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

there's a circle
we're all in
properly called
influence

rubbing on
rubbing off
inner feelings
outer thoughts

moving through
this time in life
bringing others
to our side

holding tight
to reasons why
they are wrong
and we are right

in this circle
of influence
we all find
ourselves in

I dream often about the circus
A place I loved to go to as a child
Mesmerized by clowns and jugglers
Enthralled by animals from the wild

As the lights dim and the spot light shines
The ringmaster steps into its glow
"Welcome one, welcome all
to the Wilkie circus show! "

That's when things take a turn
As they always do in dreams
The spotlight finds me in the crowd
As the ringmaster calls my name

I find myself in the center ring
Dressed up just like a clown
Fuzzy yellow hair, big red nose
And grandma's paisley gown!

It turns even odder I'd say as the animals parade
With heads and bodies that are mismatched
Lions with the heads of monkey's
and zebras with the smiles of Cheshire cats
It doesn't get much stranger than that!

A flash of light and everything changes
I find myself on the high wire
My balance beam a giant matchstick
And "HELP" its been lit on fire!

That's when I start twirling it like a baton
As the crowd below chants my name
You never know what will happen next
In the circus of my dreams

The buildings in the city
Love to talk about
All the hustle that's within
And bustle that's without

Downtown people always
Scurrying here and there
As the buildings windows
Take on a reflective stare

Everyone around them
Always on the go
Not knowing where they're going
But staying with the flow

Not at all the least bit concerned
With other peoples lives
As they take another rung
On the corporate ladder of lies

If the buildings could they would
Try and help them out
They feel they're partially to blame
Since the city came about

When men all got together
To give progress a name
Not knowing this same progress
Would be their ball and chain

If the buildings only had
Warned some time ago
That most of what man attains
Leads to his downfall

Thought I'd start off with a clean slate today
Completely clear my mind
Sit in a darkened room
Give it a little time

See what there is inside of me
Digging deep what I will find
Grab a hold the poet soul
Spend the extra dime

I found I like it better here
Without the fuddle of mankind
Just me, the darkness, and my mind
In the deeper meaning of the rhyme

we're as good as dead
is all they've said
from beginning to end

sheeple led
to the edge
and then back again

in the 60's shout
oil was out no doubt
and look it's still around

when the 70's came
it was much the same
the ice age would freeze us out

in the 80's they
blamed acid rain
for destroying all the crops

the 90's scare
of course, the ozone layer
but the farm was never bought

in 2000 they felt
the glaciers would melt
causing the oceans to rise

then in 2010
we'd all be swimming
under a ten-foot tide

here we are today
where it's all much the same
as they shake and stir our brains

to the latest scare
keeping the fear
under the name of climate change

I hide behind these walls
So I don’t know at all
What I do not see
Has less chance of hurting me

I might burn a few
Bridges, one or two
Leaving me no need
Of looking behind me

I cover up my ears
So I don’t have to hear
Words spoken true
When spoken to

Close tight both my eyes
Hoping to lose sight
Of the things they do
That I myself do too

Having little doubt
I keep an open mouth
That clearly runs away
With what I have to say

What comes to light
You are bound to find
Through all of this
Sadly, a closed off mind

Good Lord what have we done
Can we not see what we've become
Choosing sides in our back bites
In that where is the love

Do you remember where you were
The day the world learned to hurt
As sisters and brothers turned on each other
Could you be part of the cure

Are we all now in the dark
About our wicked hardened hearts
Much more gullible than ever pliable
Is that who we all now are

When did we decide to choose sides
In this game of do or die
When did hate become our playmate
And then proceed to destroy our lives

Is it too late to turn back
Could there even be a chance
Or is it too late to find a loving word in kind
With what little time we have left

As we're standing on the edge
Thinking we're hedging all our bets
We'll slip and slide right off the side
Being this close to the edge

I stepped close to the edge

Smoked a cigarette

Close to the edge of no return

Close to the edge of having nothing left

Leaving behind all that I have known

Close to the line of

Don't step over it this time

Close to losing my way back

To the planting of the seed

To being the one in need

Sand in my hand the conviction that I lack

Closer to my finger on the trigger

Placing my mouth on the barrel of the gun

I'm not talking suicide

This is a metaphor for life

Closer to it all coming undone

I stood beside of you and promised
Forever yours, forever mine
That I'd be by your side for all of this life
All the way to closing time

As we balance above the chasm
Holding hands on life's thin line
I want you to know I'll never let you go
That I'll be here till closing time

If things get a bit off kilter
Or we join in on the daily grind
I'll do what ever it takes with our love to make
It all the way to closing time

When the twilight years come aching
To dim our once youthful light
I'll remember the promise that we started with
As we draw near to closing time

And when on the wind we both are taken
As we leave it all behind
It will be with confidence we know that we made it
All the way to closing time

I'm seriously thinking that it's time
To close down this production line
The constant flow in the making of poems
Has taken is toll on this poor soul

As the machinery sputters and coughs
Tossing it all against the wall
24 hours a day with so much rhyming at play
The time may be now as the hour grows late

I keep looking for the freedom within
A man without his paper and pen
Holding out on this self doubt
Should I take it now while I still know how

As I head for the door to shut out the lights
After giving my all as it's taken all of my life  
The only thing now left to be said
Is I don't have the courage...  
could someone else please throw the switch

They've brought in a new factory to town
One for the making of clouds
As there's a desperate need for shady relief
To take a bit of the bite out of the sun's bitter heat

Where they're trying something new that's never been done
Adding splashes of color to add to the fun
So when the newly formed clouds swirl out of the stacks
They won't be the typical doldrum of white, gray, and black

There'll be purples and blues, reds, oranges, and yellows
Pinks mixed with greens as the clouds flow and billow
And just when the wind causes the clouds to collide
There'll be a rainbow of colors that will pour from the sky

Who woulda, coulda, shoulda
Beyond a reasonable doubt
Ever imagined what would happen
With a factory of colorful clouds

Down along the coast of my soul
As beaten and battered as it is
I feel I have little control
And it won't be long till there's nothing left

As the pounding waves of humanity
Slowly wash it away piece by piece
Pulling sanity's sand from my shore
Depositing it into the deep

Down along the coast of my soul
How much more can one person give
Treading water out of control
Until I feel there's nothing left

i just happen
to stop by
happenstance?
or
the right time
circumstance
you could be right
on this
coincidental rhyme

takes me where
i need to be
on this wild
imaginary stream
from point a
to point b
on through
z
in reckoning

in the light
of ties that bind
bring it all
into light
line by line
by
inticing line
on this
coincidental rhyme  

in the turning
of the page
secrets there
to give away
brought to you
this truth
face to face
as this rhyme
makes its way

wrap the finger string
and pull it tight
keep it there
to remind
of the day
you chanced to find
the jest
of this
coincidental rhyme

You start with Coke
Regular
A glass bottle
Is preferred
If you're reaching for Pepsi
Get a clue
That sweet drink
Just won't do
A bag of peanuts
The salted kind
Which ever brand
Suits you fine
Grab your Coke
Pop the lid
Take a good
Long sip from it
Pour the peanuts
From the bag
Into the Coke
Till there's none left
Tilt it back
Drink and chew
Cause that's just what
You're supposed to do
If you're wondering what
This delicacy is called
It's Coke & Peanuts
That's Southern ya'll

dark are the eyes
through which we see
hard is the heart
that inside beats
only the lonely
know of the deeds
cold are the hands
that outward reach

follow the progress
that gets in the way
swallow the innocence
in what we say
two-sided knife
baked in the cake
savor the flavor
of the escape

hold onto your breath
if there's any left
along with the secrets
that you have kept
tossing and turning
in unmade beds
knowing the deeds
cold are the hands

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

if grass were blue
and sky was green
in the oceans open field
i'd float in dreams
to the outer banks
of in between
under a chartreuse moon
in waves of tangerine

as pink dolphins
come together as one
and sing out loud
to the purple sirens song
near the jagged rock
where the sailors warn
of the changing colors
of the coming storm

i'd still think of you
as if grass were blue
on the changing tide
of the oceans hue
as i live by
what i thought i knew
with sky's of green
and grass of blue

Life starts out each day
In colorful waves
From the purple mountains majesty
To the white caps they display
As the suns yellow rays
Captures the forests dark shade
Life is a colorful display

From the sheen of green leaves
On branches of brown
Above moss covered grey rock
On top of mud red dirt ground
As the bluejay gives way
Richness abounds
With natures most colorful sounds

The green and gold of the seas splash
On the sands mixture of beige
With a backdrop blue of the sky
Giving way to the ache
As the Crayola of colors
Leaves the box to come out and play
On this most colorful of days

Life comes in colors
go ahead, feel free to choose one
Though most have a tendency to bleed
into each other they run

While mixing greens with yellows
gives off certain hues
Orange you the slightest bit curious
what reds and yellows will do

Depends on your wave length
to the colors you choose
Whether it be the
red, green, yellow, or blue

With the stirring of emotions
life's paint in a can
As we spread it about
till there's nothing left

If you are sad and lonely
A deeper shade of blue
If you will call me honey
I'll come and take care of you

If your man has made you angry
Where all you see is red
You've got my number baby
I'll come over and hold your hand

If you are thinking maybe
The grass is greener on this side
That's not always true lady
Cause what you have now, I could be that guy

You may have colorful thoughts of me at this moment
But these moments never last
Because every side of the road a man is on
You'll still need to cut the grass...

I will remember the moment it happened
I will remember the pleasure and pain
I will remember the far off direction
As well as the color of rain

I will question all mans excuses
I will question birds in mid-flight
I will question the late along with the early
As well as the color of why

I will talk of the young in the whispers
I will talk of the bond before it lets loose
I will talk of the tear that brings on the storm
As well as the color of cruel

If you'll show me the reason for falter
If you'll show me the point of enough
If you'll show me the given back taken
As well as the color of love

If we stopped painting hate with such broad strokes
Perhaps one day we could erase
The darkened color of the heart with loves cure
Then the color of hate would lose its place
In the colors that man has learned to make

What if truth was a color
Would it be your favorite one to wear
Would it fit you or hang loose
And would you wear it everywhere

Will you stroll with me
This path of Autumn leaves
Crunching underneath
Both our melodic feet
Said the Harp to the Six String Guitar
Come walk with me...

Will you dive with me
Into the open sea
Together we will swim
An enchanting melody
Said the Mandolin to the Violin
Come swim with me...

Will you float with me
On this cool night breeze
As fireflies flicker on and off
To our quaint melody
Said the Piccolo to the Saxophone
Come fly with me...

You can hear the melodies
Playing free
From one end of the other
Sea to shining Sea
As the instruments are all beckoning
Come play with me...

Just when you think
You've seen it all
Hold on tight
Cause here's comes more

Just when you think
It can't get worse, well
This is just
The rehearsal

Just when you think
You've got a clue
They pull the rug
From under you

Cause crazy is
As crazy does
It's a crazy world these days
Just because...

Just when you think
You've had enough
Raise your glass
And fill it up

Just when you think
You can't go on
With sanity
No longer home

Just when you think
This is the end
You might want to
Think again

Cause crazy is
As crazy does
It's a crazy world these days
Just because...

have you ever heard the drivel
that dribbles off some tongues
words that sound so profound
yet at the same time dumb

without a lick of common sense
how do they carry on
straddling the barbed wire fence
that they're hanging on

yet nothing is that simple
for this lot of simpletons
setting free the babbling
comfortably numb

as they continue wagging tongues...

Lord, here I am
Unfit to tie your shoes
Still on my behalf you move
When I'm not sure of what to do

You comfort me
You comfort me

Lord, here I am
The blind man at the gate
Not able to see the way
You hold my hand and gently say

You'll comfort me
You'll comfort me

Lord, here I am again
The woman at the well
My sins explain themselves
They are mine and no one else

Comfort me
Comfort me

Lord, here I am
The man beside the pool
Needing healing too
Help me find healing in you

As you comfort me
Comfort me

Lord, here I am
The thief that's on the cross
With the right words I am at loss
As my sins you pay the cost

Which comforts me
Yes, you comfort me

Step out your comfort zone

There's a still small voice
whispers in your ear
You say you like it here
but God wants you there
Here you'd rather stay
where you feel okay
But how can souls be won

Step out your comfort zone

Every day your being nudged
closer to the righteous edge
With that being said
go where your feeling lead
A power manifest
both in your heart and head
With Jesus on the throne

Step out your comfort zone

Don't be afraid to go the way
on the path that has been laid
By way the Spirit leads
comfort in a heart that bleeds
Listen for that still small voice
amid all of life's noise
That is when you'll know

Step out your comfort zone

We have something in common
Or so I am told
All of us are human
With a long way to go

Although we all may look it
We certainly don’t act that way
Being selfish individuals
Until our dying day

We eat, sleep, and breath
All about me
Like they do at the zoo
Strong willed animal instinct

I have to ask what is human
In the way we act
As we pour towards humanity
Proper utensils are what we lack

This one thing we have in common
This so called commonality
Is that we all are human
As far as I can see

…still it’s hard to believe

Oh how I really miss
Can someone tell me where it is
Of course I'm talking Common Sense
Can't help but wonder where it went

I keep looking high and low
Everywhere it is I go
I'm sure it feels lost and alone
Common Sense would you please come home

You've ventured too far from this place
Gone for far too many days
If you could just make your way
Back to us for an extended stay

This time we'll show you more respect
If that's the reason why you left
Without your help we've made a mess
Come on, what do you say Common Sense

Hello Common Sense
I keep wondering how long it's been
No idea of where you went
Sure am missing you my friend

Did you have enough of us
Catch the nearest goodbye bus
See you later, wish you luck
You're going to need it very much

Common Sense is it to late
To try and correct the mistakes we've made
Any way to way lay
The darkened day you went away

Now here we are out on our own
Feeling the pressures of all alone
Common Sense could you please come home
We're not doing so well since you've been gone

Most of what we ain't got
Is mostly what we need
And with that thought like it or not
I wish they'd leave me be

I've had enough to the point of giving up
Since this all went down
Common sense ain't common since
Common sense left town

It's like a day spent in the rain
Without galoshes on
And the puddles you make along the way
Follow you back home

With no thought at all in the slip and fall
And on your way down
You think common sense ain't common since
Common Sense threw in the towel

You thought it would sound real good
But there's an echo in your head
Was it in what you thought
Or was it in what they said

We're in too deep, wait for the beep
Try not to lose count
Common sense ain't common since
All of this went down

I will not lie
To tell the truth
There's not a condiment
That I won't use
To dip my chips
Or smother fries
Mayonnaise
Ketchup on the side

With the versatility
Of ranch dressing
Pay close attention
To this lesson
Add siracha please
For a spicy quest
Heavy handed
With the squeeze no less

And when it comes
To sandwich dip
Thousand Island
Makes for the perfect trip
Taking you straight to
Paradise
There's not a condiment
That I don't like

Mustard never
Is at a loss
When complimenting
The Hot Dog
On a stick
Or in a bun
Apply it as
Thick as you want

When it comes
To anything
Deep red meat
Or leafy green
I will not lie
To tell the truth
There's not a condiment
That I won't use

Did you teach yourself to freckle
Or does that all come natural
And do they cover more than just your face

The game that I like a lot
Is the one called connect the dots
Would you like to come back to my place and play

I have some colored markers
From light pastel to darker
As this work of art makes its tender way

If we struggle with the guessing
I could pull out the florescent
Then we could pull down on the shades

If you let me know your secret
I promise I will keep it
A friendly game of connect the dots, what do you say

In this house there is still room
For both me and for you
What used to be considered one
Has become a separate two

What thoughts we had about our future
Now is no more than the past
Would it be weird to still call you dear
Or would you rather that not be said

I find it hard to break old habits
Especially when it comes to us
Sad to say but you won't let it
Turn back to a case of love

Just in case you haven't noticed
I struggle deeply in my sleep
This bed we shared now feels so empty
Without you curled next to me

While we share the same tin roof
Of this house minus a home
Separate individuals
Little wonder it feels so alone

I thought together we could make it
There and past the ends of time
We still might with added heartache
Now that you're no longer mine

In this house where all I do
Is consider me, without you
What used to be thought of as one
Has now become a separate two

Conspicuous Consumption
Look at all I have
I've got money burning
In this power grab
Between the haves and have nots
I'm one of the haves
Enjoying this life of luxury
Sitting in its lap

Conspicuous Consumption
Take a breath and breath in deep
Take as many as you want
Although this stuff ain't cheap
Money is no object
It means nothing to me
Now that you ask, yes Virginia
Money does grow on trees

Conspicuous Consumption
In this world of give and take
If it's no longer suitable
It becomes throw away
Even if you tire of it
No need for it to break
Conspicuous Consumption
The phrase of the day

I don't believe a word these days
That I'm being told
With half the people that I know
Under governmental mind control

I'm pretty sure they're doing it
But not exactly how it's done
That is why I'm studying
Conspiracy Theory 101  

I know there's lizard people
Running the media machine
You can see it in their eyes
And the way their tongues whip, whispering

I'm furthering my studies
Until they're fully grown
Between me and all my buddies
Conspiracy Theory 101

From the earth in all its flatness
To man walking on the moon
What it is ain't what I thought
Did you also think it too

Chasing down reality
We've got it on the run
On the other side of normality
Conspiracy Theory 101

I'm pretty sure I know their ***** little secrets
With Big Brother watching over me
And what I know you know that I can't keep it
Remember this in case tomorrow I'm history

U.F.O.' s are flying past my building
I see them wink, little men of green
It's time to foil up all my outside windows
Keep the gamma rays from infiltrating

And of the mailman I'm more than a bit leary
Letters and bills are not all that's in the post
A very good reason for most of today's junk mail
Is in the hiding of tiny microphones

When I head out to the grocery, people are awful friendly
Asking how I am, checking up on me
Pretty sure every one of them is a Russian agent
With that English accent down to a tee

When l'm alone at home doing daily dishes
I often hear strange voices gurgling from the sink
I'm always very quick to close the refrigerator
The other day I caught the honey ham glazing back at me

And all of this because I'm privy to their secrets
How do I know, my source's tell me so
If I told a few to you, you never would believe me
But then again there's just some things the common man should never know

You've been the constant beside me
The calm inside of my wild sea
That pushes and pulls the blue in my soul
The forever peace to my needs

You've been the flowering fragrance
The treasure that says you can keep it
The silver and gold as life unfolds
The first sliver of light come to greet it

You've been the miracle in the making
The gift of the day for the taking
The stronghold of hope that never let's go
The grace that is made in the saving

You've been the goodness in the deed
The perfect tone to my phones ring
The fine-tooth comb that combs out my alone
You've been the constant beside me

CONSUMED by the world
and all of its ills
the continuous plight
that won't leave my mind still

CONSUMED by the arrogant
air that's expelled
drawn into tender lungs
where the innocence melts

CONSUMED by the anger
CONSUMED by the hate
by the wicked of days
in which we play

CONSUMED by what i think
is expected of me
by the social acceptance
i foolisly feel that i need

CONSUMED by comments and arguments
thrown in my face
CONSUMED by the lack of love
the overabundance of hate

CONSUMED by the thoughts
that circle my head
that leave me exhausted
till there's nothing left