We Are Who We Are

We are who we are

we cannot be another

and for those who do try

it's the truth they do smother

They're weak in their spirit

insecure is what they are

and with these lies that they live

often become quite bizarre

Always in character

and never themselves

while who they were born as

collects dust on the shelves

There will be no true happiness

and no lasting joy

what you'll reap is a sadness

is that what you want from this ploy

You'll only do yourself harm

when you go and hide

the acceptance you need

has to come from inside

Live as yourself

just be who you are

if others don't like you

it's their loss by far

There's nobodies love

that you will need more

than your own from your heart

from down deep in your core

The Oak Leaf

I am the fallen leaf

of the mighty oak

I have a sad

and troubled

existence

I lose my color so quickly

turning brown as the dirt

of the forest floor

of which I wish to return to

I realize I am not

as other fallen leaves

for they

break down

decay

and return

to our mother

the earth

becoming part of

the rebirth of the foliage

within this great forest

But I am the leaf

of the oak

and must wait

an extra year

my blades curled up

as if they were

fingers interlaced

on hands in prayer

to once again

become a part

of the life I once was 

Happy New Year 2014

2014 well here it comes

folks are hungry and homeless

and for many it seems

the situations quite hopeless

The fat cats still gaining

while the poor go without

and the government ignoring

the people as they shout

We're hungry

We're cold

Will this new year

merely mimic the old

The money that's spent

killing folks far away

how's that protect us

have we gone that astray

The needs of our people

really ought to come first

feeding our hunger

quenching our thirst

Can't we stop all the war

Can't we help heal our sick

Why don't we put roofs over some heads

c'mon we've got plenty of brick

And this killing at home

the violence we have

do we not have a cure

is there really no salve

But Hey, Happy New Year

Go Head Shout Whoo-Hoo

But I Gotta Ask

Happy For Who

What A Waste

As in a garden

which has not been tended

the flowers

wilt

and leave behind

a land laid waste

So too are the lands of a king

where the peoples needs are not met

the people

starve

leaving behind

a kingdom laid waste

Too Many Thoughts?

My thoughts

quite often confuse me

aggravate, upset

and abuse me

There is

no release

they leave me

no peace

Must they go on

like a drone

why can't they

leave me alone

But a life

without thought

would it bring

total peace

Maybe so

for some others

they might get

their relief

But this existence

I have

with an

overactive mind

I wouldn't

change it at all

for all the gold

I could find

For what good

would gold be

if my mind

couldn't think

I'll tell you

quite frankly

me thinks

life would stink

To Hold or To Mold

There is a time for to hold

and a time for to mold

the direction

that we travel through life

As our paths can be hard

often littered with shards

our journeys

can be filled up with strife

We can be safe with the hold

unto our days of old

never changing

and stagnating within

Or we can go and behold

the adventures of mold

on the new road

we're about to begin

These new roads may bring hazards

and many unknowns

they also bring growth

as we travel new stones

A life without growth

is a terrible thing

when stagnation sets in

no joy it will bring

Procrastination

I thought

I would wait

till tomorrow

but when what I thought

was tomorrow had come

I was surprised

to find

what I'd waited for

was today

now you may think this dumb

I then went about

the days business

knowing I'll have to

wait one more day

and when tomorrow

does get here

I'll have another chance

to put it off 

for yet one more day

How Free Are We

Freedom
or tolerance
five of them here for us
assembly, speech, press, religion
the right to petition the government
we really aren't totally free
simply tolerated
by what we call
freedom



The freedom to assemble
yes we can do this
with a permit of course
or at our own risk



Then there's that speech
we can say all as we want
long as we don't incite violence
or behind bars they may haunt



The freedom of press
what a joke that that is
as editors won't publish
if your opinion's not his



That freedom to worship
well that's guaranteed
only not by our society
if you ain't drinkin' what they feed



That thing called petition
redressing grievance we use
only puts it back in the hands
of the ones who abuse



So are we free or just tolerated
it's for each one of us to measure
I guess it comes down to
just what we do treasure



We'll always be subject
to the rules and laws of some others
trust me, it won't be so bad
if we would treat all like brothers

Hey, It's The First

There's something today

that folks just don't understand,

the idea of free speech

and how it affects common man

Folks believe it protects them

to say what they please

“Hey it's the first amendment

and that's what it guarantees”

They believe it pertains

to their every day life

and that saying whatever they will

ought not bring them no strife

“My boss he can't fire me

my neighbor can't sue

I can say what I want

and that's just what I'll do”

Wake up, the first amendment

it ain't speaking to you

it limits the government

with what they can't do

It's the government folks

they cannot make a law

that abridges your speech

not about a work place blah blah

It has nothing to do

with the employer you have

so if what you say is out of line

you just might need a salve

You can be fired for cause

whether you like it or not

their reputations at stake

you can't put them on the spot

But if you feel it's been wrongful

to the courts you can go

just don't scream first amendment

as it just isn't so

Daydreams

Imagination

our escape

from reality

a voyage

of mind

and spirit

to a place

of comfort

or adventure

giving us

freedom

from our

daily strife

while also

allowing us

to become

inventive

within our

daydreams

How Do We Handle The Homeless

For those who wish to reach a soul

homeless bodies first must be made whole.

Their hunger must be satisfied

shelter given from the cold outside.

But if all you have to give are prayers

you've not ministered to their deeper cares.

They're hungry, thirsty, cold and ill

physical needs must come first, that's what we must fulfill.

Following this they may be ready to listen

and if you're truly sincere your light then will glisten.

Where Is Their Heart

Their heart

their compassion

have men become so cold

that they walk on without seeing

the needs of the poor who live on the streets

care not that children go hungry

how can they live like that

where the hell is

their heart

Anger

Anger

is a poison

it will eat up your soul

you are giving your life away

if you allow it to reside within

bitterness will take you over

joy can't enter your heart

cast away your

anger

People

without any joy

surrounded by anger

only see darkness around them

as they walk through life and along it's path

with the light of the world hidden

there is no happiness

for anger filled

people

Giving

Giving

to others needs

can be as rewarding

to he who gives as he who gets

while giving you receive a special joy

one that fills up a heart and soul

all from a thank you smile

you receive from

giving

Trust Me, Trust You

Trust me

would that be wise

you don't really know me

yet you feel that you can trust me

your expectations must not be too great

you must wish for disappointment

or is it a faith in mankind

that leads you to

trust me

Trust you

would that be wise

I don't really know you

and you believe I should trust you

can I really place my life in your hands

wait you have trusted me with yours

you have believed in me

your faith tells me

trust you

Mutual trust and respect person to person

should be the norm but as we see day to day

that this only happens in a perfect world.

If we could start as a people with the respect

portion of how we treat others, the trust will

fall into place where it belongs.

Yesterday Today Tomorrow

It was

just yesterday

my life was up side down

the confusion beyond belief

not able to handle daily problems

the frustration made me break down

she really bit me hard

an awful day

it was

Today

awakening

brought with it a new peace

greeted by a different scene

able now to relax with a new mind

able to understand what's past

drinking in that new peace

my mission for

today

With life

comes tomorrow

what it will bring to me

will only be known once it's here

worrying today brings back yesterday

I will not be bitten again

leaving tomorrow be

I will move on

with life

Today

Today

yes the present

is really all we have

yesterday is gone forever

tomorrow is not found except in dreams

we should relish all that we have

lucky to be alive

we celebrate

today

The Optimist

Always

an optimist

seeing the positive

is ever ready to find good

in everything that is put before him

he's constantly moving forward

never looking behind

he sees beauty

always

Love Comes

Love comes

touches your heart

at least you think it has

you give your all to your new love

then awaken one day and it's over

finding your new love has left you

theirs was infatuation

now it's fear when

love comes

Go With The Flow

Is it wise

to spit

into the wind

Does rain fall

contrary to the

winds direction

Would it be smart

to attempt

to swim up river

Do logs simply float

up river

against the flow

There was a time

man knew

that he had to wait for the tide

There is a natural flow

throughout our world

an easier path to tread

Man depended

on that natural flow

to move him through life

Though he has witnessed

the lessons of nature

all about him

He often chooses

the hard road

against the flow

Choosing to go

through the bramble

rather then along the road

Making his own life

harder and

more complicated

Simply because

he refuses to

go with the flow

Diving For Joy

We have

expectations

some are unreasonable

that go beyond our normal means

setting goals that are unachievable

causing a great disappointment

killing self confidence

ruining what

we have

Wanting

disappointed

for lack of obtaining

those things we were not meant to have

things that would only bring disappointment

people need a satisfied heart

why do we choose to live

disappointed

wanting

Of life

becoming hard

why look outside ourselves

the pain comes from wrongful desire

not being satisfied with what we have

wanting things we have no need of

always looking for more

is that the spice

of life

The spice

real happiness

does not come from our toys

yes they bring joy for the moment

but we tire of toys as they become old

yet we still look there for our joy

it is within our hearts

that we will find

the spice

Dive in

the waters fine

like the submariner

we must dive deep into ourselves

if we wish to find true and lasting joy

that which is outside of ourselves

can leave without warning

protect you joy

dive in

The Truth

The truth

brings a lesson

one that appears to hurt

yet it is not the truth that hurts

but the fact that we've ignored it too long

that brings us our pain and sorrow

why do we as people

choose to ignore

the truth

Make The Best Of Today

The future

depends

on what we do

with the present

I saw these words

and thought it wise

to remind us all

of one great prize

We leave behind

when we do not

live this day

with all we've got

A day of joy

our spirit filled

not of regret

with our milk spilled

For going on

to face tomorrow

is so much easier

without the sorrow

So once again

I beg of you

don't live your days

as in a stew

Shed your anger

don't be bitter

catch up with life

don't be a sitter

Life moves on

of this I have no doubt

if you don't move with it

you'll be without

Follow that road

around the next curve

you just might find

that joy you deserve

The Harvest

Autumn

the harvest

a time to reap

that which

was sown

in the late spring

and early summer

The earth

has worked hard

to bring

the blessing

of sustenance

to us and

our families

With hopes

that it will be enough

it becomes

time to rest

and enjoy

the fruits

of our labor

While we watch

magically

the leaves of autumn

put on a show

for our enjoyment

turning many colors

The colors

so beautiful

They then

begin to fall

They pass by

my window

and I am reminded

winter

will soon arrive

Yet now

while still

in the

autumn

of my life

there is still

time to enjoy

the fruits

of the

harvest

Anger

Anger is

a poison

that will eat away

your soul

If you let it

live within

your life will ne'er

be whole

It must be

gotten rid of

and be totally

cast aside

If you don't

your happiness

will run from you

and hide

A person without happiness

seldom sees the light of day

as darkness clouds their vision

all along their way

Their life becomes an awful mess

when there's no joy within

so when it comes to anger

we must needs grow some thicker skin

I don't mean to sound uncaring

as emotions we all have

but if we let them get the best of us

to man there's no known salve

A Victim Of His Madness

He was taken

by a flickering madness

One that came upon him

without warning

It seemed to come

and go at a hearts beat

and there was no awareness

of his changes left behind

It might have been

for days at a time

At other times

only for seconds

Whether days or seconds

when he returned from wherever

his madness had taken him

A great depression came upon him

Without any knowledge these trips

There was a feeling

deep within

That he had another life

It left him longing to know

Who he was

While also having a great fear

to find out the truth

The day came

when he could no longer

live with this feeling

His depression had won

He had given in

Gave up

And left

To return no more

Getting Away

To get away

even for just a day

would not be

a really bad goal

Getting away just to play

what a great way

of relaxing our minds

and making us whole

We should exit the race

find a wide open space

letting it go

and following our heart

For there's a time and a place

we must wake up to face

that relaxation

is where we should start

But what do I know

I sit here a typin'

not payin' attention

to that which I'm hypin'

You'd think I'd wake up

and take the day off

wait, maybe I will

later, I'm off

Don't Let The Seasons Of Life Pass You By

“My child arrived just the other day

he came to the world in the usual way”

Harry Chapin wrote these words

they should have been a lesson

The father was away when

his son took his first steps

he missed the first words spoken

these moments were gone forever

never to return

As in Harry's song

I too missed my sons

taking their first steps

speaking their first words

It was the same for me

as it is with most fathers

There was a living to be made

to provide for my family

That meant that the family

would fall in line

behind my responsibility

to provide

Sacrifices would have to be made

I thought

Some how I didn't realize

that these sacrifices

would affect them as much as me

Though I was not there at times

they still learned from me

The lessons were not necessarily good

It was not I alone who missed out

on the lives of my sons

They too missed out on mine

The seasons passed by

and my sons grew

into men

and gone off to join

the world of responsibility

In many ways

they became just like me

I was there when both were born

retirement has made me available

to them now

But there is a huge gap

between these times

There are some good memories

but there was more time missed

Don't let the seasons of life pass you by

Winter Streets

He was a poor man

Clothed in rags

The dirt and filth

of the streets

had not only taken toll

of his clothing

but his body as well

Emaciated as he was

with little to eat

he had found his way

into a back alley

to escape the wind

and frozen temperatures

that had come with winter

to the city

What he found

was unbearable

for him to look upon

A dog huddled

in a far corner

Barely skin and bones

could be seen

The dog

shivering

looked up in despair

Lonely

Hungry

Frozen

On the brink of death

Tears formed

and ran down his cheeks

As he laid down

the dog didn't snarl

or growl

This poor man was accepted

He gave the dog

the last of his water

His last few crumbs of bread

And his warmth

As they spent their

last few moments

upon this earth

together

Their Beauty Is In Their Eyes

The eyes

the mirrors or the soul

Within them

you see into another's heart

It is there

that the very spirit of man

comes forth

from his heart

to the surface

His love and compassion

His sadness and longing

His joy and happiness

Is on display

for all the world to see

If you wish to see mans beauty

gaze into his eyes

What you see

will be

his heart

The Days Come And Go

The days come and go

what they'll bring

we don't know

it's always a mystery

until they arrive

and one of these days

while we're still alive

we'll wake up to find

a most marvelous surprise

as we look in the mirror

into our own eyes

we'll see a great truth

and our we'll realize

our very best friend

who has given us drive

has been living within us 

all of our lives

Don't Go Changin'

Nobody likes me

Everybody hates me

I'm gonna go eat worms

So do I change for them

or do I stay who I am

Do I live in a manner

that they'll accept me

An existence based on lies

untrue to mine own self

It's sounds so much better

than the life I have now

But they still laugh

They call me a fake

I still don't fit in

There's another group I can try

maybe they'll believe my white lie

if I can become someone else

I'll no longer be left on the shelf

I'll be part of the group

be with the in crowd

accepted I'll be

and I'll shout it out loud

But that didn't work

well it did for a while

but lately when they look at me

I see a strange smile

kinda like when the others did see

the facade I'd put on

now they're laughin' at me

Where do I go

what will I do

lately I'm feelin'

like an old worn out shoe

where will I find

the acceptance I need

“try looking inside

from your heart you should feed”

The voice had come strong

the message was clear

the answer so simple

I was knocked on my ear

I remembered the start

of a song I'd once love

I could hear the words now

as they came from above

"Don't go changing, to try and please me

You never let me down before

Don't imagine you're too familiar

And I don't see you anymore

I would not leave you in times of trouble

We never could have come this far

I took the good times, I'll take the bad times

I'll take you just the way you are"

That's when i decided

it was all inside me

to accept who i was

and always would be

Lyrics ~ Billy Joel

A Book By It's Cover

Their love

short lived

for it was held in their eyes

The attraction

so strong

it just couldn't be wrong

Yet it died

The changes they thought

they could make in each other

were too many

for either to accomplish

It was like choosing

a book from the shelf

the cover was so appealing

I guess I'll never understand

why some feel

that they can change the words

a book holds inside

Never Lose Your Song

We were younger

full of as they say

“piss and vinegar”

there was nothing

that could stand in our way

We listened

to The Beatles sing

“when I find myself in times of trouble”

we found ourselves self reliant

not needing Mother Mary to come to us

We were strong then

our whole life ahead of us

nothing could stop us

from forging ahead

sometimes in a rebellious manner

The songs were entertaining

the words didn't really matter

the beat made us dance though

the music made us feel good

it gave us life

Then, somewhere along the line

we forgot our youth

we traded it in for news of the world

bringing to us the troubles

that came with the times

The singing and dancing disappeared

The love of life seemed to wane

Was this our destiny, to be depressed unto death

Was it time to look for Mother Mary to come to us

Sing on old one

there's a life to be danced to

a song to be sung

it shall lift up your spirit

once again make you young

Time and Tide

Time and tide

wait for no man

we cannot stop time

nor control any tide

yet neither can wash true love away

Accept Yourself!

Why is it we seek

the acceptance of others

before accepting ourselves

Caring more about what they think

and what they feel about us

while going out of our way

looking to please them

Lying to ourselves

Not believing

We are special

We are important

Just as we are

Those who we seek attention from

will not live with us

for our lifetime

as we will

If we wish to live with ourselves

we must learn to accept ourselves

for who we are

rather than

trying to become

accepted

Living a lie

I Live Beneath Your Bed

I live beneath your bed

my purpose to cast fear

to whisper in your ear

in the middle of the night

delivering great fright

my breath upon your face

don't bother running I'll give chase

you see there's no escape

as I always change my shape

The direction that I'll come from

you'll never know

You can fight me all you want

try to hide to no avail

as I'll find you anywhere you go

yes, I am always on your tail

So give it up, just call it quits

why not end this great frustration

there is no fear quite like what's here

alive in your imagination

Enlightening Words

There are words

that we've spoken

and words

that we've written

that have helped another to see

It's as if we have shed a new light

upon their path

aiding them

as they travel though life

This is a wonderful thing that we do

but it would be a shame

if we did not allow these words

to brighten our paths as well

Heartbreak

Once the flame dies

a smoldering continues

within the ashes

left behind in that pit

which held the fire

empty of fuel

the heart burns no more

sorrow

sadness

and pain

are all that remain

Thank God For The Drip

Morning, the rain has stopped

leaving behind a constant drip falling upon the sill

other than the creak of my chair

and the sound of the keys as I type

it is the only sound keeping me company

Without them

the silence would be

deafening  

Consider The Candle

Consider the candle

chasing away the darkness

a blessing to those who need light

at its very core is a wick

the candle only becomes useful

when its core is aflame

that fire is its life

without that fire

it serves no purpose

it helps no-one.

At the very core of man

is his spirit.

If his core has no fire

if his spirit is not alive

can he serve any useful purpose

for mankind?

Living In A Fantasy World

Moving away

from todays world

filled with it's

hate

was

and stress

I find myself

moving inward

toward a place

some consider

a fantasy world

A place

without hate

A place

filled with love

A place

without confrontation

A place

with respect

A place

with no wars

A place

of peace

A place

where the stress'

of todays world

cannot harm

my spirit

Am I hiding

you bet

for here I am safe

in a wonderful place

that's filled my heart

with joy

Ever, Never and Always

Ever and never are two terrible words

there are times we have to eat them

as the twists and turns of life

take us places we hadn't known existed.

They can be used to describe that

something hasn't happened yet.

We can see where we've been before,

but we don't know what the future holds.

Where it will take us and how we will get there

we are blind to, they are a mystery to us.

How many have said that they would never love again

only to find someone who

would renew their love.

How many have said that their love would never change

only to find that their love was infatuation,

lasting only for a short season.

I will always

I will never

It's forever

These words are a danger to us

when we let pride get in the way.

We've used them

We were wrong

We must move on

Life shouldn't be ruined

by words spoken in haste

with no understanding

of the joy we could waste.

There are times in our lives

we must plot a new course

and move to new pastures

without a hint of remorse.

For life with its twists

and its turns we will grow

as we flow with the changes

a new person we'll know.

But don't be afraid

it will be for the best

don't let those absolutes hinder

is my simple request.