In my dreams...
I ride barebacked on a white stallion,
Across the plains
I behold with vigilance
Where desert meets azure, sand meets sky.
There is no pollution; no smoke stacks
To **** and penetrate,
To change blue to violated gray.
The heavens are pure.
I ride barebacked on a white stallion,
By peaceful streams,
Along mountain ridges,
Where nature and I have communion,
There is no war, no rumors of war,
To depress and intimidate,
To make life insensible.
The world is harmonious.
I ride barebacked on a white stallion,
Among the wild horses;
They are my brothers.
Eagles and hawks fly together.
There is no hunter, no pursuer,
To **** and capture,
To infringe upon freedom.
The Earth is free.
I ride barebacked upon a white stallion,
Within my mind,
Into feigned sunsets,
Where Utopia is real to me.
There is no unreason, no absurdity,
To bewilder and unsettle,
To eradicate my certainty.
The dreams are real.

Sanctuary.
In the touch of her
Soft wrinkled hands,
In the understanding
Of her twinkling eyes,
In her generous,
Giving spirit,
In the melody of "Amazing Grace"
Flowing from her sweet voice.
She sings to me,
And I find peace,
On Grandma's porch.

Sanctuary,
In the rhythm of
Her rocking chair,
In summer chats
Over lemonade,
In the protection
Of her tender hug,
In lessons learned
That made me strong.
She talks to me
And I find peace,
On Grandma's porch.

What color is your blood
faceless man
with hooded hate?
The burning cross
illuminates
your tortured soul.

What color is your blood
loveless man
with hooded heart?
The burning lust
you will impart
to reach your goal.

What color is your blood
thoughtless man
with hooded mind?
The ignorance burns
within your kind.
Your blood is red.

He gave her a rose as he left her,
And set out upon the sea.
"Don't worry, I'll be back at month's end,
Then, love, you will marry me."

The ship had been gone only hours
When wind increased to a gale.
She prayed he would find safe haven,
Though prayer was to no avail.

Her heart began beating as thunder;
Her tears flowed down like the rain;
Her hand grasped the rose that he gave her;
The thorns in her palm caused no pain.

He promised that he would return here,
An oath she felt to be true.
She promised, "No matter what happens,
Dear sailor, I will wait for you."

Sixty years has been spent since disaster
Took her love from the land.
In her cold bed she died still holding,
A wilted rose in a withered hand.

She is buried beside the sea shore.
A lonely old maid was she.
In her last fleeting breath she pleaded,
"My sailor, come back to me!"

One day on a cool foggy morning,
An apparition from the sand,
Knelt by her grave site holding,
A wilted rose in a withered hand

Yesterday's tears.
Tracking down neglected cheeks,
Through grime and dirt
On frowning face.
Who will wipe them dry
And make her smile?
Unwanted child.

Yesterday's fears.
Haunting her another day.
She makes her bed
In alley ways.
Who will take her home
And make her warm?
Unwanted child.

Yesterday's hunger.
Eating at her; wants and needs;
Food can't be found
At any cost.
Who will nourish her
And give her life?
Unwanted child.

Yesterday's life.
Passing now to be no more.
Forlorn and cold
On hated streets.
Who will bury her
And give her rest?
Unwanted child.

In the Appalachian mountains
Up a cove, at Miller's Creek,
Lived a man they called the whistler,
Long white hair, and mild and meek.

Whistler John would sit from sun up
As the fog rose from the hills,
Til the golden ball was setting
You could hear his lonesome trills.

You could hear him talk to robin,
Speak to sparrows, owls at night,
He befriended crows and finches
And the likes of ole Bob White.

As he sat beneath the willow
He would listen hard and long,
Paying mind to his companions,
Naming them by their sweet song.

One evening as the sun was setting
An eagle flew far overhead,
A whippoorwill kept on singing,
But no one answered, John was dead.

As he lay beneath the willow,
The birds sensed something must be wrong,
For a moment there was silence,
John's companions hushed their song.

Old folks on the porch
Rocking gently, hearts entwined,
Holding hands and slightly smiling
As their memories unwind.

"Do you remember when," she said.
He said, "Of course, you know I do,"
"The first time that we met; we kissed;
And when I said that I love you."

"Well what about the time," she said.
"Oh yes," he said, "I do recall,
"The year we bought this house, this land,
"Sometime in the early fall."

They sat and talked for hours that day
As birds performed a symphony,
They spoke a while of years gone by;
They feared the loss of memory.

"You know, I think it's time," she said.
"Yes," he said, "this is the day."
They kissed and hugged while holding hands.
They knew it had to end this way.

They held the guns up to their heads
While quietly he lit the torch,
There was nothing left but ashes of,
Old folks on the porch.