We went past sunset
Headlong into the darkness
Straight to the sunrise

flash to roaring flame
spark to lightning bolt storm
You to my burning desire

heads tempest swirling
feet lost on even ground
eyes firmly on you

counting all seconds
sixty minutes, hours too
in waiting for you
tripping over all pauses
between ticks, when time does stop

hiking above the alpine tree line
misty mountain cloud tops seem like floors
raindrops there don't fall they hover

suspended in time
for just a single moment
before plummeting

descending back down amongst the masses
stopping to recapture that halted moment
only to hear the hum of diesel engines

It was just like this
Early evening, sun soaked, chaos
When order was restored in your gaze
It was just like that
Early morning, kiss drunk, bliss
When dawn came and went in your arms
Been that way ever since, just like this

blue crystal clear lakes
mountain tops covered pine green
alaskan day hike
all at ten clock at night
paths still lit in bright sun light

Burgers grilled dockside
charcoal dense smoke caught in the canopy
perfectly salted air for taste

seeing waves crashing
disappearing in the sand
fine mist escaping
rising into dry white clouds
then four o'clock thunder claps

I heard that stick snap
it didn’t pop on it’s own
They should be back soon

bearskin rug
hot fireside romance
fur ronde'

I hear you, crazy black crow
Chuckling at my misery here below
Crazy black crow, I don’t fear you
this you must know

carny wheel spins slower now
from above, her eyes, always closer
as he pays two fairs for one, to ride again

You so easily drink the pain
forever basking in it's shade
no hope of light to be gained
Always this dark  masquerade
Gloom misery your closest friends

hope you shred that black shroud
I did, the sunshines bright out

It hurts to see you
Staring at your reflection
Not seeing that smile

cascades
emotional mountains
flowing down

Catching on the wind
scents, hints of dogwoods blooming
recollecting youthful
adventures in backseat love
On backwood roads, back in time

majestic mountain
standing defiantly tall
as worlds slowly fall

uncle sams funning
his humor often lingered
pulling  his finger

Crimson orange curls swirl
Cinnamon sprinkles sun kissed cheeks
My oldest beauty is rare indeed

The carny wheel turns
Slowly as a man quickens
To get on the ride again

You say I disgust you, how gross
Me groveling, for food, for money, for love
Am I any different then you? How rude
You with your loveless life and empty scripts
We both fill our voids because of what we miss
Your know better off then me, the ***, you just
Turned your nose up at.
You splashed my sign
It’s all I had.

Returned pages of this worn out letter
Written so long ago on wasted paper
Yet, I read those words over and over and
again and again dying to read a different end
Always hurling around that same tired bend
Reading the same three words we always said
Whether I close my eyes or open again this sad
Tragic tale unfolded on paper long stained
The one saying I love you goodbye the end

morning cup brewing
popping bacon in mom's pan
golden grits stewing
flipping through dad's Sunday rag
saying grace for all I've had