I've held hands in mine / That made great art from clay
I've listened to deaf friends talk / Whose hands had much to say

If My hands could tell a story, what would it be?
Would they tell of times, good and bad. How would they judge me?

These hands have held a rock wall / Holding on for my life
The same hands that pulled a trigger / To make it through the fight

The Good Book that my Momma / Brought me up to believe
Says it's Not by works / That any man is made free

They've held my Son, and Daughter / High up toward the heavens
They've lifted up, and they've struck out / Some things aint worth a mention

But 'If these hands could tell a story,'
I wonder if you'd still let me ...

Wrap them 'round your waist at night / Hold your face close to mine
Place yours in mine when we walk / And Not judge me By the Way They Talk ...

[Well, there's scars from being cut open,
burns from knuckle to wrist,
a break from a bar fight,
and fingers that calloused just a bit...

From making noise and trying
to sing and write a few songs.
I guess these hands will tell
half the story after all.]

If these hands could tell a story, what would it be?
Would they tell of times, good and bad, Or would they punish me?

I've traveled through 45 states these past 4 years, I stayed awake most of last night counting them... I started, in some ways not far from bed where I lie now.
But, in many other ways, where I began seems to be millions of miles away.
I've walked many of those miles unafraid.
Some of those roads, I walked near wishing for death.
But along every path, down every road and across every track, I took you... I took you with me in my mind and in my soul, down every river, and along every shore.

I've written before that I felt lost, "adrift" at sea with no land in sight.
And I think, at times, I wanted nothing more... Nothing more than to remain adrift, and to die.
[Alone]
But now, lately I've begun to see and feel something different... A lighthouse, and beyond rocks, solid ground.

It may turn out to be nothing but sand, but it feels too much like "Hope" often.
I AM feeling also, more and more, that "fear" or Tide and Moon, and the cold loneliness of January night sky, so great and Empty... I'm not certain anymore that I could ever truly make the shore.

This, "Us," Me ....Will never turn out, or end on a happy note, (this isn't a movie), and I Am sorry, at last, for something.
... I am sorry that I may've given up at last.
I may never reach a shore.


I close my eyes, and I'm tumbling over and over and over and over, and over again in my Explorer; boxes bouncing, glass breaking, and it doesn't end.
I'm looking at tile floors through a bluish shade passing beneath me down corridor hallways.
We hit doors that open... And I think of you.

I see myself, skinny and sitting on a bed with wheels, wearing a paper night gown.
I want to raise my hand, in protest, or question, I'm not sure.
But half of my scalp, along with the entire right side of my face, slip quickly off and fall to the floor.

[i wake... and i write]

That's all I know to do anymore.
(Wake, and Write).

this is a Tennessee lullaby
from the front porch, to the wide open sky
lining up bottles, and getting ****** tonight

writing my "Tennessee Lullaby"

Headed down the road, no particular place in mind
When I saw an opportunity, to sit down and write
All of the sudden, a feeling came over me
Started missin' you so bad , I could hardly breathe

Flowers were blooming, we both always liked The Spring
I play guitar now, and I try to sing
I hope you know, I'll never forget
All the love you showed me, Oh, how much you've meant

I guess everybody's, got their own way
Of working through loss, so they can feel 'okay'
I've had me a cry, now I'm laughin' through tears
'Cause as long as I live, I know you'll still be here

Well, I guess it's 'bout time, for me to leave this place
Hope you liked the song, "I'm goin' ta be on my way"
Too short of a time we had, before "the part"
Where you left everywhere else,
                                                         save the place In My Heart

Clear as any path can be,
    four years, roaming .
I walk away,
    just leave .
When I find my way back
    you're still there for me .
I walk,  hike,  or stroll,
    no longer am I running . . .

When I think you've shown me all,
    we've finally reached the end,
you teach me more,
    another fork,  another bend .

I now see I am to wander your curves
    more than any lover with words
                        [endlessly] .
farther and farther down
            heart in the clouds
              feet on the ground
                          [free]

A relationship,
that's foundation must always be
unwavering truth and honesty ,
only on such a foundation
can there be cornerstones of trust and faith .
If a foundation is solid , it's corners will not break
And cracks from shifts , can be repaired or replaced . . .

Be it hurtful , scary , or uncertain of change ,
we must always center on these things
(Truth , Honesty , Trust and Faith)

This I say ,
because I realize that things
like people , interests and feelings, change ,
but if our relationship is set on a solid foundation
and we remain honest about the decisions we make . . .
There will stand a Love
stronger than any heartache  .