different light

night light creeping
through the last blast
of summer trees
hard to believe
it's merely reflection
seems like a different
kind of light
and most likely
probably wrong
but I like to think
and call it a night light
for those who need
to see in the dark...

refer to the random

as long as I have known doing what I once dreamed
far from where I thought I might be
as long as I can be here with pen in hand
the thoughts keep coming despite
laws against freedom something I enjoy make the most
of this time here not calculated using
mathematics or any scientific nature please
refer to the random explosions, creations
to inter-finity well beyond the scope of accepted
reality we exist spinning wobbling orbiting moving
they tell us to pay our taxes vote and to quiet down
are we always going to believe everything they say
not questioning everything anyone tells you is
certain to win their praise
and not a productive way to bring about change
as humanity can no doubt be a positive force
far from what we see each day sitting still not moving
as it will become easier to see through lies
they might not want us to know what they won't explain
are they bluffing or hiding something important
certain are we that we know everything now
they will lull us back to distraction with a new smart phone
do not think for a minute that it hasn't been planned
not even a coincidence that we all fall for it
refer to the random creations, explosions
to explain how I tend to view
reality is sometimes what we alone create...

not a big deal

guess it isn't as big of a deal
as maybe was hoped for
high-five didn't want to let go
too many people and the mind
flips to chaos and I just need
quiet times because I can do
the alone thing no problem
guess it just isn't a big deal
to those who go home
without a head-full of thought
here's to another who must
think more than the rest
zero for three won't even
frustrate me but maybe for an hour
guess I really don't have much
excitement to offer just me
and some fire to get me through
until morning and I do it all over again
probably should have taken a vacation too
where could I go now?

a stick to the side

still resonating
sound created earlier
one day a stick
to the side of the bell of my life
and the sound might be gone
but it is resonating still
wish I knew a little more
and its probably why I put
these thoughts down
always will wonder what
the other side of the conversation
is thinking anything still resonate
might just be me...

good company

taking a walk around the yard
in the dark remembering
it all and the feeling of realizing
not sleeping at all and suddenly
the entire pizza was gone
standing on the edge of a hole
filled with water and a dozen fish
closed eyes balanced on a rock
something to trust in eyes
scene a familiar place
the moon right here in the night sky
every time I look up different
spot same direction maybe
just like the mind and curiosity
continuation might start a fire
anytime of night always as young
as in early when morning rising
will now be made by choice
here's to a fire starter with
or without a match
or simply with the sounds of the night
backyard getting lost looking at my ceiling
but if you look to the sky
it's your ceiling too
ending up on the other side of the yard
thinking time passes
at times too fast
especially when you know
it was a good day in good company...

king of the garden

looking forward
the king of the garden
standing still taller than
the rest was much needed
after the adjustment
looking forward one is good
the other is even better
hopefully the rest will follow
into new thoughts that won't
stop when the mind finally
rests for the night
looking forward
the king of the garden
joined by others
not as tall just as bright...

homegrown veggies

a couple more logs
onto the night's fire
everything seems different
and there are more changes
on the way
ready to take it all on
and get things done
why not try something different
promised myself no more
negative thoughts
a couple more logs
but the fire is already hot
been burning five hours at this point
still feeling the humidity
that has not broken
and no ones spirit is diminished
new recipe tonight
and all the veggies are homegrown
one week without
as much smoke
found a replacement
might actually clear the air
this time...

use this time

a different look at the day
hard to imagine
not seeing first light
for a change
going to have to use this time
to put thoughts together
with only words
different time of the day
is all it will take
will to change
however I can
to be more productive
and less isolated...

before healing eyes

before now everything seemed normal
we went about life and thought about how we
can help each other better ourselves
even in the worst situations and learn to
ask for help when we need a hand
how else can we approach the
things that once seemed impossible
might surprise even those who doubt most
go see for yourself climb to a high point what's
wrong with that especially with no fear of heights
we will all rise together as one but individuals
must come together
first and foremost with a positive plan to
explain the road ahead might not be easy
how there will be bad days
they might fear the outcome we all share
could it all just be a dream
ever lasting into an eternal night
go rest and get well as we rise together
right before your healing eyes...

somehow we are the proof

working with words thirteen years old
and what if that was the chosen path
seeing dawn with different eyes now
seeing things I must have missed
reading words and they never missed
knew then know now not a rise and a fall
a beginning and an end didn't understand
it then in one moment message send
technological message in a bottle
the sea of invisible information
sent and received all day and night
dance with what could have never existed
only what was and is only moving forward
message received and returned
could feel the smile in the words
remember it while working with words
thirteen years old same sun then as now
and always will be closer than they will say
look to the dawn with these new eyes
creeping into lenses created not evolved
or designed and it might be a belief
but somehow we are the proof
believe what you want
we are all right...

as hot as it gets in the northeast

sometimes the thoughts flicker
like the fire from across the yard
they hold long enough for me to grab the pen
then flicker sometimes feeling
like an engine that won't start
after a dormant winter
but it has been less than twenty-four
and as hot as it gets in the northeast
sometimes the thought finally
takes hold and catches like a dry log
erupting into flames
the pen won't stop until
interrupted by something
more modern than the elements
the fire—the stars above
a fifth letter response
alone by my fire for now
by choice mostly
one week ago drove to Maine
for the night should make a point
to go every year again
just like way back when
now the next generation
rides the carousel...

got rained on

seems as though I have to unpack
and disperse thoughts into different
areas of the mind
some things are more important
than others something
is so important
that everything stops
got to unpack this crazy notion
that things really are simple
yet can be intricately detailed
and seen as complicated
the lightning strobe lights
the eastern sky above the house
looking over the trees into the electrified
clouds blowing my own clouds
not as toxic mainly the healing smoke
just going on rambling on
and trying to change
to better it all...

floating quickly overhead

clouds and sunshine
at the same time
random shower quick
it soaked everything
thunder is strong
rumbles the ground
underfoot
sun blast through
the clouds still covering
half the sky seen here
found another piece of the puzzle
of change I want to be
always searching for new ways
to perfect the imperfection I working
with my hands and think
with them too here and then is now
and it's about all we have to work with
side to side with all the side roads
and short cuts truth is all I need
right here while I write here
turn up my right ear to the thunder
as it rolls across the dark side
of a beautiful sight seen
neck still tense as I look skyward
and catch a glimpse of clouds
descending darker dense mountains
floating quickly overhead...

torn between/exist in between

spirals of smoke
and non smoke
thought and non thought
spiraling together
becoming words here
but what's the point
journey to the inner workings
torn between living this life
and being prepared for death
trying to understand all of it
and exist in between
spirals of thought
understanding I am on the road
I am on because its where I have to be
in order to get where I need to go
working with produce and working
to produce as much random thought
as I have up under whichever
hat I choose to wear
not on any team where
someone else leads the way...

right in my face as I write

don't really have much choice
but to take the trip alone
as a kid it was the summer vacation
spot looked forward to
now the next generation enjoys
the spot in twenty-four hours
the fire will be in Maine
I will join the 3 man army
without a cloud in the sky
sun finds its way to the vanishing point
here where I sit wind blows heat and smoke
right in my face as I write
can't mind as the evening has been
perfectly comfortable as it was
at the bank of the brook as I sat there at dawn...

back up to it

don't really know how
all these years passed
somehow not where I might
have imagined still
eternally grateful
for what I am
so many fall along the way
not as many keep track of thoughts
don't need to rhyme
some do still reason spills
the mind on to pages
filling books with observations
in the sanctuary created
at a place called home
complete with sounds of the
baseball game in the near distance
lucky to have escaped
may have fallen
but I am getting back up to it...

doesn't have to be complicated

maybe I am merely
throwing back what I remember
as my brain whips through
everything up under this hat
thankful for so many parts
of this life and the crew
at this place I call home
close my eyes and let
the verbal camera
memory experiment begin
wherever it was I left off
the last time around I was
probably a writer too
much thought for the first
circle or round doesn't much
matter I suppose doesn't have to be
hard to comprehend just look
to the skies clear night
find a batch of stars
and call them your own
watch them for the rest of time
always there easy to understand
still miraculously unknown
the mind might even believe
the body is sleeping
sitting so still just under an hour
peaceful stare into a fire
mind twisting dreams
into the burning wood
eyes start to gain weight
smoke brought that summertime
feeling back again for a moment
floating in between sleep
and completely relaxed and unwound
despite being unknown
at the fire I built in the back yard...

known unknown

no one asks but I don't mind
the humidity broke when the rain
soaked everything
still couldn't put out the fire
spent some time today
with my brother
always feel as though I talk
too much when I know
he has so much to teach
no one asks so I probably
do it for me and because I admire
the writers who struggled
to make sense of the world
while struggling to make sense
to the world that kept them hidden
in obscurity until discovered revisited
imitated and admired
no one asks who but if they did
there would begin a list
some known and some well known
and I also like to hang with the unknown
knowing that's where I belong
right now as I write now
as my own known unknown...

end product

even if it's just a moment
gotta get something
out forced maybe
but only force is
an attempt to create
something as an end product
might be just to get the thought out
not be cluttering up this mind
but more will follow
don't plan on quitting
moving the pen
as if a destiny or purpose
what can this life mean
many believe in so much
only trying to believe
in myself what else
can be controlled at all
even if it clutters
another mind not wandering
into the vanishing point...

what the rain brought

the rain brought out
all the colors in the garden
front door opens
to the scent of the slow cooker
veggies from out back
scent of rain blew in the breeze
the entire ride home
and then the skies opened up
thunder shook every part of the house
the rain finally cooled
everything down
rain helped me realize
the pen warrior
banging at the door
hoping with every book
to bring out another reader
or two and why not really
it's easy to do just let yourself
think for a moment
about what the rain brought today...