To live,
Or not,
that is the question:

Is it better to suffer,
as rail-car buffer,
the hurt and harrows,
slings and arrows,
of life?

Or to stand akimbo,
the soul, closed window,
by swallowing pills
take arms against kills,
emancipation
through medication,
Is that life?
Or death?

To sleep away the heart-ache that flesh is heir to,
to dull with chemicals, and wear one's heart as Hollywood hairdo,
is that a consummation devoutly to be wish'd?

or to feel the whips of time,
the scorns of human grime,
the blood that's shaken from heart receiving fist?

the unnatural pantomime
of *******, predatory crime,
be pounded into dust as worthless grist?

To live the oppressor's wrong,
but yet to hear heaven's song,
to suffer the spurn of love,
but free to scale the worlds above,
To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
experience overwhelm of nerves and strife,
but to feel the needle and face it as a man?

To live,
Or not,
Is that a question?

i hesitate to write
let heart alight
in prance and caper
on blood-soaked paper
squeeze blinded sight
as blobs of night
with ink like mud
scribe life-blood
in skit burlesque
of form grotesque
reveal the hidden
from cell of prison

for pure wine
spirit refined
distilled in heart
through pain and smart
the fruit of mind
from Hades mined,
as minerals rare
as crystalized air,
a c e t i f i e s
'fore human eyes

and poison taints the heavy line
that once in crucible of heart and mind
the hurt and harm from day and year
compressed to diamond crystal tear
in duress constant, heat 'n pressure,
as kernel mauled in wheat corn-thresher
reveals the inner pearl-like sphere
hidden from eye and hidden from ear
now spilt in crave for adulation
for recognition beyond one's station

spilt in scrawl of unnatural saga,
as empty song of Frank Sinatra,
in rigid lines that false betray,
as waves that lie to child at play,
hide the inscrutable, the teeming ocean,
the seething froth of quelched emotion
all to oblige the lust for notice,
as garrulous child, as vivid lotus,
in noisome thirst for recognition
besmirch the purest imagination

where is the true, ingenuous art
the beauty apparent in simplistic heart
without the jazz, the scintillating jive,
the quest to 'have', the unending drive
whose joy is fleeting
as seafarers' greeting
culminates in air
or empty scare,
a ghostly behemoth
of ghastly dedolence
thrives in undergrowth
of curious redolence,
flourishes in hollow
of vacant bellow,
lives in the dark
of empty bark

but yet this world of cause 'n effect,
of light and dark, of sun and reflect,
as sun-drenched wine in oaken cask,
must show its wares in apposite mask,
as gibbous moon to eye discerning
speaks of fire forever burning,
of highs and lows in harmony
of contrapuntal melody,
thus pure must sound as beat on drum
and air give voice to heart that's dumb

sweet soul, tell me your secrets,
let me enter your inner shrine.
what do you crave for if you could reach it?
can i tempt you with bread and wine?

what is your form, if i could see it?
how do you appear in heaven?
your inner essence - can you teach it?
are you neutral or pervading leaven?

I can be purified or debased,
my form depends on the way you face,
your actions and your thoughts and speech
clothe me as a shirt and breech

my cast in heaven can only appear
according to the way you adhere,
so though from place of light am i,
from highest source beyond the sky,
a part of G-d, of divinity,
my form depends 'pon your affinity.

so look at yourself with eyes of steel,
wherein your energy? where your zeal?
according to your constant practice,
is my mien 'fore celestial justice.

I turn away from inner counsel,
bewildered by the truth,
my soul appears 'fore divine council
as rascal, lout, uncouth.

beyond this world of make-believe -
far above this world of sorrow -
where the hearts of grown men grieve
blind to see the hope of morrow

in green plains, in the meadow
where the rivers four do meet
where the sun shines, source of shadow,
drenching yellow fields of wheat

there i met my true beloved
saw him with the eyes that see
saw him bless a world corroded
bless a race that's lost at sea

and there i stumbled 'pon the sighing
'pon the tears that bitter be
salty tears of his crying
flowing to a deep blue sea

there they mingled and embraced
with the tears of the dying,
the faults of man, of souls debased,
souls of men that lost hope trying.

kissed those tears that bitter be,
became as one in bluest sea,
carried those souls in his embrace,
carried those souls to highest place

to the palace of Messiah
soared distillate of pariah
turned from darker than the night
sweetened to the brightest light

as the essence of omnipresent
turned the bitterness evanescent
turned the bitterness opalescent
the shine of sun in moon-like crescent

i saw him once at age of four
he bade me wine to drink galore
and then again at five years old
to scribe my name in figures bold
black upon the outside bench
got spanked for that 'n left a stench
then if my memory serves me right
at age of nine on eraser white
uncomplimentary homage to my teacher
to write he bade whereupon appeacher
swift to headmaster sent me in fury
but too afraid of one-man jury
he bade me fabricate pathetic tale
of his absence when i went to jail

lies and deceit [seemed to] have coloured my years
for now in sweetest memory appears
marking of my own homework
in red paint while I duties shirk.
thus, in twilight as old i grow
i'm frightened of my grey shadow
the falsehood has become my own
part of flesh and part of bone
can i correct this wayward soul
and fly towards the divine goal?
methinks must use mercurial self
warts 'n all, angel and elf,
in ad hoc program to do good deed
and so transform this wayward steed

and comfort take in this small truth
that memory is a no-good sleuth
takes delight in remembering bad
but scarce commemorates good times had
so yes, sweet devil, you've been here,
i've done your bidding since toddler year
but higher angel i've followed you too
galumphing on in ways few knew
G-d alone will weigh the scales
for He sees the whole with all details

the voice He whispers in words unsaid
in the breeze 'pon barley heads
in the air amongst the leaves
there the One, His spirit weaves

in the water, in the forest,
in the glistening fur of fawn,
the shades of green as window florist
in the stillness of the dawn

'speak to me', i hear him whisper
in the voice of unsaid words
in the spirit of the Drifter
'midst the song of singing birds

hidden from all, as riverbed
far beneath the murky water,
where the shy young otters tread,
there He hugs His only daughter

there He whispers words unsaid
as we drift away from shore
hearts abeat as newly wed
as He lets my spirit soar

not upon the concrete structure
nor in the roar of man
the etiquette of modern culture
or governmental plan

nor in the sound of raw cascade
of rocks or shining water
in mountain hills, 'pon forest glade
nor in the lightening slaughter

of lions 'gainst their weaker prey
of men against each other
in steepled church of moral decay
'midst hugs of strangled brother

but in the breath of sweetest child
that whispers to his God
in humility of person mild
that lets himself be trod

in the vapour of the nothing
in your heart upcurled
there the word of God Who's loving
there the base of world

walk, he said, on tiptoe,
make sure your voice unheard,
leave the body far below,
the soul with wings of bird

fly to place untouched
soft, he said, with tenure,
each space with mind enclutch
spirit on soul adventure

meld unto the substance
step by step the climb
head bent in allegiance
in place that's void of time

boom boom boom the djembe goes
a dance, in rhythmic throws,
on bougarabou and ngoma drum,
the frenzied beating thumb

ooooh ooooh ahh the spirit grows
body at soul's behest
twists 'n turns, the birthing throes
soul 'n spirit possessed

bom bom bom, the djembe goes
in prance the rhythm flows
dum patter pat, together we hum,
ashiko and djun-djun drum

bom bom bom, the djembe goes
in trance, cataclysmic pose,
with doumbek and the talking drum
sing spirits in fingers' strum.

bom bom bom goes the djembes
ashiko and ngoma drums
dancing rhythmic on the embers
body to spirit succumbs.

if i saw myself through 'nother's eyes
what would i see?
a bumbling mess behind the lies
or some other entity?

some of us are so concerned
with how the other views us
but the reality of their impression
would utterly confuse us

my advice, at the end of the day,
forget the other person
be yourself as best you may
just be your own best version

'there's none so queer as folks',
me grandma used to say,
'for different folks there's different strokes'
i'd hear from other blokes.

'to make a world takes all types'
said me aunt one day,
that's what i think when i see the stripes
that different folks display

everyone's an individual,
an' everyone's distinct,
and so to each their ritual
stops 'em going extinct

Uncanny world 'tmay seem
but that's its wondrous beauty
to everyone their personal dream
their sense of divine duty.

so fill yourself another drink
'n pour me another shot,
let's celebrate and clink in sync
to the weird strange things we've got.

When fixes don't seem possible
'n problems appear insolvable,
just shine your light as best you can
and you'll see a little miracle

your inner brokenness gets healed
as shadow to sun must yield,
for from within, shines spark of Man
your infinite soul revealed

the hanging rope beckons again
as it sways from ceiling
the empty nothingness of dangling chain
allure most appealing

to and fro oblivion
swings as giant pendulum
its tempting vacant meridian
mocks me with its rhythm

proffers an out from jeer, contempt,
escape from false pretence
escape from moral turpitude
that glistens as a ****.

glistens 'n shines, 'n sickens the mind,
'n turns the innocent blind,
escape that makes the loop enticing
a circle so inviting

step up to me it whispers
feel my tight embrace
forget the world of twisters
let go of cursed chase

stick it together with sellotape
hide the cracks as best you can
as long as it stays in rotund shape
leave the mess for another man

sometimes i yearn to sing with the stars
to be one with Jupiter, Venus 'n Mars
to scale the heavens, make my voice heard,
to soar ever upwards, on feathers of bird,
to join in the song of orange-tipped rays
that shine over Earth at start of new days
to bathe in the light of Eternal's blue gown
and sew for Him words He can wear as a crown

and at once i am there, in the heavens above,
in the waves and the currents of outpour of love,
dancing among stars of burning white fire
circling with angels of purest desire
the existence of self dissolved in the ether
the soul's divine rest with the Earth far beneath her
spirit at rest in the ***** of Source
in loving embrace of benevolent Force
Mind of the Father and Womb of the Mother,
Arms of my Friend, breath of my Lover

there i forget all the pain and the sorrow
the worry, the fear, the concern of the morrow,
i forget to beseech, to implore and to pray
to scream and to shout, to beg and to say
"Make the world better, that man and beast
not prey on each other, on their downfall not feast,
that each live in harmony as sister and brother
with regard and care and concern for the other,
that there be an end to the senseless warfare,
that breeds on pride, that sows despair,"
To plead, "put a kibosh on the metal annihilator,
the blaster, the bomb, the knife of executioner,
that seeds of pure kindness should sprout and proliferate
heal minds of the mindless and hearts of the ingrates."

i forget to pray, to roar "it's enough!
all the death, all the sickness, all the hurt thereof",
for there in heaven there is only love
there's no mention of pain in the heavens above.

"you're not made of glass," he said,
no. glass cannot die. I'm dead.

"you gotta be more joyful," he quipped,
try it when you've been slipper-whipped.

does no-one understand?
is there no-one here?
in this bitter land
does no-one lend an ear?

when you've been crushed and daunted
abused, smeared and taunted
your soul remains haunted
believe me

after pain, sling 'n sting
you forget how to sing
a broken bowstring
cannot stand king

believe me.

i'm broken.

sagacious soul
spirit with goal
longs to ascend and unite

disorientated drunk
beat as salt junk
daylight as dark night

with left-handed shove
and right handed love
I'll mollify corporeal sprite

then as sweet-heart and darling
the dove with the starling
shall consummate heavenly rite

together as one
G-d's favourite son
shall shine the Infinite's light

the world once more
transparent door
to Love that is hidden and bright

more than the sun
at height of its run
transforming all pain and all blight

to peace everlasting
passionate soul's asking
the light of the day in the night

violin strings
taut to the touch
tremble, tremour and break

deepest springs
of holy smudge
turn grey, of form opaque

give us wings
a line to crutch
salve from exhausting ache

a balm from stings
from hurt too much
a limit to chafe we take

soul longs to sing
escape from hutch
to soar the skies as lake

reflecting King's
celestial drudge
the sun in morning's wake

where is the shout, the worldly disgust,
the horror, the uproar, the outrage,
where is that voice that claims that it must
protest against violence and rampage?

where are ye peace-lovers, ye pursuers of love
ye headlines of feigned dismay
ye banners of rainbows, of flying doves
ye marches, protests of foul-play?

machetes and axes in vicious slaughter
slice up three lives in midday
life flows away, blood flows as water
and nary a voice or a bray

Horris:
When I was a lad I started a term
As junior clerk to a consultancy firm
But after four days, could work no more
So when no-one looked, I skipped to the door.

Chorus:
When no-one looked, he skipped to the door.

Horris:
I skipped that day with a step so free
That now I am Head of the Queen's Ministry!

Chorus:
He skipped that day with a step so free
That now he is Head of the Queen's Ministry!

Horris:
Through high connections of my family
I was given the post o' graduate trainee.
I wrote an article inventing a quote
And attributed it in earnest to a historian of note.

Chorus:
He attributed it in earnest to a historian of note.

Horris:
I lied so well, they rewarded me,
That now I am Head of the Queen's Ministry!

Chorus:
He lied so well, they rewarded he,
That now he is the Head of the Queen's Ministry!

Horris:
In being such a *** I made such a name
That a leading writer I soon became;
I wore scuffed collars and a hand-me-down suit
For the pass examination at the Institute.

Chorus:
For the pass examination at the Institute.

Horris:
That pass examination did so well for me,
That now I'm Prime Minister of this country!

Chorus:
That pass examination did so well for he,
That now he is Prime Minister of this country!

Horris:
Of journalism I acquired such a grip
That they took me into the partnership.
I used expletives when i got angry
And was accused of racism 'n bigotry

Chorus:
He was accused of racism 'n bigotry.

Horris:
But that kind of tree so suited me,
That now I am the Head of the Queen's Ministry!

Chorus:
That kind of tree so suited he,
That now he's the Head of the Queen's Ministry!

Horris:
I grew so rich that I was bent
to become a member of Parliament.
I was always schmoozing for my party's call,
And never thought of thinking for myself at all.

Chorus:
He never thought of thinking for himself at all.

Horris:
I thought so little, they rewarded me
By making me Head of the Conservative Party!

Chorus:
He thought so little, they rewarded he
By making him Head of the Conservative Party!

Horris:
Now young and old, whoever you may be,
If you want to rise to the top of the tree,
[If your soul isn't fettered to keeping to the facts,
'N you're prepared to engage in questionable acts,]
If you've got few morals and can always keep your cool.
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule.

Chorus:
Be careful to be guided by this golden rule.

Horris:
Just ride roughshod over all 'n sundry,
And you all may be Heads of the Queen's Tories!

Chorus:
Just ride roughshod over all 'n sundry,
And you all may be Heads of the Queen's Tories!

in the alley, in the dark,
there i heard the canine's bark
there in twilight's shades of grey
felt the fright of unleashed stray

heard his panting as he sped
heard his feet with fear 'n dread
felt his hunger for blood red
as 'lone i stood 'gainst half-bred

as all around world in abeyance
as i became his sole surveyance
as i eyed his hot/cold stare
ocular globes of headlights' glare

and in the days that followed yet
i lost the feel of fear and fret
for in that moment of captured fright
i'd stood on precipice of deathly bite

500 or 504
"an error - we'll fix it asap"
well, i've stopped keeping score
of the ineptness of this app

"Uh oh, we encountered an error
making this page for you.
We've been notified of this terror
and we'll make it up to you"

"we'll wire you $100
for every minute you've wasted
for the anguish and the hollers
and the powerlessness you've tasted."

"we know how awful it is
to loose your work in a second,
the hard work, sweat and tears
when it's all computed 'n reckoned."

"We're sure £10,000 won't go amiss,
we've sent it to your account,
sorry we were disastrously remiss -
we hope you'll accept that amount."

Reality, my friends, can daunt,
so i shall daydream all i want
though i'd sooner be piggybacking a leviathan fish
i may still fantasise and wish!

in the song of robin and blackbird
Creator signs His Name
A name that can be seen and heard
by those who shun acclaim

in the work of scribe and artist
shines the inner being
in the music of drum or harpist
speaks the soul all-seeing

in the works o' nefarious schemer
in darkest destruction 'n death
in the silence that shouts like screamer
in absence of life-giving breath

walks the many-faced serpent schemer
for those with eyes to see
the signature of the anti-redeemer
antithesis of eternity

for every person stamps their name
in the deeds they do
igniting hellish fires 'n flame
or letting G-d shine through

so don't be flummoxed by this world
keep your eyes on your goal
for as cherry, almond, or walnut burled
your acts bespeak your soul

in the song of robin and blackbird
Creator signs His Name
A name that can be seen and heard
by those who shun acclaim

in the work of scribe and artist
shines the inner being
in the music of drum or harpist
speaks the soul all-seeing

in the works o' nefarious schemer
in dark destruction and death
in the silence that shouts like a screamer
in the absence of life-breath

walks the many-faced serpent schemer
for those with eyes to see
the signature of the anti-redeemer
antithesis of eternity

for every person stamps their name
in the deeds they do
igniting hellish fires 'n flame
or letting G-d shine through

so don't be flummoxed by this world
keep your eyes on your goal
for as cherry, almond, or walnut burled
your acts bespeak your soul

they tell a tale 'bout a bottle filling with all the tears
shed from all the pain 'n misery of all the years
all the suffering, all the tortures,
all the plundering from earth-scorchers
all the famine and the fever and the fears

and when that bottle's reached its limit will be the time
when salvation awoken starts its clock to chime
when war and famine end
humanity grief amends
and forgotten will be the ache and gloom of crime

what kind of bottle is it that never fills
regardless of the slain and horde of kills,
regardless of the river
of blood and pain and shiver
unending on the hard earth flows 'n spills?

my dove,
I still remember - the day I found you
your perfume wafting o'er distant waters,
i smelt you from afar,
frankincense, myrrh, myrtle o' young daughters.

beloved,
you came to me from afar.
Time had no meaning, as you held me in your love,
You gazed at me,
your pure eyes calling me dove.
But now you're gone.
And life has lost its meaning.

my dove,
i let you go,
i let you fly over many waters.
i deemed it wiser -- for us both
but my dove, i love you still.
and i'm still here, on the hill.

beloved,
till hoary days i'll remember your voice
though they look at me askance
in simulacrum of life,
they ask me to dance
to tune of flute 'n fife
but i hear not,
for i cannot, save in you, rejoice.

as the waves of the sea
hitting wharf rhythmically
as the suckling of the babe
past midnight hour on astrolabe
is the cooing of the dove
in the silence of alcove

like the call of the cuckoo
as sweet spring breaks forth anew
as the hoot of tawny owl
'midst the canine's nightly howl
is the cooing of the dove
in the silence of alcove

as an angel drawing near
whispering secrets in my ear
as the mysteries of world beyond
juxtaposed to burning pond
is the cooing of my dove
in the silence of alcove

there was fanfare when she came
golden suns whisper'd acclaim
the robin had awoken
and the squirrel from her heim

ladies swirl in pinks and white
leaves unfurl to petals bright
there is music in the air
spring's arrival all declare

tell fingers to write
in compendious form
perchance grant respite
from inner turmoil storm
from nature gregarious
in mind-jail contrarious
through written commune
in time opportune
elucidate my state
perchance reciprocate
perchance to clear
the fog and the fear
perchance exculpate
the guilt o' mind-state
to elicit response
from brain so ensconced
in darkness of mind
state in which i find
the people all around
as i in state confound
a mental funambulism
of paranoia 'n autism
bemused befuddled
black cotton wool not cuddled
all druthers denied
in polyglot mind
in liaison with the devil
unpalatable to one level
thoughts unmanageable
as soft putty malleable
not by monsters in the air
of zoomorphic form to scare
but by monsters in the flesh
catch mind as in a mesh
construe in mental rift
in milieu o' crooks' grift
yet through timeless antidote
with words' rhyme in note
have cleared mind somewhat
from dregs of coffee-***
so onward mettlesome horse
we'll trot together yet
at vanguard o' life's course
till time to pay our debt
till hope for imprimatur
from my true life Protection
in place of light so pure
till time's resurrection.

there's music in the skies
a kaleidoscope of colour
each orchestral player vies
tries to eclipse the other

every note like piccolo calls
rings the air o' castle's turrents
live pink salmon in waterfalls
somersaults 'gainst the currents

there's magic for those with ear
transcendence you can hear
a message, loud and clear
'In the music I am here'.

Yes, it's Seder night again
with bitter herbs 'n chrayne
the munch with a punch
crunch that means so much
link in eternal gold chain

fading memories of father and zeider
reclining in spotless kittels at seder
i've taken their place
must try with broken face
to carry on that everlasting grace

hand over to my children the holy baton
passed on to me from Egypt and Babylon
from the Exodus until now
that sacred wedding vow
the knowledge of a Power to Whom we bow

a Creator of the world Who Rules
With Mercy hears the cries of tools
Who redeemed us and Who brought us
Loved us and Who sought us
And once again shakes up the world with Russ.

They will say He's to deluge returned
as the world 'n all therein is upturned
there's salvation in the air
beneath the pain 'n scare
so together hold my hand and offer prayer

You are the One Who Is and always will be
You give life to all the worlds including me[!]
You redeemed us once before
So hear our knocks on Door
That we may praise your Name 'n evermore

Once more reveal Yourself unto humanity
As the world sinks deeper deeper unto insanity
Say stop to all adversity
An end to lewd perversity
Unveil this world's Paradise for all eternity.

Every drop of blood, of pain and of death,
You can sweeten in a second with Your Breath,
So Holy Grace that Is,
Hear our voice and tears
Let salvation sprout as Your Light appears.

the new year came
darkness in its wake
mars took careful aim
sanity took a break

first plague, then war,
black clouds 'n thunder
we've stopped keeping score
of bodies wrought asunder,

gone is modest shame
conscience limping lame
life is but a game
all to take a claim