Sleep now child
Your day is done
But remember to rise
The next day will be here soon
And if you aren't there
Someone will notice
And be very displeased.

Ash that fills your chest
it floods the hearts chamber
and if untended
consumes it
it screams
a primal and unthinking
vengeance
many find its voice
compelling

before
during
but not after.

They said
so I did
stole the moment
while they watched
I don't think
they wanted it anyway.

that paranoid ramble
that angry mutter
that sad sigh
is that all me
well
you're the only one here
it could be ghosts
or the devil
but it was
probably just you.

Tell me friend
where did you begin
who were you
why are you
the way you are today
was it outside forces
did you just adjust
to your environment
or did you pretend
to be something new
so long it stopped
being an act
I'm curious.

I drew a sun
and you saw
a goat
admittedly
I've no talent
for art work
but I have to wonder
if you just
willfully
misunderstand me.

Creatures
one and all
some
are statistically inclined
to one thing
or another
but we're chaotic creatures
and oddities abound
still we fight
the same old fight
about who belongs where
can't we all just get along
history says no
what do you say?

What again
are we testing for
I hope not perfection

no just boring truths
or total lies
maybe puns.

Strange stuff
Where reality bends
And our deepest
Fears and hopes
Come alive
In my case
It's more fear
Than hope
Where spiders love
To leap at my face
I hope my dreams
Are not prophetic.

A restful moment
amidst the chaos
it never lasts
and can be false
but when its truly here
the wise savor it.

It's funny how
You can feel alone
In a crowd
Even when those
Closest stand near
You're still all alone
Or so it feels
You're in a bubble
You can see them
Laughing and sharing
So close yet untouchable.

you can't
be born free
not totally
free of responsibilities
and society's
expectations perhaps
but as a babe
your life is certainly
not your own
it's in the hands
of what may as well
be your gods.

No
i'm pretty decisive
well
I think I am
no one
is certain of everything
probably.

Self imposed
Or otherwise
Does funny things
To the mind
You can lose yourself
In your own
Mental labyrinth
And to get out
Some need a guide
Some others
Never leave.

or freeze
as a defense
it lacks
nature or nurture
my father was a brick wall
my mother
never taught me to fight
that explains it right
Fight or Flight
or
be a deer
headlights
such an enthralling sight
white light the way to heaven
right.

what do
sick minds think about
getting better
gore galore
something crazy
maybe chicken soup for the soul?

Kind of a pain
Kind of wonderful
Kind of all sorts
Of things really
Stranger than fiction
When it isn't
Excessively mundane
It could use
A bit more levity
And perhaps equality.

A truly timeless tale
A harrowing adventure
where no one knows
what to say
but i'll say it again
I have no muse
my vault of ideas
is overdrawn
yet still i feel compelled
to write something else.

It would be awful
To see it all
To know all the wrongs
Committed each day
Of course
All the good
Would be clear as well
But I have to wonder
If it would really balance out

Make love
Or a play
Or a sculpture
Or a strongly
Worded letter
Or an unhappy face
Or really anything
But another
Dam war.

There are things to do
And places to go
But I'm not sure exactly
Where to go
Or what to do
But I can feel it in my bones
The need to answer those
Unasked questions
Is that normal
Am I experiencing wanderlust
So much to do
I think.

I want to read
the secrets you hide
deep in your soul
but your eyes are clear
and your fingers
are very still
so i'll be blunt
you can lie
you could say nothing
though I won't rest
I just want
I just need to know
Are you happy?

Ages ago
In land long forgotten
Or possibly Britain
There was a king
Not a bad one
Just a touch
Overly fond of wealth
One day he got a gift
A shiny lamp
He rubbed it
And bam genie
he was allowed
One wish
And what did he wish for
Why the golden touch
He tested on his clothes
And the walls
He was quite pleased
And clapped in glee
then turned to a statue
Since he didn't wish
To be immune to his powers
Moral of the story
Just wish for gold
Golden touch is overrated.

beware young soldier
danger lurks everywhere
the smallest of creatures
can **** the the unwary
of course
your armor is heavy
and if you wear it all the time
you may be too tired
for battle when it comes
even the strongest
fall before the sandman.

If you stare
into the void
it just might
look back at you
with two circles of oblivion
that play havoc with your mind
and your soul
you may never look away
you may not want to
so maybe no one should look
of course
if no watches it
then how can you stop it.

Who are you
A memory
A stranger
An old friend
Yes no
Does it matter
Not to me
Not right now.

Look look
At all the shapes
That your heart
Can take
A dove
A fire
A box
All manner of shapes
For so many occasions
That can't be healthy.

Ah poor thing
all scratched up
twisted and torn
held in rough hands
I doubt you can be repaired
I could try
for what its worth
but
those scars are forever
if it helps
they make you look
distinguished.

Adventuring we shall go
To new lands
There shall be danger of course
And we may never return home
But if we do it right
Great rewards shall be ours
And if the gods are with us
Our ship won't get wrecked.

When I stand in
picturesque settings
All I notice
are the shadows
lurking
just to the side
not quite out of frame.

Just drop everything and run
when the unpleasantness comes
such sage advice
for a ***
with nothing to drop
we are made to cling
to our stuff and our people
we truly are
even when all we have
is pain and trouble.

How dare you
Judge my people
How dare you judge
My time
How dare you judge
When all you have
Are preconceived notions
And crazy stories
From a friend of a friend
I ask even though
I know the simple truth
Is
I dare to judge
Because that's what
I was taught to do.

Some people march
To the beat of their own drums
Very unique
occasionally impressive
But some people
March to the same old beat
But are just a little late
Their rhythm is off
They don't feel unique
Just
uncomfortable.

give the people
what they want
what do they want
truth justice pancakes
peace power
a fair deal
depends on who
and when you ask.

The ancient  cave folk
Started a fire
And despite
The ignorance
They lived and
Breathed that fire
Is still going
Maybe we can
Put it out.

Up there on that wire
I teeter and totter
I keep to the middle
And try not to fall
Either side would like me
But neither would be good
For my health

Up high I see much
And participate in none
Yet I have friends in both
Who tell me tales of wonder

If I joined one
Or the other
Would anything change
I'm just one more number.

A warning light
That isn't a shame
The problem
Is when you let it
Blind you
Don't stay in the dark
Just keep it in mind.

You're never
Too young to die

Too young to drink
Too young to ride
On the biggest ride
But I know of no law
That says you must be
This old to get to the other side
Besides the unspoken law
Of common decency
I couldn't say what
These words are worth
But you may want
To keep them in mind.

I have bad thoughts
I want them gone
But their terrible stains
Like grape soda
On a white suit
I have all sorts a chemicals
But they don't do the job
So I buy a tie
Get it just right
And pray no one sees it.

For what it's worth
which I bet
is not much
it surprises me
If you were here
I couldn't say it
but here in cyberspace
where I know
you never tread
I guess I can
funny.

very solid
very real
I look at it
and compare
my less than solid words
not even etched in ink
just ones and zeroes
it seems so pointless
to type these impotent
these silly words
yet I continue to do so.

I will tell you
What to do
But you
Don't have to do
What I say
I certainly wouldn't.

I love music
I like to hide
From my sour thoughts
In the beats of others.

So tired
The sheep
Are singing lullabies
But I must stay awake
Things to do
So many things
and people who
Would be
most displeased
If I were
to drift away
Ah well.

You should talk
To the moon
It's not very outspoken
And won't share much
But is a great listener
Plus you won't have
Any trouble looking it
In the eye.

idiot
stay in the darkness
all you get
for trying to leave
is a headache
that light
isn't even real
they set it up
they hang it high
they know how
attractive it is.

Dam you
I loved that song
Now when I hear it
I think of you
And that's no good.

A most malevolent stead
it rides right into your brain
and brings unpleasant dreams
Surreal ones that
make your brain spin
and ones too real
to let you move at all
is there anywhere to hide
any way to guard my mind.