I watch as an older woman in a red flowery
dress holding yellow flowers looks out to the sea
Searching for the young man she fell
in love with at the ripe age of twenty three
He gave his life that day on the Normandy shore
on the sixth of June the year was forty-four
Every year this woman comes to the sea to remember
For when she said her marriage vows
she meant them to last to the end of her forever
She throws the yellow flowers out to the sea
Always grateful for the love they shared
and proud that he fell in the cause for the free

30 on the speed limit 90 on the dash
I'm driving reckless I don't even care if I crash
Told the homies I was just going for a drive to get some air
But I'm swerving thru all the lanes and no pain can compare
To what I feel inside
I think I wanna die
I just lost my best friend
I can't do nothing but cry
I'm glad I saw her on her last day I don't know why
Why'd you have to leave me here and go to the sky
Toni why
How can I do this life without you
You were in Florida but I was all about you
My favorite aunt, we was joined at the hip
My favorite person, how could I ever forget
You used to get me all those things
Those kisses that would sting
My love for was never material
Now for you I sing
Like why
You only had one vice
I never met a person that was that nice
The soul of an Angel and you had the mood too
I don't know why it was Florida you had to move to
But I wasn't around then, what could I say
I talk to you more now than I did in your days
I'm crying now, I wish you could've stayed
I guess God has to take his best angels away
But it's ok because I know you're in a better place
And whenever there's a butterfly I see your face
A kind soul no one could ever replace
Someone that was too good for this human race
I'm running outta words to put on the page
I'm sure you would've loved Luke Cage
Since you been gone I done things you'd be ashamed of
I wish I could show you all the things I'm made of
I don't want to be someone you're afraid of
I hope whatever happens, you still have the same love
I really hope you can see me
Sometimes it's really hard just to be me
I'm learning one day at a time
Not a day goes by you're not on my mind
There's always something around here to remind
Myself of something I will never find
In Toni's passing, she will always shine
Maybe I had to let go of what wasn't mine
You deserved more than what you gained
Uncle d told me about that guy that left you in the rain
He took advantage of your kindness it brings me pain
Makes me wonder how many people did the same
I really wish I could make him feel the blame
But you'd never see me the same again
Turn the other cheek is what you taught me then
Hopefully for you heaven let's me in
Losing you really made me cold
This world is hard without your hand to hold
But no matter what, Toni I gotta stay bold
I promise to be strong for you, never fold

Memorial Remains
What particles of visual and the glory days
Left on this floppy disc inserted of the lost days
Here it loads
and such does the feelings in weird and wild ways.
Take it for what it is
a glory kept for the falling soldier and his remaining family
who has memory stored like a computer
however, the Human feeling part remains.
So define it as you wish.
These scraps of data, excuse me, "Memories.."
they still are celebrated and retold the best in the ways in which we can in "Life's Drama Part."
Now, as the audience remembers, this is the start.
Of what is left. Years later
As the brain strains
to recall the memories flashed from many years of missing and surviving after that one had fallen
So, to the next chapter to write of survival
Only the power of self-preservation is what constraints
from one to jump aboard
the Grim Reeper's Train.

Can there be anything better than this?

When the grass now can dance, and the flowers can swing
When the sun smiles wide, and the birds start to sing
As the clouds, all fade out, as waters soon do shine
For the butterflies fly, and the humans are kind

Must I ask it again, what is better than this?

May no rain come down unless plants start to wither
Or animals cry because they see the winter
Please, know that the heat can only do so much
So then nothing is better, there's nothing of such

When lights of the cities make way for the stars
As the night meets the calming, silence mutes the cars
So we dance in the night or we sleep till the day
For there's nothing to fear on this good holiday
I simply hope that you know that-that is okay

And that you too have a wonderful, fun, holiday.

Not Quite Ourselves

In whispers
“Cousin Tommy--  
is passing among us--”
a photo

… at my father's funeral
We, dressed up to honor Dad
Spread the pall along his coffin

“The last thing you can do
for your father”
Mom whispered
to her daughters

There is never a last thing
that women do

...Then to her--
the folded flag
__

Not quite ourselves --
that grief
that echos across decades
Memory is handed round--
that photo
of my Cousin Tommy
__

His eyes gasp!
Grasp!
at me
desperate
in the sudden need for my knowing

that photo--

That this was all....

I would ever know of

you

In that instant
you pass on--

nothing--

but fear

You, paint for war like Mohawks
or something...
not quite yourselves

You guys
must've laughed
like hysterical fools
Half-shaving your heads
Painting each other's faces

And I don't remember
of course
Never met you

Not in my lifetime
_

That War
Not mine!
__

Germany
behind
the lines
of you
long since dead

at 18 years in '45

But I saw the photo!
RIP
the cord!
to slow descent!

Not quite yourself

Your head thrown back
against the terminal velocity
of your life
A war dance

that I had yet to know...
...your face reaches out
across the decades

for one last plea

“Tell them, Lizzy
Tell them 'bout me!”

Not quite myself

That's the trick...
Lay silently,
Like a cold corpse waiting to be devoured,
By birds and other....

Such animals! I cannot believe they left you like this!
They are under scrutiny and shame,
Yet they fallow a chirp of pity and pain

Birthing me, she asked...

Twilight blues?

Renegade Freedom
I responded...

Your like a cook in a desert,
You don't play nice,
With women or children...

Ok the silence is over! The butler or something screeched,
I've long winded the chase,
And i've dawned a new thought
We will rise the morrow with a crimson red...

..do you know the stakes you take?
For all the beauty you imagine
It's as if you aren't there
Or anywhere else,
I could suggest
The elephant snorts his gestures of guile
And cordless phones still reign,
But the satellite dishes, the poachers,
They can't get a rest

~
Green field is waiting
People are praying
The earth is ready for the day
~
The clouds are showing
The sun is rising
The wind is preparing the way
~
I don't have much time to see
But the heart is caring for thee
Lips are not prepared to say
~
In this field we will be free
From all worries to be
For things won't forever stay...