Frozen

The bitter wind beat red my cheeks and nose
As I stood, watching, on your step that night,
And with my skin, my feelings for you froze
My face stung from the cold, my heart, the sight.

He stroked your hair; your head was on his chest.
Four days before, ‘twas me with whom you lied.
And now those lies upon my heart depressed
Weigh more than all the helpless tears you cried.

The revelation came so fast and grave:
I'd thought -- sad fool -- that your love for me burned!
You merely loved what I, and now he, gave --
A love for you that never got returned.

The way it hurt to see you true did burn
Still, what you are was worth the sting to learn

Unwelcome

Awakened to the sound of knocking
On a Weekend morning rocking
Me from sleep, peaceful and deep,
To all my senses sudden shocking

Is it the angel Michael come
With trumpets and an army from
Heaven above, with push and shove
Exacting God's great wrath on some?

Or is it governmental bane
With bulldozers like hurricane
Tearing down wall, and waking all
Enacting imminent domain

Or woodpecker out in the sun
Enjoying his idea of fun
Pecking away, what time of day
And me without a BB gun!

Then comes the knocking as before
This time upon my chamber door
It's Mormons and, their holy band
Can't wait 'til noon?! It's 9:04.

Growing Up

The world is white and black
Serious as a heart attack
Wrong or right
Flee or fight
Hues lack complication
.
The world is black and white and gray
Good and bad and just okay
Stand, Walk, Crawl
Laugh, Frown, Bawl
Hues have complication
.
There’s only gray - no black or white
How often do we know what's right?
There is no Cold - just lack of heat
There is no Dark - just light's retreat
Hues are complication

Pisgah

I looked out
Over all I knew
And saw that which was promised

Turns out, what
I was told was true:
I'd never step upon it

As I looked down
I wondered, was
It all just smoke and mirrors?

Just for a few
Does hope pan out,
Or should we get the scissors?

the old store

how forgetful i am
of the grace in your eyes
every time i see you
it's again a surprise
your beauty won't
held captive be
in the old store
of my memory

Ghosts

I dreamed a dream, (what else could I dream?)
asleep in my nightly tradition,
when I had the distinct and exub'rant delight
to meet a long-haired apparition.

T’was a bit of a fright to be met in the night
by a man who I never have known.
But I soon would discover sans word or description
just why through my window he’d flown.

Just as my heart stilled and I was about
to ask if he came from afar,
three more ghouls flew in and brought big amplifiers,
a bass, some drums, and a guitar.

I jumped out of bed and I thought in my head
that this undead ensemble might linger
until I was audience to a concert from
this ghost trio and their lead singer.

I listened intently as this band tuned up
And then they turned to me and said,
“We hope you enjoy this medley comprised
of the best tunes by the Grateful Dead.”

When they all said goodnight and they all flew away,
The show I had seen was just monstrous.
And I’ve never again seen a concert as cool
as that ghost-band that toured my subconscious.

You are what you love

I did a study in self-loathing
Read some Milton
and some Reznor
Sat in ashes, tore my clothing
then got better.

Want someone to make you jolly?
Better look into a mirror.
It's easy to be melancholy--
just enjoy it.