this crazy world

sometimes I find myself

wishing I was in the middle

of somewhere else

where life might be different

happy here in the moment

would be fun to live

this life in a different place

change of scenery

each morning I watch

the night wake into day

how nice though would

those first splashes of color be

coming up over mountains

or a beautiful ocean-scape

truly believe everyone

needs a change of scenery

from time to time

and to see the natural beauty

of sunrise somewhere new

for a change

in this crazy world…

close out the day

funny how a day can pass
so fast without seeming
like anytime at all
sometimes all confidence
is lost then sitting backward
with Charles Bukowski
some hip hop and a smile across
the room and the moment lasts
for hours and funny how not many
might take note of these things
maybe because others don't
care to waste the time
thinking of what to say
put the pen to page and get it
out of the way as three or four
get flipped in each sitting
hits the ground running
another silent sound
created time and space
moving in every direction
won't cross it out to make a correction
keep moving on might actually
fix itself if not tomorrow will
still be a sunny day
somewhere above even the thickest clouds
especially when they threaten to darken
this day and it's funny how
the slightest sound or breath
of silence will send the mind rattling
down one of those hallways
that keeps going until
the pen starts to get the page
a bit messy realizing eyes
starting to close out this day...

hope is dead

Bob Hope died yesterday
so now I can no longer
say 'keep Hope alive'
goes to show me what is funny
and what is not funny at all
he was 100 years old
and now he is dead
honestly I didn't really think
he was all that funny
anyway his biggest audiences
were troops overseas
or home for a break
and I guess when the job is
killing and gruesome
and not at all funny
Bob Hope could get you laughing
so to the soldiers he gave a smile
he will be missed...

extreme sound

who will hear
this voice not loud
like an unhappy child
loud like an explosion
taking with it many blocks
building in reverse
with no warning
or preparation
just extreme sound from
all around...

the heat is terrible

the heat is terrible
everything is sticky
can't put a shirt on my
back with out it getting
soaked while my bandanna
remains drenched too
the smell of rain in the breeze
soon the rain will fill the sky
outside the air will cool down
until the I will sweat
in the heat still terrible
pain in the brain
until all the thoughts released
into the freedom of these pages
given a thought to go on
now is the only choice
in the heat struggling to keep
focused on the task at hand
out reached waiting to be held
late night until eyes closed far away
from the heat and terrible humidity
making the air outside nearly
unbreathable inside smoke surrounds
like sound of thunder rumble
and lightning flashing above
lit up momentarily like a strobe light
and the heat is not so terrible
after rain cuts through the humidity
into the dark night sound
on leaves and grass soaking up
all the heat still terrible
breathing and sleeping weather
then when all hope for a cool rain is thrown away
the colder front slams into the side
of this humid night...

next to words unwritten

the rain pounds the ground

and his hand almost won’t grip the pen

sliding right out of hand

onto the page next to words

he hasn’t written yet

the thunder crashes overhead

rumbles the walls and floor below

what would it be like

if he didn’t write it all down

what would he do with all his time

spent thinking and reading

distracted by all the noise

the rain pours down in buckets

but it wouldn’t matter if he didn’t

write it all down for some to see

lucky or unlucky who is to know this

who has these answers…

strength & patience

the night is sticky
just sitting still
might make him sweat
thinking it’ll all make sense
in reality nothing
seems real anymore
parts to a grand dream scattered
here and there
for the rest of his life
hoping someday
all the pieces fit
with no trouble
from any direction
positioning himself
behind at times
he doesn’t want to be seen
heard long ago
that nothing comes easy
strength and patience
go hand in hand…

free fall from 12 thousand

one month since last cracked
this book and no one knows why
two books going at once
and I haven’t asked around
guess I just assume
no one knows why
even if they do
do they understand
the stagnating thoughts
they are reading them
and that is the point
tonight tomorrow or Wednesday
getting my thoughts read by others
some might think as much
close to overload as one can get
get one free if you pay for the first
sixty seconds is a free fall
from twelve thousand
on your birthday…

silence on the porch

silence and the rainfall

sounds heard tonight

silent approach

to thoughts unknown

old pen new thoughts

try desperately to flow

smooth something’s blocking

the flow stop in the action

something’s in the way

silence all that surrounds

at night darkness takes

overhead a blanket

smudged words

on the page

not quite as remembered

silence much different

everything feels fine

it’s where he began

and will end all over again

who could’ve predicted

this outcome silence

and a night called Friday

still no weekends

anymore for the American worker

stuck behind one day off

and a ridiculous hourly wage

silence will never equal

the riches other will attain

in material riches can’t buy

happiness more stress never rest

to keep silence from attacking

him where he sits

on the porch…

ring in the empire

what if this is the last

all the freedom has become the past

ring in the Empire bombs blasting in air

how many of these patriots notice or care

we are lied to daily on one level or another

what’s next a civil war where we all kill each other

or more terror attacks instilling more fear

into the soft flesh of our liberty it’ll tear

they are promising security from danger

they are all lies and it brings on the anger

and the contempt for what’s done in our name

we are the pieces in the big power game

if it’s really going to be the last

should we bow down before every question is asked

and answered when did they stop working for us

they keep us distracted betraying our trust

convinced all is done with our freedom in mind

but they limit that freedom wherever they can find

all of these fireworks are in celebration

can’t help but think of similar sounds of devastation

in foreign lands coming soon to a city near you

when will truth be resurrected and come into clear view…