The seasons change
The clouds pass by
The birds move on
A flower dies

The ways of life
Aren’t so complex
Just slow down
And take a breath

The rivers freeze
And thaw again
A baby is born
You lose a friend

But the ways of life
Aren’t so complex
If you just slow down
To take a breath

The working class
Moves up a notch
While those up high
Check their watch

You make life
So complex
When you don’t slow down
And take a breath

You see that man there? He is one happy man.
But don't let his smile distract you he shouldn't be here.
Then why is he so happy you ask? I'll tell you.
He sits there everyday, fishing... passing the time.
You see before he came here he was sick, very sick.
But he never gave up, he fought until he just couldn't fight anymore.
And when his time came he faced the light without fear.
At the service he family held, he came to see that which he left behind.
For in that instance he was able to see his entire family and every friend he had ever made.
But he did not cry, nor did he weep.
He picked up his tackle box and grabbed his fishing rod then sat down on that boulder next to the water.
And with a cast of his rod he just smiled... for now he knew he was home and one day they would be too.
Now you see that man there? He is one happy man.

Your Beautiful eyes, they can look right through me.
There is no lying when you don’t use words.
Still secrets can be passed in silence.
You weaken me, the only thing that can cut right to my core.
I may be a rock, but you used to erode me in beauty.
You were a sculptor.
You were a vision.
You were inspiration.
Now you are a diamond, harder than any stone cutting anything you wish,
But so beautiful, that you put envy in every eye.
A diamond made by the rough in which you are found.
You shine like a star that can never be touched.
But that is why I prefer the night sky.

beyond Montana’s yellow lines
there is a field
~a field of painted soles
     and laces rubber tread
~a field of ****** curls
     and fallen headlights
where kaleidoscope lenses
look onto twisted frames          like origami halos
where teddy bears hug stop signs like pickets
     fringed in anger
          runaway childhoods sleep cautionary tales
  
beyond Montana’s blushing acne
there are red cup melodies
     blasting from blacked out tints
          weaving blues notes through Rock & Rap
distant cries are drowned by Bass
     or maybe Bud (light)
a haze of teenage eyes
they might as well be ghost riders
whip game copped from GTA
these pubescents are a Vice to their City
blooming sidewalk sloths
like flowerbeds

beyond Montana
is a country of bar stools
   where bar tenders play therapists
        and therapists play coroners
precedents are shots of whiskey - taken to the head
and reflected in flooded eyes

beyond Montana
is a country of MADD mothers and SADD students
beyond Montana
is a country of unexpecting pedestrians
beyond Montana
is a field
~a field of wing-clipped snow angels

That field is Mariah's home now
and she challenges you to change
   yourself
        your friends
             your country
she challenges you to
**STOP DRUNK DRIVING