The Shadow

Is, now was, but nothing will stop.

Memories remain, but new ones will swap.

Gone? Oh no. They'll still be around.

A part of your shadow that shows on the ground.

Everyday you'll see it there,

It's always present, but you hardly care.

The body takes the sun's hard blow

as the shadow basks in freedom below.

When the tree will take the hit,

you'll be alone, in shade, to sit.

Can the shadow really not find you here?

Or did it just join the tree's own fears?

Memories may leave, but shadows remain.

Silent silhouettes that dance in vain.

At night, of course, the shadow's at home.

all through your thoughts it knows it can roam.

Bask in the light, but know what remains.

The shadow of the past knows all of the pains.

Too it contains the greatest of time,

of laughter and fun, what was your prime.

The shadow won't leave, but know it is there.

A part of your life that you'll always bear.

The Ballad of Jackson Lee

There's a tale out there, of a boy made a man.
Of blood and guts and the devil's right hand!
And Lil J. Lee was the innocent boy that did it!

He went to school and did his work,
but that Big Bob Reed had such a smirk.
He grinned and smiled as whooped young Lee in the yard

It went like this for a month or two,
'till Lil J. Lee was all black and blue,
but Bob didn't know he was only making him tougher

On a cold afternoon with a dreary rain,
Lil J. Lee had enough the pain,
and he met Big Bob in the yard with a bat and a gun.

and he said:

Listen hear I'm Jackson Lee,
and I swear to God I'll make you bleed!
I've been pushed around, but not no more,
Cause Ol' J. Lee's gonna bust you sore

Well Big Bob Reed didn't stick around too much
cause he left that day with hobble and crutch
and they say J. Lee kept a few of his teeth for keeps.

A bully's a bully, and J. Lee had the worst
but you can go so far before you gotta burst,
and the blood on that bat is something I won't soon forget.

Well Lil J. Lee ain't so little no more,
It's been 8 years since he fought that boar
and he walks like a man that ain't got no problems to deal with.

Until he walked to the store and he heard a scream,
and he saw a man's gun as it began to gleam
and J. Lee shot him down before he could even speak.

and he said:

Listen hear I'm Jackson Lee,
and I swear to God I'll make you bleed!
I've been pushed around, but not no more,
Cause Ol' J. Lee's gonna bust you sore

The man he shot was as big as a steed,
and he was sure he was there to quench his greed,
but Ol' J. Lee's not real big fan of bullies.

Ol' J. Lee's not young no more,
but he helps the sick, the feeble and poor
and he take pride in the man he made himself to be.

He passes the yard where he beat Bob Reed,
and walks through the alley where he shot Mr. Greed.
and thinks on the days he made his stand.

So before you pick a fight with a kid,
or steal from the poor that don't know what they did.
Just keep in mind you may just hear these words.

Listen hear I'm Jackson Lee,
and I swear to God I'll make you bleed!
I've been pushed around, but not no more,
Cause Ol' J. Lee's gonna bust you sore

Lullaby

The day is done,
it's time for sleep.
Hush your thoughts,
not one peep.

Get in bed
and snuggle in.
Feel the sheets
against your skin.

Clear your mind,
don't make a move.
Feel the bed,
and feel each groove.

Relax your body
and relax your head,
all that's here,
is you and the bed.

Breath it all in
and breath it all out.
Imagine the stars
and begin to count.

They go on and on,
but count them through.
Soon you'll sleep
and have dreams too.

Sleep real well
and sleep tight.
have pleasant dreams,
'till tomorrow. goodnight.

One Life

Despair
Despair
Woe and
Wear

One word
One touch
One thought
One care

Fear
Fear
Love
So dear

Fog
Smog
Mist
Now clear

Breath
Breath
Life
Awake

Bright
Bright
Fate
To make

Slow
Slow
Stop
Now show

Speak
Speak
Move
Now grow

Despair
Despair
Woe and
Wear

One move
One choice
One Life
One care

Ecclesiastes 12:7

The flame is passed,
but it leaves with a burn.
The body is ready,
but the soul still churns.

Are they possibly ready?
Are they even able?
Will I leave a legacy?
Or merely a fable?

I gave a life,
I'd give it twice.
but those that follow
can't know the price.

I'll be free from the chain
the burden is gone.
Yet of the spot with the wear,
I've grown quite fond.

I look in the mirror,
and the champion looks back.
but it can sometimes feel,
like I'm really the crack.

I won, I achieved,
I played with the best.
but I'm doomed a death,
the same as the rest.

What will they say,
when they hear my name?
Will I be showered with glory,
or left with no fame?

What of my work,
that made me tired and weak.
Is the future still bright,
or is it gray, dull and bleak?

If I raised an empire,
one to stand time,
Would it be burned and salted
in life's final crime?

It's easy to love
the soul with a flame.
It's easy to know
the men of the game.

Will it be worth the work,
the sweat and the tears?
If it really can't make it,
can't face the years?

I'm passing the torch,
but I can't let it go.
The body says yes,
but the soul fills with woe.

The past is my power,
but I fear for what's next.
In the frailty of time,
I am saddened and vexed.

As I pass the flame,
I feel my hand shake.
On my firmest foundation
I finally quake.

All strength is weak
in the eyes of god
the grandest of works
all returns to sod.

But his eyes shine with hope,
like mine did long ago.
and he takes the torch
and my spirit in tow.

You'll Have Your Day

You've made it this far,
you've beat the best.
You've faced the devil,
and passed the test.

It sure wasn't fun,
but you earned your keep.
The path wasn't clear
but you made the leap.

The challenges faced,
weren't really that bad.
The hardest of times,
weren't really that sad

Press on! Press on!
Life finds a way
if you keep on trying
you'll have your day.
Though work and wear
you'll make your pay.
Press on! Press on!
you'll have your day.

You went for the ride,
And swam it upstream.
The bright eyed girl
And her big lofty dream.

You've been the best of up,
and the worst of down.
You swam that river,
and you started to drown.

Loves were lost,
and hearts were broke
but friends were made
and love's a joke.

Press on! Press on!
Life finds a way
if you keep on trying
you'll have your day.
Though work and wear
you'll make your pay.
Press on! Press on!
you'll have your day.

And then you're there
on your last dying day.
And you look up above
and you'll start to pray,

You've lived a life,
and lived it right.
you won and lost,
But always fight.

At the last darkest time,
you'll rise again.
you'll dust off your knees,
and you'll start again.

So Press on! Press on!
Life finds a way
if you keep on trying
you'll have your day.
Though work and wear
you'll make your pay.
Press on! Press on!
you'll have your day.

The Lake

Well there's a tingle of warmth on the top of my skin

and the dog's running free with her big goofy grin.

The music is loud, and we're all so proud,
to be out at the lake once again

There are empty cans that were once full of beer

and that one girl I like is finally here.

I'm buzzed and excited, finally united,
out at the lake once again.

I made my way closer, and shot her a smile.

We laughed, and joked, and talked for a while.

She likes the dog more than me, I can't say I disagree,
when out at the lake once again.

At this point my best friend is utterly hammered.

His love of whisky he profoundly stammered.

He may throw up, but he'll never grow up,
out at the lake once again.

The water is cold and it cools the flesh.

The contrast is brilliant, it's live, it's fresh.

Let's go get a float, or maybe the boat,
out at the lake once again.

There's nothing I want more than to stay.

I want to laugh and drink and play.

But the drunks must go home, The dog mustn't roam,
out at the lake once again.

We all got back to our small, little town.

I approached my house with a small, little frown.

But I got a text from the girl I like and I was a hit, not a strike,
out at the lake once again.

Isabella

Well we met online and it didn't take long,
a few short texts and you came right along.
When we first met we went for a walk,
you were so very quiet, but I sure love to talk.

You stuck around and always stood by,
you stayed by my side when the rivers got high.
You fell for me first, but there was another around,
but you stayed in my heart, though it felt like a pound.

When the other left, you gave a kiss,
and for a second I forgot who to miss.
That's when I fell for your big, goofy smile.
You'd clearly passed each stage of your trial.

When the thunder got loud we'd cuddle in bed,
In every fight, we'd always break bread.
Every meal I'd eat you'd steal a bite,
and I saw over time, it got harder to fight.

and every time you'd drink my beer,
we weren't mad, we'd laugh and cheer!
Looking back it's easy to see,
what is clearly still there in front of me.

I love you, Isabella, and I always will.
I guess my full heart is starting to spill.
You're a ray of sunshine in a life of fog.
I'm so very proud to call you my dog.

Soft Bullet

I'm shot! I'm shot!
In my bullet-proof vest,
but the pain! Yes the pain!
is still felt in the chest.

A whimper, a crack!
a joke and a jest.
Its now clear, so clear
a dead face in the rest.

He knows, he knows,
this isn't the best,
but it's true, quite true,
it's better than guessed.

He thinks, and thinks,
this might be a test,
but he's known, yes known,
it was hardly a fest.

Now he's lost, so lost.
on his venture, his quest.
He's drained, so drained,
He's troubled, he's stressed.

In the pain, that pain
below his thick breast,
he sees, now he sees,
to feel, he is blessed.

He loved, he loved
and maybe obsessed,
but with love, that love,
did the soul recess?

Academy

The lights turn on, though there's still not a sound.
no tracks yet made in the snow-laden ground.

Then like a crack,
there's purple, there's black.

They've come like a flood.
they're brothers, not blood.

The greatest leader could here be a pawn.
The ugliest ducking could here be a swan.

Here they've come to learn to lead,
bound together by a single creed.

Here the purity of a star,
can cure the deepest bleeding scar.

Those that fly with the snowy owl,
Will turn a cheek to snarl and scowl.

And once the men have had their share,
they'll leave their gracious host's care.

Like they came, they disappear,
but the things they learned were oh so dear.