unwind

523/1996

smoke swirling confusion

always surrounding me

blood red contusion

what can it be

hat up on the head

hiding all this hair

don’t pity the dead

now we must care

happiness at times unreal

always strings attached

take a chance spin the wheel

still nothing to catch

clouds tell many stories

listen to the sound

some of them get gory

what is it that’s found

whistle a tune

mixed up in the mind

howling moon

wind unwind

spool tight

under foot

dark of night

nothing to put

faith in the sky

awful mess

won’t ask why

won’t confess

mixed in a bag

all I own

enjoying a drag

alone

what’s the feeling

the one when sun set

what’s being stolen

hold any regret

wish I knew

reason for this

into clear view

and a deceptive snake hiss

whistle a tune

mixed up mind

howling moon

wind unwind

no time to think

emotion overload

dare to blink

figure out the code

silence unwanted

happiness pain

remaining undaunted

feeling in vain

wrong time always

when will we learn

to stop these days

surely they must burn

fire started

no argument came

everything becomes retarded

what’s my name

whistle a tune

mixed up mind

howling moon

wind unwind

admonish this now

forgiven before

really don’t know how

to find the door

when we find it

will we leave

don’t mind

no trick in a sleeve

sparkle in eye

friendships are tight

stare at the sky

darkest May night

wear the black hat

stealing from the poor

guilty (not that)

not anymore

whistle a tune

mixed up mind

howling wind

wind unwind

scatter brain vision

acting as we must

confusion makes the incision

we might even bust

and might never understand

thinking too much

no money can buy

the feeling (can’t touch)

impossible dream

thought it was real

thieves we may seem

we know not to steal

time is on our side

got more than many

feeling will subside

answers (not any)

whistle my tune

mixed up mind

howling moon

wind unwind. . .

no more

513/1996

zero hour came and went

doesn’t matter, mind still bent

straight as an arrow

road got too narrow

feel out of place

my fist in your face

smile one more time

remember it is mine

explodes and the damage came

always know the name

caused hearts to bleed

careless roads don’t lead

to a hopeful end

what we need is a friend

one to pass the clock

a boat without a dock

nowhere to rest a head

room without a bed

need somewhere to rest

thoughts they will detest

hate with all your might

won’t give up the fight

will not bow, give in

take it on the chin

the hardest you can throw

far from a deadly blow

wind could cause more harm

to my bleeding arm

all the pain released

when a heartbeat ceased

couldn’t try much harder

now we must get smarter

all the knowledge take

giving your head an ache

ease the lasting pain

your diminishing reign

you’re the queen no more

I will settle the score...

colors fade

508/1996

colors fade

the tree swayed

in the shade

where he laid

down for awhile

hard to crack a smile

just a lifeless pile

he is not in denial

staring at the sky

ask no reason why

see him and don’t cry

keep on, pass him by

he will not retreat

the pounding of their feet

hope he doesn’t repeat

sounded all too sweet

no luck, cannot ask

happiness, a task

everyone with a mask

drinking from their flask

what he doesn’t see

shrug and let it be

swinging from the tree limb

never did spot him

death is not the end

straight dark road, no bend

letter he cannot send

help him out please, friend...

walking the line

the line is so crooked, it moves under foot
take the large crown, on your own head put
king for a moment, or should I say queen?
the line I am walking, what does it mean?
where does it lead, should I abort?
a mission in life or is it a sport?
one on each team, fighting to win
alone in the race we all must begin
surviving the clock, shoot ‘til you score
shut the big light, and turn off the bright door
hope you can follow, getting my drift
through all the rumble is where we must sift
for some seashells to fill up your pail
gaining lost ground, only to fail
smile on a face, losing no hope
around a white neck, brown tattered rope
delusional thought, thinking not straight
can’t cut the rope once it’s too late
can’t breathe some air with a dead lung
when it’s too late no song will be sung
so scratch that idea, things can only get better
submerged deep below can’t get much wetter
dry off young soul, a puppet no longer
knowing myself, I can only get stronger
week after week, yes once I was weak
walked up the hill, drank from the creek
gave me new life, hope for unknown
pedestal I stand on is under a stone
came from behind, Lazurus and I
walking the line, and sometimes I cry
but don’t give hope, new life began
saw my new legs, I walked then I ran
far from this place caused all this pain
on the third day, sun rose through the rain
walking the line, but sometimes I run
stopping at times, blinded by sun
night blinks it eyes, soon it is dark
I’m all alone just me and my spark
my only friend, the camel I ride
tossed up and down, sway side to side
slide from my side, force me to quit
into the puzzle of life I don’t fit
but I keep walking along the fine line
ignoring their warning on the large sign
what does it say? word after word
put on my glasses, vision is blurred
hearing acute, I hear what they say
mock me at night, imitate me by day
a cross on the hill from where I do speak
bird on a fence, bald with no beak
mind again starts to play tricks
seeing the man nailed into two sticks
start walking down into the valley I see
looking for someone, who is looking for me
alone, yes I am, no companion I need
the field of my happiness, I must re-seed
wait for the harvest at which time, I’ll reap
but nothing does come and lonely does creep
that’s the fine line on which I do walk
being alone and loneliness, about which I talk
the difference I see although you may not
keep walking the line and do not get caught
up on the fence or down in the brush
waiting and walking, I’m in rush
to get what is mine, what I deserve
burn down my tree, I’ll teach you, some nerve
anger suppressed, with whom do I fight?
for I stand alone night after night
I am not bothered though loneliness comes
some great ideas, but I am all thumbs
can’t build a large bridge or sing a fine song
but I’ll write a verse, though it may be long
where the line leads, will it soon end?
finding it hard to corner the bend
won’t give up hope, will not despair
soon will find something about which I care
solace sets in and I am at peace
by walking the line, pain will soon cease
knee deep in dark water, stare at the sky
need a good lift, something so high
not out of reach if you try hard enough
testing the water, though it gets rough
walk down the line, no one excluded
see the one point to which I’ve eluded
I walk down the line as you read what is written
the snake at my feet, remember once bitten
roll of the dice, look into its eyes
back of my neck from where my soul cries
the edge of the cliff, my feet do get wet
walking the line, but I don’t forget
the point of the rhyme once locked in my head
walking the line kept me from the death bed
in blue I was tangled, but I shall be free
hope you can learn to walk it like me
such a release, escape the deep pit
society’s nonsense, once covered with it
I am now free, as free as I feel
walking the line, with life, helped me deal. . .

two words

up, down
side to side
want to drown
just to hide.
one, two
seven, eight
see you
leaving late.
spoon, knife
scoop, cut
what a life
smoke a butt.
cough, hack
what a smell
need a smack
what the hell.
knock, ring
who is there
what do they bring
do I care?
down, up
fall, crash
drink the cup
eat some hash.
drink, drink
fluid strong
what do you think
won't be long.
bang, drip
bloody lung
insides rip
neck hung.
tree sway
wind blow
free today
go with the flow.
wave rough
sea is dark
had enough
meadow lark.
sing sweet
out of tune
lightening heat
scared the moon.
made of cheese
in our mind
help please
solace find.
head aches
too much
bow breaks
slight touch.
scratch ink
stained trees
and sink
let me be.
blue, black
sky tone
won't go back
silent phone.
bright sun
shade nowhere
trees none
cold despair.
fire warm
your eyes
bees swarm
last good-byes.
up, up
and away
filled cup
leak, stay.
home burn
ignite flame
money earn
all the same.
purple, red
slice blood
me, dead
brown, mud...

thinking

503/1996

Sitting so sad, place of employment

Thinking ‘bout someone, gave much enjoyment

Just a grin, can’t begin , imagine, how I should feel

From the start, from the heart, tear apart, what is real

Climb the pole, dig the hole, what you stole, from the tree

Up so high, saw the sky, tell a lie, don’t tell me

What you said, am I dead, spin a head, with a line

Drawn so straight, coffee at eight, don’t be late, be on time

For the show, don’t want to go, do you know what I am saying

To a friend, road does bend, a dead end where I am playing              

With a ball, once was small, I did fall and it hurt

Saw the blood, what a dud, in the mud, once was dirt

Was so sad, all I had, made me mad, now it’s gone

Out of view, looked like you, sky was blue sitting on the lawn

Grass so green, what does it mean, final scene of the play

Tragic actor, important factor, who was that actor, will you stay

Here awhile, ancient smile, emotions pile in my mind

Filled with stuff, not enough, road is rough and does wind

Round and round, on the ground, don’t make a sound, am I sinking

Down so low, where to go, I don’t know, I’m just thinkin’...