Shadows
you do taunt me
as you move across my wall
a trick of light which brings fright
so eerily you flow
perhaps you are a remnant
of a tragic played out scene
wandering eternity
unaware of what has been

maybe you are something else
an ancient call to flight
natures way of warning me
of creatures in the night
Often I sit and watch you
and ask my self these things
then the room seems to grow cold
sometimes you move my things
the hairs on my neck arise
my ears begin to ring

I've seen you sitting mutely
out of the corner of my eye
but when I turn to greet you
there's nothing to describe
oh you have a story
which I long to receive
tap lightly on the wall at night
the secret that you keep

I am not so afraid of you
as once I had been
just a shadow of your former self
ever repeating scene
are you aware
of just what you've become
or is this what awaits us
after our curtain call

Shadows
you do taunt me
as you move across my wall
real or imagined
a treat for us all

the choices that we make sometimes
can reveal many things
the sorrows that do follow us
as winter turns to spring
a winding path of reason
drives the inner beast
choosing self destruction
with one of many ways

the drugs you take to make it real
rob you of your sleep
the ***** is so succulent
warm waves that can't be beat
the roller coaster ride of life
can sometimes seem surreal
spinning uncontrollably
trapped within a wheel

the reasons for your journey
only you now hold the key
unlocking all the phantoms
setting the spirits free
don't let the anchors of your past
drag you deeper to the depths
of your sea of misery
sitting on your step

instead of looking inward
try reaching for a friend
find yourself an ally
on whom you can depend
someone who is willing
to take you by the hand
lead you out of trouble
out of this barren land

when the rays of sunshine
fall again upon your head
as the cobwebs do recede
no longer feeling the dread
of facing yet another day
trapped within the wheel
again the choices that you've made
continue to reveal

Awake in my skin
every sense reeling
imagined vertigo
taking control

falling yet rising
higher yet lower
unable to wake
adrift all alone

through doorways imagined
the journey never ends
soft voices calling
is this the end

light starts to penetrate
removing the veil
cobwebs receding  
from destiny's trail

distant cries
drift through the night
bring visions on wings
a beautiful sight

destiny's gates
swing open for me
like the arms of a lover
embracing the heat

The loneliness came
on the wind through the rain
mournful tones sang a forlorn cry

spreading across fields
brought forth by the wheels
steam billowing out in the night

as the sound came to me
in my mind I could see
romantic evenings enjoyed

long lonely nights
alone with the light
running along on the rails

the old four four two
had a trick or two
if you tickled her gauges just right

stoking her belly
so hot and smelly
yet feeling at once so alive

the wind in your hair
as you contentedly stare
out along the path of the line

The little wooden station
sate people and engines
an oasis if ever one's seen

unloading the horde
and taking on more
conductor  calls " All Aboard"

with a shunt and a spin
the wheels begin
the journey resumes again

Again there's the sound
a cry in the night
that takes me back in time

when as a young man
I traveled the land
in search of a piece of mind

Fool them all each day it seems
double life bursting at the seams
straddle the line life or death
keep it going never going to rest

feels so good when your on the edge
climbing higher
never enough I said
all the lies that you've told before
don't matter when your cold on the floor

You bought a one way ticket
a one way ticket
you bought  a one way ticket
down

meet the dealer out back again
stained reality always there
you can taste it feel it in your gut
euphoric rush fills your soul with rot

Feels so good when your on the edge
climbing higher never enough I said
all the lies that you've told before
don't matter when your cold on the floor

you bought a one way ticket
a one way ticket
you bought a one way ticket down

As the hands of time slowly trod
around the glowing dial
the musty flavor of the air
made the room strangely drier
a growing sense of dread ensued
as minutes turned to hours
silence became my enemy
a voice, all I desired

picked up on the way home
unsure of what transpired
shackled to the table now
weary and defiled
left to think about my crime
no  one would hear my voice
until a measured time had expired
the truth it will suffice

What crime have I been charged with
you must respect my rights
or is this a kangaroo court
my fate has been decided
all these thoughts  and many more
surface with passing time
silence is the enemy
it will control your mind

As silence slowly takes it's hold
of all of you desires
you will withdraw into a ball
confused but happy all the while
letting go of all your cares
is really a simple thing
without a voice of reason
your future is quite bleak

Footsteps ringing down the hall
steadily getting nearer
all the protests I will make
my voice they'll surely hear
a twist of the door handle
announces fate has arrived
as dread and hope fight for control
of my fragile mind
a blank faced man nods my way
he says"Your free to go".
shocked at hearing someone talk
I just gaped with out control

I found myself silent
unable to complain
gratefully I shook his hand
and then got on my way
this was the most boring
two hours of my life
there can be no question
next time I'll use my voice

Standing awash
in the light of inspirational splendor
a creation so bold
yet subtly sweeping
giving rise to emotional swells
that leave you reeling, gasping
catching your breath
like the rolling breakers
racing across the surface
of a large expanse of water
the meaning of life
never clearer than at this moment
when all senses collide
sight , sound , smell,
touching you
at the very core of your being
the gallery is vast
not just of painted things
experiences and pleasure
all at once it brings
flashes of past days
the parts that you have played
but all that really matters are
the lives that you have changed
for the better or the worse
none remain the same
a price worth admission
on any given day