The Funny White Stuff©

It is hard to believe
That there is a part of the world

Where no funny white stuff exists at all
This thing that can create great pleasure

Or be seen as a plague or aggravation
Which some will never experience

How something so good can also be so bad
In one moment a plaything

And in another a quagmire to escape
A symbol for the chills and cold

Or that which can bring a warm glow to our hearts
Those that love to slide cherish it

While those that drive oft curse it
Yet it is made of the same thing

You can throw or fling it for fun
Build a fort or igloo too

If need be it’s a water source
And hence a precious resource

Floating from the sky above
It can create quite a scene

Leading people to dream
Especially those that have not seen

The magic and wonder
Of the season and the funny white stuff

Andreas Simic©

Way Back Then©

I remember way back then,
You could see for miles and the stars were so brightly lit,
Before the smog and other pollutants hit

There were trees and bees, and other such things
Where now pavement rules for miles on end
And eight lane highways do extend

But progress must come, as we all know
So stand back the bear and the doe
And make room for another condo

We all know profits must be met
And there's no time for a study
For there isn't total global warming just yet?

There are schedules to heed and deadlines to meet
So we need more concrete to get us there
Who cares about the quality of the air?

For in this day and age where everyone has a cell phone
It is easier to clone than to let nature on her own
And if that doesn't work we can use something genetically grown

Then there's always the lotto or casino to make our day
We no longer need Mother Nature to have her say
For we as humans have figured out a better way

So let us raise our beer in cheer
Dawn our hats, for skin cancer is always a fear
And off we go for another great year

Maybe by now we've figured out there are too many
Of us to fit on a shuttle to that unknown place far away
And for all of us to survive a nuclear explosion on any given day
So in its stead we'll settle for our own implosion

Have a great day

Andreas Simic©

You scan the room
eyes meet
smiles are spawned

Blushes shared
sideways glances
embarrassment cascades

The dance has begun
awkward moments multiply
rituals are invoked

Stares become contests
flames of desire kindled
yearning turns to wanting

Time stokes the embers
into uncontrolled heat
that cannot be squelched

Days become longer
nights intolerable
until

That moment
where lips meet
and lust is born

Andreas Simic©

I spoke to God the other day
Wanting to hear what he had to say

My ask
What is my task

Why am I here at all
Every winter, spring, summer and fall

The reply is always the same
Make a difference in a life regardless of their name

But how can I do this
When my life has been far from bliss

Why me I express again
Erstwhile checking if I am sane

For I am but one from many a billion
Some who have many a million

What makes me different from the rest
Uniquely qualified for this quest

A drop in the bucket is how I feel
Far from someone who can make this real

The answer is always a surprise
One I forget and have oft to re-surmise

No deed no matter how small
Counts equal to them all

It may make someone’s moment
Or cause them to lament

That they too have been heaven sent
To be the treasure they were meant

Each rain drop adds to the lake
This we should never forsake

Andreas Simic©

Lost Words©

It was only later
After seeing him hooked up to a ventilator

That I realized what he had said
And a reflection came that I would later retread

For deep down inside I always knew
That my dad was there for me as I grew

He was harsh and intense on occasion
Some would even call it abrasion

But there was that other side
When we were alone me along for the ride

He did his duty as a father
Bringing home the bacon with little bother

But the lessons taught
Were what I bought

How to strive
To stay alive

To be the best I can be
For all to see

Have kindness for my fellow man
Help wherever I can

Be a father to a son
Be there to protect everyone

Give a care
If you dare

That tomorrow will be a better day
When you get ego out of the way

As I sit here to lament
I recall those lost words he had repent

After waiting all those long years
And though he is long gone they still bring me tears

Those lost words you ask “I love you…”

Andreas Simic©

Ponderance©

As the waves come crashing into the shore
And the gulls fly overhead
And the sounds fill my ears

I am reminded

Of the frailty of life
Of nature’s cycle
Of destiny for all of us that inhabit this planet

Is life fair
Is life just
Is life a must

Or a journey to be endured
Or a lifetime of highs and lows
Or something to see as we go

Sometimes I do wonder why we are all here
Sometimes I am amazed of all the fear
Sometimes I can’t resist to insist

A prayer for those near and dear
A prayer for those unknown to me
A prayer for those I have yet to see

And as I dose myself to sleep
And my eyelids become heavy and deep
Another day awaits for me to greet

Andreas Simic©

I sit here and ponder
As I let my mind wander

To the girl that makes my heart race
Who shows me her every grace

The one who has stolen the show
Erased the others who I did know

It’s not her beauty that leads the way
But what’s inside that shines every day

She can make my heart sing
Even when I am not listening

The smile that can light up a room
All the while holding a broom

Amidst these thoughts that stir
Another Valentine’s is here for sure

How to make this one special I plead
Ideas from a magazine I ought to read

Then my mind begins to click
What a great idea to woe this chick

So a call on the phone is made
Hope on a sunny day they have a shade

A knock on the door brings my dear near
Hope I’m right I fear

For the horse drawn carriage awaits
To take us on this very important date

To a place where we can dine
And her smile will shine

When I drop down on one knee
For a future for you and me

Andreas Simic©

My One Day Bucket List©

When I was young life was tough enough
As I sat behind that old wooden school desk I would dare to dream

I had a dream that…

One day I would fly a plane and soar like the birds in the sky away from the pain

One day I would find someone to love and be loved back just because they wanted to

One day I would have friends and feel like I belonged and not be different

One day I would own a home, a house to call my own because it looked like everyone else

One day I would sail the oceans to know what it would be like to be totally surrounded by water and feel like no one could find me to hurt me anymore

One day I would make money so no one would know I was poor

One day I would move a thousand miles away to an island so
No one would know I was not okay

One day I would own a business so that I could control my destiny

One day I would travel, to see what made the Panama possible and
Learn how deep the Grand Canyon is, see why people go to Las Vegas and experience what it would be like in Alaska

One day I would return to my father’s place of birth and see where it all began on that small family farm in the middle of seemingly nowhere and how he got to be so far away to escape a war

One day I would be there when Mom and Dad were passing on
So that they would not feel alone as they made that last human transition

One day I realized how my dreams had turned into reality that
Those early beginnings became an incredible life
Filled with family and friends

One day aspiration had turned into inspiration and inspiration into reality.

One day looks like inspiring others both young and not so young to hold on during those dark moments for the light to shine through and the opportunity for dreams to come true

One day

Andreas Simic©

four strapping teens surveying a map
the adventure of a lifetime in waiting
an expedition through backcountry

    10 days 4 portages backpacks at the ready
    paddles yearning to be dipped into glossy waters
    an excruciating two hour drive for excited trekkers

launching canoes with but a trail & compass
crackling fires stoking companionship
seeking warmth from the crisp nighttime air

    tents hoisted while listening to nature’s rhythm
    crawling into sleeping bags serenaded by croaking frogs
    exhaustion from a day of paddling bringing deep sleep

bright sunny dawn the wakeup call for rising
roaring campfire ready for pots and pans
breakfast cooked on an open flame a treat

    time to pack amidst an onslaught of mosquitoes
    drizzling day a reminder to the voyageurs of the past
    portages carrying canoes overhead long & arduous

standing on the shores of turbulent Lake Opeongo
her challenges
beckon us

Andreas Simic©

Ponderings©

As life moves along its continuum
As reflection of the past becomes an increasing occurrence
As the sun rises and sets each day as before

When the hours pass just like they always have
When one day leads into the next
When time seems to be fleeting

What do we think about
What do we do to pre-occupy our minds with
What can we do to prepare for life’s eventualities

How do we justify our being
How do we look at how our life unfolded
How do we move on from here

Why, why now
Why the process and the journey
Why me

Into the abyss we move
Deeper and deeper into our own sole journey
To be remembered or forgotten

That is the question to be pondered this day

Andreas Simic©

Zack and Camill went up the hill
Oh what a thrill

With pail in hand
The trip would be far from bland

As the class clown
He wasn’t entitled to a crown

But was prone to tumbling down
Camill was his peach with eyes a brown

Was this the day to plant that first kiss
Or another for remiss

Only time and a climb would tell
If he would finally ring her bell

He was surely under her spell
One she had cast and for which he befell

Was today finally it
His heart long ago being lit

His biggest fear of all
That he would suffer another fall

And have to race home
All alone

To his bed
Where he would tears shed

Andreas Simic

My Plight in Sight©

I find myself alone
I was once with many
Dwindled to a few
Now a sole survivor

I am huddled here
In the cold
In this ditch
That now serves as shelter

It is not my fault
I did my very best
To help them survive
To keep them alive

Now I am freezing
My hands shake
And quiver
As I hold my metal defense

They are all around me now
It is just a matter of time
My thoughts are of home
Of family and that tree in the yard

The odds are not good
I know they are not
That I will hold your hand
For now it is just a thought

To have and to hold is just a dream
Our baby in my hands
Something I glean
What happens now is unforeseen

The din of earlier in the day
Gives way to an eerie silence
And here I have to stay
To see if I will live another day

This is war
And I am a soldier

Andreas Simic©

Went to get a card for my loved one
There it was all shiny and new
Held together with paper and glue

Looked at the price which made me hesitate
Got me thinking hold on and wait
When did paper get this expensive?
Making me quite apprehensive

What did it say that I couldn’t my bride tell
In a poem written by me just as well
For words can never express how I feel
About the woman that is the real deal

The one who I still adore
No matter on land or shore
Whether on the Canyon floor
Or just next door

Though age has moved us along
There are still words to be written for our song
Every day I awake I pinch myself that you’re right there
In the bed we both share

To say I’m lucky
Would be rather plucky
Though I am so blessed
I can hold you close to my chest

Through a life of challenge and many a tear
Losing you is my greatest fear
For you are all I’ve ever wanted in a mate
Someone like you to whom I could relate

There are no words on a card bought
That express to the one I had long sought
How I feel each day
For having you in my life in every way

Happy Valentine’s Day

Andreas Simic©

The Silhouette©

He awoke or so he thought
Parted the curtains of the room
The Caribbean sun rising
The warmth of the day enveloping him

In the distance a silhouette
Tall, shapely and slender
Even from here he could tell she was beautiful
As beautiful as the landscape that surrounded her

Was she all that he could imagine
Would she be kind and caring
Gentle with their children
Comforting arms within which to rest

He would envision them at the altar
Vows spoken in soft tones
As commitments were clearly stated
And friends and family present supported their union

Life would be filled with happy days
Some sad moments for sure
But they would tough these out together
No problem too large to solve for they stood as one

Their family would grow and blossom
One day their grandchildren they would cradle in their arms
They would age gracefully
Holding hands wherever they went

Celebrating a life full of love
Of respect for each other
That was the woman in the silhouette
The one of his dreams and the one he did wed

Andreas Simic©

A Flower and a book

Saw the picture and had a second look
A flower and a book

What can you say about those two things
A flurry of thoughts it brings

When I think of a flower it is beauty I see
A book brings words of who I may want to be

The smell of petals bring joy
Page after page brings wisdom for me to employ

How are they the same you may ask
This is where I put myself to the task

Both are there to amuse our minds
Even if it is of varying kinds

Is it a stretch to say
Each brings wisdom your way

Texture is found by your fingers
Impressions made live long and lingers

There are feelings evoked galore
By reading into what is in store

Memories tweaked and new ones made
Though some may one day fade

No matter what the occasion or circumstance
They can deliver even in the case of romance

Under the covers they do bring
The possibility of inspiration for songs to sing

Stories yet to be told lay in wait
Whatever you imagine will be great

Andreas Simic©

Life is ...©
Life is ...
... A journey
... A process
... Time travel

Life is ...
... Seconds, minutes, hours
... Days, weeks, months
... Years, decades, a century

Life is ...
... Spring, summer, fall, winter
... Flowers, plants, trees
... Nature, stars, the universe

Life is...
... Seeing, hearing, touching
... Tasting, smelling, speaking
... Doing, participating, accomplishing

Life is...
... Hope, inspiration, aspiration
... Laughter, joy, jubilation
... Disappointment, tears, sadness

Life is...
... Family, friends, neighbors
... Friendships, relationships, marriage
... Classmates, teammates, workmates

Life is...
... Working, playing, human development
... Dreams, goals, plans
... Self-awareness, reflection, refinement

Life is... Birth, living, death

Life is... Remembering we are human beings, not human doings.
Every once in a while we need to stop and smell the roses,
hear what is really being said, taste the essences of life,
touch someone’s heart and see life for what it truly is,
“a journey with rest areas”
Andreas Simic©

My Plight in Sight©

I find myself alone
I was once with many
Dwindled to a few
Now a sole survivor

I am huddled here
In the cold
In this ditch
That now serves as shelter

It is not my fault
I did my very best
To help them survive
To keep them alive

Now I am freezing
My hands shake
And quiver
As I hold my metal defense

They are all around me now
It is just a matter of time
My thoughts are of home
Of family and that tree in the yard

The odds are not good
I know they are not
That I will hold your hand
For now it is just a thought

To have and to hold is just a dream
Our baby in my hands
Something I glean
What happens now is unforeseen

The din of earlier in the day
Gives way to an eerie silence
And here I have to stay
To see if I will live another day

This is war
And I am a soldier

Andreas Simic©

The Masquerade©

He thought it was just a game well played
Sitting here in the grass and shade

He never wanted to hurt anyone
Didn’t she know he was the kind who would run

They held hands and he saw her swoon
This was the maid normally holding a broom

He told tales of wealth and stature
As though it was rapture

In this tale of lore
He was the hero for sure

A man with oh so many talents
An estate no less on balance

He was the pride of the British side
A lie he well knew deep inside

A gentleman due for a great inheritance
Gathered here for her pretence

His tongue spoke of proper education
Not the poverty of his preoccupation

Of course he was a great success in business
For a man for a who was utterly clueless

Oh so many lies
Just so he could lie beside her looking into her eyes

It wasn’t as though they would be wed
This was just a ploy to see her to his bed

Andreas Simic©

At the Top©
I often think as the crest of the hill appears
That I am at the top
The top of this game

It is my dream it seems
To go out on top
To be the best me when I flee
To the other side
With a great measure of pride
Knowing I have tried and tried

So what does the top look like for me
Holding hands with my honey
Knowing she will have enough money

That I have lived a full life
Even if that includes all that strife
After all nothings perfect

Even for those of us who like to direct
The path we have chosen
For the long journey to get to the other side

Will have traveled far and wide
And won’t have anything to hide
I will have kissed and hugged a lot

Even enjoyed all those things we bought
With many friends and family too
My hope is to be the glue

That you see me too
At the top
The top of my game

Andreas Simic©

Mind Games 1001©
Silhouettes here shadows there they could be anywhere
At home I check everywhere with a thorough sweep
On the road like this motel, I make sure that they can’t peep
Always look out the window before you leave they can deceive
When driving check mirrors often it might be a tail and
they could be on your trail
A disposable cell phone is a must or use a public one just
don’t let them hear you, they might be near you
Move often from city to city they can be witty
and they are not beyond sending someone pretty
She might say they are here to protect the nation
in a conversation, like she’s as good as her word
Never trust anyone including a neighbor
even if they say they are a savior
When submitting to WikiLeaks be anonymous
for it is your identity that they seeks
When the occasion arises you may need
to wear disguises, a wig, hair dye, no less
you may resort to wearing a dress
The car you drive you should never own
a rental is safer in a different time zone
CIA, FBI, NSA, Homeland security
anyone of those it could be
My name is paranoid but you
can call me delusional or
Bob which is not that unusual

Andreas Simic©

The Truth or Something Like It

Aah, the truth and nothing but the truth
Who do we believe in this day and age

Where a guy named Donald spouts about fake news
And always seems to be in a rage

Who do you trust if it’s not your president
How do you get information if not from this sage

If the FBI cannot be trusted according to him
What else are we to surmise at this stage

Is there anyone left in who we can trust
Or are we permanently ****** in this cage

And just when we thought we’re as low as we can sink
Some women come forward in a display of courage

In a world so harsh and critical at best
They took a stand to spill their baggage

For the abuse from years long ago
Can be silenced no longer is their message

To all those who hide the truth
Know that we all come from the same village

The time has come to seek the truth
From those that took advantage

Hurting one of us is to hurt us all
It is time to write a new passage

(For a poetry contest entry based on this quote.  “Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it.”)

Now and Then in 2017©

There was a time when I was younger
That there was this constant hunger

Time has passed and the years have flown by
Sometimes joy and laughter, sometimes a good cry

Vows kept under the stars we met
A grandson that keeps me young without regret

Where once I had a great left hook
I now rely on Facebook

Used to compete at a track meet
What I do now is Tweet from my seat

In lieu of at the rink with my team
I’m Linked In to the latest dream

Before, at the diamond with a bat
After, share the world with Snap Chat

Amazon was a great river in Brazil
Now an eCommerce site with a bill

Past, hanging out at the mall looking for chicks
Present, watching Netflix pics

It used to be four on the floor
Instead my best friend is an I Phone more

Many hours once spent polishing chrome
Replaced by Google Chrome in your home

Parallel parking used to be a real pain
My car parks by itself again and again

At the pumps no more
The car is electric and less a chore

I find myself often saying
Is there an “app” for that, and then playing

In conclusion I have no dilution of days gone by
The days of yore are long gone and I’m on standby

To give it all a try

Andreas Simic©

From the Back of the Bus©

The journey to school via that yellow tin can
They call it a bus at least where I come from, man

Long and narrow it transports it’s precious cargo
And delivers daily where we must show to grow

My favorite destination of that vehicle not of choice
Was the back of the bus so I could hide inside and rejoice

Many lessons were learned on the way to school
Observing life from that back of that melting *** pool

One learned about friendship between two friends
The shy kid whose ride was a means to an end

The bully that would run amok
Those were the ones that would have me duck

There were smiles and frowns alike
Most days I would rather ride my bike

Some days were up but most days were down
In the midst of the crowd and the class clown

Intersperse that beautiful girl
And the kids that made you want to hurl

Some were kind and some were tough
Seeing some of both was enough

Not realizing at that young age
This was preparing us for a different life stage

The ride was a daily grind
While I was looking for something else to find

From the back of the bus

Andreas Simic©

Appreciation amidst Irma©

After watching Irma terrorize Florida and the Caribbean
This is what appreciation looks like

I appreciate that:

I have hydro with which to make my morning coffee
That the roof is still on my home
The car I drive is on four wheels and not on its side

There is a place to jog this morning free of debris
The roads to get to work are safe and passable
My job is waiting for me at its usual place and time

The basement is high and dry
The bus will arrive to take the kids to school
And it is not a wading pool

There is no search and rescue
Nor a curfew
No evidence of a storm

Well rested after a night in bed
No howling winds and banging instead
Hunkered down in the dark would not have been a lark

Thank goodness for the early warning system
The many helping hands
So many agencies to heed the call

Standing up against the wall of flood
Thank you to all the brave souls
Who were out on patrols

We appreciate that which we have
And a speedy recovery for those that have loss
Of any kind

Andreas Simic©

Overlooking the bow of the ship
With nary a thing in sight but the lake they call Gitche Gumee
The waves crashing against the hull with a thunderous roar
Winds howling like the sound of a jet engine taking off
Nothing I have not seen before all these years at sea

My thoughts turn to home
A wife, a son, friends and family
Celebrating yet another birthday without me
Below I can hear the men at dinner equally jubilant
Soon another lake crossing will be met with pay checks

How did I get here all alone at the helm
Responsible for so many heading into yet another storm
Riding in and out like tides on the ocean of life
Highs and lows each day rippling through the hours of a journey
The aroma of my coffee brings me back to the present

Radar indicates others are around me but what are they up to
Racing to cover like we are or hunkered down already
In a safe cove readying for bed, dreams about to be launched
Like this ship when she was shiny and new and held out great hopes
For both crew and owners

Now my fears mount as does the heaving of the ship
Listing from side to side the fateful sounding of the alarm
Despite their best effort the engines are fighting a losing battle
For the first time my thoughts turn to failure
What if she actually went down to the ragged sea bed below

Sinking to the bottom like a stone tossed into a pond
My men scurry to ready the life rafts
We all know this will be in vain the seas too rough to set them adrift
Through their silence they too communicate our doom
It is now only a matter of time

And so we wait.

Andreas Simic©

The ONE©

You were meant to be it
The One
That would give meaning to my life

Others are blessed with your being-ness
Not I
Why?

In all my childhood dreams
You would be there
To hold you

To make you feel safe
To cuddle you when you cried
To cradle you when you are hurt

We would play together
I would teach you about life and the world
Take you places far and wide

One day you would have some of your own
And they would grow so you too would be blessed
As I held them in my arms

Yet life never brought you along
Some sort of physical defect
And now I miss you all the more

You were meant to be the one
A child to love and treasure
But you never came

Andreas Simic©

Eternal Fantasy©

Crossing the bridge I hear the roar
Instinctively my head turns

And there it is
A red Ferrari

The driver shifting through the gears
One day I will have a car like that

As I mesmerize myself with those thoughts
A tall blonde statuesque woman approaches

The kind of look a model in a magazine would have
One day a woman like her will be attracted to me

My mind imagines her and I in that Ferrari
Me shifting gears like a race car professional

What kind of income would I need for that car
And to attract that kind of rare beauty

Larger and larger numbers come to mind
One day I would make that kind of money

With the car, girl, and money would come prestige
People would know who I am, maybe I would be famous

We would live on a private island
Our home an estate worthy of my success

One day I could have all that
Then reality sets in

My age, wage and stage of life
Make this a fantasy

Only a lottery ticket away
Could make this real one day

Hope is eternal as is fantasy

Andreas Simic©

Poet Don’t Show It©

As I sit here and ponder what to write

I suffer every poet’s plight

What to put in it that may bypass a cynic

Will it pass the test of time or be it a rhyme

Is it about a crime or will someone even pay a dime

How will I tell it if I can’t even spell it

It won’t be shock if I get writer’s block

Once more it would lead to things being hocked

How will I blend smarts and wit in it

With critics abound ready to pounce a limerick

When I made this a career choice

I knew then that I wouldn’t be driving a Rolls Royce

My Father would often say

Are you getting a real job that will pay

But Mom would often defend me and herself relay

Let the boy play he will make it some day

So now I sit here with a dry piece of bread

Trying to forestall the dread, what if they’re right I plead

Just then and there it came to mine head

It’s time for bed, don’t let this spread

Enough said

Andreas Simic©

At Sea II©

The start of an ocean voyage starts like life; fresh and new
And best served with a brew

The shoreline disappearing from view and star bright
Replacing the street lights fading fast into the night

The seas are calm in that cove as you leave a safe haven
Moving past that beacon with an escort from a raven

The gulls fly overhead their wings spread wide to catch the breeze
And the shrill of their screech fills the air as they escort you out to a distant somewhere

Soon we are alone at sea, no shoreline indicating safety
There is comfort and a strange sense of calm and serenity

But as time passes and the storms roll in
Rough seas are a sure thing

The waves pound the sides of our boat and
Swales high and low remind us we are quite remote

There is no way to swim to shore and a long way to the ocean floor
We say a prayer for all on board and listen to the roar

Our thoughts turn to those back ashore, family, friends, and others galore
And through it all there is hope that we are not a dope for being on a boat

As quickly as gale force winds came they are no longer found
And the smell of ocean air fills our lungs as we look around

Maybe getting there is worth the wait
To make that journey far and wide we shouldn’t hesitate

Instead of cowering inside and avoiding the ride
We should embrace her like a bride

And then it is there for all to see, land ** I say with such glee
Safe harbor has returned to me

Andreas Simic©

What an amazing thing it is
the center of the highways and byways of humanness

A rhythmic beating that stirs the soul
the ultimate example of the word dichotomy

It can survive attacks with incredible resilience
yet be shattered by mere words

Lobbed in your direction to inflict pain and suffering
these powerful weapons wielded like a sword

Leaving it in shreds like shards of glass
strewn carelessly about each crystal abandoned unto itself

The results can be deep incisions leading to permanent scars
picking up the pieces far easier said than done

Some say it is akin to a stab wound with a twisted blade
that literally and figuratively can invoke fatal damage

Often; time, space and love encourage healing
While a touch, hug or kiss can re-ignite its flame

Occasionally it requires the talents of a skilled surgeon
To bring it back to life using ordinary means sans heroics

Hope, trust and faith the elixir aligned with patience
A potent cure commingled with a mix of prescriptions

The combination of memories and senses
Delivering messages for it to act upon

Call it heart break or heart ache or any other name
The result can end up being the same.

In the end it is not a matter of whether science
can complete a successful transplant
But whether a broken heart can be mended at all

Andreas Simic©

The Patient©

As I sit here in my room, watching
The people in white suits rush back and forth
It makes me wonder what separates us from them.

I was one of them wasn’t I
Did I not have what they all have:
a family, a job, a home, and a hectic schedule
What has delivered me to the other side?
What separates me from them

Those of us on this side are tucked away until
One of them has time to tend to us
We wait hoping that one day we will return to our
Former selves: to be able to dress or to eat,
To function without one of those white coats
What separates them from us

Time keeps passing, yet I am still here.
The white coats are looking more and more familiar
The days are becoming more and more routine.
They say that they are helping me and that I am getting
Better. Yet here I wait still
What separates me from them

Days pass into weeks, weeks into years and the white
Coats become a blur.
There is no calendar with which to measure time yet
The minutes and hours tick by, I know. I hear their stories
Of family and friends; of colleagues and all
Those they meet, the weddings, funerals and vacations
What separates them from me

They say that I am well now.
That I can leave and have a normal life, yet I know
I am not my former self
I have been separated from them

Andreas Simic©

The Blame Game©

I am irate, I want to be angry.
Something has set me off
And I want someone to be responsible
To be the target of my rage

I just want to let loose
To vent this unexplained feeling
It is like a storm that has brewed
And now like a tornado wants to become a twister

To unleash that which has been pent up
Now looking for someone to ****** my energy upon
A nameless victim who doesn’t even see it coming
Who will be the benefactor of the ****** released

Likely someone who is close like a spouse or a friend
Or maybe a complete stranger
Unaware of the catalyst
That will spark this verbal assault

I just need that someone who will listen
To my frustration, my angst, my worries
Hear what I have to say and just be
The voice of reason

And as time passes
As I journal and negotiate with myself
It has begun to dissipate, to unravel
And the storm has passed

There is no one to blame
It was all part of the game.

Andreas Simic©

The Prisoner©

It feels like I am encased by these four walls

Any direction I look I see darkness

There is that constant chatter of voices

Within the solitude of that small space is a growing fear

My eyes scan from left to right as if I were
a canary in a cage

Senses are heightened as I seek out anything or anybody
that may wish harm to me

It is as if I can smell trouble

Yet every once in a while I allow myself to venture out

During those rare moments I sense what it is like
to be free again

To feel calmness, completeness, wholeness

That is until I close the doors to my mind yet again

Andreas Simic©

The Path©

Many a fore me hath taken this path
What path thou dost ask
Be it a trail of litany or blessed asunder
Thou shalt not know till the end

Amidst the daily trials and tribulations
The path maybe misty or unclear
Yet it is there
When thou allow your feet to feel its way

Erstwhile as we live our day lives
We are oblivious to thyme path
The path traversed by the many
The fools as well as the Einstein’s of the World

We all at some point are in denial of
Where the path will lead us
Not wanting to know what awaits us at its end
Yet there is absolute certainty that it is there

Whilst we plod along
It besieges us to take many routes
Detours that may prolong the journey
But in the end so does the path

Andreas Simic©

I am the symbol of pride for a nation
Decked out in paint and decoration

Though I have colors of my own
Artistry of others I have shown

Representing endurance and strength
Taking you on journeys that vary in length

Subject for a photo or picture to behold
Witness to many stories left untold

Equal abilities to work or play
Whether ridden for fun or transport this day

My worth is immeasurable to those in need
Even when they speak the tongue of a different creed

Equally adept in peace or war
I can swim from shore to shore

We have lived both wild and tamed
******* and saddled even been lamed

Ability to stir many an emotion
Returning the favor through dedication and devotion

So write the message you need to spill
I’ll carry it up any given hill

Andreas Simic©