Health

Eat right, live right,

Exercise both day and night,

Don't carouse and run about

Or form bad habits.

Never shout

Or get upset and blow your top,

Avoid those cigarettes and pop.

Keep up with the latest craze,

Miracle medicine to amaze

And keep you young and trim and fit.

Never give up... Never quit.

What the hell does it all mean?

Rag-tag dirty... Squeaky clean...

Does it matter all that much

To need to lean upon a crutch?

Health is just a frame of mind,

Patchwork mentally entwined,

Lightly pulsing through our veins,

Exiting to sad refrains.

 

Aspirations

Reaching for stars is a hobby of mine,

Dreamer's delight, pastime of fools.

Bold aspirations and lofty desires

Lost in the cold cataclysmic pool

Of stark reality, raising its head,

Bringing me back to the here and now.

Yet, not losing sight of the vision before me,

Always exploring the why and the how.

 

Waiting around for good fortune to strike

Is a sad waste of time far too precious to lose.

Choices are plentiful, pathways abound in

Every direction. We need only choose

For the door to swing open and show us the way

To our very own secret desire,

Our pillar of truth, the heavenly star

To which we most humbly aspire.

 

Love

Love survives...

From the dawning of spring

Through the cruel winter's chill,

For the harvest of autumn

And summer's hot swelter,

Touching each season with

Patterned precision,

Steadily charting its altering course.

Weeping with willows...

Bending, not breaking,

Constantly growing

With roots that run deep.

Love is a miracle,

A bold survivor...

Pacing... Enduring...

Keeping its keep.

 

Trust

I put my life into the hands

Of one I trust to be a friend.

No regrets, no second thoughts,

No troubled doubts or fears

Do I find lurking in the shadows

Waiting up around the bend,

No wasted hesitation,

No need for bitter tears.

 

Holding on by finger tips

A hundred stories high,

Confident that you won't let me fall.

Knowing you are there gives me

The courage to get by,

To take the giant step...

To run and leap the wall.

 

Trusting you with confidence,

Knowing that it's true,

There's no mountain we can't climb,

Nothing we can't do.

 

Loyalty

It's getting harder every day

To find a willing soul who'll stay

And give their all in every way

Whenever duty calls their name.

So much a rush to run away

And take the yolk of one who'll pay

To be the molder of the clay.

It's all become a game.

 

Heading out onto the fray,

Picking up on shades of gray,

No sense of morals to obey,

The choices become clear.

Not a case of yea or nay.

Use your heart, not what "they"

Would have you want or do or say.

Choose boldly without fear.

 

Staying put is often wise,

Difficult to understand.

Loyalty is making choices,

Keeping faith at your command.

 

Friendship

Someone you can talk to when

There's no one else to talk to,

And the whole world's turned its back

On you and looked the other way.

Someone waiting in the wings

To offer firm support,

Who always has a kind word when

There's really nothing left to say.

Someone with a shoulder you can

Cry on when your heart is sad,

Whose tears you welcome when

It comes your turn

To be a solace, a safe haven

Or just a sounding board.

Someone who will stand with you

And watch your bridges as they burn.

Sharing joy and sorrow...

Living day by day...

Friends... True friends are treasures

Shining bright to light the way.

 

Compassion

Who will help the weary,

The downtrodden, weak and injured?

Who will be the angel

Who dispenses mercy's boon?

What fool dares to rush right in

To danger's angry jaws

To rescue poor unfortunates?

To soothe and bind their wounds?

People helping people is

What life is all about.

We only have each other in

This helter-skelter world.

A flag to pledge allegiance

Passing by in our parade,

Hand on heart we stand

When true compassion is unfurled.

 

Do we dare to lose compassion?

Can we ill-afford such fate?

Caring is what makes us human,

Guarding us from greed and hate.

Sweet compassion, please deliver.

Spread your pity and concern.

Make your way to every heart

To be a lesson all must learn.

 

Charity

The child was lost and hungry,

Undernourished, underfed.

Tattered rags adorning skin and bone,

A blanket for a bed.

Reaching out with pleading eyes,

No mother to caress or hold

A trembling hand when danger stalks.

No warmth to shield from bitter cold.

 

Great grandfather... 92,

Hardly what he used to be.

Struggling to remember, what was

Once routine now comes and goes.

Slowly... Slower... Slower still.

Patience through necessity

Compounding his frustration.

Fear of dying... Constant woes.

 

Cords are struck. Compassion hums.

A giving spirit sings its' song.

Charity begins at birth and stays

To last a whole life long.

 

Hope

Looking for the good life,

Although clearly undefined.

So hard to be objective when

Subjectiveness is ruled.

Searching for the answers

To the mysteries before us.

Never losing hope... Never being fooled

Into believing we must settle

For some other lesser dream,

Putting goals on hold for

Someone else to pass us by.

Standing firm and holding on,

Avoiding futile schemes,

Keeping hope alive, no lame excuse, no alibi.

Striving to achieve

Seemingly unattainable,

Often dangling from a fraying rope.

Man's predisposition to face the bitter end,

To fight the odds and

Never give up hope.

 

Faith

Believe in tomorrow.

Trust in today.

Take heed out of sorrow.

Learn how to pray.

 

Have faith in your maker.

Keep faith with yourself.

Be giver, not taker.

Keep pride on the shelf.

 

Have hope and ambition

To reach for a star.

Beware of transition.

Be leery of war.

 

Behind every story,

Succeeding or failed,

Faith holds the candle

Of he who prevailed.

 

Laughter

Ha!

Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Tee hee...

Ho Ho.

Hmm...

Laughter's little string of pearls

Trips merrily across the floor,

Swelling with contagious force,

Demanding more, always more.

 

Sweet confusion striking fancies

Deep within a secret well,

Triggering a multitude of charming,

Chiming, ringing bells.

Swells of passion and compassion

Fills the cup to overflow,

Quelling fears and chasing tears

To caves abandoned long ago.

 

Laughter... God's sweet medicine...

Panacea for the soul.

A miracle more precious

Than the wealth of silver and of gold.

 

...Where Miracles Wander

Miracles roamed the earth a million, billion years ago.

It comes as no surprise there's still a few around today.

Relics of the unexplained phenomena expounded

Point by point to no avail,

Their meaning lost along the way.

Earth revolves in time and space.

Mere mortals can't explain the why,

The where, the when it all began.

Conjecture humbly waits its' turn.

Theory poses to expose the truth

In all its' glory,

But theories must be proven

Or else they crash and burn.

 

So, we believe in miracles.

Why not buy the farm?

A shield to raise against all fears...

A quilt to keep us warm.

There is so much our feeble minds

Will never understand. That's why

Miracles accompany the walk of every man.

 

Who Am I?

A question asked by every human

Since the early dawn of time...

A poser echoed through the ages

Both in prose and simple rhyme.

 

Like Valjean in Hugo's epic

Crying out when day was done,

Needing desperately to know...

Who was 2-4-6-0-1?

 

Where does life lead when it's over?

Will there be another side?

Is there only stillness waiting

When we reach the other side?

 

Pondering reveals no answer.

Desperate measure?  No reply.

Still the question haunts and lingers,

Prodding... Probing...

Who am I?

 

Two-Faced Friend

Which mask do you wear tonight

With darkness breaking into light,

Showering a fool's delight

With merriment and mirth?

Will you be a trusted friend,

Musketeers until the end,

Chasing rainbows in the wind,

Blind to principal and worth?

 

Will you turn and fly away

Like some strange angry bird of prey?

Intent that all must go your way

You spread your wings and fly.

So unfaithful... So unkind...

Leaving one to bask behind,

Mellowing in pools of wine...

Wondering, why?

 

Whistling

Smiling Jack Mack was a whistler's whistler,

Any tune, any time, he knew them all.

We always knew when old Jack was coming,

His well-rounded tones floating soft down the hall.

 

Always in fashion his cheerful rendition

Of well-meaning flavor to savor, enjoy,

And keep the sweet memory deep in subconscious,

Like that of a child with his favorite toy.

 

Whistles are cheering

And whistlers happy

Like old Jack Mack as he'd joyfully croon.

Life is too short to deaden with sorrow.

Look to tomorrow and whistle a tune.

 

Going, Going, Gone for Good

Day one... Ground zero...

Naked and afraid.

Empty coffers ready to be filled.

Nothing short of primal instinct

And an unknown spirit,

Soil unfurrowed waiting to be tilled.

Adolescence... Rights of passage...

Gangly, sprouting youth.

Minds all knowing, not to be deterred.

World before you at your feet,

You search for your own truth, while

Secretly you hang on every word.

Pains and pressures of adulthood,

Passing of the torch,

Hoping for a miracle or two.

Sudden realization that it's

Slipping through your fingers,

Wondering if they'll remember you.

Golden dreams mature to let you

Fully realize that

You wouldn't trade it even if you could.

The journey is the treasure, from

Day one until the end we're forever

Going, going, gone for good.

 

Is Anybody Listening?

You've beaten your fist upon your chest,

Banged your head against the wall,

Rang bells 'til the clappers screamed

For mercy from incessant toil,

You've raised your bullhorn to the crowd

In rabble-rousing furtive call,

Ranted, raved and sang your song

Until your blood began to boil.

Every trick at your disposal,

Every sleight of hand device

Employed, developed, cultivated

Makes your cause more interesting.

Stark reality revealing

Facts and figures to suffice.

Now the tricky part concludes.

Is anybody listening?

 

Chasing the Nothing

All too often we run the good race,

Chase the right chase to no avail,

Only to wind up with little or nothing

To show for our effort. No Holy Grail

At the end of our search

Though we've covered each corner,

Probed every crevice

Down each avenue.

Swift and elusive the nothing finds shelter

Away from the probing eyes,

Tucked out of view.

The nothing is always there lurking in shadows,

Living on instinct, primed to survive.

Chasing the nothing is what makes us human.

Reaching for stars keeps our spirit alive.

 

The Local Fare at the Local Fair

Some things, thankfully, never change.

Nice to have constants in our lives.

Like the local fare at the local fair

Where tradition thrives and good times survive.

Every year we saddle up to make our fateful trek

Through old familiar blocks of neighborhoods.

A sojourn of nostalgic measure, habit more or less,

A sampling of sorts of local goods.

Strolling leisurely through the park

Where artisans display their craft,

Music wafting through the air,

A baby cried, a jester laughed.

 

Becoming an observer to a passive fashion show,

Aimlessly we stroll just to get nearer,

Wond'ring what possesses some folks to go out in public.

Do these people even own a mirror?

Fashion statements, I suppose,

Meant to be provocative,

Not judgmental, just amused.

Let folks live as they would live.

Tattoos shine in bold display on

Arms and shoulders, legs and breasts.

Rag tops, flop hats, baby strollers

Roam the midway east to west.

 

Grab some fries and lemonade,

Corn dog, burger on a bun.

One last look, a sweep nostalgic.

Turn and go... The day is done.

 

Sitting On the Edge of the Universe

This insignificant speck of dust

Sitting on the edge of the universe

Is hearth and home to millions of billions,

Billions of trillions and even more.

 

Once ruled by giants, both gentle and fierce,

Erupting from nothing to lush forest green.

In an instant the giants are gone and forgotten,

Traced to a fossil, erased from the scene.

 

Now it is man who resides on the summit,

Cocky and bold with a confident beam,

Filled with a history, guided by memory,

Brash curiosity armed with his dreams.

 

The stalking moon parades through the heavens

Bidding him come to seek out his fate.

Unbridled adventure around every corner

Forbids him from patience, will not let him wait.

 

Never quite knowing what made it all happen,

Theory on theory, he tries to converse.

Wondering what gods collided to leave him

Sitting here on the edge of the universe.

 

Crossroads

Many a life has been

Planned at the crossroads,

Choosing directions

With last minute ease.

Standing with back turned to

Past indiscretions,

Looking for new roads,

Facing the breeze.

Left turn... Right turn...

Right straight ahead...

Up turn... Return,

Back to the womb.

Crossroads beckon,

Prod and confuse,

Crowded theater

Where destinies loom.

So much to live for...

Too much to lose...

We stand at the crossroads

And choose.

 

Survivor

Here's to those who went before

From those they left behind.

Raise a glass to those who can't.

Give them all their due.

We are all survivors of

That ancient human breed.

Revel in the fortune of

The gift they've given you.

 

Guided by ancestral myth,

A driving curiosity

So strong that every fiber seeks

To know the answers to it all.

Never truly satisfied,

Always wanting more,

Needing to know what adventure

Lies beyond the wall.

 

Lovely candle burning bright

Until your flame becomes a ghost,

Leaving other sad survivors

Raising glasses in a toast.

 

Breathing In, Breathing Out

We spend a life with the rise and fall

Of a heaving, sighing, yearning chest,

That ancient human ritual

Of breathing in... Breathing out.

Some great power in its wisdom

Gave to us this simple method,

Put the air in space

And taught our race

What it was all about.

Fortunate we are

It's an involuntary act.

If humans had to think of it,

We all would wind up dead.

But some great power in its wisdom

Planted it subconsciously

Deep within the dark recesses

Of our feeble mortal heads.

 

Sorrowful lamenting,

Understanding without doubt,

Life is done too quickly...

Breathing in... Breathing out.

 

Monsters in the Closet

Hairy, gruesome, tall and ugly,

Lurking in the darkened hallways,

King Kong, Yeti and the Wolfman

Seeking unsuspecting prey.

 

Huddled deep inside my closet,

Waiting for my eyes to close,

Hungry fangs and bloody claws

Prepared to rip my face away.

 

Covers are my sanctuary,

Pulled up high above my head.

Shielded thus in restless slumber,

Waiting for the light of day.

 

Monsters dwell in darkened closets.

Do we face them?  Do we run?

In my youth I ran to cover.

Seems like only yesterday.

 

Who Killed All the Dragons?

What could have happened to the hungry beasts?

The two headed, fire breathing, villainous freaks

Who stalked the poor villagers

Seeking a virtuous virgin

To dine on as sacrifice.

Was it all fantasy? Morbid amusement?

Olden day Norman Bates preying on victims

Too weak to defend themselves,

Spinning its web of entrapment

To close like the jaws of a vice.

Where are the dragons?

What is their story?

Are they in hiding?

Did they disappear?

Don't be deluded, believing they're gone.

Who killed the dragons?

No one.

They are here.

 

Atlantic City

Let me at those one armed bandits...

Pull the lever...

Watch it roll...

Win a fortune... Lose a pension...

Let fly with another spin.

 

Place a bet and pray for seven...

Toss the dice into the pit.

Snake eyes stare back at your wallet

As you drop another fin.

 

Roulette table hypnotizes,

Play a number... Black or red.

As the clicking wheel winds down,

You order up another gin.

 

Lucky blackjack is the ticket.

Bet the farm on twenty-one.

Just another foolish gamble

As you take it on the chin.

 

Strolling out onto the boardwalk,

Empty hands for company.

Thinking, "Next time, maybe next time

It will be my turn to win".

 

Touch

Fingertips trip gently over

Soft and supple skin,

Beckoning response to silent

Questioning, unasked.

Mystery of mysteries,

The power of perception,

Ghost of wisdom ages gone,

The phantom yet unmasked.

 

Teaching just to be alive,

Reaching out to rainbow's end,

Companioning with sight and sound,

Always searching for a friend.

 

Never getting quite enough,

No such trifle as too much,

Walking tall through lives of plenty

Savoring the things we touch.

 

The Crest of the Hill

We climbed the incline slowly,

Hand in hand we made our way.

With even pace we sauntered,

Quiet pauses now and then,

Like a respite from the torrid heat

Of a midsummer day,

Just another peaceful stroll

Arm in arm with my best friend.

 

Now the hill has crested

Underneath our heavy soles.

The level road no longer hides

Our passions and our goals.

They all are stretched before us,

Ours to capture and fulfill.

I'm so thankful you are with me

On the crest of this, our hill.

 

It Happened On Paradise Road

No one knew on that fateful night

What was going to happen on Paradise Road.

The air was stirred electric with

The heat of passion mounting fast.

Two young brave and cocky souls,

Abandoning discretion,

Set out to prove what didn't matter

To anyone but the two of them.

 

Who is quickest off the line?

Who is fastest in the stretch?

Which will reach the guidepost first

With seconds ticking past?

Egos stretched to maximum,

Pride their guiding father,

Betting that their lives will be

Enriched by such a whim.

 

Who could know?

Who could predict

How tragedy could prod and goad?

The toll was heavy on the night

It happened out on Paradise Road.

 

Beauty and Splendor

I thought I had seen it all

In terms of beauty and splendor,

Of earthly delights.

Seen the leopard in chase,

Seen the Rockies... Majestic,

The span of the eagle in flight

Over fields and rivers so wide

That the other side seems

A distant memory.

Seen the simple act of

A nurturing child bounced

Upon it's mother's knee.

I've seen the Big Apple,

The towering pines,

Seen the red sun on the rise,

But none can compare

With the beauty and splendor

I find when I look in your eyes.