There's something going on
Between me & the poem
A reason to rhyme
A notion to float
Was it something I read
Something once wrote
That's spinning the time
Between me & the poem

As things continue to grow
Between me & the poem
Call it second sight
A perfect pitched tone
Where it has lead
Or where it's still going
I'm sure we will find
Between me & the poem

I'm holding out hope
Between me & the poem
That I'll find in time
What I already know
In all that's been said
Inside of the fold
With the shedding of light
Between me & the poem

I am birth and memory maker

               I am death and his undertaker

I am peace brought on in life

               I am war from pain and strife

I am love that comfort brings

               I am hate by any means

I am first before the last

               I am the die that has been cast

I am beauty in the morning dew

               I am ugly inside of you

I am shelter inside the storm

               I am the closet where turmoil is born

I am the sweet taste in the air

               I am the bitter that doesn't care

I am the battle from the start of time

               **Between the heart, Between the mind

Reading between the lines of this poem

You'll see that I'm a blank page

Heading  left to the right as you're going

You'll see I have nothing to say

With these words just being a filler

That I've learned to use over time

The real meaning to this poem that you hold here

Is between the lines...

If you're looking for lasting impression
Something to hit the mark
A ditty to keep the crowd guessing
Just who and where you are

A smidgen or two of enticement
Toss of surprise in the ***
A line right on time they can liken
To all of the haves and have nots

Move to and fro through the madness
Deal with the cards you are delt
Take all of what you are left with
And just be yourself

Growing up without much luck
On what I thought I deserved
Who it was that dealt my deck
Well, they had quite the nerve

I always envied others
And the fact of what I lacked
Thinking they were better off
With everything they had

Until I came to realize
Life is not all that it seems
If the outward appearance causes interference
Then all I need to be is me

Being younger doesn't make you dumber
You're just dazzled by bright lights
And the foolish pull they have on you
Is stronger in their might

You find that the older you get
The less you are impressed
With all the hooey and hubbub
Leaving little left

It's then you come to realize
Life is not what you pursue
If the outward appearance causes interference
Then all you need to be is you

Sunday go to meeting
I'm meeting with the Lord
Bring along my reading
That being the Holy word

Never do I forget it
No not even a tad
As I always have my Bible
Riding on the dash

Always play it safe
Leave it where it lays
Within easy reach
But only on Sundays

Seldom do I use it
Though I know where it's at
Out there in my cruising
With my Bible on the dash

This is purely speculation
But I've had no accidents
Could this be the reason
Or just coincidence

And if I ever did
Do I know where I'd end at
Frankly no idea
With my Bible only riding on the dash

Alright all you pigeon chests
Came the sound of thunder from the open door
As Big Bad Bart replaced the space
Giant mountain man of lore

Making his way into the bar
Sweeping Nancy boys out of his way
Stepping up to the the jukebox
Kicking it till some good ole country boy music played

This mountain man has made it his goal
To grab hold and unsissify
Any Wimpy Wally's
That happen to catch his manly eye

He started off his conquest
Out in the great North wood
First stop The Red Eye Back Door Saloon
Need I explain the name to you

He went in with his moral barrels a blazing
But there wasn't much he could do
Village people the only band on the jukebox
Y.M.C.A. being the only tune

He didn't let that little nitch stop him
Or slow him down by any means
Giving America back to the menly men
And not the mousey men with their girly dreams

Till the day that Bart locked eyes with Stanly
In that San Francisco flower bar
Those two haven't left each others side
Going through life now arm and arm

They spend their time skipping through fields of pansies
Giggling freely hand in hand
The way Bart now feels this was meant to be
Mia Mono, Man to Man

Bart's lumberjack buddies can't believe it
And don't know what to think of their friend
Although they all secretly admit
He does look good in those Hot Pink Hot Pants

Remember when you're here
To keep it to a whisper
Cause that girl over there
Has the biggest ears

If you get a gander
You'll know what I mean
Up, down, over, and under
She hears everything

Whatever are the secrets
Close as they've been kept
They are soon to be let loose
Cause her ears are big

For the best reception
They come in sets of two
When in your general direction
She points them both at you

Don't you say a word
Show no earthly fear
Whenever she comes near
Because she's got Big Ears

When they start a-flapping
Get out of the way
Which too often happens
When lips have their say

There is no other way
To make it any clearer
Just you take a look, you'll see
She has got Big Ears

i took my time
and spent my dime
now i find
i'm past my prime
what little change
i held onto
i spent it well
before i knew
with pockets now
turned inside out
i wonder what
that's all about
at the height
i spent my life
like there was no
end in sight

Did Billy really give out Wet *******
Like they said all of his life
When he was out cruising and found people snoozing
He'd always find time to sneak up behind

Licking his finger like he'd just had chicken dinner
Without the slightest of sound
Then ever so gently, placing it intently
Squishly into the ear canal

Was it the single action or multiple reaction
That always seemed to satisfy
From the loads of screaming, Billy would be reeling
Chuckling with pure delight

With a glistening finger in hand always lingering
Looking to wow the crowed
You knew a Wet Willie from the hand of Billy
Would soon be making the rounds

From a Sunday church pew he knew what to do
Or even a Friday bus ride
Perhaps the innocence of a lonely park bench
Singled out on the Upper East Side

At Billy's bequest, Wet ******* were best
When they came packaged up in a surprise
It could be said if you hadn't already guessed
That Billy found his purpose in life

It's the big day of the big yard sale
Where every thing must go
There was much to much to haul out to the front
So I opened up the home

There were gobs of people everywhere
Wandering around with arms packed full
I'm making money hand over fist
This idea was really cool

You see my neighbors came to me with their front door key
And asked if I'd watch Binkie their cat
While they spent a few days away, I said sure what the hey
So they showed me where everything Binkie was at

While they were gone Binkie got bored
He missed his masters who were out of town
I thought a yard sale would be just the thing, Binkie purred that'd be neat
And of course it brought Binkie's good mood back around

Now before you start thinking bad thoughts of me
And wonder how anyone could sell everything they had
I want you to know I had a slight twinge of guilt
Right before I sold Binkie the cat

It's the big day of the big yard sale
Where every thing must go
There was much to much to haul out to the front
So I opened up the home

There were gobs of people everywhere
Wandering around with arms packed full
I'm making money hand over fist
This idea was really cool

You see my neighbors came to me with their front door key
And asked if I'd watch Binkie their cat
While they spent a few days away, I said sure what the hey
So they showed me where everything Binkie was at

While they were gone Binkie got bored
He missed his masters who were out of town
I thought a yard sale would be just the thing, Binkie purred that'd be neat
And of course it brought Binkie's good mood back around

Now before you start thinking bad thoughts of me
And wonder how anyone could sell everything they had
I want you to know I had a slight twinge of guilt
Right before I sold Binkie the cat

It's the big day of the big yard sale
Where every thing must go
There was much to much to haul out to the front
So I opened up the home

There were gobs of people everywhere
Wandering around with arms packed full
I'm making money hand over fist
This idea was really cool

You see my neighbors came to me with their front door key
And asked if I'd watch Binkie their cat
While they spent a few days away, I said sure what the hey
So they showed me where everything Binkie was at

While they were gone Binkie got bored
He missed his masters who were out of town
I thought a yard sale would be just the thing, Binkie purred that'd be neat
And of course it brought Binkie's good mood back around

Now before you start thinking bad thoughts of me
And wonder how anyone could sell everything they had
I want you to know I had a slight twinge of guilt
Right before I sold Binkie the cat

Why continue to hold the hand
Of this ugly bitterness
Wouldn't it suit you better
If it were buried in the past

Then you would be free
To enjoy the life of peace
That can only come to someone
When bitterness is released

It's like acid in the heart
That burns the tinder parts
Forming you into something you
Really wish you weren't

Better to take the bitterness you have
And let go of its hand
Then use that hand to reach the ones
You need to make amends

We live in a world of color
Where people only see black and white
When it comes to the human condition
And in the judging of others lives

We think you should be just like me
But never venture into why
Others do things so differently
When they can't possibly be right

It's hard to see all the colors
That go against our beliefs
Set in stone the same dull tones
That keep from setting us free

We stay in the lines of black and white
As color swirls outside the box
Living our lives never questioning why
Stuck behind time, because

We live in a world of color
Where people only see black and white
Making it our mission
In the judging of others lives

Give me a movie
In old black and white
One that has Bogie
Bacall by his side

A leading lady
That always was sure
Black and white movies
Were our afternoon cure

Movies of mystery
That left you to guess
No computer enhancement
Where actors knew how to act

With a nickel soda
And ten cent popcorn
They no longer make movies
Like that anymore

Where Hollywood shimmered
On the hillside at night
We all had a glimmer
As we shared in the ride

Watching both Fred and Ginger
Sliding cross highly waxed floors
Bringing up to remember
The wanting of more

With no need for color
To sparkle and shine
Holding us all to the wonder
In black and white

We'd all rather be
Like Dorothy going home
They no longer make movies
Like that anymore

Blackbird oh Blackbird
Where is your proud song
I heard you sing in the sixties
Aren't you still downtrodden and all

Have you grown complacent
Did they clip your wings
I marched with your Fathers
They wouldn't hear of such a thing

Why was it they suffered
If not for the chance to be free
They had their eyes on the future
Is this what they wanted to see

The cage that contains you
The latch is on the inside
Blackbird in you is the power
To take freedoms ride

Blackbird oh Blackbird
Where is your proud song
If you'll sing it again
This time we'll all sing along

BLACK & BLUE
are the colors that
you turn to
like the others that
he once knew
when he met you
and let loose

where you find
he is not so
nice a guy
truth or dare
it's a lie
every time
he'll apologize

promising
he will not
do it again
till he raises his
angry hand
low on promise
high on demand

still, you stay
with no plans to
run away
but will you
survive the day
his fits of rage
who's to say

where he leaves you
with no clue
every time he
backhands you
will you even
make it through
the next round of
pity you
BLACK & BLUE

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...

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...

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...

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 you're 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...

These days I'm in
I'm so thin-skinned
You can look but do not touch me

It's no use
I bleed and bruise
Like a crying boys skinned knee

This getting old
Is getting old
With how old plays for keeps

My youth I'd miss
The only problem is
I've about lost that memory

Which brings me back
To the fact
Of all my cuts and scrapes

As I look at them
Not remembering when
Or how they made their way

To adorn
This body worn
From years of foolish games

With no thought about
This bleeding out
I do every single day

Is today really today
Or is it the day before
Throw it all in a blender
And turn that sucker on

Add in different ingredients
It all tastes the same
Whether or not it makes any sense
Day after day after day

Is today tomorrow
Or did I miss it yesterday
And from what day did it borrow
Since every day is the same

With or without the lid on
It still comes out a mess
Which you can save for another day
To blend into it

As every day makes its way
Into another one
Slice the pie, cut the cake
Until your day is done

In spite of all this
We would all love to be blessed
Some are more while others less
Sets to wonder, what the reason is

Things we see don't always seem
To always go our way
Still some in life take it in stride
Every hour of every day

It must be in the attitude with
If we take life as a gift
Yet not what we are given
But in how that gift we give

Like it's said it's more blessed
To give than receive
That is why in this life
Focus not so much on me

If you would like to give it a try
Please by any means
You'll find out there is no doubt
You too will feel blessings

Imagine if everyone of us
Had the attitude
To immerse ourselves in others first
And just what that would do

Giving to the needs of those we see
Without any strings
If I bless you in all I do
And in turn you bless me

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

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 asked for all your blessings today
So I could give back to you
All the fortune and fame known to man
Not sure how it is I could use

I'm sure I'll think of something Lord
If you'd just give to me
I'll be sitting right here on my couch
Waiting patiently...

...I'm still here waiting
Not quite sure you heard
Don't want to be a bother Lord
So I wont speak another word...

Okay...one more word
Then I'll hold my tongue
Right after this last request
I'm sure I will be done

Perhaps I can do without the fame
But the fortune would be nice
I'm kind of in a hurry here
So could you please pick up the pace...

It' been more than a few days now
And I'm still here on my couch
I now know that you took your time
So I'd have time to figure out

That if I do nothing but sit around
And never venture out
The only fame I'll see is on my T.V.
And the only fortune...
The loose change that's in my couch

I found out too late how short life is
Come to think, it's gone in a blink
Be it a hit or be it a miss
Pack up your bags and get ready to leave

Just when you thought that you owned it
Life turns on you waving bye, bye
No time for grass to grow underfoot
As you watch both pigs and time fly

Don't it seem like you just got here
Without a second to rest
Your mind may be fuzzy but it's very clear
Just a stones throw away from certain death

It's not like you gave life permission
To move at such an alarming rate
You'd complain but no one is listening
When they themselves are a few days away

So stuck it up buttercup
In life there are no guarantees
Just when feel you've beaten the rush
Come to think, it's gone in a blink

They take what you've got
Waste what you give
Like it or not
Live and let live

Single you out
But you're not alone
Without a doubt
Blood from a stone

You scrimp and you scrape
Just to get by
What little you make
Gone on the fly

The vice grip on you
Gives little hope
It's just what they do
Blood from a stone

Minding your manners
Does it even matter
Life on the run
Struggle to catch her

You know that they do
But tell you they don't
The squeezing of you
Blood from a stone

the tighter

         you tighten the strings

                         the more feathers

                                        fall off her wings

I found a pair of Blue Suede Shoes
Behind the main gate
No need to say I just knew
I had landed in a state of Grace

I turned around and headed out
To where only the king knows
With every step up and down
Elvis tickling all ten toes

I walked around all over town
Stirring up the dust
Visiting all of the old haunts
Elvis must have loved

Even sat in the back of a pink Cadillac
Took the shoes off for the ride
Next to me is where they sat
Smiling the whole time

Saw a lot of Memphis that day
In those Blue Suede Shoes
I now see they were wanting me
To help set them loose

That's when the shoes turned and move
Taking me back to the place
Where I now stand where this all began
In the land of Grace

Took off the shoes just as soon
As I entered past the gates
Placed them there exactly where they could choose
Who next would take them for the day

I know some of you won't understand
But I really loved the man
Closer than a brother and
More than a true friend

With a sparkle in his eyes
Spoke the truth amongst the lies
Spread the word throughout his life
Knew the goal, saw the prize

Steps of courage in his walk
Words of wisdom in his talk
Godly counsel always sought
Knew the reason to the cost

Always stood for what was right
Always strived for the best in life
Most of the time you would find
Him with the weary spending time

Now do you understand
Why it was I loved the man
Closer than a brother and
More than a true friend

You arrived at a time when the times were a-changin'*
Tangled up in blue, blowing in the wind
A simple twist of fate when the world needed saving
One more cup of coffee and your at it again

Like a slow train coming
Under the red sky
Holding back the wicked messenger
With God on our side

You gave us shelter from the storm
When life gave us buckets of rain
To this day you continue to warn
We're still only a pawn in their game

Hope to never say goodbye
On a night like this
*May you stay Bob, forever young