Benghazi or Bush

Embassy deaths

Benghazi claimed four

but when W. had charge

there were fifty-six more

It was the fault of that woman

was the chant of the congress

when cutting her budget

was their version of progress

Investigations ensued

they called for her head

it proved it their own fault

and the scandal was dead

But they tried once again

to prove it her fault

wasting taxpayer money

drawn from the vault

It became too late to quit

giving it many more tries

misleading the public

with congressional lies

When will they quit about Clinton

and investigate Bush

I know it's just politics

another ambush

We Have Met the Enemy

Vietnam war

the U.S. whore

the CIA

they had to play

too many lost lives

and widowed wives

Protests at home

they weren't alone

they were in the streets

at rallies and meets

the lies we were fed

now at home more dead

Seventy-eight the fourth of May

students lay dead on that dark day

their minds were spoken

the lines then broken

the result of this protest

too hard to digest

The national guard

they came down hard

a simple mistake

put lives at stake

Kent State spoke out

then shots rang out

and there were four dead in Ohio

Black, No Cream or Sugar

It's morning

the night grew late

exhaustion

seemed was my fate

These open eyes

I so despise

I turn from the mirror

it tells no lies

They're oh so red

inside I'm dead

why did I ever

leave the bed

But it matters not

I must start the day

put on that face

that says I'm OK

Show the world

there is a way

in this game of life

I'm still in play

there's more to be done

I just can't give up

I know I'll feel great

after my second cup

Chocolate, The Final Answer

What they declare

is that life is unfair

so let me clear the air

it's their lack of care

in the attitude they wear

as they're going nowhere

making life a nightmare

It's an awful affair

as they're not even aware

they've stepped into a snare

and they're wishing to share

their life of despair

naming you as their heir

to reside in their lair

So please if you dare

sit down, take a chair

and rather than glare

let me take you elsewhere

so that you might forebear

and not run off somewhere

because of this scare

Eat you some chocolate eclair

The Day His World Disappeared

Lost

confused

I know not my own mind

the day plods on

I cannot keep up

as soon as I see where I am

I am gone

it seems as if to some other dimension

a whole different world

one where I find so little in common

that my understanding is as I said

lost

confused

Alone

I feel no-one is there

for guidance

for consolation

to lead me back to the familiar places

that seem to have been left behind

to that safe place of in my mind

that holds on to my sanity

To return

even for a moment

then I would not feel

so lost

nor confused

as to who I am

and where I belong in this life

Held captive

in the emptiness of this place

my days without meaning

have led to places of darkness

ones that I wish to forget

yet they linger

How to move on

Which turn is to be taken

Is there any path that leads home

to the world I once was a portion of

tiny though I was

I was part of what made up the whole

There was purpose

There was reason

There was a feeling of sanity

of understanding

a closeness

with no confusion

during those times

and in that place

I never felt lost  

An Eye For An Eye

An eye for an eye

leaves everyone blind

vengeance is always

best left behind

To repay evil with evil

cannot balance a scale

it's just amplified evil

doling out one more fail

Things are only made worse

when you follow that course

why do men still believe

they're immune to this curse

Will man ever learn

or let his soul burn

while anger within him

continues to churn

It's time to wake up

repay evil with kind

your reward is within

as it brings peace of mind

Breaking the circle

preserving our sight

it may not be easy

but well worth the fight

A Place to Rest

People ranting

raving

poisonous anger and frustration

surfacing

on the very edge of violence

Bitterness

bringing it forth

Sorrow enters my heart

for their lack of peace

The longer these poisons

are allowed to reside within

to imprison us

the longer we suffer

Joy and happiness

remain locked away from us

Anger must be let go of

bitterness released

frustration can be quelled

Forgetting is not always necessary

but forgiveness a must

many don't realize

forgiveness benefits no one

more than themselves

Letting anger, frustration and bitterness go

frees the heart and soul

from our self made prisons

that deprives us

of the joy and love

that is intended for our lives

Forgiveness is a reprieve for the heart

a tonic for the very soul

it renews a mans spirit

It gives us a place to rest

From Heart to Paper

There's poetry here in my heart

the trouble is gracing the paper

no words do flow unto my pen

my mind contains nothing but vapor

Thoughts so jumbled

I cannot think

from this emptiness

my heart doth shrink

To be reborn

to come alive

those lovely words

I must revive

To write again

to share this heart

it's what I must do

how do I start

Words on paper

not making sense

they're not fulfilling

they make me tense

There's a dam within

holding back the flood

yet I plod on

as if through mud

I know they'll come

this drought will end

the words will flow

once again be penned

Rejoicing now

as the words return

from heart to paper

they begin to churn

They're like a taste of honey

blessing the soul

for now as they flow

I again feel whole

His Eyes Ached

His eyes ached

his vision now blurred

it was like when steam

created by scalding hot water

coats a mirror

Life was a drag

was this how it was to end

would he simply fade away

as the sunlight at dusk

slide below the surface

as the sun itself sets

There was a time

that he was well

felt strong

and had a feeling of purpose

he had a dream

Those days were gone

his dream was beyond reach

it vanished in a haze

The warm air

escaping the dryer vents

it was all he had to keep him warm

it smelled of softener sheets

his eyes ached

Memorial Day

Memories of those passed

not confined to the few

hearts broken through loss

Taken by wars

on the battle fields

and on our the streets

by both malicious

and accidental means

In any way that they leave

the pain of their absence

is not all that is left behind

for they have given us

the good times of their childhood

the awkward moments

of adolescence

and the pride we find

in calling them

friends and family

This memorial day

our minds are brought to both

the hard times and the good

Our tears

a mixture of

sadness and joy

Forgiveness or Bitterness, it's Your Choicde

I've written of forgiveness

so many times

sometimes more prose

other times more in rhymes

but one things for certain

it's what you must do

and it's not really for them

it's mostly for you

Letting loose of your anger

will comfort your soul

free up your heart

and in the end makes you whole

but if you hold tight

on to your bitterness

you'll be cheated of joy

and won't find happiness

They're Not Invisible

They are in the alleys of our cities

in the parks of our small towns

and under bridges

even in many tiny villages

Their cries for help go unheard

as if they have no voice

More often than not

they are ignored

as if they are invisible

Yet they are there

and in need

Is there a point to life

when all that exists in the heart is despair

when basic human needs

are only delivered for a very short

and temporary moment

when any relief and happiness

is shallow enough

to be washed away in the next

What point is there when

depression

is all you have

Life should be full

real and honest

delivering joy to the heart

encouragement to the spirit

peace to the soul

and a satisfaction to the stomach

The streets seldom provide for these needs

Governments attempt to criminalize people

for a homelessness

that is beyond the control

of these people who have lost all hope

and have been reduced to life in the streets

for the greed of the super rich

and an ever growing lack of care

for those we should be treating

as brothers and sisters

When did we cease as a nation

to be “for the people”

How did our government

get to the point of turning away from the people

to serve the rich above all others

Churches

regardless of their denominations

or religions

claim they are there to do Gods work

Since when has it been Gods work

to leave children hungry

cold, lonely and in the streets

Since when has it been Gods work

to treat other humans as vermin

because they have been dirtied on the surface

because of a life of hardship

have different beliefs, customs or life styles

So many do so little

they are the sayers

There are a few that do all they can

they are the doers

The doers

some are believers

others are not

the doers

have hearts

broken for those in need

Where governments and religions

now stand in the way

of help for these people

made of the same clay

giving a voice to the homeless

so they might have their say

the doers step in

and help as they may

Listen

There is a stream

that carries the music of life through the forest.

Ever calming the soul and spirit

of the creatures beneath the canopy above.

As I sit by waters side,

my toes being kissed by its current

I find an unexpected blessing

that was ever there for me.

All that was needed

was for me to accept it

To get here I left a world ravaged by

a rushed and impatient society.

Its greed and lack of kindness

has taken its sad toll of men.

It would have owned me

had I not come to this place I now sit.

Far away from that world

free of stress, in true comfort.

A place more tranquil

than one could ever imagine.

The thoughts of the world I have left

have been washed from my mind.

My soul, my very spirit

has grown new ears.

My heart has opened

peace and joy have entered.

I am one with the forest.

The stream flows through me.

I am filled with its music.

Here in the Richest Nation on Earth

He lay helpless in the gutter

so many people walking by

he was treated as if invisible

he could see them avert their eyes

was it his tattered clothing

the gaunt face of hunger he wore

they ignored his plea for help

what has made them immune

to their hearts

you would swear

they were born without one

how is it that they have so little care

for those who have needs

that they can no longer provide for themselves

so many who's only crime

was that they were the working poor

sentenced to life on the streets

the homeless

who have fallen through the cracks

here in this land of plenty

this country that spends so much

in support of other countries

while criminalizing the results

of their own greed

here in the richest nation on Earth

The Beating Goes On

Violence begets violence, hate begets hate

this issue must end before it's too late

it's one thing to spank, quite another to beat

whether its done at home or out in the street

public embarrassment just angers your kid

resentment will grow of which you'll never be rid

families then broken bonds forever lost

public beatings have a terrible cost

this circle exists and there is no denying

in the end what you'll find is a parent who's crying

wondering why their kids have lost all respect

when their beatings have been a form of neglect

sparing the rod is not spoiling the child

when it's most often the rod that makes the youth wild

parents wake up, if it's fear that you want

what you will gain are regrets that forever will haunt

your child needs you to be their greatest hero

don't treat them in a way that you appear as a zero

the mother in Baltimore in that brief little session

has taught to her son a truly terrible lesson

there's a form of discipline, one that's way over the line

that when their child misbehaves, they've learned that beatings are fine

you see beatings get passed down to the next generation

when the kids beat their own kids, it's a regeneration

nobody's been listening, the problem's not gone

the circle continues and the beating goes on

Still on the Bus

Been riding the bus

ever since I first can remember.

So many drivers.

So many different fellow riders.

Each and every one

totally individual.

Sure, they may have had some things in common

but no two were exactly alike.

Everyone had something,

it may not have been much,

but there was something about them that

changed me,

molded me,

made me who I became.

Right now I'm still riding that same bus.

I'm still changing every day.

I've not seen any purpose

in ending my ride at this time.

Some day the bus will reach it's final destination.

My ride will end.

My hope is that I've made a difference along the way.

They Come, They Go

They come into our lives

then sometime later they go

just what brought us together

there's no way to know

We were molded and shaped

as we walked side by side

strangers became friends

during the times our lives coincide

There is one thing that I'm certain of

for the time they've been here

every moment spent together

should be the times we hold dear

Powerless

I wished to be free

Within me a war was raging

My feeling was that I had no control

over who I was

I was powerless to break free

from the chain my past had become

Had I been living a lie

for too long of a time

Was I even the same person

as when I was young

I never really did like

the direction and activities

of those who I had called my friends

Why was being like them

the direction I had chosen

for the way I wanted to see myself

Why was their acceptance

so damned important

I have enslaved myself

to an image

Why had I not given the truth a chance

to set me free

Man's Wishes

Man's wishes are oft as he fishes

though he may cast many lines

he can only reel in one at a time

Ashes To Ashes

Ashes to ashes

dust to dust

today's people are angry

and its for violence they lust

blood being spilled

on earths very crust

with a system that's deafened

and no longer just

Is it too late

to change how men think

I hate that we're standing

this close to the brink

I can't put the blame

on the whiskey they drink

when it's the attitudes they're taught

that really does stink

Filled up with hate

riddled with fear

for that which is different

approaching too near

and they don't see the problem

that's one thing that's clear

seen in their favorite activity

their refusal to hear

Ashes to ashes

dust to dust

badges now tarnished

as if covered with rust

weren't these the people

we were taught to trust

why must the good shake their heads

in utter disgust

The Shedding of Tears

There are no roads toward closure

when your family is taken

a piece of you dies

as your soul has been shakin'

The hole left behind

can never be filled

even when justice is served

you'll not really be thrilled

Your sadness will visit

throughout your years

but you'll find you can make it

through the shedding of tears

The Road to Peace is an Open Heart

Bigotry, hatred

the road to discord

bringing terrible deeds

with the ugliest words

People are people

we all share this earth

we all have a purpose

we all have a worth

We never know when

we'll have need for another

some day we must wake up

and see that all men are brothers

Red, yellow,

black, white and brown

no matter their race

should not be put down

Gay, straight,

believers or not

whether they're male or female

not confined to a spot

We've no right to treat people

who are different from us

with our ways and words

that throw them under the bus

It says “all men are equal”

but that's not how folks are treated

and it's this lack of respect

that's caused peace to be defeated

Wake up my friends

and seal a new fate

learn to love one another

before it's too late

If you're afraid

you'd not know how to start

it's really quite easy

just open your heart