The Poet's Voice Is Reborn - with audio

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The verses do not speak
When the sun is dull and weak
Words have nothing to say
When the sky is cold and gray
The intellect flees again
Eyes overflow their dam
Swirling current in the belly
Heart pumping willi nilli
Calm rolls in after the storm
The poet's voice is reborn

How Love Begins - with audio

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A girl and I went diving under the clear blue sky
On a pond, set round by fields, of barley, wheat and rye

She found there a family of ducklings, their little feet paddling
While tiny toads hopped across our path, brown, slow and dawdling

Gulls and hawks flew overhead and scurried away the lizards
Children’s voices in the hills nearby were like the chirping of songbirds

Beetles crept with each step under vineyards high above
The girl took my hand and smiled at me as we walked along in love

The blossoms of many a sage were orange, and white and purple
We held each other closely exchanging words and kisses special

Petals blue, yellow, and pink with the spicy scent of wild things
As we gazed into each other’s eyes reminded of how love begins.

Winter's End - with audio

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Stars fall from frozen fingers reach
Pierced by beams of golden sunlight's keep

All souls who behold the sight
Wonder once again with great delight

At the Hand that shapes the seasons
So tide and life go through their cycles

As winter's gray head stops her struggle
To reflect the purest white o'er another

Shedding tears that yield the earth her need
Bringing joy and green and nourishment to each and every seed

Time - with audio

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TIME

Every one heard the shot

They started off the block

The clock struck 12

They reached the end

No time anymore since it stopped

 

Wade, swim, float, sink and drown

In the sea of time and its many a storm

Were it not for the hand reaching down

From beyond that which can be fathomed

From beyond that which can be known

Yet the times of pain and pleasure

Beget joy and sorrows in good measure

No escape but death in the labor, fear or treasure

Sad, the journey traveled away from those we love

Paradoxically, it brings reunion with loved ones gone above

But sight is feeble and cannot see beyond

The toil and happiness of life and home

Time marches onward like some god soldier

Ushers life along, makes one wiser or bolder

To the frontline where work and day are finished

The structure once vacant is then demolished

Youth is not a capricious or thoughtless gift

It but helps the traveler be ready and equipped

For revelry and progeny and days of endless sun

Reflecting not upon the arduous task that they've begun

Blithely carrying the crushing weight of every year and hour

But time cannot put out the spirit’s brightly burning flower

Rather it is history that will be undone eventually

By something reflected in each soul called eternity

Herein this story we must now make an end

But conversely, let us tell everyone how it will begin

In this verse is a chronology, the reader to remind

It speaks of life’s predicament, dressed up in nursery rhyme

Of life and death and happiness, and work under the sun,

The rising unto heaven, so you'd better have some fun

For the great cosmos will one day have run out all time

Therein to announce a newly begun paradigm

 

This Spring Day Clear - with audio

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Springtime is here
With wishes dear

Those of love
Those of lust
A treasure trove
to now entrust

Birds in the trees
Blossoms on the breeze

A tear in the eye
An ache in the heart
A deep drawn sigh
A spirit's fire to start

On the face is cool May air
A burst of sun in golden hair

In the hand
Of the Creator
Seas and sand
Poles to equator

Far and near, Far and near
So very near
This Spring day clear

The Being Lifted Up Doth Soar - with audio

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Once again above the cotton
Rode the bronco till it calmed

Fears of wreckage now forgotten
Peace arrived here now entombed

Sun is there so brightly lining
All the horizon now can offer

Fueled by wind and fire climbing
The spirit released can no more suffer

Gliding with the winged birds
Shall the mouth dare to speak

Of that which lives beyond our words
Touching upon the highest peak

In azure and white, the hushed roar
Blazing journey through the heavens

Now the being lifted up doth soar
Grateful for all the Eternal One hath given

The Beast - with audio

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The beast came out again
It came out of my hide where
He had been lurking just beneath the surface

He comes to destroy and consume
To obliterate all
All that would stand in his way

Where does he come from
What catapults him into the light of day
Up and out of the darkness

I think he feels entitled
Yes, entitled to a life of leisure
A life that does not exist

He cares not, nor empathizes a little
He is a fire that consumes
Even his own soul

I need Superman to come and defeat him
To cast him down into a deep cavern
And then cover the entrance with a giant boulder

Maybe NASA could send him to Mars
Or perhaps a Telsa particle beam
Could shrink him down to nothing

The only real way to defeat him
Is written of in the sacred scrolls'
In chapters concerning great love

Love is the power that can overcome all things
It's strength is displayed in acts of service and kindness
Illustrated in the pouring out of oneself for another

This is the only course of action to defeat the enemy
Love is surely the only way to kill the beast
And to put out the raging flames within.

Plano Vignette - with audio

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Dallas is surreal, 20 miles to the northeast
I'm sitting in an airport 50s style restaurant
having breakfast and coffee

The TV is playing a string of commercials
For Coltons BBQ Ribs and alternately
Super king sized Chevy Suburbans
That are surrounded by cowboys

Well, they really know their market
As there seems to be a BBQ Steakhouse
on every street corner, with lots of
Chevy Suburbans in each parking lot

The news is reporting a problem
In Plano Texas on the freeway
It is 33 degrees Fahrenheit
And dark outside at 6:30 am

A couple of well dressed ladies with big hair
Are at the bar, in western winter long coats
And boots, looking like they just walked off
The combined sets of Dallas and North Dallas 40

One is standing drinking beer from a wine goblet
While the other sits on a stool nearby
Drinking another beer from a very large stein

I am ill prepared for the weather
I had no clue that it gets so cold in Dallas
The bar keep is a young man in his 20s
Slight of build with a long crew cut waxed down

He's got the look of a rancher already,
White buttoned down shirt, jeans and boots
Just like I probably have the look of an L.A. type
With my day old wrinkled suit and colorful Looney Tunes tie.

Winter Gives Up Her Secrets - with audio

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Winter gives up her secrets
As the ice begins to melt
And the swollen rivers run

Clouds of mist
Appear upon the windows
Somewhere a door opens

Down on the ocean floor
There a wave is building
Fixed upon the tidal forces

Break open the earth
See the fires burning
Molten rock flowing

Snowy coat wearies the mountains
Smoke from volcanoes rising up
In that wintry moment

Breath deeply the cold fresh air
Quietly it speaks of past fallen leaves, and
Foretells of trumpeting spring

Let It Go - with audio

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Sleep, sleep, sleep
Silent violent dreams
In quiet murmurings keep
Awaken from thy schemes
Coffee chase the vitamins
Sink in the aspirin
Churning stomach
Headache tumult
Throbbing emotions
Reverberate
Keys in hand
Out the gate
Driving down the 405
Hollow stare
From my eyes
Seeking in
The sinking hole
Deep within
My darkened soul
Music soaring
In my ear
Foggy thoughts
Coming clear
Cold dull cloudy day
Beethoven Pathetique
Finds the way
In the head
Angry thoughts
In the heart
Hard dark shouts

No wherefores,
and never why
Hide out in a box and die
Feel not sorry for yourself

Take the fight
Down off the shelf

No my friend
Not as you suppose
Turn away now

Let it go, let it go, let it go

Soften the stance
Go slow go slow
Slowly face the friends
That you know
They are not to blame
For the trouble
And the pain
In this life one
Needn't be alone -
In the chaotic
Reds, black and brown
There is support
For you and me
A gathering of community

Ask and breath
Task receive
Try and see

Let it go, let it go, let it go

When thoughtless deed
And rage are gone
As the strength surfaces
Take courage and move on