alone and dark

when i'm down, on the ground, rolling around,
trying to catch my breath,

i start to see, i mean, really see, the real me,
and it makes me laugh.

i don't know why, i laugh, and not cry, as if my lie,
makes it all better,

i know, wherever i go, high or low,
the clouds will gather.

i deal, with how i feel, by taking a pill,
with my morning meal,

it cheers me up, just enough, to deal with stuff,
and keeps things real.

i'm not bitter, and i'm no quitter, but sooner or later,
something has to give,

i've got to find, some peace of mind, and someone kind,
who cares if i live,

or die.

nice try.

goodbye

A Life, So Full

So cold, so lifeless
No sign of ever having been
Just there, so still.

I remember the stories that mouth would tell.
Of wars fought long ago.
Of good times growing up. And sad.
And what it was like getting old. And slow.

Those hands were once strong, laboring hands.
Lifting, pulling, throwing things.
They were always busy. And teaching.
Showing the importance of work. And responsibility.

His eyes, now closed, were once so full of life.
They saw so much, along the way.
Pain and suffering. And joy.
Laughter and love. And loss.

His spirit is finally with the One who made him.
The One he spoke of, so often.
He would smile. And sigh.
He's home now. And happy.

A life, so full.
He gave, as he was given.
At last, he can rest.

One Of A Kind

Take a look in any direction,
As far as your eye can see.
Behold, in all things, big and small,
The beauty of God's majesty.

Look at the insect, that crawls on the ground,
So intricate, and so organized.
Envy the birds, with feathered wings,
Without effort, they traverse the skies.

Notice the trees, that cover the land,
From the soft pine, to the densest oak.
The life giving water, that flows so freely,
From the raging sea, to the babbling brook.

See household pets, long domesticated,
And wild animals, that fight to remain free.
The list could go on, for days and days,
Of the magnificent things to see.

But the greatest of God's Creation, by far,
Is the one that you see every day.
It's the one that He loves, much more than the rest,
So great was the price that He paid.

You are His child, the apple of His eye,
You are always foremost, in His mind.
Out of ALL His Creation, not one compares to you,
For you were wonderfully made, one of a kind.

why yes i am (thank you for asking)

i have unhitched my car from the train of reality
i have unbuckled myself from the booster seat of common sense
i am no longer waiting for decisions to find me
i will search for them on my journey to deeper clarity

what remains of my mind is made up for now
the usual rules don't apply where i'll be staying
a revelation appeared as a flash in my brain
it was suddenly very obvious that i was no longer sane

how or why it happened is ultimately irrelevant
the fact remains i'm sure my brain has stripped its little gears
whether chemical or electrical or physical no longer matters
as far as i'm concerned my brain has turned into pancake batter

i'm sure that some will say they thought i'd always been this way
but i'm sure there will be others who won't handle it so lightly
i'm quite dreading to tell the family i don't know how they'll take it
i suppose i could just stay quiet and try to learn how to fake it

but no i've got to do the last sane thing i'll probably ever do
i've got to tell them all the truth and nothing but the truth
in the end it doesn't matter how my friends and family react though
it doesn't change the fact that i've become a raving wacko

the end

A Young Life Forgotten

On the seventh second, of the seventh minute, of the seventh hour, of the seventh day, of the seventh week, of the seventh year, of my captivity, the stale taste of abuse, and denial, fell on my lips. Unable to stomach the extent of my circumstances, I vomited my horrid memories onto the cheap, flowery, linoleum covered floor of my 'friend'.

Chlorine bleach, mixed with the contents of my young belly, was enough to make me wretch. To this day, the smell of bleach makes me sick. Forced to clean up my 'mess', I cried uncontrollably, until I was told, very forcefully, to PLEASE BE QUIET. I remember Nat King Cole on the radio. He calmed me down. He still does.

How many times, how many ways, how many 'friends', I have no idea. Just faint recollections smells, tastes, sounds. Feelings of helplessness and guilt. Memories of my younger days are gone. All I have are photos of a little boy, looking lonely, lost, shy, afraid. Perhaps it's better that way.

Some memories deserve to die.

An Ode To Bill's Diner

You left us today,
In a most tragic way,
Without even so much as a warning.

One minute you were fine,
The next, you were gone,
We'll feel the pain, come the morning.

We took you for granted,
We kept passing you by,
Assuming you'd always be there.

Now nothing remains,
Of what you once were,
Why does life have to be so unfair?

We'll grieve and move on,
Our memories may fade,
But you'll always have a place in our hearts.

We'll tell the old stories,
And get lost in the past,
Where no fire can keep us apart.

A Life In The Day

Fade from black, as the Day begins,
The Blue Moon is bright, and full.
Eager to get the work day done, and over,
I drive through traffic, like a fool.

The forecast calls for a beautiful day,
Postcard weather for one and all.
The last hurrah, of a turbulent season,
As Summer slowly evolves, into Fall.

Children in school, will sigh their sighs,
Watching a clock, that seems to be frozen.
Looking out windows, at people scurrying,
Whilst they read the story, of a road not chosen.

Most folks will go through this day, not thinking,
Never seeing how blessed, they truly are.
They follow the crowd, like mice in a maze,
Then, go home at night, and stare at the stars.

My goal for the day, is to make the most of it,
To not let a moment, pass me by.
I want to experience, life at its fullest,
To find pleasure in things, that money can't buy.

As Day fades to black, and a cool wind blows,
The highlights of the day, play back in my head.
I rest assured knowing, I did all I could do,
No moment was missed, no words left unsaid.