there was a girl sitting at my grave in the middle of the woods at night
she looked like she was born to live under the moonlight
I came up from behind and told her that it's alright, to dance on my grave
'cause I'd rather laugh about all those times we were told to behave
she asked me how I died, said that the train rider wanted me dead
he had an empty dollar figure reward on my head
I turned around and showed her the knife in my back
came around full circle and said, let's never look back
'cause I think too many people say that and never mean it
yet for some reason I believe I mean it when I'm looking at you
'cuse I think about all those times, I told my gravediggers to beat it
yet somehow when you stomp on my grave, I feel new
it's why I came out from underneath my tombstone
'cause I felt something that reminded me of home
it was nothing more than a vibration
a sound I was within, where I've always felt alone
sorry if my boney hands frightened you
as they clawed their way up from underneath the dirt
sorry if my dangling eye ***** made you feel uneasy
I was only trying to flirt

she told me that she thought she knew me
never saying a word
and when she opened her mouth
out came a blackbird
as if to say
hey
I think I get you
as if to say
hey
I'm grey too
yea the black of the black bird clashed so beautifully
against her white teeth
I think I knew that this girl most definitely
came from that place beneath
that place which seemed at first like Hell
a place that seemed so far away yet so close
a place that feels
as familiar as the haunting of a ghost
yea this girl was braver than those I knew most
braver than the Devil
braver than Jesus Christs most daring boast
when he died on the cross
and said it was God who he loved most
yea, she started laughing
yea, we were dancing
we were dancing on our grave
laughing about all the times we were told to behave

They got dressed that morning
to go out and protest,
though whilst running
a bullet entered their back,
split their spine into shards and out spilled
blood as wine flowing from their oak made cask.

Now they lay and lie and cry silently
in a room where a man counts the corpses
and wraps them in linen,
hiding faces from families making them hidden.

Close their mouths with tissue bows
tied at the forehead for purchase and extra tread,
cover stomachs of starvation up
and say words that shouldn't be misread.

Photos of the deceased to send around the globe
from camera to probe, back down to internet villages and news room towns.

Outside the demonstration continues with howls
and flags made from sweet cotton thread
and the march continues being walked by
those with barbed wire legs.

your first pleasures were touch, taste and the arms that held you so dear
when the school bell rang for the first time, you felt fear
then you calmed at the sound of her sweet voice
you learned security

from the first gold star and smiley face
you knew you had promise
and with loving guidance you continued to flourish
you abided
you listened
 
your artwork told a feeling, it was scary,
but it drew people to you
Oh how they marveled!
you felt pleased and accomplished
 
what great fun you had joining the band
even earning solo perfomances
you were shy but you did it
 
your first love stroked your perfect hair
you were accepted
 
the sound of the wheels
and the feel of the board beneath your feet
brought a thrill
your scarring brought valor
 
a bounty of achievements
in such a short span of time
you were respected by so many
you felt you accomplished
you had the freedom to be whom-ever
without the pressure of a significant price
 

what happened?
 
was it that hard?
 
you knew what worked
 
was it your shyness or those who attracted you?
 
oh, the chemicals took hold and embraced you!
the temporary feeling of greatness that took hold of you
with no fear, accomplishment, promise, valor
it was done in one night with a pill
 
your arrogance has taken hold
you refuse to abide and listen,
did you ever think those who surround you,
feel so small that they see no way out other than a pill?
 
why do you think it’s always you?
 
what will you become if you cannot experience gain or loss? 
that’s what molded you
 
if you only knew, this substance is nothing
it has no feeling,
destroys reputations
depletes your soul
and ages you beyond recognition
 
the life of promise
and freedom you once had
is fleeting
but my dear,
it is never too late to recapture it

A strange thing it is
That leaves would fall
At the peak of their beauty
Silky leaves would turn to dust
As the yellow of the sun fades away
And it turns from Summer
Now into Fall
The days grow shorter
A ribbon of chill within the breeze
Your bare feet tuned still to asphalt frequencies.
The trunk brought bare
As beauty falls
Frost grips with intent
The budding Spring a distant image
Hope is lost for the tree to stand
The Earth passes away
All Kingdoms fall
But yet remaining
The beauty that is who you are
Like the leaves that fall, but eternally known.

Bottoms of glasses, under ***** caps and vases. In pepper pots, though holes in socks, twixt blooming buds and fasteners. Kitchen’s sink; shades of pink, through willow-wood hearts and:
Behind Polaroid frames and flashbulb flays, measuring pixels and yards and:
In sewing thimbles, between knitting needles; gentle beetles, playing cards and:
Through laddered tights and telephone drawers, on written paper under boarded floors. On cotton shirts caked with dirt and in refuge sacks of reticence begirt. Cushion covers and shopping bags, through electrical wire and sodden rags. Under flower pots, inside sticky locks. In coffee mugs and china cups, Teabags and teaspoons and niches for tee lights. Bottle necks, glass jars, coin dish, cream jugs. Window sills, knife block, light bulbs, plugs. Plate stack, lotion ***, saucer, dust. Record slips, ornaments, lamp, clock. Table, chair: drink and sit around it.
I’ve hidden my heart almost everywhere and you still haven’t found it.

I walked in
all young and awkward and kindred spirit-less
with a name tag that read
in black marker with my bad penmanship
that only comes on your first day of a new place.

I walked in
and a nameless face greeted me
strange as he was
and asked if my name was Strawberry.
"It sure looks like it, doesn't it?"
I replied courteously.
And so they called me that.

I walked in
months later
to my first weekend with people like me.
and I liked it.
and they all called me Strawberry.

I walked in
on several different occasions
and I grew into my name
as a plant will grow to whatever container
you put it in.
and so people loved me.

I walked in
with an air of summer
an air of sweetness and bitterness and
****
but they still loved me
even more.

I don't know what I will do
when I walk in
my first day as an adult
and they ask me what my name is.
I could tell them "Strawberry,"
but they would laugh.

Adults do not understand
the sweetness and the bitterness
the ****
as only kindred spirits can.

On the crowded streets of life (think 51st and 5th)
I never thought I'd stumble on a candied ginger rock
Out of which the most gorgeous daisy would bloom
Remember the moonbeams dancing on the river
and how the train came not far behind,
popcorn, wine, the candle still burning & Zimmerman on track 5?
Cold and warm nights spent together in the Theatre Basement
Showcasing romance, Comedy, Drama & Jazz
Sharing mysterious pleasures we thought we'd never have
Stepping in and out of reality barely touching ground
Soaking up sun on god's great handkerchief
Witnessing the transcendent beauty in your face

If a man walks through the desert on only his bare feet, is he any more a man than if he crawled on his hands and knees?
Doesn't matter what you go through, because we all encounter a desert of our own where hope becomes vultures circling the sky.
But success in life is escaping those vultures
Wash the sand out of my hair, I am ready to start again.
Whisper to me, touch my face. Make me see this isn't a mirage.
All your words twisting in and out, like a fire blazing in my soul.
Please just let me know that this is the truth.
Cut a small sliver in my skin just to obtain enough liquid to build a sandcastle with.
Build it from the ground up, it may not be much, but it's all I could muster.
At least this one won't wash away with the tide.