me one more
When I thought none were left
When she saves for the last
Her very best
When she opens up pieces
I haven't yet met
When there's the slightest of turns
On the edge of her mouth
When she whispers to me
And removes any doubt
When she shows me the treasures
I could never have found

These are the things
That I smile about

When you see there's nothing left
May you still do what is right
And not focus on yourself
But on what others might

May pure be your du jour
In all you hope to find
And love the only cure
On which you spend your time

May your cup always be full
As you're sipping from your dreams
And your highs never run low
In the promises life keeps

May the sun come out and shine
On your dreariest of days
And blessings always find
The place your head is laid

I pray you always feel at home
Wherever you may go
And all the joy you find
Never leaves you alone

May you always have a smile
One that really counts
Showing off your beauty
From the inside out

May this all apply to you
Be it old or be it new
And may these blessings always hold you tight
In what ever you go through

What do we have less of
When we are in want
          
               *What do we wish for more of
               When we are alone

What drags by so slowly
When we are so young

               What flies out the window
               When it is we've grown

What turns up missing
When there's so much to do

               What is older than itself
               Then in a blink brand new

What do we need most
And yet most often lose

               What is our worst enemy
               *Besides me and you

The closer I get to my destination
The further away it all seems
The more I reach out for reality
The deeper I fall into my dreams

My dreams are like grains of sand
They blow away on the breeze
My heart is broken in shattered pieces
My happiness all to quickly leaves

But then my dreams run into you
A single dune on my life's beach
Where they pile up in wonder
Love just within reach

I embrace the love freely given
Into the sky I release my pain
My dreams finally come true
Showering blessings with falling rain

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

if you want to change
what you're all about
it's best you start
from the inside out

where the cracks aren't
so easily seen
you most often have
the greatest need

as you work on it
with trowel in hand
a lifetime spent
with filling in

word to the wise
take this advice
start with the cracks
on the inside

All of this just so happened
With the saying of one simple phrase
"Beam me up Scotty"
Was all The Captain had said

But all that came aboard
Was Captain Kirk's toupee
Never did they see James again
After that fateful day

Now Captain Kirk's toupee
Is the one that's running the ship
Barking out its orders
From where the Captain once sat

It's little wonder the toupee and the crew
Don't see eye to eye
As it continues throughout its screaming
Can't you see I need more warp drive

With Scotty hollering back
I'm giving her all that's she's got
Thinking the whole time the Captain's toupee
Would make a good galley mop

Spock while all this is happening
Struggles to keep a straight face
Which is really hard for a Vulcan to do
When dealing with a demanding toupee

Of course like James T. Kirk
His toupee has a thing for alien gals
Which leaves the ladies throughout the galaxy
All with a bad taste and hair in their mouths

And not to mention the trouble with the Klingon's
Now they have no idea what to say
How in the world do you wage war
When your arch enemy is a bad toupee

It's little surprise this all lead to a mutiny
Of the Starship Enterprise crew
The day they grabbed the toupee
And ran to the transporter room

They all wondered what took them so long
The idea it was so blatantly simple
As they beamed away Kirk's toupee
Down to the surface of the Planet of Tribble's

And* I love you still
as I always will

When hard times are thrown our way
hand in hand we both will stay

The truth will intercede
filling both our wanting needs

End the days of doubt and fear
hold you close as you hold me near

Comes** that day I'll love you still
as you know I always will

You may catch her at a glance
And wonder what's the difference

She fills my life completely

Secretly wishing that you had
What it is that I have

The best in her believe me

Love with no barriers or bounds
Count my blessings she's around

For all I lack she is the cure

Holds me tightly in this place
She is my earthly saving grace

As I am unconditionally hers

She's the wonder seldom seen
The very moment of my need

Giving love a whole new meaning

Daily in her I am met
With a lasting experience

The reason that my heart keeps beating

She is the thought I love to make
The dawning of my every day

With something always new to learn

Willing to pay any price
Just to fall into her eyes

As I am unconditionally hers

Any good judge and jury would convict me
Slam the door shut, toss out the key
High crimes and misdemeanors in the first degree
Caught in cahoots with poetry

Armed with pen and paper in hand
Stealing from me all that I have
Until my muse says there's nothing left
Empty's the till inside my pounding head

I'll sing like a stool pigeon in the hot seat
In a police line up I'll point out the poetry
Say that's the one that did this to me
The one with the sly smile and rhyme in his teeth

I'll throw myself on the mercy of the court
Plead insanity as I cackle and cough
To tell the truth if you only knew
That last statement is not too far off

I once had a glockenspiel
One I wish that I had still
Nothing to me is more real
Than the sound of a glockenspiel

I would take it to the streets
Where crowds would gather around me
Tapping toes and keeping beat
To the sounds of oh so sweet
I never charged a listening fee
Bringing pleasure to them and me
One thing we all lack yet need
In this world of Make-Believe
For a moment all too brief
At this point in history
There was comfort bathed in peace
Before I had to take my leave

I once had a glockenspiel
One I wish that I had still
Nothing to me is more real
Than the sound of a glockenspiel

If I never knew what never meant
Then never would I have regrets
Over half the things I never had
Or most of what I never did

Never would I want for more
If it never had been seen before
Never once to darken up my door
Never would be better by far

Never then would I realize
If it never passed before my eyes
Then never would I ever cry
Because then my dreams would never die

We are the here and now
All it is that we're aloud
The moment before we are found out
The silver lining in the 9th cloud

We are the moment come
Long before the moment gone
The stage that life is danced upon
The smile that's never known a frown

We are the sitting calm
In the middle of the raging storm
In life's chill we are the warmth
The time that is forever known

We are the brightest leaves
Hanging from the tallest trees
The furthest point that you can see
All we can carry, all we can bring

That is what we both live to be
And you...you are all I need

They say all's well that ends well
And maybe that is why
Not happy with the situation I'm in
The moment you stepped out of my life

Must be because for me it never ended
The day you said we're through
You were so sure when you walked out that door
I myself never did stop loving you

They say happiness is where the heart is
And yours is not in attendance
As I rely on mine one beat at a time
While yours goes about its business

A heart that is self employed
A one woman operation
Where I sit at home filling out forms
And you, no longer taking applications

They say time is the greatest of healers
If that's so, physician heal thyself
With no magic pill that ever could heal
Why am I just now finding that out

After I've contracted this illness
Without you not sure I'll regain my health
On the street is the word, there is no cure
Where all I hear is, all's well that ends well

I see the world that's sat before me
And worry at the shape it's in
While some see it swimming in majesty
I see it drowning in sin

Why does one look down on another
Because of the color of their skin
Instead of as sisters and brothers
It's the nature of our sin

Eyes and hearts both seem to wander
In women as well as men
A question no need to wonder
Once again because of sin

Those that despise your religion
And would like to do you in
Been that way from the beginning
From the introduction of sin

Jesus said don't hate another
It's the same as ****** my friend
Inside your heart don't let it start
Don't give in to that  sin

And at times inside your mind
You might wonder how that thought got in
Sure as day follows night look deep and find
Once again the culprit is sin

So that's why the world before me
I worry constantly at the shape it's in
While some see it swimming in glory
I see it drowning in sin

I may not see you on this side
But I'll see you on the other
We started of as friends
Ended up as lovers

I tried to make amends
That is when we both discovered
We're no longer friends
We're no longer lovers

Too many years have passed
Too much water flow
Too many memories
Washed away from shore

I found you on this side
Where nothing remains the same
Me with another life
You with a another name

You're still very kind
Enough to tell me hi
But also smart enough
In your wisdom to say goodbye

can you hear it
that's the sound of nothing
the silent sound of nothing going on

can you feel it
that's the feeling
the feeling of nothing being read into this poem

can you see it
that's the dullness
the dullness in the recess, hiding out between every line

try not to waste it
as you taste it
the bitter sweet taste to the end of the rhyme

what's that i can't remember
and who's the girl i can't explain
why do three months end with an ember
but don't start with a flame

i hide myself in times of trouble
make my way down the fire escape
only step out of my bubble
when i feel the need to breath

if i had two would i want three
and would three be enough for me
would more of something stop the hunger
or only increase the need

some days make it harder
to step up to just as well
gasoline on a roaring campfire
only adds to the pungent smell

i remember now what i came for
i only hope i'm not to late
it's about the one i spoke of
the girl i can't explain

I know...
            The secrets that you've kept
I know...
            The hurt in which you hide
I know...
            What it is you did
I know...
            The fear deep down inside
I know...
            The hope on which you hold
I know...
            The future has a past
I know...
            The heat inside the cold
I know...
            The questions never asked
I know...
            What you thought you knew
I know...
            What it is you don't
I know...
            The deep dark unguarded truth
I know...
            The very start of woe
I know...
            Beginnings have an end
I know...
            The truth as it's foretold
I know...
            All the lies of youth
I know...*
            What it is I know

one thing in life
that i have found
it's easier to live
when you breathe in and out

it's easier to see
when you open your eyes
and to believe
the truth over lies

it's easier to take
adding a smidgen of faith
and a touch of love
to help keep hate at bay

just a few things
i often find
that make it much easier
to make it through life

The night time went rouge
Wouldn't you know
Stepped out of the dark
Hitting the road
Finding out how
To weave in and out
From the still of itself
Without any doubt

I took a-hold of the night
Read it its Rights
Don't come again
Till after day light
This sneaking you do
Round about noon
Really is not
Very becoming of you

Where upon the night said to me
I can do as I please
Be who I want
This country is free
You're wasting your time
If you're trying to find
Some way or another
Of controlling my life

So that's why we are
Now all where we are
As the night took a bite
Instead of just bark
Knocked the daylight
Right out of the park
Where now we remain
All in the dark...

Everything is going to be okay
No need for you to be afraid
All that said was yesterday

Yesterday lied...

Here we are now in the today
Along with every promise ever made
And all to this I have to say

Yesterday lied...

While tomorrow may be too late
As memories do tend to fade
Nothing new in what life gives away

Yesterday lied...

from daylight into darkness
year after faltering year
i marvel at the madness
in how i ended up right here

in all my worldly travels
that brought me there about
here is where i ended
finding all this out

when all is said
and all is done
my soul alone has become
a one horse town

i held my hopes up high
tied onto a string
having such a good time
i didn't see it unraveling

trying hard as i might to cope
grabbing at the reigns
can this cowboy saddle up
where i now find that i am

on the edge of the cliff
dreamily looking down
to where my soul has become
this one horse town

out roping and riding
in the chasing of the dream
never really finding
life and its true meaning

once under a clear blue sky
on this my open range
beginning to rue the day
i turned and rode away

as the dust trail followed me
to the edge of my horizon
where my soul now sits alone
a one horse town

I've somehow lost the middle
The ones they call the middle years
It's the only explanation
Of how I ended up so quickly here

I'm trying to think, how many blinks
It took those years to slide
How ever fast, they never last
The sloppy kiss goodbye

And that man that sadly stands
Inside this foggy mirror
I still wonder from where he has come
And where are those middle years

From the moment I was born
I was deemed terminal
And in keep with any known disease
If not kept in check, will get the best of me

The day the doctor slapped my rear
And said boy, get on out of here
I’m sure you’ll do just fine
With this crazy thing called life

And that’s exactly what this young kid did
Running the streets and loving it
Live it like there ain’t no cure
Love life like it’s terminal

The only thing to put a stop to it
Is the day you’re declared dead
No time for the bitter pill of sorrow
Live life like there’s no tomorrow

I do believe they might be right
Today is the first day of the rest of your life
So when you’re told that you should live
Do your best to make the best of it

Laugh and love, smile and hug
Like you never have enough
Live it like there ain’t no cure
Love life like it’s terminal

With the turkey out of the way
It's time to do some shop and save
Black Friday...here we go again

I am up at three o'clock
So I'll be at the door on the dot
Shopping like a mad whirlwind

Pulling up to Walmart
Grab myself a fresh shopping cart
For when the doors open up at five

Like a horse out of the gate
Your own fault for being in my way
Just count your blessings that your still alive

Beat the crowds straight to the back
For a little ****** and grab
Gotta have the newest wide screen T.V.

Blue hair had my T.V. in her cart
Took her out with a karate chop
Sorry granny it's either you or me

Next set my sights on this kid
With no clue of what he did
Or how he ended splayed out on the floor

In the remote car shopping isle
And it may take that kid awhile
To remember who, what, when, or what for

I next wildly veer off to the right
For that set of Ginsu knives
That I use to hold back the forming crowd

With it being the only set left
I Samurai it over my head
Which  quickly clears out the entire Ginsu isle

With my shopping about done
I sweep shelves into my cart on the run
Figure I can sort it all out later

At times it's hard to pick and choose
With the attitude of I hate to lose
Anyways I figure they owe me for all my labor

When I get to the front of the store
There's bookoo bunches of crowds galore
I've never seen such a long drawn out line

So I clear the path in front of me
Taking people off at the knees
They'll surely think twice the next time

Before getting in my way
And my day of shop and save
Already planning for next year my friend

Satisfied I head for the door
But I tell you not before
I turn and say Happy Holidays and Good Will Towards Men!
Cause that's just the way I am...

I'm stepping off this highway
That so many today are on
The shape it's in has about done me in
I need a higher road

One without so many potholes
And blind curves along the way
One where I can take my time
And say what I want to say

Without some passerby
Going into a rage
They need to stop over what others have got
And stay in their own lanes

With no heed or no warning
They keep changing up the signs
It's so hard to know which way to go
Which only adds to life's hefty fines

So I'm stepping off this highway
That leads to whoever knows
Cause the shape it's in has about done me in
And I'm in need of a higher road

This is a time for deep soul searching
Contemplating where we are
Knee deep in this life of sorrow
Reaching for something steady that's not there

Like Cain we are not able
To see past the deeds we've done
Sitting right across the table
From the ones we have become

Who will show us pity
Who can save these wretched souls
Is there no hope to satisfy
The broken shells that once were whole

As we hang over the chasm
Of our on defeat
We stepped out on this ledge all by ourselves
No one else to blame is seen

We rely on our own self righteousness
Hoping it will pull us through
To the other side of consciousness
It's all we know to do

We keep searching for the riches
Beyond what we can see
Looking deep within ourselves
We've yet to find the key

Our eyes they are wide open
But still they do not see
Where this life is really heading
Beyond the pain and misery

Confusion in the Western world
Delusion in the East
Apocalyptic stones are being hurled
At the innocent in the streets

Tall buildings are being shaken
Teetering on the brink, soon to fall
As man continues searching for answers
When it's the word of God that holds them all

And still we turn to neighborhood bullies
Who wear a thin disguise
Portraying World leaders
All the time setting up theirs and our demise

I've collected so many collections
I'm about collected all out
Now in hindsight and reflection
I'm beginning to have a few doubts

Losing touch with those I've come to know
It's like losing a part of myself
Emptiness now is what I mostly feel
Is this happening to anyone else?

Can anyone else out there relate
To this young poet's candor
To what has become another series of weights
Doing its best to pull me under

What started off as good intentions
Has once again gone completely South
Need I even mention
That's not what poetry is supposed to be all about

As I continue in my collecting of collections
Carrying the banner in this parade
It wasn't the plan but strike up the band
As we all grow to rue the day

I'm faced with quite a dilemma
Hoping someone can help me out
Over time I've used and abused all my letters
From top to bottom, in between, North to South

I tossed them all out on the paper
Many times quite recklessly
From left to right, black on white
Like they were nothing...A through Z

I've used some of them so often
It's hard now to tell what they were
Like is that a "B" or a "P" before me
Since I've about worn off the "B"s bottom curve

And the "Q" I always use
I bring into question as well
Could that be an "O" my goodness
When was it I tore off it's tail

But the main problem I have is with the "M"
From now on I'll be known as "Nike"
Since it can no longer stand on its own
Now that I've knocked off the entire right side

Can you now see where it is I'm coming from
As I slowly wear each letter down
Scribbling them out on the written page
Here and there and there about

Maybe what I need is a new alphabet
Then I can start all over with ease
So can anyone out there kindly help me
With lessons in Arabic or perhaps even Chinese

You look at me, I look at you
Seeing very different views
Grasping tight, not to let loose
On what we both feel is the truth

With our eyes open wide
Opposites on either side
In our lives we wonder why
Differences as day and night

We fuss and cuss in our disgust
Throwing hands in giving up
I wonder what is wrong with us
And where went our brotherly love

In values face we generate
What has become so much hate
We need to learn how to relate
Bring passion back into play

One of us has misconstrued
In this dilemma of our views
You thinking me, I'm thinking you
Who has lost that bit of truth

In this our two different views

Sometimes without even knowing
Of the hurt in what we've said
Or the seeds that we are sowing
In the garden of regret

Sometimes without even thinking
Of the words that have just left
Too late to change the meaning
As they fill another's head

Sometimes without even seeing
The hurt that has been fed
I am one in my believing
That most would have regret

Sometimes without even breathing
Words need not be said
Just a look in how it's given
Brings to flood an entire mess

Sometimes without even blinking
We all place our bets
On one another's feelings
As things go left unsaid

Sometimes without even finding
We have made our bed
In the thunder bolts and lightning
Of living with regret

Whether taking or giving
We all have our limit
Some go for hours
Some only minutes

Where one or the other
Will blow their cover
As it always happens
Sooner or later

They'll know you mean it
When you reach your limit
Whether it's you
Or them who did it

When it all matters
Can you admit it
In the heat of the moment
Right smack dab in it

This saying keep it
Before you reach your limit
Try best to take it
Before you ever give it

There's a battle that most folk will fight
When old age slips onto the pavement
It's weapon of choice you will find
Is that of sleep deprivation

You lie awake in the middle of night
Tossing and turning on the edge of your dreams
Insomnia its battle cry
As your white flag is torn apart at the seams

With your mind like a kite in the night breeze
Flying this way and that with your lack of sleep
Too far behind the enemy lines
To even find the help that you need

While you'd love to sneak back over the border
Into the comfort of a soft feather bed
One good nights sleep is what the Commandant's ordered
So as to rest your weary head

Still the battle rages on nightly
The enemy both sneaky and sly
In whose grip you will stay as you lay awake
With insomnia as its battle cry

I'm just a guy that has learned how to rhyme
Each time I press pen to paper
I take it line by line by enticing line
Rainbow sherbet most often the flavor

I never know the abstract of the subject
When paying a penny for my thoughts
Either you do or you don't love it
Whether you like it or not

Most times you'll see I'm not overly deep
Just barely skimming this demented minds surface
At times you might find I take a high dive
If you blink though you may never notice

Like I said at the time, just a guy who's captured the rhyme
Using it to my fool advantage
Where I try to steer clear of the insanely weird
While wading knee deep in the outlandish

So hold on tight and it should be alright
Pull the plug as we swirl in this tub
Taking a ride on the very next rhyme
Let me know though when you've had enough

Glory,
the name they gave their daughter
the moment that they saw her
on the day she came to be

Glory,
words used to describe her
there ain't nothing like her
this side of Tennessee

Glory,
greets the new day dawning
smiles brightly at the morning
as she whispers to the breeze

Glory,
gives away all she's given
it's how she makes her living
and how she stays so free

Glory,
a child of will and wonder
won't let today's tide pull her under
the guardian of her keep

is there any difference
when seen from a distance
of a waves persistence
of hello and goodbye

if love was the matter
the wave might know better
between the sadness and laughter
of hello and goodbye

is there something missing
off in that distance
some meaning hidden
of hello and goodbye

another agenda
that waving will send ya
once you catch the wind of
hello and goodbye