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