oh beaten path
oh beaten path
worn down by the journey of life
lite by the changing moon and constant sun
oh beaten path
laid bare by the rains of many storms
stilled under the weight of blanketing snows
oh beaten path
your way only the ancestors have known
with contentment and regret none could change
oh beaten path
mine now is to follow into the shared horizon
leaving fresh steps over my time's muddled footprint
07/08/2023
bargain safari
the hump of the thump
went down then up
grinding Erma’s innards
with gallops and gaits
at a tap dancer’s rate
her ride was not a winner
“this jaunt's off pace
I’m not built to race
or bounce and toss about”
but what Erma had bought
not the safari she thought
and her ass paid off with blisters
06/13/2023
adieu
no one held a hand as they depart
last beats and breaths their own
taken as they always wanted to go
independent of life's busy throes
forever free from our daily pains
a spring returned in their steps
stars again twinkle from tired eyes
salutations, laughter now lullabies
to sleep in a heaven's eternal dream
welcomed home by generations passed
missed here in a heart's sad song
to them a turn, a wave and gone
06/13/2023
winter picnic
her pulled pork fell from the invited heights
left with opened toed sandals and scuffed shoes
squeezed lemons aided in already dyed soiled duds
as she now hunkers alone, toasts her winter picnic blues
a napkin painted in scarlet lipstick and barbeque sauce
scurries in a hurry across polished hardwood floor
the good silver and mother's mother's fine china
hid store bought coleslaw from her daddy's whore
beans sent with brown sugar and spent bacon strips
let off steam as the alabaster crock turns to noon
buns once nestled in a towel from a whickered home
lay buttered, half bit and discarded way too soon
the wine discussed, chilled on a storied window sill
holds the interest of pigeons, the wind and the snow
cheesecake picked late from a closed baker's empty case
holds court in the frig with olives and her eating crow
a daisy embroidered table cloth held for celebrating
folds and crumples the courses into a trashy world
the pulled red replaces the sweetness of a butchered pig
as out into the cold sunshine a winter picnic is hurled
04/30/2023
fine
fine the faux response
a pause in the answer
no question, why the hesitation
more an inquiry, less of health
fine the reply excepted
suitable for our circumstance
no thought of a mortal's end
both off as feathers in a hurricane
fine the desired effect
blushed and honed for eternally
pressed and laid and posed
a finale displayed openly
fine our last debate
though his reply halted in my time
but his destination i too will have
hopefully though, forever is fine
04/27/2023
for Joe RIP 04/25/2023
the famous death
the famous death held the stage
then spent steeds hung wearied heads
riders of the overland shrugged, wept
as tolls paid echoed through the berg
wails rose from the blended murmur
children hushed and gossip faded
comforting arms held before the earth
a young bride blinked soon a widow
sheriff or marshal, time and rank forgot
gun pulled on the wild powder keg
flames burst, one a hair behind the other
gasps as one stumbled, knelt and fell
a Doc came forth, chastising, no need
six shooter kicked beyond a cold hand
pocket watches click open and then shut
paces resumed, the west wonders why
dust to dust turns to a scarlet crude
holstered again as springs compress
a lash, a lurch, life to hoof and wheel
Lincoln’s held the stage, his that day
04/07/2022
winter picnic
her pulled pork fell from the invited heights
left with opened toed sandals and scuffed shoes
squeezed lemons aided in already dyed soiled duds
as she now hunkers alone, toasts her winter picnic blues
a napkin painted in scarlet lipstick and barbeque sauce
scurries in a hurry across polished hardwood floor
the good silver and mother's mother's fine china
hid store bought coleslaw from her daddy's whore
beans sent with brown sugar and spent bacon strips
let off steam as the alabaster crock turns to noon
buns once nestled in a towel from a whickered home
lay buttered, half bit and discarded way too soon
the wine discussed, chilled on a storied window sill
holds the interest of pigeons, the wind and the snow
cheesecake picked late from a closed baker's empty case
holds court in the frig with olives and her eating crow
a daisy embroidered table cloth held for celebrating
folds and crumples the courses into a trashy world
the pulled red replaces the sweetness of a butchered pig
as out into the cold sunshine a winter picnic is hurled
02/12/2022
naught woke
distaste for a past
nullified with biased pens
dipped in a woke ink
erasing changes naught
scrubbing away the canvas
will paint know future
teach to understand
the paths we traveled to here
include the missteps
dreamers left hardships
to horizons others owned
they wanted better
time need apologize
eras send condolences
past beg forgiveness
I know naught their years
the why’s lost with the seasons
reasons only theirs
the present now leaves
to a past others will judge
with future knowledge
owning their mistakes
banes of civilizations
the present’s weight
the oil can now dry
eons of wheels been greased
some too with spilled blood
tear down what you wish
quieting the questioners
with shouts of hatred
11/26/2021
lyrical gov
oh say can you see
…..hold it, we don’t want you to see that
oh say can you
….,whoa, nada, somethings we won’t allow
oh, say can
…. .nope that is not a position we agree with
oh, say
…..say what, that is too controversial and will offend someone
oh,
…. that’s better, you seem in distress let us help you…..
11/18/2021