of, by & 420

this year seems
important
don't they all
this year politics
might move people
after all it's an election
year and if
'of, by & for the people'
is what we learned
the people should
pay attention
the will of the people
might be challenged
both sides of the establishment
paradigm challenged as well
the silent majority
might turn out to vote
the silent majority
might wake up and demand
the republic be restored to an
'of, by & for the people' status
until then it's of, by & 420
today because they are gonna
stone you for whatever you do
or do not waste another minute
the jester's words
ring truth...

what it means to me

don't care
what you have heard
here is the truth
as far as these eyes see
four-twenty
what does it mean
here's what I know
bob dylan aka the jester
wrote a song called
rainy day women 12&35
the chorus is
“everybody must get stoned”
maybe you've heard it
the pun intended
no matter what you do
someone is gonna stone you
the jester's response is
everybody must get stoned
12 times 35 equals 420
and that is
what it means to me
and what I will do today...

these hands press on

still light out on
the back porch smoke
is rising yet no fire
to sit by tonight
clouds on and off
all day somehow
still fire and clouds
swirl around me like
a chimney
not ashamed to be
up in smoke
just had to figure
it out a little better
not just me
but mostly me
because no one holds
these hands press on
doesn't matter
time of day or weather
pen is ready in any case...

bright sky 9-thirty

almost humorous
really?
snow in April
two days two storms
just enough to be
inconvenient
and then the melting
begins just as the last
flakes drift to the ground
mysteriously bright
being as late as it is
right now makes no sense
why the clouds are so bright
facing west
almost humorous
because it's spring
and the daffodils had started
to pop up and now
they are covered
four inches of sloppy snow
usually first two months
of the year contain the snow
strangely warm though
then winter snow in spring
bright sky at 9 thirty pm
none of this makes sense
so it has got to be funny...

tangle with them

to say time flies
is an understatement
it moves so quick
it's hard to keep up
nearly impossible
to avoid the thoughts
so I tangle with them
so I don't get entangled
within them that probably
doesn't make sense
to some but I am not the same
forced to realize this daily
clutter of the mind organized
snap shots of the day
I sit upon and to say
time flies gives you no idea
how fast things actually change
it's said that technology
is generations ahead of the public
high water mark of technology
how much do you have to twist the mind
to try to understand that
if it's true...

thick walls of intentional silence

hard to believe
four years builds
thick walls of intentional
silence remembering the last
day of the biggest mistake
all of life flashed in six
hours solitary enough
to think on the change
ahead somehow made it
that thought then
is this one now
hard to believe
stronger than ever
in solitude again
this time in good company
where everyone works
together like the family should
enjoying the day
before it begins and
as the sun moves across the sky
depending on where you sit
it is not as hard to believe
because it can be seen
thick walls of silence
walked through daily
getting to where I need to be
pen in hand as if it is my job
hard to believe it isn't
what pays the bills
it's what feeds my heart
hard to believe four years
since my whole life
changed for the better...

prove them wrong

watching my fire
perched above like
a bird caught watching
the flames dance around
floor boards old as the house
as old as my brother
remodeling it giving it a new look
lately putting pen to page
like pulling teeth
had four done two weeks now
worried about them
seemed like years
and it probably was
four years ago tonight
last night in Hanson
seemed like such a nice little town
the company kept makes
driving through that town
a haunting task avoided
most of the time
the fire brings back memories
of Hanson fires but never
as good as this one here
being this moment alone
burns away all the past
memories not necessary
burn on forward tomorrow
is always that day to begin again
start new or something new
or something someone
told you was impossible
prove them wrong...

don't mind surprises

thought about it quick
it'll never be 2016 again
them younger ones
should prepare
it goes quick
how many days
were good ones
how often looking
forward to what's next
don't mind surprises
most don't enjoy today
because worry invades
worry for tomorrow
guilty as well aware
and actively working
to fight off invading worry
enjoy today right through
the day still reading Charles
and the goal is to somehow
write more than he did
even if mission impossible
somehow I got a head start...

polarized under attack

another attack
somewhere in the world
probably daily
if we noticed
but only notice
some not all
they blame and never
solve the problem
everyone stands in fear
of an enemy unseen
another attack
on humanity
no matter who is in charge
there's always an enemy
to blame for the ruthless
things that are done
another attack
should be expected
given the situation
in the world
and will anything
change when new leader
takes charge less than a year
promised fear and
another attack
almost too predictable
by now everyone of them
should be stopped
everyone instead is on edge
expecting the worst
this summer
in this polarized nation...

general purpose legacy

there has got to be
a general purpose
our lives span enough time
to be a series of real events
that are definitely significant
how many have stared
in wonderment of the skies
above at night lit by night time's
chandelier spinning stars
overhead so I discovered
this general purpose
as recorder of thoughts
and still I can't figure out
where they come from
and it can't be nowhere
wondering about that higher
consciousness climbing every
ladder to the next level
and there is that idea again
shining bright
like the sun popping into view
pre-dawn sky view at the workplace
pause in awe with the quickness
daily the reality is this
is my legacy...

more than I would like

got that clear
and so is the mind
back at it from where I sit
and maybe I didn't move
one bit got that clear
right from the get go
learning how to let go
all the fears I have had
cut them into small
dissolve-able pieces
the ultimate goal
and got that clear vision
back out from under
some rug but expose
the floor and learn what is
below deep beneath
years of books and thoughts
too much smoke so I got
that clear breath
to reset the mind
backwards in time remembering
more than I would like...

unscrambled heart

sudden cold air
outside sitting
really what could
have I expected
only warmth
today came from
clear skies and the sun
the air was cold all day
so many times been
on the top step
thinking that things
would look different
with more stairs
another step or two
or set of five
sudden rush as the heart
beat unscrambles
into the place where
I stand and understand
from above another
five steps from where I
thought the top was...

WriteOn #7

nothing
but a crossed leg
to write on
blue sky and the planes
how could we
actually know
nothing that we aren't taught
learn more as we undo
lies one by one
then every story
explanation
or description
becomes questionable
nothing
but sun
light the entire day
will it ever tire
watch the fire
expire...

lifted in light

cutting through tonight
with this light
lifted from this position
down and to the left
still too cold to call
it spring out on the front
porch while backyard
gets a new fence
maybe I don't trust the wild
life that's why it's called
wildlife no?
cutting through tonight
with this light
saber tooth thought chewed
up in the mind cutting
through tonight with extra
light lifted beyond the sound
of travel not far off
sounds of the wildlife
in the backyard fisher-cat
with no fence to separate
it's a no-brainer
why the front porch
gets a look a little more
elevated than the spot near
the fire pit or garden
those are the daytime
positions cutting though
the extra night
with new light...

eyes inward spin backwards

inspired by words
and the mind turn
the eyes inward spin
backwards remember all
the enemies
left in the past
passed right on by
still occasionally
walk by the thoughts
in the long mind hallways
what's the rest of the world
doing forgot to check in
before I checked out
for the night buried
head in books
then pillows
who the hell is putting all these
thoughts here and do they
arrive while sleeping
then I spend the day
trying to unravel
the thoughts only to come upon
the same chore again tomorrow
good thing I am
inspired by words...

might as well be the self

don't even want
to pause
sunlight side of my face
as I write these thoughts
somehow transmitted through
it's warmth but I have no proof
so I will simply enjoy
the moment the foot falls asleep
and so could I to the sounds
around the birds tune
seems to have a little confusion
warmth a little early
no one is complaining
as I put more words before
new eyes today
all the months and years of thoughts
mashed together and planned
presented as random
and truthfully as random
as they come to the mind
just want to pursue the truth
don't want the newer generations
to give up hope that truth will be found
when the mind's eye finally opens
to see what can be seen
because it will be seen
don't even want to pause or
take a breath without recording
that thought with words
and only truth spilling
on to the page prolific nearly
everyday like a younger CB
with only coffee to drink
again I stumble without
the proof just these words
painting the thoughts
the mind produces
no matter the shape
would like to be at the center
of something might as well
be the self...

zero to fifty/two days

it's my Friday
no work for the next two days
but it's Monday for everyone else
enjoying the front porch as snow
falls they say it will be fifty degrees
tomorrow which means twenty-four
hours will bring us from below
zero to fifty in two days time
about twenty-two degrees right now
welcome any warm weather always
never enough in the northeast
snow will continue until
rain wakes me in the early morning
hoping to be up
and productive tomorrow...

TodayIsTheDay #9

the sun is shining
and it's warm
last year this time
the month of snow
was about to take over
the color was purple
and the smell in the air
was citrus for sure
and it could have all
been in his mind
today is the day
he gets lost in eyes
that see different
and a chill that doesn't
make him cold
the sun is still shining
even if only in the mind
still going strong
to this day the strength
to smile and keep on
keepin' on the jester
and the rasta
together in the mind...

missed her smile

the day
unusually warm
watched the snow
melt away
sun across the sky
the day
moved along quick
never forget
enjoy moments
all along the way
smiles
throughout
the day
said it before
she came home
now
her smiles
melt away
the snow...

stop quick w/ a distraction

some days I just don't know
where to begin or where I really am
for that matter as far as these thoughts
go wherever I go not far
at all though sorry to disappoint
where am I gonna go
some days I get stuck on the back porch
watching the snow melt
news of another explorer dying
trying to cross the antarctic
how crazy that no one has done this
it's twenty-sixteen sometimes
I don't know how to get started
get moving get going
gaining a little momentum
only to stop quick with a distraction
it's the mind's call to action
some days begin right where
I left off the day before
keep on pushing
none of us know
how many more...