Mountains and Valleys

Hiked down that valley

to get my loather's fill.

Every mountain that I thought I climbed

was a dusty prairie hill.

Hiked down that valley 

cause direction's what I need

but the hunger I was running from

was free from glutton's greed.

Hiked down that valley

but I hiked back up again.

I may go down another time 

but this time I take my friends.

--

State fair grounds with cowboy clowns

and New Orleans date nights.

Lowest lows and highest highs

to share our loves and frights.

Is it a wayward mountain or dusty desert hill?

Will this journey last forever or until we get our fill?

--

Hiked up that mountain

to try to reach its peak.

I found so much along the way 

but not what I would think.

Hiked up that mountain

to find a lovesick cure

and when I reached the final summit,

the view was all obscured.

Hiked up that mountain 

but came back down again.

Though at the base I smiled to see

I was surrounded by my friends.

--

Crowded bars and camper cars

and sleepy Texas nights. 

Lowest lows and highest highs

To share our loves and frights.

Is it a wayward mountain or dusty desert hill?

Will this journey last forever or until we get our fill?

--

It's a journey through the things we do 

to find out what we thought we knew.

So why must we all tread the path alone?

We learn and grow and we strive to know

the final plot of every show

and we're all just out here hiking like we hadn't got a clue.

--

Just kept on hiking

but learned to love the trails.

There's beauty in the sun that shines

still beauty in the hail.

Just kept on hiking

with hikers by my side.

When we laid it out, we all saw

there was ne'er a thing to hide.

Just kept on hiking

to see the sights to see.

And I dodged those wretched valleys,

turns out my mountain's here with me.

--

Summit views to harvest moons

till our very last day light.

Our lowest lows and highest highs,

to share our loves and frights.

Is it a wayward mountain or dusty desert hill?

Will this journey last forever or until we get our fill?

Moth at the Light

Though I knew it was wrong, this fight I'd not fight. 

Flocking back to old thoughts: a moth at the light.

Unquestioning regrets in a questionable state

Restless and confused on the off-course of my fate.

Suddenly spinning, as a plane plummets down

Mute as a mime with the frown of a clown.

A years-old scab to be pick pick pick picked

symptoms surrounding the still uncured sick.

Though I knew it was wrong, this fight I'd not fight. 

Flocking back to old thoughts: a moth at the light.

Both Ways

When I was your age I walked to school - uphill, both ways.

When it snowed I was cold,

when it rained I was wet.

when the sun was out we were soaked in sweat.

When I was your age you had to talk to folks - really talk, and listen too.

There wasn't "awkward",

no tech to hide in.

When your elders spoke you made sure to listen.

When I was your age I met my love - courted and married, just so.

No singles event,

no internet sites.

You just got out and found what's right.

When I was your age we went off to war - for God, for country.

We were strong over there,

we were strong over here

After such dark skies, you know what's clear.

When I was young I struggled and fought - I had ups, I had ups!

But I had downs too,

and I made my way.

Maybe it's unclear what I'm trying to say

What I'm trying and trying really to say - to be frank, to be more clear,

is my life has been hard

yours is going to be too.

But if I've made it this far, so can you.

The Quarantine Revolt

How cruel our lives have turned to be

when we're trapped inside when we long to be free.

It's not like there are folks who've died,

it won't be me, so the news has implied!

I have no cough, no fever, or ache

so let me go out for my goodness sake.

I'll run through the streets and hug all my friends

and I'll travel the world from its tips to its ends.

I'll swim in the ocean and swing from the trees,

I'll smell every flower and I'll save all the bees.

I'll go to more concerts and I'll see Broadway shows

but a leaf in the wind, I'll go where it blows.

No I won't be kept from living my life

I won't live in this fear, or sorrow, or strife.

I'll see every wonder that's ever been made;

the bill for this freedom once sanguinely paid.

and finally I'll return knowing I'm wild and free,

having seen every sight there was ever to see.

I'd met every person there's ever to meet

I'd swam in the oceans and ran the streets.

when I finally decide that home's where I'll be

I'll find the only one living is the virus and me.

Her eyes always glistened in the moonlight,
then again,
so does dog shit.

Uncorked

My thought were racing like the cars around,
a torrent of terrors though it made not a sound.

Surrounded by traffic but alone in the rush
every memory, emotion, each scar and each blush.

I sat in exile of leather and steel
unsure of myself and how I should feel.

Then in a moment born without thought,
I bubbled and burst like a pistol just shot.

I let out a yell
more, really, a yelp:
a sorry expression of the way that I felt.

and then like a bolt they scorched and they singed
an electric compulsion of screams that I binged.

They built ever louder as it came pouring out
each burden was dropped with each louder shout.

Till finally I yelled with all of my fight
like a warrior wailing with all of his might!

and when it was done
I felt empty inside.
It had all been released,
 never longer to hide.

I was free from the fear,  the sorrow, and shame

like a gray swollen cloud finally free to drop rain.

And as the cracked, broken pavement slowly got wetter

I discovered, above all, that I finally felt better.

Shades of Blue

There's a wrinkle in my nose
and some lead stuck in my toes.
I'm hiding behind some prose, on this lovesick afternoon.
So I'll write about a gal
and about her about her special pal
and all the things they'd wished they do.

And I've just got to say,
from the barren field I lay
where I thought my days were through:
the sky just looks a lighter shade of blue.

Well my back is pretty sore
where she got me with the sword,
but the stitches seemed to hold just fine.
So I'll hum a tune along,
as I sit and write my songs
and the memories are all dulled with rhyme.

And I've just got to say,
from the barren field I lay
where I thought my days were through:
the sky just looks a lighter shade of blue.

--
because it's not in the moment
that marks the key component,
but in the lessons and thoughts that we learn.
In every foul spell
for the hours that we dwell
are the badges of  our lives we earn.
--

There's a frown that tows the line
of a week of muck and grime,
it's a near mortal crime to fell so sad and blue.
But this feeling I know,
but intermission in the show!
Life's a mystery and  this blue is just a clue.

And I've just got to say,
from the barren field I lay
where I thought my days were through:
the sky just looks a lighter shade of blue.

Life just looks a lighter shade of blue.

All I Can Do is Laugh

We've all spent nights a-tossin
and we've all spent nights a-turnin
and we've all tried to push the thoughts back
and we all keep thinking
of
them
anyway.

My mind won't stop a-racin
busy like these DC streets.
Lost in smoke of burning bridges
scorched by fire, blazed by heat.

But when I take a step back,
kind of funny I have to say,
with the time that's passed,
the feelings are healed like plastered up casts
and
all I can do is laugh.

--
All I can do is laugh and say:
gotta be better than I was that day.
--

We've all spent time debating
and we've all spent time relating
and we all wish we could have said "that"
and we all know that it won't
change
anything.

So many times I've said I'm sorry,
most times I think I really was.
And now I find it kind of funny
how deep some things got between us.

But when I take a step back,
kind of funny I have to say,
with the time that's passed,
the feelings are  healed like plastered up casts
and
all I can do is laugh.

--
All I can do is laugh and say:
gotta be better than I was that day
--

**

--

And I lay here while I'm cringing
at ever stupid thing I've said.
I always think that I'm so clever
now I wish those thoughts were dead.

But we can't undo what we've been through,
whether tortured or plagued with how they are viewed,
but we can all just stop and laugh.
yeah
woah
all we can do is laugh
yeah
woah
and with time I know you'll laugh.
yeah
woah-oh

--
All we can do is laugh and say
It'll be better than it was that day
--

The Mirage

I walk a desert alone, unsure, 

footings lost on shifting sands.

I walk a desert burnt, thirsty
and you, my dear, were my mirage.

The savior oasis of splendor, of life
the calming horizon but one step away.

I knew it was fake, but so I trod on.
The thirst will fool but the strongest mind.

I'd rather grasp, to swing and to miss

never letting the desert show me my fate.

but you were an oasis with water salted.
The saving grace that spelled a doom.

A doom self-inflicted, of knowledge not need

A look past an ignorance that I chose to believe.

but mostly a doom that is not a finale

a hurdle and bump in the unfinished tale.

Though thirsty I'm left, in anguish or peril,

my legs keep on troding, and my lungs take in air.

Destination unknown, hardships unyielding, 

the journey persists, till victory or death.

My dog and me

I've got myself a friend
A furry gal, my canine pal on which I can depend.

We've been together seems like my whole life

Shes seen the glory shes seen the boring, blessed all the love and softened strife.

We've loved and lost, been double crossed
And tripped on our own 6 feet.
But I'd bet our tails on a chance hell that us two cant be beat.

My dog and me.

Claws and teeth betray the warmth of a love she wants to give

She sniffs and barks and gives a point toward the life we strive to live.

She may shed, or hog the bed, but she's worth it all because:

Come hell or heaven bet your lucky seven that she'll come running after me.

My dog and me.

Those floppy ears are flappin

and that stumpy tails a'waggin

she's got a pool of drool

as she starts a duel

with the mutt that lives next door.

Now I've had times

when I've lost my mind,

but she fetched it back for me.

When I've gone blind

or fell behind

she gave me sight to see.

My dog and me.

So if you've a need and can afford the feed let me pass along the word

that there's a way you can start each day with love not seen or heard.
Man's best friend, with you to the end and I can say with all my soul:
Whether soft or tough, with bark and ruff, they'll give you all you need

My dog and me.
My dog and me.