suddenly appear
unsuspecting carriers—
Coronavirus



© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

Are you desperate to be right all of the time?
How much better at day's end to be found kind!


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." ~Mark Twain

asylum seekers
abandon hope who enter-
Don T's inferno

The alarm blasts me awake
From a fitful night’s sleep,
Another day of bills to pay
And promises to keep.
Dropping Patanol in my eyes
As I attempt to slowly rise,
Feeling distinct deja vus
As my morning coffee brews.

And I make a mental note
To try and get more sleep
Then just as quickly forget
As I leave the room to eat.


Sitting at the breakfast table
Where I find that I am able,
To spend a few, quick minutes,
And rummage through the obits.
Is there someone I know?
And then right before I go,
Count how many are my age
Before I put down the page.

And I make a mental note
To eat less and workout more
Then just as quickly forget
As I rush out the door.


I arrive at my job.
Turn my office doorknob,
Begin my daily routine
Taking breaks in between.
And my boss storms in mad
Says “You did something bad!”

And I make a mental note
To do better next time
Then just as quickly forget
When I leave at closing time.


Returning home feeling famished
I notice some damage
To the roof and the doors
And the siding and floors.
And the gutters are hanging
And the shutters are banging.

And I make a mental note
To make time for repairs.
Then just as quickly forget
As I climb the porch stairs.


I finally make it inside
And after eating decide
To relax in the den
Before my favorite show begins
Then I notice God’s Word
On the table undisturbed.

And I make a mental note
To take time to read God’s Word. . .

Hey, wait!  I can do this now!

So, I open up God’s Word
“faith follows the thing heard”
And I understand the hope
That allows us all to cope

And I make a mental note
To read, meditate and pray.
The Holy Bible gives us courage
So we can face another day!

A
Baby
Cries,
Demanding,
Emphatic,
Forming,
Growing,
Having
Intelligence,
Joy,
Kindness,
Love.
Mounting
Neuroses,
Outrageous
Propaganda,
Quickly
Remove
Simple
Truth,
Unleashing
Violence-
Wanton,
Xenophobic.
Youthquake
Zeitgeist!


© 2020 by Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

When my muse ignites
Verse that excites
Then you have me
Dead to rights—
I'm a poet!




© 2020 Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

I just feel regret unspoken
I just feel the pain
Since the day you left
My life has been a broken shell
A living hell

I just feel regret
I can't believe I let you go
It was foolish pride before the fall
The day you left when I lost all

I should have said I loved you
I should have made you stay
But I just stood in silence
And watched you walk away

And now I'm only left with my regret

Years have passed
My thoughts they haunt me
What we could have had!
Memories live in my head
But they're not real
And I feel dead

I should have held you closer
I should have made you see
The feelings I have for you
Just what you mean to me

But all I'm left with now is my regret

Instant friends,
We hit it off so well
Mutual encouragement
Lives starting to gel
In an instant gone
As quickly as it started
Reasons why unknown
Left in waters unchartered

(Chorus)
Can you drop me a hint?
Can you offer a smidgen?
Was it something I said?
Could it be my religion?
Something I should’ve done,
Or anything I can do
To know the reasons
For losing you?

Good if we could talk
Suss out issues ensconced
I’ve tried to reach out
But received no response
Finally thought it best
To leave well enough alone
So hard to accept
A friendship turned to stone

(Chorus)
Can you drop me a hint?
Can you offer a smidgen?
Was it something I said?
Could it be my religion?
Something I should’ve done,
Or anything I can do
To know the reasons
For losing you?


© 2020 Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.

Una sola carne
Two become one flesh
Non approfittarne
Keeping true love fresh

           ~when love precipitates, selfishness evaporates~


© 2020 by Mark Toney. All rights reserved.

that which we hunger for
our appetite is huge—
times to reciprocate
we become
Skrooge




© 2020 by Mark Toney.  All rights reserved.