everyone together

everyone together
seeing smiles
go around the table
another birthday
candles and dinner
this family handling
the toughest struggles
with everyone together
singing that familiar song
newest member biggest smile
learning to love life
right in front of us all...

far within right here

thirty pages can pass
really quick on a day filled
with rain and hood up
but it's still warm
the air is moving fast
rain pounds the roof
at times can't unravel the point
needed to focus on a spot
far within but right here
still your ceiling too
right there cloud cover will pass
stars will be there tonight
to hear your thoughts
since they will no doubt
will go un-shared
throw the entire salt flat
over the shoulder
would it help clear away
the superstition too fast
too slow just relax
you don't even know
but wanted to even if
only for a passing moment
not finished destroying a former self
just busy being my only self
left any and all former
in the corner
not even to compare
or contrast...

up early to get brother sister's birthday

up early brother
arrived on time as planned
not much else
sister's birthday
celebration later on
raining right on through
one year ago tragically
lost a friend he is missed
by many more than just I
more eyes need to see words
rainy day story to tell
just a focus and a struggle
is the ultimate goal riches
or the security riches could bring
don't understand the focus
if it's a waste of money
when the goal is the goal
spending time and money
could be just trying
to find some enjoyment
in this crazy world...

books will return

and someday
the books
will return
but for now
technology
has taken over
someday someone
might take the time
with words again
someday I will be there...

clouds up over the head like a hood

something about the rain in the trees
and the wind at night
dark thoughts under
shadowy ideas under clouds
up over the head like a hood
almost hoodie season again
cold enough once winter rolls in
but where did the summer go
only two visits to the beach
saddens me slightly leaning
too hot now still drinking coffee
hot now and what is the world
around us distracted by
billion dollar space stories
show the unification of the human race
while we still hate and kill each other
on the ground and no one sees
anything wrong with this
how can it be true or as my brother says
'how does our opinion even matter?'
does that mean we should silence
opinions because resistance to logic
reason and truth is bought lock
stock and two barrels still smoking
still trying to remove some of the toxicity
on my way to visit my brother
back again from out west...

hardly willing

it must be some
great big experiment
and we are all involved
barely willingly with little other
choices lead like cattle
believing the news
and all the propaganda
soon there will be no truth
because everyone will be confused
my hand falls asleep
right in the middle of the word
my connection to the page
and to the original thought
hearing stories told years
since those memories
stirred the paint well and still
tripped over the can what
time do I have to get up tomorrow
who cares check it off the list
don't mind what I have
to do to get the paint out...

silence will be written

back at it
have at it
wherever I put it last
time I had a clue
probably stacking fruit
or something at the store
sometimes I feel its all I have
and then I grab a new pen
and have at it again
got cool then too cold
one night, the next day
humid all day today
some days the confusion
never clears and the thoughts
never stop they only get put aside
for sleep but not exactly by choice
wonder how long without
before crazy is the outcome
what if upon entry already
reaching crazy heights
now because life
is but a dream
back at it have at it
and laugh at it
if you have to but know I only
fall back a step or two
from time to time
and will not retreat
from first impressions
and apparently mine was
not taken well
somehow thinking
of a vacation mind change
but why complicate life
cut off the hands
and rip out my tongue
what choices do I have really
but don't worry my silence
will be written...

remind me

the clouds remind me
of my thoughts
remind me nothing
is as it seems
it's all a show
until in solitude
one finds what is real
watching my mother
muscle throughout
her favorite time of year
watching my dad pensive
in the garden
honestly probably
the only love I
need to know...

my Fro-losophy

a nickname
in the college daze
hair was out of control
some called it a 'fro'
some said it was 'nice'
the nickname stuck
as the hair is gone
the name lives on
philosophy is
the study of ideas
about knowledge
and truth
about the nature
and meaning of life
my writing is my philosophy
and my journey
of thoughts collected
is presented to you
in these pages
thanks for your attention to
My Fro-losophy...

next step is peace

we are all chaos
a combination of all
we have been to this point
and in each moment
all that we are
all the decisions
good bad indifferent
join together to put us
where we are
the direction headed
we mainly follow a lead
or a group of thought
we can relate to but individually
what is it about life
that doesn't change
that change is the constant
perpetual improvement
of the self under
careful exploration
we are all chaos
walking, breathing
sleeping, working
always thinking
and the mind will never stop
until finding peace is the next step
no matter the direction
at this point
the next step is always peace
but for now
we are all chaos...

multiplicity of ideas

when did it all start making sense again
the truth is I could probably figure it out to the minute
mind always distracted most of the time
is changing quickly whether by desire or because of the
disturbed nature of going against the grain
the change won't come while doing the same old thing a
multiplicity of ideas surprise the day
of normalcy becomes instantly different
things appear more important
is this a moment of clarity
produced by the mind turning down the noise
but hearing every word wonderful
when surprised at the strength of
the self taught to unlearn and release the
mind that's been molded since grade one it
is probably even earlier now late in the mind
quieted itself down and now I can see
the thoughts slow to a crawl over the
multiplicity of ideas in and out
of the mind sitting still sifting through
things that matter and those that don't and thought
disappears quietly into the darkness of tonight...

quiet fire

the fire dies down
soon it will be too cold
for most and the fires will
probably become fewer
distance can be far between
two points straight line
sitting still staring
at the moon
coming through the trees
one more log
one more night
toward the rest of my life
and beyond...

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...