Flee

Heavy shoes clumping in gravel
Large belly sways.  Vacant eyes
Look not within or without, but
View stories from timeless theater
Inside.
Violence.  Sensational lust and greed.
Countenance fallen to numb.
Shame grips tightly.  Pity,
Like geese honking above,
Fled for safety and restful place.
Wandering soul, to and fro,
Conquered, kept, unaware.

The Gray

Blackened hairs upon my chin
Belie the wisdom found within
From years of error and false starts
Fallen dreams and broken hearts
The day will come when gray I'll be
My wisdom then others will see
But only if my words and deeds
Come through love and fill their needs
So until then I'll grow and learn
And through my life their respect earn.

Thing

Knuckles white
Heart racing

Could someone be out there
Plotting and taking

My precious, my only
My one simple thing

That keeps me so warm
So warm that it stings

I think I hear voices
Somewhere far out beyond

These four walls which I've built
I sure hope there's no one

Trying.  To take.  My thing.

I've tucked it below me
Above and beyond me

Somewhere no one else looks
Somewhere deep inside me

For years it's been building
For years it's been growing

It's come to be precious
And I can't resist it

Sometimes it abuses
And locks me in corners

It neglects and mistreats
It punishes, belittles

All those who come close or
Speak up with defiance

I tried to speak out once
Then twice, three times and four

But it hushed me harshly
In prison in my heart

The voices get louder
Somewhere far out beyond

I think someone wants me
To open my door

But outside there is light
Outside there is freedom

I know freedom is bad
My precious thing tells me

It says I should ignore
The voices far beyond

Trying.  To take.  My thing.

But.

The voices sound friendly
As if they really care

I want to believe it
But they frighten me so

What if I open up
See voices with faces

Will they be kindly ones
Or will they attack me

My precious says don't trust
The unknown which can hurt

My thoughts say don't worry
Could things ever get worse

And would I really care
If voices were out there

Trying.  To take.  My thing.

A glance 'round behind me
To be sure I'm alone

I mustn't upset it
It's words can shake my bones

A twist of the handle
Sudden burst of white light

The faces are many
Smiling kindly at me

Please come out and join us
We need one more to play

A gravely voice speaks out
Gargling with hatred

"Shut that door, I tell you
You cannot go out there"

I cower at the voice
I should have known better

Smiling, kindly faces
Coming to deceive me

Trying.  To take.  My thing.

Cow'ring in the corner
Now feeling comforted

The voice, it tries to sooth
"You chose wisely my friend

The outside is evil
It mustn't e'er come in

Fight in every season
Fight for life every day

I am all you need now
I am your one true love"

Then I'm left in silence
Ringing horrible fear

I'm not sure I believe
I must see for myself

If anyone beyond
Out beyond my door is

Trying.  To take.  My thing.

The door opens with ease
Light floods every corner

Faces merge into one
Smiling it becons me

"Turn around and look in
Something there you should see"

My thing in the corner
Chains bind it to the wall

It is small and broken
A useless lump of mush

The evil voice I feared
Powerless in the light

"It never once bound you"
Friendly voice says to me

"You were not prisoner
You always had freedom

'Twas always yours to choose
All you need do is act

Freedom will come find you
Joyfullness can be yours

When you listen to it
Possibilities start

Now, look, your room is clean
All four walls and the floor

Come out and stay with us
Freedom in full now is yours"

My room looks so empty
But for it I now yearn

When I observe myself
I see my nakedness

Back into the confines
Of my room I must go

I cannot bare freedom
I close the door behind

My room I'm glad to see
Welcomes me back inside

Quietly the voice says
Whispering in my ear

"Fool, you did not listen
You're safer here with me

Sit down in the corner
You must listen closely

You are not for loving
Your heart cannot be free"

Now the silent voice grows
Each syllable enraged

My white walls growing dark
The cleanness gathers grime

I'm resting in comfort
Knowing one thing for sure

No one out far beyond
Will ever come back here

Trying.  To take.  My thing.

Knowledge will suffice

Blades whirl through pretty air, cutting forward and up
To bring man and machine on high
And watch all those below

Steel and fuel and fire and hate
Passed through the valleys, and rivers wide
Watching, watching, ready to pounce

Guns blast, shells fall, laughing galumphs of rage
“HA-HA!” they cry, thirsting for more
While on the ground men die

They got their desserts. They have their reward
Death to those who don’t heed
Death to all who don’t see

Steel and fuel and fire and hate
Force is used to beat the weak
The weak whose lives mean naught

Blades glide through pretty air, relaxing forward and down.
Guns away and noises cease
Broad are the grins. Clap the hands – well done

Drink. Drunk. Sex. Sleep.

Silhouettes against the lights loom large
Security patrols machines
Wild dogs bark. Far sirens blare

Between machines a phantom floats
Mere inches above the ground
Ancient one, the wise, the dead, the death

Wings as silent as thought push
Gently beneath crescent moon
Dark eyes see the deeds and hearts.

Do not accuse. Do not forgive.
A pardon you must not plead.
Knowledge will suffice.

Knowledge will suffice.

Bodies of men in woods far flung
Young and old their limbs askew
Blood pours out and feeds the earth

Mother cries. Father weeps.
Daughter begs.
Sons’ hearts grow harder for loss.

We will avenge. By strength of Allah
To war with infidel man and beast
Our dead one day we repay.

Steel and fuel and fire and hate

Bullets the air rend whistling up
Campfires warm the outside alone
The heart' frozen pain it can’t warm

Wash. Pray. Sex. Sleep.

Between angry men a phantom floats
Mere inches above the ground
Ancient one, the wise, the dead, the death

Wings as silent as thought push
Gently beneath crescent moon
Dark eyes see the deeds and hearts

Do not accuse. Do not forgive.
A pardon you must not plead
Knowledge will suffice.

Kay & Bob's Laundromat

A young couple sits by
      the window.  His head
rests on her shoulder.
Kay greets with a smile.
Yellow walls, long lasting flowers.
The open sign calls out to the night,
glowing red and blue.
Kay speaks of Koreans, friendliest people on earth.
Her people.
Bob's white hair shimmers with wisdom.
Maine farmer's hands grip yours firmly.
"Good to see ya!"
Children draw candy from gumball machines.
Old women fold their delicates.
Neighbors come.  Strangers come.
We meet and talk and laugh.
Do you need quarters?  Kay gets you some.
Do you need soap?  Two for 75.
A small baby cries.  Her young mother
stands.
Her father pulles clothes from the dryer.
The washer is done, Kay
comes to find you.
I hope to come back
here next
weekend.

Too much

You loved me too deeply.
More passion than sense.
Filled you.
All efforts were snuffed out.
'less I was the goal.
For you.
Burning in deep places.
Churned dark memories.
Scared you.
Kept emotions escaped.
Fleeing from my arms.
Saved you.
My heart was a safe place.
I could not convince.
Show you.

Faster

The world is spinning faster
    not of axis but of time
How many lifetimes fit into the span
    of one life?

Divorces pulling homes apart
    not one's immune, not even mine
Unfaithfuless, adultery fill the land
    is there hope?

The earth beneath us trembles so hard
    her foundations coming loose
I wonder if we all can leave the world behind
    somewhere new?

The internet can pull us in
    connections between us all
So many people are joining together
    are we one?

Can we slow her dizzying speed?
    run away from our future
Would it change the course we set for ourself?
    likely not.

An emerald bird

Feathers glitter and distract
  Green as jewels sparkling under the water's surface
    He dashes up
      He darts down
Sleek and fast, wings flutter in a blur
  Summer sun rages
    Browning grass sways gently
      Three men sit by the road
They are dirty
  Sad eyes smile
    May I smoke?  Cigarette?
      Bloody feet from broken glass
We smoke together
  No words pass
    Languages don't match
      Police men take them away
Emerald bird lands on the wire
  Spiraled with menacing edge
    Distant gunfire
      Bullets rat-tat
Can this be the start of our past?   

Where are you?

They say you're the God of the universe
    But when I look, your face I don't see.

They say I'm supposed to run to your arms.
    But when I look, your face I don't see.


They say Jesus died to forgive my sin.
    But when I look, your face I don't see.


They say Jesus left but will come again.
    But when I look, your face I don't see.


Where have you gone?
What more should I be?
Where are the nails that you took for me?
 
You'll stand with me.
If I can be still.
I'll rest and let you, my comfort be.
 
They say you're the God of the universe.
    Then when I look, you're right beside me.
 
They say I'm supposed to run to you.
    Then when I look, you're right beside me.
 
They say Jesus died forgiving me.
    Then when I look, you're right beside me.
 
They say Jesus left but will come again.
    Then when I look, you're right beside me.

Reasons

For reasons
    I don't understand.

For reasons
    I used to hold your hand.

For reasons
    I used to be your man.

For reasons
    I don't understand.

Crouching

Looking underneath the table.
Balls of dust. Crumbs of food.
Darkness feels its lonlinest.

The boy crouched down to hide his face.
Glares of shame. Words of hate.
Out of his chest he pulled his heart.

He held it up to ponder it.
Pink with life. Clogged with fear.
Then with his teeth he took a bite.

A taste so sweet he wanted more.
Succulent. Drink it down.
Do not share it with anyone.

He ate his fill of tender heart.
No more there. Heart all gone.
Into the hole he put his hand.

His skin grew scales in self defense.
Empty place. Heart once was.
No one must come or they will pay.

The years slip by but no one knows.
Underneath. Darkness feeds.
A wounded chest reveals no pain.

What did you say?

I thought you said you wanted
me to be your man.

I thought you said you would
always hold my hand.

I thought you said you'd travel
with me to foreign lands.

I thought you said you'd be
with me to make a stand.

I thought you said your love
would never make demand.

I thought you said we'd work
to make our love expand.

I thought you wanted me
to come be your husband.

At first I thought for sure
your words were just offhand.

There really is no way
that I misunderstand.

You've told me now quite clearly
so I can comprehend.

The love we once held dear
has now come to an end.

My hatred

Is it wrong for me to hate?

When I see the pain in my children's eyes.

Deep, shaking passion churnes, roiling down deep.
Money.

Sex.

Lies.

Ambition.

Our family had been great.

We had it together and loved each other.

Loyalty and honesty were the values we tried to instill.

Money.

Sex.

Lies.

Ambition.

Your career had to inflate.

You wanted more and sacrificed us.

"Off with their heads," you might as well say.

Money.

Sex.

Lies.

Ambition.

For Hannah, Isaac, and Dave

I cannot say
Why I left you behind

But seeing your face
Now serves to remind

How years have slipped past
With me unaware

Your place in my heart
Has been so long bare

The future will show
The path we must take

All the old habits
Of life we must break

Wounds were inflicted
By them and by me

I burried mine down
Below the dark sea

Time can heal nothing
We have to dig deep

Down into the dirt
Where crawling things creep

I'd like to come back
Your big brother to be

And fill that good role
Expected of me

But I will not beg
Or ask you for more

Than what you can give
From a heart's open door

Perhaps it's too late
My effort too small

Experience shows
Clear words on the wall

My heart will stay here
Should you choose to come

And welcome me in
As part of your home.

How does it appear?

The smokey voice of a party girl
Too many cigarettes cloud her world

A trip to New York, my mind to clear
And settle for me what's seen from here

People on streets with signs proclaim
Hoping for bankers to flee in shame

My co-traveler's far too young to know
What things had been like so long ago.

One life can bridge gaps between now and then
And see the past coming to happen again.

But will I show courage to reveal my sight
Or will I stay silent about what is right?

We do not like our errors to hear
And it is not wise to show our fear.

So on her way this traveler will go
To parties or churches that I cannot know.

My views with me will stay 'till my end
The indifference I show is only pretend.

Her young smokey voice will sound in my ears
To remind me not all is as it appears.