Snake in the Grass…by Jessie 6/06

Be weary of where you put your feet
There's  a snake hiding in the grass
Slithering in and out of holes
Waiting to attack
Although, unseen, his agenda sure
His plan set into motion
One false move, he will strike you
Without a trace of emotion
He has a way of getting close
Manipulating along the way
Just as you think all is safe
He’ll cut back the other way
Many are fearful, encountering the snake
It’s the position that he holds  
Using it to paralyze
And make your blood run cold
But he’s just a snake, like any snake
A tail and a head
Separate the two of them
You’ll find that he is dead

An Angel Whispered …by Jessie 7/05

If an Angel whispered in your ear
What would the Angel say?

He’d whisper very softly
Please don’t cry today

You’ve cried enough; dry up your tears
Your prayers have all been heard

I am with you now my child
Listen to my words

You’ve been tested all your life
With tragedy and pain

To see how long this human heart
Can manage and sustain

We’ve given things and taken them
To see if you were strong

Pushing harder every time
You managed to hold on

I thought at times you just might break
When all your hope was lost

Especially when you thought of death
You’re heart in a deepened frost

So, I looked on down, upon your soul
For you I have a gift

To brighten up your spirits
Your heavy heart will lift

Someone to love and give you love
To put a smile upon your face

A message, whispered by an Angel
A message full of grace

Empty…by Jessie 12/05

Empty stare on an empty face
The morning sun on an empty vase
Empty voice when saying grace
Fingerprints that leave no trace

Empty well on an empty farm
No town near by to be alarmed
Empty suitcase, tucked beneath an arm
Empty hate that brings no harm

Empty thoughts in an empty head
Terrified you might be dead
Empty belly, the weight of lead
Empty days for all to dread

Empty heart in an empty chest
Family flag that has no crest
Empty bed, that provides no rest
Empty answers on all life’s tests

Who’s There …by Jessie 6/06

I hear a knock, knock, knocking at my door
But I don’t get up to look
I’m not too busy
I’m board in fact
I think it was the effort that it took
Complacent in my contemplation, of why the waters wet
Is what kept my **** tightly sealed to the chair where I now sit
There’s that knock, knock, knocking once again
Will you please just go away!!
I’m quite content doing nothing and here is where I’ll stay
No sooner than I yell these words
The knocking started up
Frustrated to the point of mad
I got off my lazy ****
Made a b-line to the door; anger on my face
Opened it up, looking out, a note the only trace
I opened the note, it read like this…
Hi, I knocked three times, no one answered
It was you I came to see…
No big deal, it was only me…OPPORTUNITY!

Radiant in her appearance
Illuminant in her glow
Translucent and iridescent
Light and airy as she goes

Captivating and fixated
Locked within my eyes
Invoking and inspiring  
Probing through the lies

Overwhelming beauty
Graceful and direct
Commanding sense of inner strength
Only I detect

True and straight
Pure of gold
Peaceful little dove
Always in my heart
The one I’ll always love

The Count…by Jessie 1/06

Count the ones that said they cared
Count the times they lied
Count upon, you can not count
This truth you cannot hide
Count how many times they left
Divide it by returns
Ad it to the times it took, just for you to learn
Count up all the good days,
You had within the year
Subtract it from the bad days
A negative appears
Count up all the sorrys,
Each one has had to say
The meaningful a fraction;
Little price to pay
Count the quantum leaps you took,
With your heart in hand
Count the times right after,
Empty where you stand
Count the times you lay your head,
On the pillow just to dream
Count the times you’ve woken up,
Hearing yourself scream
Now stop and sharpen up the lead
One more problem to be solved
At what point do you stop the count
And let yourself resolve?

Nose Prints…by Jessie 2/07

Little nose prints on the glass
Evidence of curiosity
Mesmerized by goings on
Intriguing and captivating
Holding long bouts of attention
Ten little finger prints on the glass
Stationing, for a closer look
Starving to see more
Intensely interested
What charms tantalize the senses?
Focused in daydream
Invisible to those who see you
The moment has passed
You are on your way
Left behind… little nose prints on the glass

TIC-TOC by Jessie 5/06
10pm. I go to sleep
11pm., awake
12am. I toss and turn
How long, will this process take?
1am, I grab a drink
Read a little from my book
2am, I have to ***
From the drink I took
3am, dozing off
Until startled by the dog
Can’t remember the last time
I was sleeping like a log
4am, the moon is bright
Shining in my eyes
Pull the blanket across my face
From the light, I hide
5am, it’s hard to breath
Take the covers off my face
Still can’t sleep, I hear you snore
While the ceiling, my eyes trace
6am, one eye is shut
I’m tired and I yawn
Sound asleep, I start to dream
Then wakened by my alarm
7am, time to get up
Shower, shave and eat
Head to the car
Drink in hand
Shuffling both my feet
8am, punch the clock
Sitting at my desk
Lean back in my chair
Feet are up to rest
Blink one time too many
Until, they open not
5pm time to go
Some sleep I finely got

Kith and Kin…by Jessie 12/05

Thicken fog on a Scottish moor; names of past called out
McClure clan in black watch kilts; ghost that stroll the hills
The night so dark; the moon asleep;
A trek imprinted in every mind
A walk taken year by year, since the start of time
Candles lit to mark each name, and cut the congealed vale
Faces glow; in each eye a tear, as the generations kneel
Thirty years times thirty, now to present day
Kith and kin, circle round the McClure stone to pray
Every eve upon this date, the ritual of names
The list is read from first to end; then passed and read again
From the oldest man to the youngest child, the names will pass each lip
Then the McClure goblet, passed around, from which all descendants sip
Once every name is read aloud: the empty goblet turned
The sheep skin parchment tightly rolled then tucked within its sheath
Placed within the wood carved box; another year to keep
A tear is wiped, the flames extinguished; all receive a hug
Quietly, all’s disbursed; single file they leave
Nary another word is said
The long trek back, is for the clan, to reminisce and grieve

You See What I Let You See…by Jessie 1/05

What do u see when you look upon me…Do you see a rock in front of thee?

You see what I let you see …you know what I let you know.

I am not the rock you think me so, nor am I the hunter’s mighty bow.

The strength I have, you think you see is nothing more than fantasy.

There are days I can conquer the world and days I can’t face it.

I am a tragedy within a comedy, laughing to conceal the pain.

Lean on me and I will hold until the weight crushes us both

Ask and I shall give until I have given more than I had.

Put me on high and disappointment will inevitably be near by.

Outwardly I am as still as air in the eye of the storm, while inside
I shake uncontrollably.  

I can calm and steady the frailest of souls for I have the trust of all, yet none in myself.

I am the one that people depend on and I am weary of the burden it brings.

Like a raging fire I can consume all in my path…yet wet me and I am merely steam, dissipating within the air.

You see what you want to see…

Examine the rock, for it has faults and will one day crumble.

What do you see when you look upon me?

You see what I let you see.

Tug of the Rope…by Jessie 10/05


Feel the tug of the hangman’s rope
Feel me getting cold
Feel the tug of the hangman’s rope
Never got the chance to grow old

Feel me kick and twitch at the air
Feel me sway back and forth
Feel my lungs as they gasp for a breath
Feel the crowed as they stare

All of the sorrow, I brought to this world
All the things I’ve done
Today I will pay all my debts
For the pain, that I’ve caused to each one

Feel the tug of the hangman’s rope
Feel me slipping away
Feel the tug of the hangman’s rope
Nothing left to say

My lifeless body hangs from this rope
The crowd roars out with a cheer
Mothers, covering their children’s eyes
Through her trembling fingers they peer

Feel the tug of the hangman’s rope
Taught, thick and straight
Feel the tug of hell calling me
As, I pass through her fiery gates

Demons…by Jessie

Out amongst the unseen, there is a force that lurks

Attempting to disrupt my life and gum up all the works

Hiding underneath the rocks, in shadows cold and black

Waiting for the proper time to engage a sneak attach

These sneaky little demons, vile as they can be

Cut me off before I start, right below the knees

Just as I am lead to think, I’m going to get ahead

They change the course of fortune, and kick me in the head

I’m on to you Oh demon seeds; I know your tricky games

You’ll have me looking stupid, you’ll have me feeling shamed

I know just how to beat you; I’ll flank you from the side

I am after you now demon… run you demon, hide

I Need You…by Jessie 4/05



You are not here but I feel you
As I roll over in bed and stare at an empty pillow    
I see you
Lying peacefully next to me, like an Angel
I reach out and you are gone
As I walk the early morning preparing for the day
I hear you
You are in the wind, the sun, and the air I breathe
A warm breeze from the south blows in
I touch you
Vaporous and transparent yet substantial in it’s caress  
As I walk the fence line of honey suckle
I smell you
The sweet fragrant essence of what I know is you
As it begins to rain, I lift my face to the sky, open my mouth
I taste you
The purity of the morning rain
Soft and delicate as it hits my tong
I look around, you are not there
I sense you
Holding me, loving me
I need you

Tears are Dripping … by Jessie 10/05

1920’s, times are mighty hard
Momma’s seven children fill a tinny yard

All the clothes there wearing, done got passed down
Every pair of shoes, even made the rounds

Nights are short and the days are long
Hard to fix what you don’t knows wrong

Tears are dripping form the dead dogs eyes
Momma calms the children with a lullaby

**** chilly night, fires burning hot
Ain’t nothing cooking, got an empty ***

Bellies all a swollen from the lack of food
No one helps momma, feed her hungry brood

Aint no Daddy … Daddy went and died
Momma was too busy…never even cried

Tears are dripping from the dead dogs eyes
Momma calms the children with a lullaby

Momma makes a living washing white folk’s clothes
Winter mighty cold …feel the north wind blow

Kids huddle around, keeping each other warm
Momma always said, gotta ride out the storm

Every days a challenge, every days a chore  
Meeting every day, not knowing what’s in store

Tears are dripping from the dead dogs eyes
Momma calms the children with a lullaby

Who are you? …by Jessie 4/05


I met a man this morning I didn’t really like

I looked into his eyes and saw the darkness of night

The feeling I got was empty, I’m doubt we even spoke

The staring just continued, connection never broke

Some how he looked familiar, his face I could not place

The way he continued looking at me, the scowl upon his face

Then it’s as if a fog rolled in, the image began to fade

So I wiped the mirror one more time, exposing the reflection of my face

Shadowed Figure…by Jessie 7/06

Shadowed figure in my thoughts
Shadowed figure in my dreams
Shadowed figure taunting me
I wake from my own screams
I never see the shadows face
Although I see his blade
Taking violent swings at me
My life begins to fade
Drowning in the shadows pull
No escape perceived
Reminded by the way I lived
And all my ***** deeds
Shadowed figure won’t retreat
Shadowed figure fierce
Shadowed figure on to me
Silent screams that pierce  
Shadowed figure calling me
Stand and ******* blade
Shadowed figure comes for me
The shadow I had made

Sterile…by Jessie 8/05

There isn’t much in a sterile life
There is no color, the walls are white

The floors are cold, on my feet
There is no flavor to the food I eat

The only smell, is of alcohol
In this sterile life

People come and people go
None of them really want to know

What it’s like to live in a sterile life

They look at you with big blank stares
Don’t get close, don’t you dare

Contaminate this sterile life

Not much to do but sit and think
Hours go by and I never blink

Time is slow in a sterile life

Wipe things down, one more time
Make them sparkle make them shine

No room for germs in a sterile life

Well… day goes by and night will fall
No excitement here at all

It’s just a sterile life

It gets sunny, if you let it in
But then why bother, you think again
It will only ruin a perfectly good sterile day

Don’t try to love don’t try to hate
You’re living in a sterile state

There really isn’t much in a sterile life

With Thee… by Jessie 7/05

Close thy eyes and touch me with tender thoughts
Wrap thy mind around the visions
Hold close these translucent images to thy beating heart
Carry them into eternity, where they will settle firmly.
Cast across the land
Look back to where the seed was sewn
Where the fertile ground safely harbored
Now look at thee and question never
For in thy own eyes you will see the reflected truth
In thy own heart the temped beat will increase,
Until it roars with passion  
Trust thy senses for they are sharp
Feel my presents as the essence of my spirit penetrates your superfluous thoughts
I am with thee; I am with thee, now and forever

Eclipse ….by Jessie


The sun it rises every day from the horizon on the east.
A shining star and heated orb, this galaxies burring beast.
The sun it burns so very bright for its love the celestial moon.
Which makes her grand appearance, eight hours after noon.
A ballet up in heavens sky, as they chase each other around.
Humans with our season tickets, watching from the ground.
The moon she waxes full of love and wanes when all depressed.
Every month she does the same, seemingly without distress.
They love each other with intensity; even though they rarely meet.
Waiting for the magical time, when the two will finely greet.
With love so gentle, we need no aid to see a lunar eclipse.
When sun and moon get the chance, to finely have a kiss.

Death of Happiness…by Jessie


As I walk down the moon lit trail to the bone yard of emotions,
Searching for Happiness…
I find the head stone I’ve been looking for.
Tucked away in an obscure corner of the yard, underneath the tree of forgetfulness and solitude; giving way to the ages and crumbling beneath the daily pressures of life.
There sits a stone, cold and gray and ravaged by the wind.
In it… carved for eternity … “Happiness”.
No dates for who knows when it perished?
There I stand, head hung down, never got to say good bye; never got to shed a tear.
Ripped away in early days; if I could only remember the year.
Resurrection doubtful and prayers never seem to help.
I’ll lay a pebble upon the stone as a marker that I have been here.
Write the date within my book, to remind me…
Retune same time next year.

Treasure…by Jessie 4/05


Today I dug up a treasure, kept buried rather deep

Treasures frail when left exposed to the elements won’t keep

Knowing I had but one chance, to keep the treasure safe

I rushed it over to you, in your hands the treasure placed

I’m making you the keeper; in you I give my trust

To keep this treasure shinny and never let it rust

Keep it protected at all times, never let it break

Hold it close against you, so no one else can take

Keep a watchful eye and never be too far apart

For in your keeping, is the treasure of my loving heart

Menagerie…by Jessie 6/06


Too many days are all the same
The will has left, the inert pendulum silent, no longer marking time  
Glass menagerie collecting dust
A ghost town of frail figurines
Lifeless the sheen, pail from coatings of yesterday
Not even the trace of a fingerprint to announce interest
Tawas a time, excitement from the prospect of a new-collected piece, while much deliberation was given to its placement
Diligently, maintenance provided, dusted and polished
Imagination carrying fantasies of amusing situations and images  
Laughter recounted when viewed by innocent eyes
Now the foundations mirrors will not reflect what was or what is
Each days accumulation, another layer, each layer a little duller
Soon the only connection, a web, thin and translucent, linking one to the other
Paralyzed fragile pieces of glass, drowning in a sea of negligence
Your name whispered into a box of mementoes
Awaiting for renewed curiosity of another generation

Who would have known? …by Jessie 10./06

If I had not been born
Who would have known?
Would the sun still have set?
Would the moon still have shown?
Would anyone care, if I were not around?
Would music have had, a much a sweeter sound?
If my print was never laid upon the world
If all of my deeds were never unfurled
Would playgrounds be filled, with children at play?
Would war just simply go away?
Would a cry for help, finely be heard?
Would things like, hate and ****, even be words?
Would laughter have had a soothing effect?
Would all things I said, be even correct?
What if, I had never been born?
And every connection I made had been torn?
The one’s that have laughed
The one’s that have cried
The truths I have told and even the lies
The world has never hinged upon me
But, had I not been born
Would someone have seen?

Katrina…by Jessie 9/05

Calm and peaceful, the waves softly echo and reverberate as they find obstacles in their path.

Quiet… so deafening you can hear the other mans thoughts.

The sky, the bluest blue, and the only real movement, is the birds’ overhead.

Stranded on this island surrounded by water, I look out to all the other islands and all the other survivors perched upon the roofs of flooded homes.

Not a word is uttered, shock and dismay has taken hold.

Sure the sky is blue now but only hours ago the sky was dark and ominous, as a cataclysmic event was unfolding.

Devastating winds, pelting rain, and fear made its way to shore.

It’s as if the gods scooped up the sea and hurled it all at once.

Some made it others didn’t.

The smell of death stains the air.

Faces peer from just below the waters surface, eyes fixated and still, looking up to the blue sky.

Nothing to do but sit and wait

Time devours its self while waiting

Wait for lower level, will assistance come?

Wait for sustenance.

All is gone; all is lost

In a blink of an eye all has changed.

Never seen a sky so blue

Courage…by Jessie 10/05

Sitting in a crowded room, chaotic and smoke filled, thunderous roars fill what space be left, noise so loud it beats thy ear into failure.  
Parting the thickened smoke with thy eyes, I spot thee, queer in sight, like a single perfect rose amongst a backdrop of decay.
Attempting to hold thy vision steady, tracing it in thy mind, again and again,
Soon, the presents of my eyes upon thee, awakens thee and pulls thy attention to me, only to have thee look away in awkward shyness.
Not long am I able to sustain thy craving heart with but a look, hoping for better more. I navigate the restless crowed, inching thy way towards thee.
If comforted by thou close presents, then why doest thy chest seize from lack of air? Have I taken ill? My brow dampened and thy rags cling heavily to thy back.
Completely deafened by the boisterous sounds, I sense a tremendous pounding in thy ear.
Take hold, for the pounding comes from thy own heart where the beat sounds thy troops to charge.
Gather thy senses and control them each one, so that thou can orchestrate a memorable introduction, then will I have gained favor with thy heavenly host.
I am but arms reach away and her intoxicating aroma overtakes thee, sending vibrations throughout this mobile vessel, making thy limbs quiver and week.
Fool not thy self with thoughts of grandeur, I am not thy equal in this realm and swiftly make hast to when’st I came.
Coward thy be, unable to conquer thy fear of inadequacies and summon thy strength, retreating in defeat, never to know the rapture of what might have been
Back once more, alone, companying thy self through the night.
Press thy lips to thy cup and swallow down thy misery in silence.

I WILL NOT CRY…by Jessie

I never seem to understand

The pain that fills the world

An endless supply of agony

From every boy and girl

The problem is I feel the pain

In everyone I touch

From the very core of every soul

There seems to be so much

And even though the pain I feel

Hurts me deep inside

I rather feel the pain of theirs

Because mine I always hide

I know the thoughts of everyone

Their secrets and their needs

I know my thoughts as well you see

Like wounds they always bleed

I cry at times

Though no one sees

For those that are in pain

But I will not cry for myself

There is nothing to be gained

Procrastination… by Jessie 2/07

I’ve sat…I’ve thought…Then thought some more
Strategically dissecting every move
Looking from every angle
Contemplating the task at hand
It’s evident what needs done
As I solidify my stand


Motivated by end results
Charged in anticipation
I’m getting ready to get ready
But first, I’ll review my notes
Never put off until tomorrow
One of my favorite quotes

I’m pretty sure the plan is good
As I check it five more times
Tentatively reluctant
I’ll sleep on it tonight
Bright and early tomorrow
The time should then be right

I’ve eaten breakfast
Had a bath
Feeling strong and sure
Confidant, dedicated, prepared
Wait one minute, what is this?
Something just seems weird

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to wait
Let’s give it one more day
What’s the rush?
Let’s think this through
Clearer days tomorrow
When plans can be made new

The Artless Artist …by Jessie 12/05

Art historians, Art Critics, Art Brokers and Dealers
Pompous bags of wind, inflating the sails of a ship that will never sail
Full of hype, full of themselves, full of crap
Turning nothing into something
Spewing toxic dribble from their mouths
Talking to hear themselves talk
Who is listening?
Impressing no one but themselves with their circular talk that leads no where
Believing they are on the cutting edge of creative thoughts
If you understand what they are saying, then you can’t possibly comprehend
If nothing they say makes sense, you are lifted to a higher plain of consciousness
Noses in the air, Merlot in a glass, and masks  
Standing around; everyone stroking each other’s egos
Pretending to see into the artists mind
Hoping no one will figure them out
Afraid to question the other
Exposing the scam they have all created
Bold, brush strokes, color, composition, genius
Buzz words to throw around in crowed, snobbish circles
None are artists, but submerge themselves in art
Thinking they can create… if not the art…the artist
Misguided, and too blind to know it
Take away their ignorance and what do they have left?
The false façade of empty creativity

I’ll Know…by Jessie 10/05

Sitting and waiting, watching and learning
Sizing you up as I go

Hearing you talk as I dissect your words
If you are lying, I’ll know

Look in your eyes and watching your face
What will give you away?

Can you remember the stories you tell?
Or will you forget what you say?

Talking and laughing, relaxing yourself
Forgetting, you’re talking to me

The others don’t care; they see what you want
But I’m not blind, I can see

It bothers you so and I understand why
It’s like walking a verbal, mine field

Blame yourself; you planted the mines
Don’t ever expect me to yield

Some say it’s a gift; I challenge the thought
It’s hard to ever have friends

Never get close; the view will get blurred
For this my safety depends

LOST INNOCENTS…by Jessie

Children, the tiny seed of man; their innocents won’t last

For all the history of the fathers

Present to the past

What's sad is children never mean

Kind and pure of heart

People take that innocents and tear it all apart

The hopes and dreams of years to come

Placed within their hands

Expectations way to high

For them to understand

Pressures put on the child, from an early age

Just so fathers get the chance to stand on center stage

Weighting down the children’s will

Boot tight on their throat

Trench dug deep around their soul

A finely crafted moat

Children grow to be adults

And do as they were taught

While all along the fathers words

Sit within and rot

Don’t Blink …by Jessie

Don’t blink your eyes, the world changes

Look away and fate rearranges

All the things you thought would be, from now until eternity

Were nothing more than silly dreams, fate-playing games or so it seems

The jokes on me, so have a laugh; who cares about the aftermath

Take it form the one who knows, this is how the story goes

Never try to outwit fate, for when you do, it’s much too late

Don’t blink you eyes, the world changes

Look away and fate rearranges

The one’s you’ve hurt, have felt the pain, and what is it you think you’ve gained?

Was it pre-written in the book of life, that those around you feel the strife?

All the things you thought you knew, all the experiences from which you drew?

Don’t blink your eyes, the world changes

Look away and fate rearranges

Whispering Rock… by Jessie 4/05


One day in need of answers, I traveled far away

Searching for the whispering rock, in hopes of what it might say

Deep within the forest, amidst the mighty trees

Dark and quite secluded, through the rustling of the leaves

A light pierced through the canopy and shown down upon the rock

Awesome and inspiring, all chocked up and couldn’t talk

Climbing up, I sat up on, the light enshrouded stone

Asked the simple question…Why am I alone?

Things got still and nothing moved, as if time had just been stopped

Then suddenly a shaking, emanated from the rock

A whisper came from where I sat, the answer now revealed

You are a rock, you sit alone, your fate is all but sealed

Open up and let love in, don’t stand so hard and cold

Soften up and take a chance or be alone, tell you are old

The shaking stopped, the whisper gone, the light had disappeared

Direct and to the point, the answer very clear

Then I laughed and I thought, that’s silly… I like the way I am

I have no need for love and could care if I had friends

Then, no sooner did I start to go; my legs became like lead

I should have heeded the whispering rock and all that it had said

Now I sit amidst the tress, cold and now of stone

Just another whispering rock, Forever to be alone

Taken in the Night…by Jessie 8/05

A little town, one football night
A Mother frantic, full of fright
Her child taken in the night…

A shadow embarked upon the town
Its prey lay waiting all around
But it was the little girl the shadow found…

The shadow blended in quite well
Friends and family couldn’t tell
But in his chest, lurked the heart of Hell…

He waited till the time was right
When all the others were out of sight
Then took the girl with out a fight…

She felt quite safe, she knew the man
He held onto her tinny hand
The rest is hard to understand…

The things he did I cannot say
All the lives that changed that day
The people search, the people prayed…

The shadow still walks this restless town
Blending in all around
The little girl never found…

The family hopes, she’ll be home one day
They left a light on, to guide the way
But in her shallow grave she’ll stay…

She is not the first, the shadow took
There are more, once you look
Many family trees have shook…

He’ll strike again I have no doubt
His eyes are peering all about
Is it you, this time, he’ll single out?

The Box…by Jessie 9/06

I am here but not alert, as I walk in unison with five more
Stiff, ridged, eyes front
Rain drops fall and with each pelt, a ripple of consciousness
In my hand and in their hands, a box
In the box we carry hope and despair, past and present, fear and bravery
The weight is heavy; it is not because of the solidness of what is inside
It’s because of the responsibility and emotional heaviness it represents
Rain and tears blend together
Release the box, heavy still
Slowly lowered, time stands still
Words of little comfort spoken
Shots of startling respect, twenty-one in all
Feral the flag, a handful of dirt, cast into the beckoning hole
A hole in the ground, a hole in the heart
Say goodbye to the brother, the father, the husband and son
Freedom’s a heavy price to pay, paid in blood
Heavy yesterday, heavy tomorrow, heavy today

The Game…by Jessie 4/06


Jessie was a quick draw; Learned when he was young
Swore he’d never fear a man, first he’d touched a gun
Made his name, by the age of twelve
After shooting two old men
One of them his father
The other just for grins
Every time he shot a man
Another notch, was on his belt
Swift and deadly vengeance
The quick draw Jessie dealt
At sixteen, his gun for hire
Money did he make
Town to town he traveled
Dead bodies in his wake
At twenty two his name, was on every gunmen’s lips
They tracked down Jessie, relentlessly
Guns tied low on all their hips
Knowing if they killed him
His reputation theirs
Jessie faced them one by one
Come and **** me if you dare
By thirty-three, he grew weary
Of all the blood he shed
Seeing all the faces that ****
Crowed in his head
He swore he’d never **** again
Hanging up his guns
South across the Rio Grand
To the land of the setting sun
Life had changed for Jessie
A farmer he became
Getting marred, having kids
Peace was now the game
But just because you run
Doesn’t mean that you can hide
A sixteen year old came into town
A gun hanging on his side
Are you Jessie? The boy asked
It’s time for you to die
Boy…do yourself a favor
Get on your horse and ride
I’m the fastest gun around
The boy made the claim
You killed my father years ago
To you I’ll do the same
Jessie put down his little boy
And pushed away his wife
Stepped out into the street
Then said…go ahead and take my life
I have no gun, so take your shot
You’re sure to have your ****
Seventeen years from now
You too will lose your will
Jessie words just fell
Then, an echo from a shot was heard
Time had stopped, no one had blinked
Nothing even stirred
Jessie’s son had found his gun
Soon, came running back
Stood behind the sixteen year old
And shot him in the back
A thud was heard as the boy fell
His face lay in the sand
Blood was pouring out of his mouth
Twitching from his hands
Jessie looked right at his son
He didn’t look the same
Holding out that smoking gun
Now, he too was in the game.

Sunflower by Jessie 24 Oct2010
Sunflower standing tall
Standing high above them all
With peddles made of golden rays
Reminds you of these summer days
A face that follows the morning sun
But looking down when there is none
A darkened face as days go by
Ripened seeds for you and I
Birds will flock from miles around
To pick the seed from off the ground
When summers day begins to end
And autumn’s on its way
The Sunflower burst of beauty
Before its final day

Journey…by Jessie 11/05

Entangled emotions, ball of string
End, connected to the beginning
Knots throughout
Super highway of events; create the maze of discombobulating
Weaving in and out of it’s self; until there is no trace of either end
One day I will attempt to unravel this sphere of confusion
This mass of braded calamities and happenstances  
Then I will lay the line with all of its imperfections and knotted recollections
Straight and true as any crimp line can look
Attempting to move forward… I walk the line back
One step at a time
Two steps in
I look at the line
My eyes follow the thin strand as it leads away
Sharpen clarity no more as it fades into the distance
Paralyzed to move
Fearful of what transgressions may be found
Quickened pulse, courage summoned
One more step to truth
One more step to reconciliation
One more step to peace
Hardest journey taken
Deep within one’s self
Recoiled line, remembers shape
Journey never done

Colors…by Jessie 11/05

Whitened page of empty thoughts
Blue, from days depressed

Soft pink cheeks, and pink plump lips
Beauty, standing in an ivory dress

Knees are stained by grass of green
Day’s of darkened black

Golden tears have been let lose
In the distance…brown boxes neatly stacked

Orange bowls of lemon drops
Silver bells, nicely shined

Yellow labs in playful chase
Purple sheets sublime

Hair turns gray and copper rusts
Platinum credit cards

Teal paint to trim the house
Amber rocks, which line the yard

Scarlet fever takes a hold
Mustard spread on bread

Rainbow suckers chosen first
Candy apple red

Forgotten Patriarch…by Jessie 2/07

Forty seasons twice removed
A single snowflake falls
Colorless days, in shades of gray
Trapped within four walls
No one visits; no one cares
Forgotten patriarch
Tiny room; drab and cold
Sterile, white and stark
Crystal clear half the day
Empty all the rest
Many times, lost in transition
Finding life a test
Once a month a note is sent
Seemingly to care
Hours pass, staring at the words
In optimistic stare
On the wall behind the bed
Hanging is a clock
Marking time religiously
As the pangolin swings and rocks
Time has slowed to trap this soul
Won’t release it to its fate
Stuck within this stasis
At an agonizing rate

Make Ready… by Jessie 5/05

As thou makes ready for thy permanent slumber, thou calls a name, a name unfamiliar to present and forgotten by ages past.
As thy call upon the name, it lodges in thy throat and chokes thee.
The name conjured, slips between thy lips but not before the bitterness sends thy tongue into repel.  
Only calling now, in thy fear of daemons, which thou hast spawned, reaching from the very depths of thy blackened soul, pulling thee towards where thou do not wish to go.
The day is late and the flame flickers faintly, make thy peace with thyself, for it will not come from elsewhere.
Now that thou unattended fields hast grown fallow, winter is close at hand, a chill is in the air that splits thy leathery skin and settles deep within thy bones.
Do not attempt to squeeze a single tear from thy baron eye, if only for the sake of pity be.
Tempted might thy called upon be, to relax the inclination of forgiveness.
Alas… deaf is the called upon, thy words fall like weighted snowflakes, landing heavily on the earth, creating enormous quakes in thy mind.
Trouble not, for the shadowed faceless figure sent to escort thee, strikes quickly and will numb thy pain for eternity.
But whilst thy waits, reflect upon thy deeds and ask thee…if a man should parish and no one were ever to speak his name, was his imprint ever upon thy world?

We are right…by Jessie 1/07

Countries gather, analyzing strategic battle plans
Soldiers at their ready, to follow the command
Families waiting eagerly, in hopes of a reprieve
Where countries settle differences and let each other be
Everyday, tensions rise, to the point of no return
People crossing bridges, which, eventually are burned
We are right and you are wrong…until you are willing to concede
This war, which seems inevitable, by my orders, will proceed
Go home and give your loved one’s, a hug and say good bye
Get all your things in order, in the off chance you will die
Hurry back and mobilize, there is no time to waste
We have to start this war, before the people lose their taste
Years have passed and sons are now, changing out the guard
Finding space in cemeteries, for both sides, has been hard
Tell me…why are we all fighting? And why does it go on?
I can’t remember, doesn’t matter, the point is… they are wrong

I Recall… by Jessie 10/06

Recall the day from whence you came
When endless days were not the same
Take hold and care
Do not let go
For I recall

Black and white and hues of gray
Recount the dullard of the days
Eyes reflect of empty stares
Untouched, remote
As I recall

Both corners of the mouth
Turned, neither north nor south
All affect was lost, cast into the night
Twas but the shadows, which changed the face
As I recall

Turtle days, creeping by
If only I, knew how to cry
Swallow hard
Choke it down
Yes! I recall

Then, sun lit rays seeping in
Stained the room, and cleansed the sins
Melted heart and heightened senses
Colors now abound
As I recall

Tranquil peace, this stranger’s name
Known by more, but all the same
Intervening, locking heads
Saved me from my tortured cell
As I recall

Peace… Jessie 3/05


Standing in an amber field alone with my thoughts

Catching the faintest hint of autumn leaves carried on a southbound breeze

Looking up I feel the warmth of the mid-day’s sun beating down upon my face

I am a wick soaking up every detail of the day

I close my eyes and in my mind I see how things should be

I am no longer me but have become the experience of the moment

I am one of the million stalks of grain swaying in the gentle breeze

I could stand here all day engulfed in the solitude of natures hug

Here I feel welcome; here, there is no need to stand guard

The burden of maintaining the walls of protection can be eased

Here I want of nothing and I offer nothing

Here I am at peace  

Regenerating the mind, body and soul

Happy will be the day I don’t have to leave

Mother Earth…by Jessie 9/05

Long before man walked Mother Earth
Before harmony was in discourse
Before the buffalo herds were thin
Before the land was ***** and before the air was thick with poisons

The spirits made ready a place of fertile ground and of clear water
Creatures were abundant and kept a balance
Everything was living and moving in one direction

Then a vessel carrying evil came to Mother Earth in the form of man
In side this vessel was greed and hate and a desire to consume everything in its path

Like a great fire it spread across the land taking that, which did not belong to it
Leaving behind a scar upon the land and a hole, black and hungry

In the beginning there was an understanding between all the creatures and man …there was trust
Now the smell of man makes all creatures run in fear

One day Mother Earth will take back what is hers, and restore balance once again

Why…by Jessie 8/05

Why do happy things, always make you sad?
Why, no matter how good you are, things turn into bad?
Why when ever you want to picnic, does it always seem to rain?
Why, when you wash your car, it does the very same?
Why, when you plan a trip, everyone gets sick?
Why, when the wind is in your face, you feel the need to spit?
Why, when wearing your new shoes, you step where dogs have s**t?
Why, when you’re in a hurry, people, wont move along?
Why, when you see the Doctor, all the pain has gone?
Why, as soon as you butter your bread, that’s when the bread is dropped?
Why, whenever wearing white, you get a new grease spot?
Why, when you decide to take a nap, that’s when kids will yell?
Why, when you are put on hold, nature always calls?
Why, when skating, looking cool, that’s when you will fall?
Why, when I find the shortest line, it stops, before my turn?
Why, does every loan officer, always look so stern?  
Why, if I am in a crowd, the bird will **** on me
Why, don’t people just say no, instead of we will see?
Why, when I go to the movies, people kick my chair?
Why, is the standard answer, life is never fair?

Do You?... by Jessie 4/05


Do you find distaste as you choke down humanities vile existence?

Do you weep at the worlds discourse with it’s self?

Do you agonize over the future of your existence?

Do you smell the rotting flesh of lie’s gone aerie?

Do you wish upon doomed and darkened stars?

Do you drown your feet in the rivers of tears?

Do you drink from the cup of uncertainty?

Do you sleep on the teetering bed of deception and then dream hellish night mares of things to come?

Do you taunt the reaper with games of hide and seek?

Do you par lea every escape into another until you feel invincible?

Do you like what you’ve become?

The faceless Beast… by Jessie 10/06

Here I stand, face to face
Impervious to your will
No longer do you strike fear
Nor do you hold a captive reign
My ears have closed to your dark whispers
Your looming presents have dwindled over time
I can now look you in the eye and see you true
Your ravenous appetite, craving  
Will continue to hunger
Until it feeds upon its own flesh
In my weakness, you were spawned
In my fear you grew
Now, in my strength
I banish you

Tower …by Jessie 11/05

Busy people run aerie
Build a tower up to the sky
Communication at it’s best

Working hard, accomplish tasks
Do just what the foreman asks
Everything is running smooth

Soon, the foundations laid
Blood, sweat and all have prayed
Another layers up

It’s not long and heavens close
But all the people start to boast
God looks down and frowns

Angry that they build to him
Looking upon it as a sin
He waves his arm and sends it crashing down

Snaps his finger, numbs their tongues
Fathers can’t communicate with sons
Every ones dispersed and quiet confused

Never again will man contrive
To sit right by his makers side
Nor will man understand the other man

Which one was wrong? It’s hard to say
But I’ll tell you this…from that day
Its no wonder, man can’t get along with man

Turn Around…by Jessie 5/06

Turn around; make your way
From the South up to the North
Freedoms there… go get it!
It’s waiting at every port
Turn around; make your way
Through the thickets and the mud
Take the hand of your fellow man
Wipe away his blood
Turn around; he’s coming
The dogs are on your heels
Keep down low; don’t make a sound
Or the master’s whip you’ll feel
Turn around; make your way
Follow the stars above
Travel by night, so you don’t get caught
If freedoms what you love
Turn around; make your way
Some of you will die
The price of freedoms costly
Cheaper to live a lie
Turn around; don’t look back
What you seek, is the other way
Suppress the fear and inclination
To hide your dreams and stay
Turn around; make the run
Time is running out
Masters getting closer
Of that there is no doubt
Turn around; freedom calls
It beckons, sweet the sound
Milk and honey on the other side
Trail north of town

War …by Jessie 6/05
I peered quite deep and far beyond, where any man should look

Into the eyes of tragedy, where fury can be took

What I saw, I can’t explain, there are no words to say

Suffice to say that what I saw, scared me on that day

Men as far as the eye can see, lay empty on the ground

Others running fast and hard, explosions all around

Mechanical devices, found burring in the fire, trying hard to stay alive the soldiers first desire

The smell so bad it chokes the throat, from chemicals and death

Heat so hot, it sears the lungs with every choking breath

Fear, in every eye, tells of what’s to come

Nights of panic for many, death will come to some

Cries poured out into the sky from those that have been hurt

While soldiers blood on each side, fill pools in the dirt

Pictures of their families, crumpled in a pocket near their chest

Memories of what they’ve lost, at their final rest

Some men break, the strains too much, from all that they have seen

Not retreating on the battlefield, only in the brain

Yes, I’ve peered quite deep and far beyond, where any man should look
Into the eyes of tragedy, where fury can be took