Rekindling The Flame

Beware the rekindled flame as the wick has already been burnt once

Long ago they were lovers

each day drew them closer

their lives were as one

life itself nothing but fun

Together forever

was what they thought

until the flame

began to flicker

There was an emptiness

a deep pang within

leaving them joyless

even while together

Their eyes began to wander

searching for others

who might bring back

what they had once had together

Their lives

now torn from each other

had gone separate ways

without finding the love they knew

The day came when they crossed paths

sat and talked

they decided to try once again

as lovers

But there was no spark

that could ignite the flame they once knew

as life had trimmed their wicks

too far back

Diggin" For Treasure

Dig anywhere in the earth and you will find a treasure, only you must dig with the faith of a peasant!  ~Khalil Gibran~

It's there to be found

wherever you dig

the treasures abound

I'll tell ya, they're big

One thing you should know

before excavatin'

attitudes everythin'

when talkin' expectation

See diggin' for treasure

has become a lost art

folks keep thinkin' it's money

instead of a start

It's not always about

riches an wealth

appreciate life

you might surprise yourself

Your family and kids

they're a treasure for real

when it comes to pure value

they're a really big deal

If you'll dig for that treasure

with the heart of a peasant

the outcome you'll find

will truly be pleasant

Where True Ugliness Can Be Found

When ones insides are ugly

it shows in their words

when the purpose they have

is to use them as swords

When they ridicule others

and treat them as dirt

it shows just how small that they are

if you're looking for proof it's their own words that assert

It won't matter their good looks

on their outside they've been born

with the way that they act

they'll do naught but draw scorn

In the end no-one will like them

they will be cast away

they must learn to treat others with kindness

or there's a price they will pay

Though many may say

“oh no, that's not me”

if they don't change their ways

they'll learn how speech is not free

For our words they do come

with a great responsibility

not to use them to hurt others

you see they have that ability

Do they want to be lonely

is their goal to be hated

again, if they don't change their ways

then their wish will be sated

Ones words can show

just how ugly they are

and their beauty won't matter

looks don't make one a star

The Prize Won At The End Of War

Nothing I see

is speaking to me

the silence

deafening

won't let me be

Making me crazy

driving me mad

I've had days

in the past

but never this bad

A wee little sound

something to hear

a gentle reminder

other life is still near

Oh how I need it

don't leave me in fear

are they really all gone

someone, please reappear

Has the war taken all

is the face of earth clear

please don't let me find out

I'm the only one here

Now Ain't That Ironic

Them that share

they's unaware

that folks today

ain't sposed to care

They jus keep on givin'

all the days they's livin'

there must be a problem

in what they's believin'

They jus get outta bed

an it enters their head

ta give it all away

they ain't never gonna get ahead

I warn 'em it will be their ruin

but they jus keep on doin'

how's come they can't see

it's themself that they's screwin'

Hell they don't know the score

hold on, there's the door

gotta be them meals on wheels

I don't unerstand why they can't give me more

Blindness

I see said the blind man

as he did with his heart

he had great understanding

he was really quite smart

Always willing to listen

before he would speak

it was more than just hearing

it made him kinda unique

You see so many today

they speak without thought

merely repeating some words

that someone else brought

Their opinion's not theirs

they don't know the facts

with their refusal to see

they've become blind as bats

But this blind man takes time

to choose his own words

considering facts

rather than following herds

So try to see with your heart

who knows what you'll find

you just ain't gonna learn nuthin'

if you choose to stay blind

For The Children

Love and laughter is living

but the lack thereof is pure hell

without them life is totally empty

your spirit stays trapped in a shell

There's no satisfaction

absolutely no joy

and the real cryin' shame

for some it's been like this since they were a boy

When the family's so poor

that food just don't go around

the children do suffer

in ways that astound

The worst part of all

they go hungry at night

with these bellies that ache

they learn life is just one great big fight

It's not fair I tell you

no way it should be like this

why do so many fall through the cracks

what the hell have we missed

This land has the money

and food to go round

why do we let them starve

why has no answer been found

Has man really quit caring

it's like we've just closed our eyes

why ain't it none of your business

go on keep tellin' your lies

You see each one is our brother

and we should be their keeper

when it comes to well being

we must stop being a sleeper

It's time to wake up

about time to help out

shape their mouths in a smile

instead of that God awful pout

Days, How They Pass

The days were always so long, it seemed that they would last forever. The time it took between birthdays or Christmas time an eternity. I guess it was because in our youth those were the times that I would look forward to most. (Patience was was something that had not been learned.) Vacation time may have been the reason, maybe it was for presents that I would be receiving but regardless of which it was, once those times came they would pass quickly and be over. They just weren't like the rest of the year which had been taken up with that dreaded daily grind called school.

How I hated those long days. Having to read and write, study and learn they offered me no fun no enjoyment. (I thought we were supposed to have fun as kids.) It felt like a place that I needed to escape from and graduating my senior year of high school that was exactly what I did. No more of that stuff for me!

No more school for this guy it causes long days and I hated being told what to do. Air Force, here I come. Well I thought that I had escaped. Guess I was still a little young and naive when it came to life in general. More waiting, more long days but now I would have to hurry up in order to wait for anything and everything.

After about 11 years of that, enough was enough and it was time to settle down to living a normal civilian life of working for a living. By this time I had finally realized that no matter what I was doing, time was going to drag on with long days. By this time birthdays and Christmas no longer offered the relief that they had in my youth. Living for the weekend offered hope, only to often be squashed by that last minute announcement that we would have to work on Saturday.

Retirement has come, the days are finally mine to do with as I please. Golf, making labels for friends and writing poetry fill a lot of the time. It really ain't too bad! Something else came along with this extra time I now had to spend as I saw fit. A time to think, a time for memories of my past to move to the forefront. My youth and school with the friends I had. My time in the service and my marriage. Bringing my sons into the world and watching them grow.

You know what's funny, we just celebrated 40 years of marriage and my older son turns 40 on his next birthday. Remember all those long days? It all just seems like yesterday.

Slammed Doors And Burnt Bridges

Slamming doors and burning bridges

they're pretty much the same

once it's done there's no turning back

life becomes a brand new game

The grass that's seen on the other side

though greener it may seem

still needs the same amount of tending

not like what was in your dream

Yeah the land of milk and honey

sure that's what you thought you saw

all things brand new within your view

through your gaze you're held in awe

Taking the step you claim your land

wait don't burn that bridge you just crossed

you slam that door from where you've been

it's all that could be lost

Things don't always work out the way you plan

sometimes you've just gotta retreat

and if you destroy your only pathway back

it's your demise that you could meet

So leave that doorway open

and keep that bridge intact

they could be quite useful in your future

and save you from being trapped

Our Voice Is There To Be Used

I had no voice

till I spoke out

deciding to take a stand

Nor will you

if you don't step up

and deny the silence that they demand

Before we believe

we should question their words

it's important that we understand

If we don't protect

the freedoms we have

it won't be long before they all become banned

Walls

Men often build walls

which bring on their falls

when they insist on keeping their minds closed

Beliefs most unwavering

when they ought to be savoring

the good that they seem to oppose

Their feelings unspoken

as if they were broken

so that they'd always appear quite composed

With emotions held back

as if under attack

such a weakness if bared and exposed

Their authority would be lost

that's much too high of a cost

they're the king and ought not be deposed

So it's not much of a puzzle

why they're flexing their muscle

they're just insuring that their will is imposed

They're now living in a bubble

creating most of their own trouble

it's their foolish pride that should be quickly disposed

If they'd only open their mind

so much less stress they would find

life would improve, now don't you suppose

An Open Door

An open door

can lead to more

than one could ever imagine

From the other side

we'll no longer hide

the riches that were left there abandoned

When opened for you

there's a brand new view

presented that you might now grow

You see life has a way

of stopping you just to say

I've got something that you really should know

You've been put here for others

and meant to treat them like brothers

no matter their color or creed

So step through that door

whether you're rich or you're poor

minister to all as we can all meet someones need

It's time to make a new start

open the door to your heart

by doing so your light and life will then glisten

You see it's not out of fashion

to share a little love and compassion

sometimes that need is for someone to just listen

Don't Stifle The Voice

If the voice of reason

come what may

one day finally

goes astray

and falls in line

with this angry earth

what peace we have

will lose all worth

wars will grow

more killings at home

our world laid waste

a valley of dry bone

it's a picture of death

when reason doth flee

without that voice

what hope have we

Arguing Can Be So Much Fun

Should I be civil

or should I fight back

peacefully protest

or mount an attack

There is no real winning

when men go to war

there's really no point to it

what the hell is it for

When men have a difference

and neither will budge

what is argued doesn't matter

it won't give them a nudge

Their minds are made up

and the hollering starts

respect then gets lost

and reasoning departs

There's no wonder

there are so many killings today

folks have forgot how to talk

it's just no longer their way