Now is forever
Was never a faith for me
When you're free,  if ever
We are free
And if I appeal to you
In some broad way
Then we will prove
That something gold can stay

Glimmering simply
Glimmering? Nay
If free we are ever
Then gold cannot stay
Cause staying is forever
And faith is by day
But by night
It is light and
Flame that we crave
So stay if by candle
For shadows remain

Are the shadows as important as the light,
In the future that we don't mention outright?

Shadows are the memories
The ones we've yet to make
Shadows are the forever
In the faith you claim to hate
No, not hate but
Never pray
Shadows are the moments of ever
When candle by breath met death
And took my breath away
So yes
Think not of light
But what is left
In darkness and your lingering
Breath

We do cling to this breath
But why I cannot say
Being neither the mind's heaven or hell
I know little of shadows
I only live by them
And once over then forever over?
Then while we live, we'll live in clover
For when we die we die all over

To wake again by candle's flame
For that's the nature of this game
To love and lust
And linger here
In shadow's breath
And tangled hair
In clover fields and bales of hay
Lovers always, never stray
Ever always
Though they go
Back together
It's all they know
And so my love of little faith
Of never forever
And doubting place
Gold though it glimmers
Dulls with age
But broad
Your appealing memory
Stains
My heart and my mind
My soul does so claim
This glorious reason for angels
Insane
Hell and its fire
Your mouth is my rain
Kiss me
And ever
Forever
Proclaim.....

A collaboration with the lovely
                Joseph Paris
© (stanza 2,4,6)MV
© (stanza 1,3,5)JP

The act has closed,
and the curtain been called,
so ignore the applause
as your heart lays; stalled.

The director yelled "cut,"
as you felt the crowd cheer,
it ripped through your soul
and "cut" you with a jeer.

The mask that you wear
and the lines that you spew,
show nothing of acting,
just a mock version of you.

So catch the bouquet
as I hurl it at you,
enjoy your new penthouse,
that empty room with a view.

You see me as a land of horror
A land of misery, a land of terror
But you should know I am much more than that
You should know that you're at error
The beauty of my mountains and
The vastness of my meadows
A perfect peace for those shattered
The bravery of my soldiers and the stories of my martyrs
A perfect example for those cowards
The hospitality of my people and the love for the visitors
A perfect happiness for those gathered
The four weathers and the mirth of seeing a clear night sky
A perfect trip for those who visit
There's much more but I have to end it here
I want you to come by yourself and discover!

Go ahead,
Break your promises
Destroy my smile
Laugh at me
Tear me down
Make me cry

Go ahead
I don't care
It's what I'm used to
Everyone else does it

So go ahead
**** me
It's what you wanted
Right?

This July, the thought and creativity that I would have given to a Fourth of July poem were reserved to help save a kitty's life. A frequent front-porch visitor, Princess knew nothing of "amber waves of grain," "purple mountain's majesty," and "rocket's red glare." Rockets shot high above her five-word world, that had little to do with patriot's dreams and everything to do with the promise of tomorrow. Right now, I am the only man in the world who cares about this cat's existence. The truth is I am just as stricken, and we lie side by side equally dying.