Herb: Poems

Jul 2019 · 152

Who Will Answer My Call?

Herb Jul 2019

Who Will Answer My Call?

A telephone booth
On a deserted corner
Rings incessantly

Jul 2019 · 120

Untitled

Herb Jul 2019

Untitled

It's the Fourth of July
I stand in my back yard
Night has closed in
Lights blaze across the sky
The concussion
The smell of sulphur
It's quite dazzling

But what really catches my eye
Are the fireflys
As they flash their tiny lights

We humans work so hard to make our presence known
While the World around us simply...
Astounds!

Jun 2019 · 102

The Three Gods of Monotheism

Herb Jun 2019

The Three Gods of Monotheism

In the beginning...
God created the heavens and the earth.

But, who's GOD was he?

The God of Moses?
The God of Paul?
The God of Mohammed?

The God of Some?
The God of Many?
The God of All?

The God of You?
The God of Us?
The God of Them?

The God of Love?
The God of Vengeance?
The God of Tradition?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Who is this God that we all know?
Who whispers in our ear?
But his secrets, will not share
So his plans remain unclear

All we can do is wonder
All we can do is wait
All we can do is hope
That his blessing will be our fate

When the "roll is called up yonder"
Will he invite us to his table?
Will he approve the lives we led
Or find us false... and unable

Does he find it gratifying?
That we try to make him our own
Instead of listening to his creation
To learn all that can be known

Jun 2019 · 115

Wailing Walls

Herb Jun 2019

Wailing Walls

I'm climbing a wall
And scraping my knee
Tearing my clothes
My fingers bleed
The pain of exertion
There's always one more
To scale and to master
An unending chore
Walls made of brick
Concrete and steel
Walls made of people
And wounds that won't heal
I conquer the next
Then see out ahead
Wall after wall
They fill me with dread

Walls keep me out
Walls keep me in
Walls make me stop
And start over again
Walls are so high
Walls are so wide
Blocking my view
Of the other side

Should I go forward?
Should I stop here?
Quit climbing walls
And give in to fear
Or climb just one more?
To see what I find
Show force of will
And resolution of mind

If I climb one more wall
I'll be that much stronger
And perhaps win the hope
To last that much longer

This poem was written long before the Trump Era... back when walls were realistic metaphors... not political agendas.

Jun 2019 · 118

KNOCK, KNOCK

Herb Jun 2019

KNOCK, KNOCK

Someone's knocking at my door
They're calling out to me
But I don't know who they are
Are they friend... or enemy?
Are they here to make me happy?
Are they here to tip my boat?
Are they here to take me captive?
Or just trying to win my vote?

My door is shut, and locked
I've a second to reflect
A second to respond
With courage... or neglect

Yes, there could be danger
If I open up my door
If I open up my soul
To what could be in store

Chances are, it can be good
But life is only chances
I can be hopeful, helpful, and free
Or a person that Death romances

KNOCK, KNOCK

Who's there?
LOVE!
Love who?
Love Whoever Comes To Your Door.

Jun 2019 · 388

Haiku to You #6

Herb Jun 2019

Haiku to You #6

Arrogant peacock
Preen your feathers you proud fowl
You'll be molting soon

He is in a rush
Clear his way, don't interfere
He might fall on you

Windswept heights above
Snowy peaks of grey granite
Majesty erodes

One, Two, Three, Four, Five
Any number will do fine
Because I can't count

Jun 2019 · 124

u-turn

Herb Jun 2019

u-turn

cruising the highway
in a car out of control
gas tank on EMPTY
but the tires still roll
bugs on the windshield
bleary eyes behind the wheel
looking hard for something
to beg, borrow, or steal

what road is this?
where does it go?
i just passed a sign
it read, I DON'T KNOW

it must lead somewhere
is SOMEWHERE a place?
if SOMEWHERE is there
i'll stay in this race

but if all i'm doing
is throwing up dust
perhaps i'll pull over
rethink, and adjust

if i'm just wasting fuel
on a road without end
i could just turn around...
and start over again

Jun 2019 · 101

Ask a Survivor

Herb Jun 2019

Ask a Survivor

How cruel is cruel?
How cruel can Cruel be?
How much can I stand
And still be me?

Thank God I don't know
I hope I don't learn
How it feels to be laughed at
While I wait my turn

My turn on the wheel
My turn in the cell
My turn at starvation
When Earth turns to Hell

It's happened to many
In numbers untold
The blameless and unlucky
The young and the old

I've heard the stories
I've seen the newsreels
The People being trodden
By Power's boot heels

I'll ask one who knows...
One who knows the pain
HOW CAN ONE KEEP GOING?
AND NOT GO INSANE

To live with your scars
And memories that remind
How Justice is forgotten
When Ambition is blind

We cannot restore
The Humanity lost
But one day let's hope
We'll value the cost

Jun 2019 · 167

Soldiering On

Herb Jun 2019

Soldiering On

I'm a soldier for my nation
A patriotic male
I do what I should
Or else I will fail

Fail in the eyes
Of the people I know
Of the people I love
Who caused me to grow
-   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
It once seemed so fine
Kindergarten, first grade
I learned so much
As the path was laid

It's so easy to fall in...
To fall in to friendly places
Where you are accepted
On very a simple basis

"You're a part of our group
You must do as we say
And, work together
So YOU must obey"
-   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
-   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -   -
I heard the orders coming in
Headquarters was calling
Demanding my allegiance
But my confidence was falling

These plans never work out
But people don't stop trying
To be the absolute last person
On this planet...  to be dying

Jun 2019 · 99

No Ifs, No Ands, No even... Maybe

Herb Jun 2019

No Ifs, No Ands, No even... Maybe

You say you love me
And I say the same
Are we being honest?
Or, just playing a game?

We've known each other
For so many years
We've laughed right out loud
And swallowed our tears

Suffered the trials
And reaped their rewards
That common experience
So often affords

We've said, "I Hate You"
Because we were mad
Then wept for the other
Because they were sad

How to explain this?
I still have no clue
But I don't care to live
If it's without you

Jun 2019 · 88

Haiku to You #5

Herb Jun 2019

Haiku to You #5

Devotees of love
Do speak such syrupy words
But their teeth are bad

God, do you love me?
Holding me to your *****
Or, are you laughing?

Please reiterate
Are you speaking to me, Dear?
I forgot to hear

I have one belief
Uniformitarity
As it was, it is

Jun 2019 · 169

Haiku to You #4

Herb Jun 2019

Haiku to You #4

Various beliefs
Spring from a common idea
"I want, what I want"

Life's melodrama
Bittersweet pageant of ours
A sold-out event

All is one, and none
And none plus one must become
More than this concept

Chocolate candies
Wrapped in a silvery foil
Hide unknown fillings

Jun 2019 · 49

Being Human Being (z) ...

Herb Jun 2019

Being Human Being (z) ...

is a difficult experience to process
is a process difficult to experience...

Human beings need certain things in order to exist:
They must have air, water, food, and shelter.
In the quest to obtain these requirements,
other needs arise; such as
relationships with other human beings who will either help,
or impede that struggle to survive.

This is the essence of Being Human Being:
Getting what you need from the world around you.

And to facilitate this,
day to day,
moment to moment,
pursuit of human needs...
words were invented.

It has been said - If you put one hundred monkeys in a room with one hundred typewriters, eventually they will write the book
"War and Peace".
Who knows how long this would take?
I wonder:  would it take any longer than the period of time
that Humans have been playing around with words.
_   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _   _

Words are a uniquely human tool.
They are as flexible, and adaptable
as Humans are themselves.
They can be spoken, written, and even acted out.
Words can look identical,
yet have totally different meanings.
Or, they can look totally different,
and have the same meaning.
Words can even change over time,
like an infant growing into old age.

But, the wonderful truth is, as Humans,
we can decide on the meaning of words.
When we try, we can agree on what words mean,
and perhaps, learn to understand
and accept each other through these words.

Suppose all the letters,
in all the alphabets,
in all the languages,
in all the world,
were etched on to individual tiles:
then placed in a large basket...
the basket taken up...
it's contents thrown across the floor...
and all these shapes and forms
were lined up in random order:

Humans are clever enough to take these disparate symbols and create a sense of order out of that chaos.
We have the ability to decide, and agree,
what this new alphabet would mean,
and how to use it...

Yes, we could...  if only we would.

May 2019 · 102

Ode to a Pet and Gale Ann's Broken Heart

Herb May 2019

Ode to a Pet and Gale Ann's Broken Heart

God was out walking the Earth one day
To see how his subjects were doing
He wondered if anyone needed his help
Or if there was trouble brewing

He saw all the things he expected to see
They ran the gamut from good to bad
But all in all, things were as he would have it
Til he met an old friend who was sad

God said, "Hey Taz, what's got you down?"
Taz looked up with his soulful eyes
He said, "God, you know I've lived a long life
Now I ponder my coming demise"

"Shame on you Taz, you've no reason to complain
Life for you has been better than great"
Taz said, "It's not for me that I worry and fret
But my poor Gale Ann's heart that will break"

"Yes, you are right. What of our Gale Ann?"
God mused as he tugged at his beard
"Because you have always been her beloved
Who she nurtured, protected, and reared"

"How can we tell her one day you'll be gone
Though in her mind, she knows it will be"
"Perhaps", said Taz, "you could just let me live
By her side for eternity"

"Of course, that won't do", God lovingly chided
Stroking Taz on his velvet ears
"For no matter how much someone is loved
They're allotted only so many years"

"You've lived a blest life. You've made me so proud
As my student you've proved quite apt
When you have passed that will not be the end
For you will sit on my throne in my lap"

"Gale Ann's a brave girl. She'll survive your departure
Her memories of you will not die
Then somewhere in time, you will be reunited
And once again... in her lap, you will lie"

May 2019 · 47

To Hold On Forever, Or Just Let Go?

Herb May 2019

To Hold On Forever, Or Just Let Go?

How dare you treat me so!
What did I do to you?
Did I really cause you harm?
Or did you misconstrue?
Do you think that I did something
Out of meanness or for spite
For some reason I won't admit to
Now you think you have a right

A right to cause me pain
A right to slap my face
But now the die is cast
I must put you in your place
And so I must react
To win the upper hand
To show I have the power
To make you understand

I don't think that I'm at fault
But now, I think you are
And revenge is, oh, so sweet
Though it often goes too far
As the days go by, one's blood heats up
Hurt feelings become a crusade
The battle lines surge back and forth
Yet progress is never made

But there is another method
To deal with this stalemate
And free the soul from torture
From jealousy, envy, and hate
Simply... You must give in
I know... That's not how we live
It's so easy to fight the enemy
It's much harder to forgive

To let bygones be bygone
To behave as if nothing occurred
When you know, in your mind, that it did
And your safety can not be assured
But let's think of this in the long run
What will save you worry and strife?
Fighting a fight that you can't win
Or getting along with your life

May 2019 · 44

TRAVEL TIP* TO THE WORLD WEARY..........(getting to Heaven is Hell)*

Herb May 2019

TRAVEL TIP* TO THE WORLD WEARY..........(getting to Heaven is Hell)*

I'm planning a trip to Heaven
Where mansions are made of gold
A place where you're never hungry
Never too hot, or too cold
I've been so many places
I've experienced everything
Played polo with the nobles
Swept the stables of a king

Was on the floor of Grand Canyon
And at the top of the Eiffel Tower
Hurricane Camille blew me over
I was ****** by a meteor shower
Stormed Omaha Beach on D-Day
Was at the siege of Stalingrad
Saw my friends dying in the trenches
Buried my wife, my mother, and dad

Gleaned scraps in a Mexican dump
To feed my sister and brother
We lived on the streets of the city
The night sky our only cover
I've walked the road to Jericho
Was robbed, and left for dead
Spent twenty-five years in prison
For stealing a loaf of bread

Made a million bucks on Wall Street
Then lost it in Las Vegas
Was marooned on a south sea island
Where leprosy was contagious
Saw mud slides and hydrogen bombs
Earthquakes and tidal waves
Homicidal dictators
Was a hero, and a slave

My body aches, I'm so tired
Road dust cakes my feet
Is there no rest for the weary?
A haven in which to retreat?
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I'm planning a trip to Heaven
I'll bid you a fond farewell
It's my final destination
After traveling years in Hell

May 2019 · 65

Haiku To You #3

Herb May 2019

Haiku To You #3

Such temerity
Such bluster and vain glory
Would you please shut-up

Oh, to contemplate
To muse, to think, to fathom
To waste some more time

Trumpet of Heaven
Robust melody of God
But I am tone deaf

Circling vulture
Winged talons speeding downward
I should go inside

May 2019 · 71

Haiku To You #2

Herb May 2019

Haiku To You #2

The beginning starts
The ending not far behind
How do I catch up?

Omnipresent love
Flows Beloved, under you
Making your feet damp

Seeing through the haze
How does one find the way home?
Do I? Do I not?

The telephone rings
Beckoning me to action
Oh well, wrong number

#haiku

May 2019 · 144

Being Human Being (a)...

Herb May 2019

Being Human Being (a)...

is an experience of a lifetime;
is a lifetime of experience...

An experience so full of feeling and sensation
that we become detached from the reality outside our being.
The reality, that every human being
is going through the same experience.
The fact, that each of us is unique,
like a grain of sand is separate
from all the other grains of sand on the beach.

We are individual grains of sand biding our time along the shore,
until the force of the ocean comes to bear.
But the ceaseless waves do not recognize single grains of sand.
A wave sees only the beach.
A beach, where the wave can do nothing but crash,
and boil, and foam... and retreat once more.

Some grains of sand will be washed out to sea.
Others will be pushed further up the shore.
Some will remain where they were.
This may appear totally random,
but there are variables... laws of nature,
which determine the direction of each grain of sand.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Each life is like a poem;
a group of individual words put together
in an effort to create an idea which makes sense.
The poem may be short, or long.
It may be happy, or sad.
It may be meaningful,
or appear to have no meaning.
It may rhyme, or not.
It may be solemn, thoughtful, and sincere...
or simply ridiculous.

Each of us are poets;
searching for that next word to follow the last...
Searching for that next word that will fit into place,
and make being human being worthwhile.

Yes, each of us are poets;
using the same words...
only, putting them together differently.

May 2019 · 694

The Downfall of Humpty Dumpty

Herb May 2019

The Downfall of Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
He drank too much whisky
And drank too much beer
So it finally caught up and he passed out I fear

Humpty Dumpty died when he fell
Humpty Dumpty broke his eggshell
His egg white poured out
And so did his yolk
The townspeople cried as they watched Humpty croak

Humpty Dumpty led a good life
Humpty Dumpty had a shrewd wife
When she heard the news
She called for the law
She wanted his goods, and she wanted them all

Humpty Dumpty became quite rich
Humpty Dumpty carved his own niche
He made wise decisions
His portfolio was fat
He made lots of money by inventing the hat

Humpty Dumpty had a good name
Humpty Dumpty never lacked fame
He had a big house
With servants and varlets
He'd hang out in Vegas with Hollywood starlets

BUT....

Humpty had a shameful condition
He put himself in that position
He frequented people
With questionable talents
And contracted a disease which effected his balance

NOW....

Humpty Dumpty lies in his grave
Humpty Dumpty can no longer shave
He's drawn his last breath
It's the end of the show
And his wife has run off with a young tennis pro

May 2019 · 201

Haiku To You #1

Herb May 2019

Haiku To You #1

Colorful prism
Reflect a spectral rainbow
Conquer Black and White

Inconsequentials
Are needed for full meaning
Consequentially

Inscrutable path
Plunging into the dark depths
Have you a flashlight?

Inverted turtles
Are like bowls of fresh meat stew
Care for the first bowl?

#haiku

May 2019 · 64

Not Titled

Herb May 2019

Not Titled

i'm an Alcoholic
so tell me, what's you're Poison?
Power... Money... ***
what do you keep your toys in?

cheating on your Taxes?
cheating on your Wife?
cheating on your Husband?
trying to cheat Life?

allowing your own Obsession
to dictate it's own Demand
and make you the person, (you wouldn't be)
if the World would understand

collecting dolls, books, or stamps
holding the highest score
being This, That, or the Other
never thinking that there's more

never thinking...  because it's Painful
never thinking...  in a Real Sense
never speaking...  as your mind Thinks
cutting through...  all that Pretense
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

you curb your tongue
while trying to be distinct...
it's that ***** in your Armor
that makes it go Clink

May 2019 · 72

The Queen of Queasy Cuisine

Herb May 2019

The Queen of Queasy Cuisine

"Hey, Honey,
what's for lunch?"

Pickled eggs
and Hawaiian Punch
stewed prunes
with lima bean gravy
potato chips
the kind that are wavy
for dessert
chocolate pudding powder
mixed and boiled
in New England clam chowder

"But I've been good,
I deserve a treat."

Then go out front
and chew some tar off the street
then when you're through
get a bucket of dirt
wrap it up tight
in an old sweaty shirt
i'll throw it in the oven
turn the oven on broil
and to wash it down
some iced castor oil

"But if you remember,
we had that yesterday."

Those are the breaks
what can i say?

we could have steak
marinated in swill
saute'ed in hemlock
then burned on the grill
on the side, baby peas
in fresh curdled milk
eat all you want
they'll go down like silk

"My stomach feels seasick.
It's going loopty-loop.
Why not fix something easy,
like a can of Campbell's Soup."

This poem is dedicated to you... and you know who you are.

May 2019 · 69

ode to my nightinGale

Herb May 2019

ode to my nightinGale

once i passed
once i stopped
once i wrote this too
and once i placed this on your car
'cause once i thought of you

May 2019 · 71

On Mother's Day (and every day)

Herb May 2019

On Mother's Day (and every day)

Young woman
What will you be?
As you look down the years
What do you see?
So many options
What will you have?
Can you see now
A likely path?

Perhaps, be a doctor
And help the people
Perhaps, play the *****
In a house with a steeple
Perhaps, be an actor
And perform on stage
Or design clothing
That becomes all the rage

It's all up to you
Your choice to make
Please choose wisely
For your own sake
Because it's your life
You owe no one else
You're free to make plans
That include just yourself
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Yes, you are right
I must choose
Between what's important
And what I can lose
But, all I know
Of this life I am building
The utmost will be
Loving my children"

May 2019 · 62

Waterfall of Love

Herb May 2019

Waterfall of Love

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
my wife loves me ~~~~~~~~
  she loves another guy too ~~
    she loves me as a friend   ~~~~~~
      but to the other guy she's true ~~
        i guess it's just physical            ~~~
          should i complain?                  ~~~~
            relationships are strange      ~~~~~
               hard to explain                    ~~~~~~
                 should i call him out?       ~~~~~~~~~~~~
                    HEY MAN, I'LL KICK YOUR ***!!! ~~
                      or just sit and wait                              ~~~
                        and let the whole thing pass           ~~~~
                        but pass into what?                          ~~~~~
                       a pool of cool, blue bliss                   ~~~~~~
                      and i become a man                           ~~~~~~~
                     she no longer cares to kiss                 ~~~~~~~~
                    i simply must do something              ~~~~~~~~~
                   swim against this stream                    ~~~~~~~~~~
                  i'll do whatever it takes                        ~~~~~~~~~~~
                 no matter how extreme                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~
                i need that girl to love me                      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
               without her i'll go under                         ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
              be swept over the edge                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
             into the roaring thunder                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

May 2019 · 136

Who's Pulling the Strings?

Herb May 2019

Who's Pulling the Strings?

Living a life
Of quiet desperation
Roused from sleep
In a cold perspiration
Laying back down
Hoping to dream
Awoken by nightmares
And your own scream

Turn on the light
Check under the bed
Search for the monster
That fills you with dread
Where is it hiding?
Will it attack?
Will you see it coming?
Will it come at your back?

Forget about sleep
Just wait for the Sun
Things will look different
When the new day's begun
You'll see out ahead
You'll know up from down
Safe in the light
With your feet on the ground

Then, once again
Patiently wait
For signs to develop
That show your fate
_ _ _ _ _ _

Silly Marionette!
Your life is too full
Of moments awaiting
The PuppetMaster's pull

May 2019 · 77

War Between the Sexes

Herb May 2019

War Between the Sexes

Men and Women are different
As different as they are the same
They each have disparate methods
Of waging their violent game
Like all wars through the ages
When your opponent gives up, you win
But the War of the Sexes is different
It's a war that will never end

We meet on the field of battle
We face off, eye to eye
Our bodies grow tense and rigid
We're willing to give all, or die
In a passion we rush at each other
We become a tangle of flesh
We roll round and round in a frenzy
One on one, in our fury, we mesh

The ebb and flow of our struggle
First goes this way, and then that
The push, the pull, the exertion
Of the ultimate human combat

I stab you with my weapon
But you grab it, and hold it tight
I stab you again, and again, and again
But I can't overcome your might
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

At last we finally fight to a draw
We fall on our backs in a sweat
We may not remember this battle
But the war we will never forget

Now I want to disarm and retreat
You want to discuss terms of peace
The ins, the outs, the everything
Your quest for detail doesn't cease
You want to talk heart to heart
But my attention is wearing thin
And when I roll over and start to snore
A new phase of war will begin

Apr 2019 · 564

The Postal Worker Cometh

Herb Apr 2019

The Postal Worker Cometh

TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          my fuse, it slowly sizzles
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          i can only hope, it fizzles
TICK,   TICK,   TICK           but the moments, pass away
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          just like, yesterday
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          my mainspring is wound too tight
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          relief is not in sight
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          i feel my emotions, grating
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          my senses, not operating
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          is this any way to live?
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          i've nothing left to give
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          i tip-toe along on a tightrope
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          hanging on with a grim hope
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          there's no one to catch my fall
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          and no one to hear my call
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          a voice in my head is speaking
TICK,   TICK,   TICK,          i pray i don't do what i'm thinking

Kids... Don't try this at home... Also, don't call Homeland Security... This is a poem, I repeat, This Is Only A Poem.

Apr 2019 · 74

Chicken or the Egg

Herb Apr 2019

Chicken or the Egg

In times long ago
When the Earth was still new
And the seas had not formed
And the sky was not blue
And the bird did not sing
And the worm did not slither
And there were no plants
To bloom, grow, and wither

Life was raw as rock
If there was life at all
For how could there be life
On that huge, hot, smoking ball
Yes, how could there be life?
Without a mind to think
To put things in perspective
And rise above the stink

Somehow life did evolve
It grew, and changed anew
Into a vast menagerie
That swam, and ran, and flew
Could this happen without some planning?
This haunts me like a plague
Was life created, or spontaneous?
Which came first...
The Chicken or the Egg?

Apr 2019 · 108

Eighty... and counting

Herb Apr 2019

Eighty... and counting

If I were eighty
I'd slit my throat
Or take a long voyage
In a leaky boat
I'd climb the highest mountain
And then jump off
I'd be so desperate
I'd take up golf

I'd go to the Galapagos
Those prehistoric isles
Where the past lives on
And the lizard smiles
Or to the Yucatan
With it's ancient race
The glory may be gone
But they left a trace

I'd take every chance
I'd drive at night
I'd speak my mind
And dare you to fight
For I've nothing to lose
How long can one live?
I've given what I can
Though I have more to give

I still have more left
Of what I was given
"Stand out of my way,
'Cause I'm not through living"

Written for my Dad on his eightieth birthday, eleven years before he died. He lived a life of which I am both proud and envious.

Apr 2019 · 177

Past, Present, Future

Herb Apr 2019

Past, Present, Future

i was my Past
i am my Present
i will be my Future

i can See what was
i can Feel what is
i can Imagine what will be

other than these things
i Know nothing...
and i Care not

so let the Days come
and the Nights go
bringing me closer
to what i will Find
in the moment of Tomorrow,
and Time to touch what is Now.

Apr 2019 · 76

Building a Better World

Herb Apr 2019

Building a Better World

I've got a trillion tons of clay
To mold and shape in my own way
I'm going to build a thing of worth
I'm going to build a better Earth
A world where troubles don't abide
Where human rights are not denied
Where all the races live as one
Where peace can never be undone

I did it before, and I'll do it again
Set things in place, and let it begin
Once in a while... a guiding touch
Creating change doesn't take that much
'Cause change is what that planet needs
I'll tend the soil and sow the seeds
I'll give that world a second chance
To rise above it's decadence

(7 days and 4.3 billion years later)

What went wrong? Earth is the same.
What it was once, it again became
I gave Man rivers, sparkling and pure
But now, they smell like an open sewer
My beautiful sky; so lovely and blue
Is now a smoky, acidic brew
I gave Man a mind to out-think his greed
But, he used it to win, not to succeed

A better world from a perfect plan...

Yet, I should have built a better Man

Apr 2019 · 539

Never Speak Ill of the Dead

Herb Apr 2019

Never Speak Ill of the Dead

Vampires are a cranky lot
Refuse to die when they are shot
Will drink blood... when it's hot
You reflect...  they do not

They give you reasons to despise
They are evil in your eyes
They will only tell you lies
They enjoy when someone dies

Oh, so human, but not quite
To the world they are a blight
You are frightened by their might
They are darkness...  you are light

But they are people just like you
Tho, with different points of view
Still, they have their rights too
Their own agendas to pursue

So you best be circumspect
Give a Vampire due respect
And in your case he may elect
To praise your soul and intellect

Treat a Vampire with some class
And good will you shall amass
Or things may turn around, alas
To come and bite you in the a...  neck

#prejudice

Apr 2019 · 125

To Live Perchance To Dream

Herb Apr 2019

To Live Perchance To Dream

Have you ever had a dream?
Of how your life will be
Where your path will lead
And all that you will see

You'll have the perfect job
And have the perfect spouse
You'll raise your perfect kids
In your "Homes and Gardens" house

But it's rare that dreams work out
Just as you had them planned
You'll find they have to change
For life is shifting sand

You have to adjust your dream
To make it fit the facts
Of all those unexpected
Twists, turns, and setbacks

Then further down the road
Your dream looks like a fake
But, if one is to dream
They eventually must wake
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Don't feel your dream is lost
And you life, you can't redeem
I think that you are lucky...

Because I've never had a dream

This poem is dedicated to Me, Myself, and Herb... ...Okay, I plagiarized again... I stole a line from Mr. Shakespeare and changed one word... or, allow me to say... "Perchanged" one word.

Apr 2019 · 221

The Look of Love

Herb Apr 2019

The Look of Love

I recall when we first met
Lord, you were looking good
Your hair was fixed just right
You looked like a woman who could...
There was a spark between us
We started the dating game
But, that was years ago
Now you just don't look the same

Your belly was flat and firm
The curve of your waist sublime
I counted the hours and minutes
Until we could spend some time...
Spend some time together
In a lust that knew no shame
But, that was years ago
Now you just don't look the same

I remember those things we did
I remember that night in the park
No one could see you but me
And I took you in the dark...
We wrestled in the heat
Your breath fanned my flame
But, that was years ago
Now you just don't look the same
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
So many things have happened
The children... our financial woes
Pain, and grief... the passing of years
It all adds up... and shows

Do I really want to go back?
To that time I can't reclaim
Because, when I look in your eyes
Honey, you look the same

It just occurred to me that I'm a plagiarist. I stole the title of this poem from Burt Bacharach, who wrote a song by the same title... a song I absorbed in my youth... ...The poem is basically from my experience, but the feeling is encapsulated in Mr. Bacharach's lyrics... ...But isn't every poem an act of plagiaism... the retelling of a story which has already been told... ...Allow me to refer you to Bacharach's "The Look of Love" performed by Dionne Warwick.

Apr 2019 · 378

Left/Right Black/White

Herb Apr 2019

Left/Right Black/White

Step to the right. You'll see the
                                                              light. Come join the people who
                                                              fight the good fight.
Step to the left. Don't be bereft, of
the power to put injustice to
death.
                                                               Follow our lead. It is agreed. If
                                                               you toe the line, you will
                                                               succeed.
Don't go along. Don't follow the
throng. The list of their failures
is varied and long.
                                                                An eye for an eye. If you ****
                                                                you should die. The rule of law
                                                                you must not defy.
Killing is killing. We must be
willing, to put a stop to the
blood we are spilling.
                                                                 Stay the course. That historical
                                                                 force. Ourselves from tradition
                                                                 we must not divorce.
Broaden your view. Try something
new. Become a part of the new world
that's due.
                                                                  Progress is good. It promotes
                                                                  brotherhood. If it can be done
                                                                  it's ordained that we should.
We must conserve. Our resources
preserve. Or ruin this world and
get what we deserve.
                                                                  God is with us. In him we
                                                                  trust. He in his wisdom has
                                                                  made our cause just.
We have the choice. We are one
voice. In our dedication the world
will rejoice.

                           _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _  _

                                     Is there no middle ground?
                                      A consensus to be found?
                      Or do we keep going around and around?
                                                 Up and down
                                                Back and forth
                          A continual state of south versus north?

This poem was written circa 1999. Sorry, I can't get that first line to move right.

Apr 2019 · 76

Ruler of the Empire

Herb Apr 2019

Ruler of the Empire

I am the ruler of the empire
A mighty, powerful entity
I take the measure of all things
And all the problems sent to me

Nothing's too large or too small
Nothing can I not comprehend
My logic is so clear and concise
My method I need not defend

I am the standard for one and all
Everyone must bow to me
The sensibility of my reign
Is plain for all to see

Try living without my certitude
And you'll find why I'm so strong
I govern the fabric of your life...

Tho, I'm only twelve inches long

Apr 2019 · 83

Sad Clown

Herb Apr 2019

Sad Clown

See that clown
In the big baggy suit
He's holding up folks
And taking their loot

He doesn't need jewels
Credit cards or money
He just wants them to know
That life isn't funny

Should they resist him
(A recourse unwise)
He makes them look deep
Into his eyes

They see the pain
A clown must endure
Of greasepaint and work
From a lifetime on tour

And then they think
"At least I'm not he
With a permanent smile
For all to see"

To smile through the pain
Of broken-hearted grief
To smile even though
You'll find no relief
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

So accede to his demand
It will only hurt a while
Take solace in the fact
You can choose to cry, or smile

Apr 2019 · 174

i am you, you are me, and together we are we

Herb Apr 2019

i am you, you are me, and together we are we

my tears taste like yours
we try not to go mad
we laugh and smile
over good times we've had
your bone breaks
while my bone mends
sometimes we unravel
then tie up the ends
we breathe the same air
trod the same earth
trying so hard
to maintain our self-worth
the sun bakes our skin
ice makes us cold
we study the mountain
to find a foothold

how are you different?
how am i the same?
we may play different rules
but it's the same game

Apr 2019 · 160

A Sign of the Times?

Herb Apr 2019

A Sign of the Times?

Notre-Dame is burning

Oh, My God!

Apr 2019 · 73

Monochromatic Rainbow

Herb Apr 2019

Monochromatic Rainbow

Rain streams down my roof
Dripping from the eaves
Outside is raw and wet
I have no wish to leave
My house is comfortable
My blanket, dry and snug
The fire is bright and warm
Like a loved one's hug

Why would I venture out?
Into the dim unknown
The mud would **** me under
In fields where pain is sown
Dark clouds clog the sky
Wind chills me to the bone
Trees bend down and weep
Outside my pleasant home

I wandered on such a day
With errands to perform
Tasks to be completed
I was swallowed by the storm

My overcoat was soaked
My hands were numbed with cold
I went home sick and ailing
Feeling broken, weak, and old

Can I dare face that again?
The harsh possibility
Of a world so bleak and cruel
Such indifferent hostility
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

But, looking out my window
On the horizon, far away
An arch has spanned the heavens
In varying tones of gray

A Monochromatic Rainbow
No yellow, no red, no green
It has no normal colors
So how can it be seen?
There has to be a light source
To etch it's steely line
So, I know, above the clouds
The Sun does truly shine

Apr 2019 · 106

We're out in space some place

Herb Apr 2019

We're out in space some place

Another day, and here we are
Spinning 'round, our tiny star
We travel near, we travel far
Never knowing, where we are
Never knowing, what comes next
It's rarely what, someone expects
Life filled with cause, and effects
Try to avoid, having wrecks

Try to avoid, hurt and pain
Seeking shelter, from the rain
To wish we could, explain
The difference between, mad and sane
The difference between, right and wrong
What is noise, and what is song
How can we manage, to get along
To be ourselves, within the throng

To be ourselves, not just another
Not be the ship, but be the rudder
Believe the words, that we utter
To face our fear, and not shutter
To face the now... future and past
Make the most, of the lot we are cast
Keep what we love, and hold it fast
As if this moment, will never last

As if this moment, will never last

Apr 2019 · 126

Big planet / small World

Herb Apr 2019

Big planet / small World

I'm just a small man
On a seemingly large planet
Inside of an unimaginably
Huge universe

But, essentially
We are near only to ourselves
And so we appear to ourselves
As larger than reality would dictate

Apr 2019 · 371

dis ORIENTing EXPRESSions

Herb Apr 2019

dis ORIENTing EXPRESSions

The train rocks back and forth
Rolling down the track
Rolling toward the future
click-clack, click-clack, click-clack

People sit by windows
People walk the aisles
They pass the time by talking
With their social smiles

The conductor is checking tickets
With a supercilious air
Wishing his patrons "Good day"
Though he really doesn't care
He's seen them all before
Wearing different faces
He simply does his job
As they go different places

A man stares at his paper
His wife; her magazine cover
Searching for news of the world
Yet they don't even know each other
He looks at her for no reason
Flashing a quizzical grin
She studies his face for a moment
Then turns away again

A couple in the dining car
They've been in love for years
They've worked so hard together
Mastering their fears
She's just been diagnosed
She has not long to go
"I'll get better", she tells him
Bravely smiling, he says, "I know"

A man stands at the bar
Begging for attention
A woman takes the bait
To sample his intention
"I've waited my life for a girl like you,
To love until I die"
Another girl enters the club car
And he slyly winks his eye

The train heads for a tunnel
To trap us in the black
A nervous smile is on your face
As you brace for a panic attack
"Will you be okay... can I help?
I know you find the dark frightening"
"I'll be fine. It's no worry"
But your grip on my hand is tightening
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
We speak so many languages
Some verbal; some unheard
With such a wide range of meaning
From logical, to absurd
There is no railway timetable
To explain our destination
All we can do is get on the train
And hope to get off at the right station

Apr 2019 · 95

The Hardest Thing In Life

Herb Apr 2019

The Hardest Thing In Life

I will not change
I simply refuse
That goes for my diet
My vices, and views
It's taken me years
To become who I am
I'll not change now
No sir, by ****!
I like being me
I am accustomed
To beliefs I've developed
I prefer to trust them
You change if you like
If you've got problems
If you're being chased
By your demons and goblins
Don't expect me to change!
You've got no right!
I'll fuss and I'll fume
I'll put up a fight
You say I'll improve
If I make a change
But your ideas are stupid
To me they sound strange
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You nagged and you nagged
You wouldn't give up
I finally gave in
Just so you'd shut-up
I hope that you're happy
I took your advise
I made a few changes
They've altered my life
My life is now better
From the ideas you brought
Change ain't so bad
Hmm...
Who would have thought?

Apr 2019 · 573

Toffeetown on Parade

Herb Apr 2019

Toffeetown on Parade

Chocolate covered trumpets
Played by Cotton Candy boys
And clarinets dipped in caramel
Make a sweet and sticky noise

There's a parade today in Toffeetown
Praline Street has been cleared
The Bubble Gum Band marches past
As the Root Beer Float draws near

Here is the Candy Apple Cadillac
The Grand Marshall in the back seat
He's waving and throwing out peppermints
Which land at the onlookers feet

The weather could not be more yummy
Warmed by a Creamsicle Sun
Praise God, the clouds are not raining
Or the Queen's Taffy Taffeta would run

And look! It's the Toffeetown Pep Squad
So funny as they dance, prance, and sing
Performing fantastic maneuvers
On a Cream Pie Trampoline

And now the festivities are ending
The street littered with gum drops and cake
The Jelly Jam Janitor starts sweeping
He'll throw the leftovers in Marzipan Lake

But a great time was had by all
Parades are a lovely invention
Now Toffeetown must prepare
For next week's Dental Convention

Apr 2019 · 331

but can it be done?

Herb Apr 2019

but can it be done?

so many WARS
so many dead
so many documents
so much unsaid

what can we say?
what WORDS are there?
to explain what has happened
do we really care?

or is it just us?
the HISTORY we bore
the lives that we lead
that take us to war

it's me against you
us against them
turned in on each other
what's there to WIN?

this scrap of land?
that badge of PRIDE?
the need of revenge
for what was denied?

whatever we've done
we have to do more
to learn from MISTAKES
and then close the door

but talk is cheap
and life, not so dear
as to keep us from acting
out of DISTRUST and FEAR

#human #frailty

Apr 2019 · 167

Jigsaw Puzzle Moon

Herb Apr 2019

Jigsaw Puzzle Moon

You said that you would love me
As long as the pale moon did shine
As long as the stars filled the heavens
You said you would always be mine
As long as now and forever
Your love would always be true
As the sun would rise each morning
Your love would always be new

Your love burned like a fire
It burned me to a cinder
Capturing my soul
I could do nothing but surrender

You said I would complete you
As the moments complete the day
As the seasons complete the year
You said you would always stay
As a river constantly moving
Our love would flow to the sea
As unchanging as the mountains
You would love me faithfully

But your love died like a flame
And you left me here to drown
Your "forever" is no more

And the Moon lies in pieces on the ground

Apr 2019 · 54

Who are we to we?

Herb Apr 2019

Who are we to we?

I looked into your face
It seemed like any other
There was nothing new to see
Nothing to discover

I looked into your hand
It seemed to pose no threat
No weapon did you hold
I felt safe... but, yet

I looked into your eyes
So sure, and yet so wary
I felt your confidence
Was only temporary

I looked into your heart
I saw your hopes and dreams
Your plans to carry out
Your wishes and your schemes

I looked into your soul
That swirling cosmic chasm
Where only you can see
Your personal phantasm

I looked into your past
And saw a life like mine
Days building into years
Of syncopated rhyme
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Who am I to you?
Who are you to me?
And why can we not cross
This human boundary?