As the tension builds
We collect our thoughts
So much at stake
Nerves close to shot
Here comes the judge
Here is the jury
The defense is glowering
At my client and me
But it won’t faze me
Not with my fight and grit
I’m ready to do battle
It’s too late to quit
It’s the fight for truth
I give voice to justice
Here we level the playing field
It’s how I make a living
It’s real, so very real

In wonder
I give thanks for a brand new day
Moving forward
Maybe ahead of the game
I’m feeling up
It’s gonna be all right
I got my baby
She loves me
I’m full of fight
Ready to learn
To see the light
Dreaming together
A holy mystery of love
Living for today
For her and me

I've had a good life without you
You are a true love
One from the heart
My lasting because

I have a good wife,
She owns my heart
You've got your man
You will never part

We once had a great future
That's in the past
But I'll always love you
Such soul, sass and class
Lost love
I'm a member of your fan club
I'm not the only one
You're a legend of love
As to ours, we both won

I've had a good life without you
There's no rancor in me
Just happy thoughts
Of how we used to be

There are 17 federal intelligence agencies
Yeah and I supervise them all
It’s a form of internal affairs
We’re here to protect the protectors
To ensure that civil liberties or not
To respect the right of privacy of American citizens
Our department grows bigger every year
The problems increase every year
Supervising intelligence officers and case managers
Who don’t want to be supervised
But if we break the law to enforce the law
Where is that at?
Let’s take torture, for example
I had to quit for a while because I didn’t approve it
Others believed in it, that it worked
Whether it did or didn’t, it wasn’t and it isn’t right
So anyway, I’m back what complicated world of spooks and demons
Don’t give me wrong, I like my job
I like the people I work with
But the notion of winning at all costs has long-term implications
I have to live with myself
I have to face the mirror every day
I’m the the conscience of the agencies
Conscious of what we do
All in the context of people who want to take us out
Welcome to my world

She asked me about the word “reckon”
“Did I ever use it?”
Not at that time
She was curious about its usage
I did not know why
Until much later
When I realized with a sigh
She had another lover
Been going on for some time
An Australian he was
I reckon he used “reckon”
In his daily conversation
I reckon it’s a word they must use down there
I’ve had to reckon with “reckon”
It’s still not in my vocabular
In fact, when I encounter it
Into the distance I stare
I reckon it brings back
Memories of my old girl
I reckoned then she loved me
Til she headed for the hills
I reckon it will take some time
Until “reckon” disappears
After my day of reckoning
Which fails to give me cheer

I remember when and how you ****** me over
It was a long time ago
I’m still seething
Won’t let it go
Wish I could exact revenge
The Monte Cristo way
But I guess I’ll just do it in my mind
And in my own way
I know that I’ve done better than you in many ways
You’re fat now
Karma, some might say
Then there’s that so many consider you a boor
As to you, I’ve shut the door

Still, there you were and there was me
I was polite
I even shook your hand that suffers from carpal tunnel malady
But there was nothing else to say
What you did was long ago
What would I have gotten out of lambasting you?
Anyway, I keep inside the pain you caused me then
That I do not to anyone show

I don’t wish you well
Let’s leave it at that
You got me good a long while back
Still angry am I, but it’s under my hat

It all came together when we got together
You are my morning sun
A breath of fresh air
That gets me prepared
To face each newborn day
Such a smoothie you are
Such a pretty face
Oh, the bonhomie
As we rise with delight
It will all be all right
As it already has and forever will be

Beyond the heart and into the soul
You run with me
Are we in love?
Yes, it's out of control
Pleasing as can be
I've fully accepted
That you intercepted
Me from falling apart
From your tasty treats
To everything in between
You make me complete
And that's just the start

So, in conclusion
Thanks for the fusion
We go on with such energy
For it all came together when we got together
As everyone can see

Well la de dah
You had me at hello
Make my day
Give me the say so

You’ve got legs all the way to the ceiling and back
I’ll make you an offer you can’t refuse, as we stood eye to eye
Why don't you come up and see me some time?
“This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” said I

We're not in Kansas anymore and there’s no place like home
But we'll always have Paris, which we won’t bemoan
After all, the problems of two little people don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy mixed-up world

Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings
Tomorrow is another day
I'll be back
I’m just a boy, standing in front of a girl, asking her to love him

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible
May the force be with you
You just put your lips together and blow

It all turned out ok
Here we are
The plans we made
Have all come true
I owe it all
I know it all
Is due to you
Oh, Cindy
It’s been quite a time
Rolling down the road of life
With lovin’ on our minds
We just keep keeping on
Smiling all the while
Optimistic is our characteristic
Sometimes flying blind
Oh, Cindy, isn’t it great
It all turned out OK?

I told her that I loved her
I had no other choice
When you’re bedazzled
And enamored
There is no other plan
She responded with affection
Said she felt the same
That was then
Now it’s now
We still feel the same

Love is a golden chalice
Love is all
Love is kind
Love is all we need
For peace of mind

We still have the fervor
Of those lovely cuddled nights
Safe in our beddy-bye
Cozy through the night
When I told her I loved her
All my dreams came true
If you hope and maybe pray
It will happen to you

Everything is copy
So Nora’s mother said
Same for poetry
That flows from my head
Random notes I tuck away
To be used later on
To make a point about something
Pro or con
Everything is copy

Life teaches lessons
It’s how we learn
In the quotidian existence
The day to day
What’s important becomes apparent
What we do and say
About the need for love
For friendship
For trust
For meaning
For hope

It’s all copy
What I know and see
I’m evaluating
Sifting
Trying to live a life
Extraordinary

It’s complicated
Who I really am
There are many lovers who absconded with my heart
It’s complicated
I have loved many
I still do
But they are gone
I’m not blameless
How many have I hurt?
It’s complicated
So I run
But there is nowhere to run
Just obstacles from my past
There to haunt and taunt
Yes, there were good times
But what about the bad times?

Nestle in my arms
As I wrestle in my thoughts
Leaving the day’s vicissitudes
To the hours before dark
I need you
Thank God I want you
I always will
It’s easy to love you
To stay true
You make it easy
Keeping it breezy
With conversations fresh
As the tasty meals you cook
You’re soft and gentle
And tough as nails
Just what I need
My mother always liked you

I'm so very lonely
It's nobody's fault but hers
I wish there was someone else to blame
But no, I'm cursed
Looking back, looking down
Nothing I can do
She got me good
It's all bad
That's what's so very new

Should I have taken the chance on love?
Of course, there's no other way
And so of course I leapt
With all my courage into the fray
At first, it was OK
She seemed to like my quips
The bike rides along the bay
The bluebonnets I would bring her
Our life was a bouquet
An aphrodisiac
Up until that day
She pulled me aside
Then held my hand
Said it had been nice
But she was on her way

It was good while it lasted
But for now I'm just blasted
Blown into smithereens
My hopes are dashed
I'm afraid I've crashed
Yes, I'm squeezed with no ego
Everything's so-so
Down with a no-go
Ever since her say-so
Coming apart at the seams

And it's nobody's fault but hers

It’s summer and not going away
This cool hot Summer
We’re ready to play
Me and the babe
Gonna stay at the beach
Get that tan
Eat a peach
Hang with our neighbors
That’s the plan
Lemonade on ice
Burgers by the bay
Ice cream I predict
Lots of come what may
No plans except having fun
Me and the babe
Consider it done

It was the rascal in him that  
So enticed her
Sheila was a tease, almost unnerved
By this interloper who dropped into her life
A casual glance when she got her first look
Suffice it to say, that’s all it took
Oh, he’s a charmer with unruly hair
A taste for adventure
A houseboat he shares
Grows his own veggies
Rides a motorbike
Denies he lives a bohemian life

Sheila is stunning, leggy and lithe
Educated, perfect, so blithe
But unprepared for the pull that she fell
Coming from Tim
She wanted to know him, come high water or hell

Thus began the world’s longest date
Started at noon, then three whole days
During which there was kissing and more
A mutual attraction, a tie score

I can now report these two are ensconced
In an old Victorian some claim haunts young lovers
With a feeling they cannot escape
That when love arrives
You surrender to fate

Drew was much older than Cecilia
No matter, his love was pure
Cece didn’t view him as a father figure
She knew he was the right one for her
Look, Chaplin had Oona
Then there was Serge and Jane
It could happen, it did happen
It was love by any name

In the desert they would roam
They lived to hike
He was a gourmet
Who cooked for her at night
Over a nice rose, by candlelight
They would nuzzle
As the years turned into decades
They aged without fear

So judge ye not
For they have got
As tight a bond you’ll ever see
Evidenced by what each never takes off
A matching wedding ring

I’m not sure I deserve you
One so very cool
A winner by any measure
While I’m just an average Joe

Your winsome smile
Come hither look
Stop me in my tracks
I can’t believe this is happening
So I tell myself

I will try my best for you
For you so inspire
No one can match your loveliness
Nor shall I tire of your company
The aura that you have
You’re better than I could have dreamed
I want to be your man

On a beautiful day with the clouds and the wind
The bridge in the distance, we just just fit in
I am there with my baby
We sneak more than one kiss
We are entwined
We cannot miss

She loves me in spite of my faults
My best friend above all else
Our love makes us free
She floats our boat
Otherwise I’d be in the water
Woe would be me

With those doe eyes
She captures me
Her voice so soothing
Gives me hope
Our love makes us free
She believes in us, in me

From innocence to deliverance
What happened to me
I was born the day I met her
We are so very happy

Heartache
Heartbreak
But I will love again
She left me
I was blind
She didn’t love me
There was another
Too late I discovered
After I was all in
But that wasn’t enough
So I lost
The cost, a broken heart
But I will love again
I have to, I must, I will, I can
The sun is shining
The sky is blue
That dream may be over
Yes, there will be someone new
I will love again
But for now, I just want to cry

I will love again
I must and I will
For now I have a broken heart
Such a bitter chill
But I will love again
I know that I can
Got to get a move on
Got to have a plan

Goodbye to your picture
No more shall I go
To places where your memory lives
No, no, no, no, no
I'll be up, and at em
You won't defeat good times to come
Get between whom I shall meet
To take your place
Wherever she shall be
I will love again
Someone waits for me

It happens to all of us
That much I know
I'll live in the present
Just take it slow
We are over, which is sad
There's a whole life to create
I will love again
Next time, make no mistake

Jamie loved Jimmy
He was just what she needed
Someone to love her
He never complained
Jamie was true
No fooling around
But she had a past
Someone in the next town
Many years before Jim
She fell for Tommy
A real her and him
But Tommy got drafted
They drifted away
When he returned
There was Jim in the way
Oftentimes each night and day
Jamie thinks about Tommy
Those happy days
She loves her Jimmy
Her Tommy too
That’s just the way it is
Nothing can she do

Jenny and Richard for 12 years were friends with benefits
Very off and on
They had such different backgrounds
She was a corporate attorney
He ran a moving company
See what I mean?
She got a fellowship in Japan for a year but they were still in touch occasionally
Then she took a job with a prestigious firm in NYC
She came back to LA and sent a message to Richard
I’m back, but sorry I don’t think we’re meant to be
A bit later they ran into each other on the beach
Jenny said take me out on a date-date
Richard was pleased to do so
After 12 years of casual, it’s time to see if they are something more

Jerry waits
He tells Jenny he loves her
He’s waiting for her to say she loves him back
She has a daughter, Mary, to whom he says “I love you.”
Mary says “I love you too.”
Jenny, when asked about this, replies
“I want to show my love by my actions”
Indeed, she does, but Jerry wants more
You can’t blame him
He wants her to say so
Jerry waits
He may wait forever
He can’t live without Jenny

The day of reckoning is almost here
I'm on my way to the Promised Land
I'm sure there will be consequences
That's all right
I need a reckoning with myself, with God, with life

Absolution would be welcome
To myself I say
I want so much to be better
And in every way

I have so much to be grateful for
I must win this race
Against the bad in me
I want a state of grace

Jerusalem here I come
I need your open arms
I am finally here
Ready to disarm me from selfishness
My venality
With hope and determination
Help me succeed

Jesus forgives
I should too
But I can't right now
Not after what you did
I reckon you used me
Didn't tell me about that Australian dude
Hope you had fun in the Philippines
While I was dreaming of you
Staying celibate
Waiting for you
Yes, Jesus forgives
I should too
Jesus forgives
But he didn't date you

We had a rendezvous with destiny
Or so I thought
We had some very good times
We laughed and talked and made plans
So convinced I was, I bought into you
The beautiful us that never was
That one now I cuss

Bitter, sure, with every right to be
You can't handle the truth
Evidently, which is why I wrote this song
Maybe you'll hear it and admit you were wrong

Anger I feel, mostly hurt
It's been a long time
But hurt is hurt
Hurt I was, hurt I still feel
I still can't forgive
I feel what I feel

Jesus forgives
I should too
Jesus forgives
But he didn't date you

They’re recruiting me
MI6
And the CIA
Land sakes alive
Dual citizenship
No hindrance to me
Helps to have a major in Slavic languages
And an Oxford degree
How they latched on to me
I don’t really know
That Dad worked at
Arlington might have put them in the know
Interesting life choices being offered
Investment banking has its rewards
That’s on the table
I’m inclined to VC
I could have a capital time
Avoid DC and endless bureaucracy
See the world
It’s nice to be wanted
I feel like the girl everyone wants to dance with
I’m still at the prom
I’ll ask my parents
I know they’ll have thoughts

Mary and Ted are on their honeymoon in Vermont
Joel sits in a dark room with the TV on
As the leaves turn brown
He turns up the sound
But it won’t drown the sorrow in his heart
For he loves her, really loved her
Forever now they will be apart
He did everything he could
Gave everything he had
He knows he did his best
It’s so bad and sad
Remembering her kisses
On that balmy beach at night
He smiles then grimaces
This is not all right
He’s powerless and misses
The one who was his light
But Mary has gotten married
The future is not bright
She doesn’t want to see him
To talk to him anymore
Vanished are dreams of happiness
Of that he is sure
Will his broken heart ever heal?
He hopes for a cure

I object to all the attorneys
All they do is fight
The judges are too crusty
Trials take too much time
Just plain crazy are the clients
The clerks too often mean
I’m so tired of going through pat-downs
And being screened by those **** machines
Me, I’m a juror, no one cares for me
I don’t want to be here
Justice ain’t easy
And the subject, human misery
That’s what I evaluate
Look at those with whom I must agree
As we deliberate
But after all, this is democracy
And the great leveler is the jury system
This is public service
The price of being free
So all in all, I can’t complain
It is an honor here to be

Juror number 7 was looking awful good
She like my cross examination of that big galoot
In closing argument I spoke directly to her
She voted for me, I won for sure
Afterwards we met up to celebrate the victory
I had whisky, she tea
I left with her number, she was it for me
After the start of this new matter came discovery
I learned everything about her, documented my interest
Doing so with flowers and consistent empathy
I did my best convincing, hoping she would see
That she should return a favorable verdict
For little old me

She did, we said "I do"
Now we're as happy as two can be
She's also the judge and comprises the jury.

She sends kisses in the wind
Hoping they will land on her true love
Wherever he may be
She knows he is out there
Just not where he is
But they will meet
When or where we shall see

He must be kind, she knows
Fundamentally
And a good lover
Who will be discreet
Like rock and pop music
And food from the street
The definition of class
Definitely

She waits
Patiently
She prays
He will be
Soon to arrive
She is ready to give her heart
All to him
Immediately

Kokomo Joe is on a roll
No more on the run
It’s Saturday night
The moon is bright
Here comes serious fun
Lolling on the library steps
The statue of a lion by his side
Annie arrives to greet him
Her eyes open wide
At his sartorial splendor
For he wears a midnight blue vest
He’s looked forward to this all week
They kiss with zest
The amorous pair walk arm in arm
To the nearest bar
Resisting another caress
Then it’s off to the park
Where doves coo, indeed sing
Surprise, surprise he drops to one knee
Then presents her a ring
A passerby stops to take a picture on his phone
As she accepts and Joe feels like a king

The name is Kringle
But so few know
When I'm working I use my other name
Where I almost glow in the dark
Such joy I spread
But I've never let it go to my head
I work year round except the the first two weeks of the New Year
I'm exhausted from the deliveries
Amazon, have no fear
But I'll keep it up, been doing it so long
Christmas would not be Christmas without me rolling along
I need to clear something up, that false story
I never kissed any mommy; got Mrs. Santa to satisfy me
To surprise me with presents on Christmas Day
After the reindeer are settled
We have schnapps and then we play.

The name is Kringle
But so few know
When I'm working I use my other name
Where I almost glow in the dark
Such joy I spread
But I've never let it go to my head
I work year round except the the first two weeks of the New Year
I'm exhausted from the deliveries
Amazon, have no fear
But I'll keep it up, been doing it so long
Christmas would not be Christmas without me rolling along
I need to clear something up, that false story
I never kissed any mommy; got Mrs. Santa to satisfy me
To surprise me with presents on Christmas Day
After the reindeer are settled
We have schnapps and then we play.

The name is Kringle
But so few know
When I'm working I use my other name
Where I almost glow in the dark
Such joy I spread
But I've never let it go to my head
I work year round except the the first two weeks of the New Year
I'm exhausted from the deliveries
Amazon, have no fear
But I'll keep it up, been doing it so long
Christmas would not be Christmas without me rolling along
I need to clear something up, that false story
I never kissed any mommy; got Mrs. Santa to satisfy me
To surprise me with presents on Christmas Day
After the reindeer are settled
We have schnapps and then we play.

He didn’t have much time
Cancer was killing him him
He had a few good friends who he wanted to see before the end
So they met at Perino’s
My dad was among them
As this good guy going down feted his mates
Graciously and with love
There were smiles through tears
Goodbyes and amens
When your time is ending
Life gets clearer
My dad told this story
It brings a tear to my eyes
Before I go I want to thank my dear friends
We’ll  have dinner at a fine restaurant
Then say our goodbyes

He was late to his own funeral
The hearse finally arrived
The driver got lost
Thank God Mr. Dead had died
The mourners were reasonably mournful
There was a party afterward
Paid for by the dead man
To give them all one last thrill

The memories were aplenty
Helped by a fine Cabernet
Friends and enemies communed
Yeah, those good old days
“Jeez, we’re all getting older,”
So many of them said
Annoyed at the inevitable
Each would be there some day

If you gotta go
Do it right
Honor the good times
Celebrate the life

Kisses in the rain
Walks along the shore
Lattes in the morning
That and so much more
Sighs that were simultaneous
We could not believe our luck
Life was a dream to live
For we had found each other
No way would we be stuck
In love’s doldrums
With the wind at our backs
It all turned out perfectly
Yeah, we can relax
The road goes on endlessly
Our endeavor so sure
To make the best of our true bond
That’s what we ensure

Lawyers aren’t all bad
Some do a lot of good
Advocates for the public
Fighting for your rights
With justice the crucible
Nice but fraught with difficulty
Conflict is the norm
Determination and cleverness required
I admire these colleagues of mine
Their spirit energizes and inspires me
They make a difference
A big one, in the lives of many
All for our common benefit

Lawyers aren’t all bad
Some do a lot of good
Advocates for the public
Fighting for your rights
With justice the crucible
Fraught with difficulty
Conflict is the norm
Determination and cleverness required
I admire these colleagues of mine
Their spirit energizes and inspires me
They make a difference
A big one, in the lives of many
All for our common benefit
God bless them

Leap into love and the net will appear
When love calls, go
Anywhere may lead to forever
You must take the chance
When it beckons
Gamble on romance
Fly a thousand miles
Or maybe none at all
As long as you’re open to it
After all, it’s why you are here
To love and be loved
Your destiny is to meet
Your dearly beloved

All alone with her memories
She tries to write a poem
It will be about life and love
And disappointment
The months disappeared into years
But the pain and joy go on
Forging her resolve to resolve
The loss, the hunger, the gladness, the sadness
The blouse she wears was given by him
Pulled from her closet on special days
There she is: sitting on that big rock
Staring into the Bay
It’s best not to approach her now
There’s really nothing to say

We need a love contract
I can write it up
In it we will promise undying love
Kindness and humor
Daily pats on the back
Kissing and more
No alas or alack
We will be committed
To each other
Nothing shall intervene
We will strive for perfection
In each and everything
It will go on forever
Until the end of time
You can have a lawyer look at it if you wish
It will be just fine

The hat he wore with ease
Indoors and onstage
The raspy baritone, the sage
The jeweler with words
That sparkled in our minds
The smiling cynic
The optimist at times
Brave, uncompromising
Knowing it would soon end
We wanted it darker
He knew we did
So he gave it to us straight
Our rhyming friend

I've been to Hydra
Stood outside his home
It's a simple place
Where cars do not roam
I breathed the same air
Marveled at the deep blue sea
I was drawn there by his spirit
By his poetry
And now he's gone
We shall carry on today
We have to
He would have wanted it this way

And we will surely miss him
For us, he does pray.

Tiger lay his guitar down and thought of times long past
He remembered picnics in the park
And lots of laughs
He reminisced about a kiss
The first one they shared
The excitement he first felt
When they met upon that bridge
They got lost in each other
Embracing the moment
Planning a future
One that came to be
The freedom in marriage
The freedom to be
To evolve
The he in her
The her in he
A united front
For these chosen ones
Let it be

What is life
If not lived for love?
To be kind, the ideal
To have won and lost
True romance has a cost
A life is moments
Of joy and pain
Of remorse and longing
And the stain of love gone wrong
But there is always hope
Always a new dawn
I’m a mixture of dreams I still have
And those gone wrong
Of the love that I have shared
Forever to go on.

Marie is his great love
So he is to her
Tom asked her to dance at the disco
It began as a whim
She was a student, he a young professional
It was magic
They connected
United in love
One morning as they awoke,
She asked him if he thought forever they could be?
He nodded yes, it was evident, their eventuality
But they were double-crossed
So cruel their fate
A car accident kept them away
Time would not wait
There were further misconnections
The years marched on
They grew older
Their love never gone
Marie thinks of him
Tom does of her
Life and love are not fair
Of that both are sure

The mystery I shall never solve
Is how this came to be
I can’t believe she is in my arms
That I am so lucky
I don’t know what I did
Or why it happened
I just know I’m in love
And in free fall into her arms
Endlessly, perfectly

Life is amazing
Even more so is love

In these times of worry
When the whole world is scared
I just hunker down
Hoping for the best
I have a wife who loves me
With her I pray
Everything will be all right
We’ll have better days

Life has ups and downs
We must all keep calm
We’ll survive, I’m sure we will
Life will still go on
In the meantime
We should take the time
To give thanks for all we have
We will be all right
It won’t be that bad

We’re in this with each other
It’s called life
We’re getting it together
Notwithstanding the strife

We set them up, the babe and me
Two candidates for romance
Who wanted to believe their someone was out there
And within reach
That’s where we come in
We knew them each
He was charming in a Bogart kind of way
Well presented, dapper with that blue beret
Traveled and educated, witty you would say
And kind, so very kind, the kind of person you would relay
To a beauty you might also know
Which we did, last night, we so enjoyed them make a go
Dinner and drinks, the conversation lively and fun
They locked into each other
It was time for us to run
Today we got the verdict
Yes, a perfect match
I envision a wedding
Surely, they’re a natch