Lotus

Lotus

Hello, dreamer,
Why have you come?
Now, speak-
Don't stand dumb.

Well, dreamer,
what is it now?
A lost coffin,
or a golden cow?

No, dreamer?
Is it someone, dead?
Perhaps a lover
or a savior instead?

... what, dreamer?
Did I hear thee?
thou hast come...
for me?

Poor, dreamer,
I am but a dream!
I am both soothing
and damning scream

Stop, dreamer,
You know not
these consequences
and cannot.

Seek, dreamer!
Quick, look away!
Glance again,
and always you'll stay

Run, dreamer!
Use your wits-
Think, pray, Live!
Not just stare and sit.

Move, dreamer,
leave your bliss!
Do you not want
more than this?

Breath, dreamer!
Don't die yet!
There's still more
than death and regret!

Please, dreamer,
Don't you see?
I love you, dreamer,
but you must flee

Leave, dreamer!
I will survive
I'll rest easy,
Knowing you're alive

No! Dreamer!
Please wake up!
Don't eat that bread
nor drink that cup

Alas, dreamer
again I am alone
as you sit and dream
turning softly to stone.

Wait, What?

Wait, What?

I was walking in the woods today
in the crowded city lot
I picked up a nut off the street
and planted it in the plot

It grew into a trunk
in which I carried trees
Until there was a bolt
that hit, with speed and ease.

I used the bolt to fix it
the leg, that is, you see
The woman thanked me
and walked off to sea

And her son was happy
shining in the sky
And her daughter, so happy
That she was to fly!

The customers tried to swat her
as she buzzed around the hole
for they needed the bathroom
and there was no door to their goal

There was a heart on a metal tray
meant for the patient in the bed
she took a bite and loved it so
One heart and she was fed

Red pooled on the floor below
in the kitchen with the man
his knife held high, he blinked
I wanted plum, not a tomato can!

I sat in the room with a paper
and stared at the wall instead
Lordy, Lordy, what strange things
that you've placed inside my head!

He Watches

He Watches

A juggler's juggle
a single smile
amidst the rocks
a pain-o-phile.

He giggles as
the scars reopen
for the hateful screams
are as elegant Chopin

He dances in daylight
as cackles surround
for every movement
is happiness found

Then, they come
with their smile
Oh, poor juggler
as they smile the while

Surely we are
better then he!
As they giggle
sneering eyes see

The jeers are music
but the compliments knives
for the backhanded comments
from the unhindered lives

But the juggler continues
balance his art
as he did yesterday
as he did from the start

It's only when all
returned to their own
when his face
is truly shown

A sad, haunted look
from the WorldBreaker
From the certain knowledge
of our Creator.

I Saw

I Saw

Soothing rain falls
as does the night
Brilliant, glowing moon.

The evening bell calls
a pastor's delight
Full pews, blessed boon.

Hidden faces shift
a shiver down their spines
Fearful, they enter in

Is salvation your gift?
faces filled with lines
Where Lord, do I begin?

Happy smiles beam
Joy evident on each one
Hopeful, they enter in

I obey what you deem
and believe your holy Son
Help me Lord, bear and grin

Gritted jaw with rage
Glaring eyes underneath
Angry, they enter in

Why such burdens at his age?
Biting in with jagged teeth
Damn God, what is his sin?!

Slumped shoulders today
Carrying what I can
I enter in.

Whatever can I say?
Can I be a better man?
Even after, all what's been?

A single word throughout the rafters
elicits shouts, fear and laughter
A single word to help us perceive
A single word, that is 'Believe.'

Gametime, Paintime

Gametime, Paintime

Despite us all

the dreams we share

the lives we've led

and the burdens we bear

The tunnel ends

just that same as ever

The dream always ends

no matter how strong or clever.

At the bright light

lit by flames and fire

we all end up alone

victims of our own desire

As we ascend into the sky

we believe we've done right

but as we finally die

we realize, with fear and fright

That it's just a higher circle

a lesser torment indeed

The fire spreads its realms

and fathers its bastard breed

And then we realize

staring at the sun

that its always been there

and that we've only just begun

The future is the future

and the past is the same

All that really matters is the chase

all that matters is the game

Will you play?

Will you play, God?

Are you shy, or

afraid for us to know your fraud?

What a Monster

What a Monster

There is a creature
of many parts
A dream, a scream,
a thought and a heart

The creature has rot
and the creature has fire
the creature is called
a love, thief, saint and a liar.

It would stand in the light
but would burn like wood
It would stand in the night
but wants to be good.

The creature would reach
grasp for the hand above
and would let go
to save the one it loves

But the creature would reach
for the hand above
and would do so
for its true love.

Yet the creature's love
and yet the creature's hate
Both abide in the same
and both will not abate.

Truly, it is a wretched thing,
torn apart by its own desire
frozen by its own hatred
and burned by its own fire

Pity it not,
for it needs none,
love it not,
for it deserves shun!

It weeps in the open
with pitiable look
but beware the creature
for it's a horrid crook

It knows your pity
and knows your mind
It will slash at you
to make you blind

For it knows the ways
the tricks and the trade
it will gut you and eat you
with tooth, claw, nail, blade.

It deserves fire,
and yet it lives
it deserves death
for all it gives

Perhaps the hand's mercy
is more of a curse,
but it feels a blessing
for it once was worse.

The creature smiles
and weeps and cries
For it wishes death
for its sins and lies.

The mirror reflects
the creature knows
For it only believes
when it snows.

Why do all
see only the shade
and never the knife
and never the blade?

Inner Torment

Inner Torment

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

why do you sit there and mumble

as we war and fight?

Are we not interesting,

just a sideshow for the while?

or is there a reason you wait?

A purpose to that conniving smile?

If you love us so,

can you not help us learn?

for surely we'd know more

by loving than to live and burn.

Can't you see the pain

within our broken places?

Lifeless, happyless,

joyless and sobbing faces?

But the credo must be kept

and the wall between us held

for, what may happen if

God and mortal man meld?

I know of reasons

and of the unknown

I know that man

will reap what he's sown

I suppose I simply wish

if only for a day

to gaze upon a friend's face

who has gone far away.

Watcher

Watcher

Whimsy strikes me

and all I see

I am all

large yet small

Whatever could I be?

I live without age

I am the unwritten page

Watching above

with hate or love

The otherworldly sage.

I have fame

that's not my aim

you beseech

I teach

and all leave with shame.

I live in the light

and own the blight

Why, they ask

for my task

and I continue the fight.

As one they plead

"What road do I lead?

Where, I seek!

why so bleak?

and yet silence is my creed.

I answer when I dare

An answer I find most fair

It is quite nice

and should suffice,

"Why on earth should I care?"

Visions

Visions

I sat on my bed today,
waiting for the day to end.
I remembered the spot
where once had sat a friend.

Instead of the presence
the real being there
I saw a vision, a lifetime
all I could do was stare.

Moments replayed
repeated over as I saw
Love and lust
Speech and trust
And a broken law.

I looked at the ground
as I sat on the sidewalk
I traced the image
drawn out in chalk

I had drawn it
had I not?
And yet,
it's a dead man's lot.

A man, laying down
got up and spoke to me
I cannot say what he said
but I can say what I see

Echoes of strangers
ricochet across my eyes
They tell me truths,
and they tell me lies.

Perhaps it's only madness
perhaps it's only fear
perhaps it's only sadness
perhaps it's only tears.

Her

Her

A home cares

and nurtures many

for those with a dollar

and those with a penny

The house shelters

gentle and kind

A place any spirit

would seek to find

It breathes life

into the clay

into its bricks

day after day

And as it ages

as the time passes

it is judged

by the masses

And in repayment

for its past

it is replaced

for a sleeker cast.

Knocked down

and apart

broken to pieces

a shattered heart.

I

I

A lightning rod

draws power

every day

every hour

to take the strike

for the house

it cannot hide

like a mouse

to give life

to a city

to give all

accept no pity

Standing tall

cannot bend

even when others

off must fend

even when grey

or pitted with rust

it must not fall

nor break, shake, or trust.

And as repayment

for its past

it is replaced

for a sleeker cast.

Tossed to the side

like a stone

branded broken

and left alone.

Gambler's Dilemma

Gambler’s Dilemma

Heads up!

Won a buck.

Heads up!

Won a truck!

Royal Flush,

Won the game,

Blackjack, mates!

Just the same

Roulette once,

Black 52, honey!

Roulette twice,

Hand me the money!

Jackpot slots

A million dollars!

Livin large

With diamond collars.

Drink champagne,

Fancy plane

And all the sugarplums too.

Blackjack’s back,

But he won instead

Oh, well,

There goes my bed.

Poker players

Round my table

Lost my cars,

Horse and stable

Feeling down,

Takin’ shots

Drain thousands

Playin’ slots.

The roulette table

Not so kind

Playing, drinking

‘til I’m blind

Woke in alleyway

Bouncer-tossed

Check wallet,

To see what’s lost

Just a buck, no more

From the fortune I had before.

Heads up,

Won a buck.

…

Russian roulette, anyone?

Oh, I See!

Oh, I See!

I can't imagine the way they live
so uncultured, such a mess.
always hunting people, like with shivs!
There must be many, I guess.

*Whadda buncha losers, y'know?*
*Seems like they just complain*
*They don't even try, yo*
*And yet they always gain*

Look! There's one approaching-
quickly, move to the side.
Pretend that you don't see them
give them a good berth- wide!

#Ignore me again, you stupid bitch#
#like you always do.#
#Just because I live nowhere#
#Doesn't mean I'm you-know-who#

Oh, God! You see it there?
What low standards they have here!
Oh, no! It's starting to stare-
walk away, my dear!

~You offensive woman.~
~I wish I could say hello~
~But you won't even tell me~
~and so I say, ¡Mierda tonta!~

The world's not safe anymore,
those people are everywhere!
Those ungraceful, dirty people,
it's almost more than I can bear!

=I think to myself,=
=how can you say that?=
=they each are good=
=you mad, nasty bat!=

God is Watching

God is Watching

Grasp at straws,
little crow,
try to find the pin.

Gasp in awe,
little crow,
at what they do to win.

Fly, be free,
little crow,
marvel at the skies.

Cry and flee,
little crow,
at what the money buys.

Wonder why,
little crow,
at the setting of the sun

Tremble, die,
little crow,
from the man with the gun.

Soar and glide,
little crow,
spiral through melting clouds

Cringe inside,
little crow,
at the bloodlust in the crowds.

Sit and see,
little crow,
watch the people live

neither beg nor plea,
little crow,
to what they take or give.

The Loom

The Loom

Jump the pattern

cut the weave

All the chaos

you would believe

All twisted fiber

a tapestry's gash

crimson red or hollow black

or green as US cash

Torrents of blue

cried from the sky

in a blanket that chilled

a frosted kiss goodbye

Pink and blue woven

under a hanging bell

one bumped thread lost its head

and cut them all to hell

A friend drew tarot

to see what she'd see

she dropped them, shaking,

"It couldn't be!"

Moving strings on woven roads

read by fallen cards

many threads stopped dead

rocks as lethal, cutting shards

All of these, sewn together

Under the gun, underhanded,

stones flung across the ages

unknown as to where they landed

The tapestry that coats the heavens

and the blood that coats hell

For all may be bad

despite starting well.

Cast Adrift

For those that care, life has been quite the struggle lately, so forgive the lapses in post-time. I have not given up, but I will need to play a little bit of catch-up.

Cast Adrift

Rock, sway,
little boat.
Stay safe
in your little moat.

Drift, move,
little raft.
Such hope
for a little craft.

Sail, free,
little boat.
Won't you freeze
without that coat?

Ride, flow,
little sail.
Water's aboard-
bail, bail!

Struggle, live,
little boat,
don't you wish
to've stayed in the moat?

Flounder, sink,
little one.
We'll never forget
what you've done.

Sail, free,
kind ghost.
You cannot bring
what we miss most.

Wake, believe,
little dream.
We'll always love you,
nothing's as it seems.

Collapse

Collapse

Rain falling
on my chest
While running
without rest

The rain soaks in
adding weight
Harder to run
impossible to wait

Lightning flashes
illuminate the rain
and the road ahead
revealing the drain

See a figure
lost in rain
bent and kneeling
under the strain

Added pressures
harder to go
dragging for life
thankless, though

Nearly collapsing
asking for clear sky
A flash of lightning
is the only reply

Then, light
coming near
the rain is fading
all's become clear

Two figures lie
Huddled alone
while others run
and cast a stone.

Perspective

Perspective

Softly
flowing
turning
blowing

winds
hair
flying
there

Light
sound
water
resounds

dripping
eyes
regret
goodbyes

sadness
heart
buses
depart

Black
hearse
hatred
cursed

light
time
love
of mine

finally
end
hello,
friend.

Evolution

Evolution

Silently ticking
Four and three,
the hand moves back,
sunlight on nodding me.

Selfish, the sun
rises where it once set
Shining for itself
Wanting all it can get

But the other such stars
are equally bright
And shine for themselves
for their own light

Dying stars
in a blast
teach not all
can always last

Little asteroids
crash and burn
hitting the sun
slowing its turn

As time flows
more meteors hit
spit by stars around
so recently lit

Then a flash
and a world appears
built by the shrapnel
borne by the tears

The selfish star
looks on the earth
tries to scorch it
but only causes its birth.

Tired, resting,
the star looked
as the planet cools
where it cooked

Strange things happen
in the blink of an eye
things live, arise
build and die

The sun understands
in a wink
that all has purpose
even the chinks

It warms the planet
with its life
feeling, living
knowing its 'vice'

Finally, sunlight
cast for others
fathers, mothers
sisters and brothers

In that moment
the sunlight dies.
But the light still reaches the earth.

There's a Chip on Your Shoulder

There's a Chip on Your Shoulder

The duo converse

about the fate of a soul

Laughing and talking

regardless of their goal.

The man in the middle

can barely understand

He just knows the two

have something planned.

It almost seems as though

they have talked before

In the annals of history,

his days of yore.

They agreed on something

but he could not tell

Whether what they planned

was for heaven or hell.

A giggling girl

becomes a saint,

and then, in a flash,

is a lecherous taint.

The two laugh,

the two lie,

Making him afraid

to live or to die.

But then something happens

a voice from the crowd-

an idiot friend

speaking aloud.

He says there are people

trapped on your shoulder

they look so heavy

like a chip or a boulder.

The man in the crowd

winks at you

saying, "Drop them!

what can they do?"

A single shrug,

a world of relief

all your doubts

quite turn to belief.

He strode through the veil

and on to forever

And with the two

all bonds he did sever.

They no longer laughed

but writhed in pain

and soon they dissipated

into a small black stain.

Lies...

My Garden

My Garden

I once had a garden

where flowers grew

the reddest of roses

and violets blue.

Then grew yellow daffodils

and I marveled at their light

They were so fragile

but in them I delight.

My violets shriveled

but I cared not,

I needed only the yellow,

that's what I thought.

It was after, though,

that the roses began to wilt.

As the daffodils took over

I became filled with guilt.

My roses are but a shadow,

and the daffodils don't look so bright.

Of course they still shine,

but they can't see my plight.

The violets grew back

coming in force,

and the yellow sunk

as my voice became hoarse.

My garden lies untended,

as I lay on the ground

I have looked for God,

yet he's not been found.

A single white rose

And single one black

mother to them all

brings them all back.

The black rose drags

the others to the light

and the others follow

the kind rose of white.

My garden stands tended

by other hands than I

and I realize

God has passed close by.

A drop of blood stains

the shirt I wear

always to remind

I can hold the cross I bear.

Grieving

Grieving
Why so sad, sparkling sky?
Is it that you did not get your way?
or something you made a friend say?
Will you tell me, please, why?

Come now, sparkling sky,
I'm still here
with a hug for you, dear,
Don't hide, don't cry.

That's better, sparkling sky
Show us your grin
that's how we begin
Better to laugh than to sigh.

What a smile, sparkling sky!
Wherever did it go?
How I missed it so-
Always let that flag fly.

What a magical look, sparkling sky,
There are secrets in your eyes,
There's time later for goodbyes
So forget, for now, we can die.

Hush, now sparkling sky,
I'm not really gone
I'm in a laugh, a sob, a yawn.
For you, sparkling sky, have I.

I'll see you when the moon sets,
and I'll have no regrets
because I'll see you, shining bright
a beacon in the dark, my sparkling light.

An Oil Spill on a Rainbow

An Oil Spill on a Rainbow

Soul, dear, what say you?
Is there a stain of purest blue?
Or is there a tint of Earl Grey?
Perhaps a yellow so gay?

A dash of green,
with a purple sheen,
and a cloak of red
from hearts you've bled?

A beam of light
shining white,
with violent violet
standing inviolate?

Then lonely black,
standing back,
with siren call
colors all.

The colors of rainbow
Too dark, though,
mixed with ink
just before the brink.

Can you be washed clean,
without losing the colored dream?
Can you strip the taint
or cover it, coated paint?

Nay, nay, says the soul.
This stealth cannot be my goal.
Why should I hide
after all the years I've cried?

Don't shoulder the pain,
nor drop it again,
Accept the life
Both sorrow and strife.

This thing you call taint
Won't make a saint
but nor are we hellbound
Listen! Make no sound!

A note,  a chord,
A song to a Lord,
I sing and dance
frolic and prance

For simply living on earth
straddling the massive girth
wades you through mud
through tears and blood

But this is you,
mortal one, you.
For as you move,
how else can you prove
You've been here all along?

Drip, Drip

Drip, drip,
goes the faucet
leaking life as it drops.

Drip, drip,
goes the blood
leaking life as it drops.

Drip, drip,
goes the sky
crying down onto the earth.

Drip, drip,
goes her eyes
crying down onto the earth.

Drip, drip,
goes the man
staring at an empty bed.

Drip, drip,
goes the girl
staring at an empty bed.

Drip, drip,
goes the river
as it flows by us all.

Drip, drip,
goes the world
as it flows by us all.

Drip, drip,
goes the Lord,
as he cries for our sins.

Drip, drip,
goes the devil,
as he cries for our sins.

Drip, drip,
goes my pen,
dipping into emptyness

Drip, drip...
Silence.
Eyes look at the sky.
Skies look at eyes.
A single moment
A single glance.
Then...

Drip, drip.

Where To?

Where To?

I walked out of my room today
It was early in the morning
I decided that today
I would play it by ear.

Instead of planning
I just walked out of my room
Instead of waiting
I strode to the road.

I flagged down a truck
and asked for a ride
"Where to?" He asked.
I smiled and said, "Yes."

We rode together
and he told me his tale
I told him mine
and we shook hands.

He dropped me off
somewhere I don't know
I should feel nervous, afraid,
yet all I really felt was free.

I begged for a meal
at the local corner store
and they too told me a tale
each person adding a flavor

I drank their stories
and told them mine
It was the story of me
and the man in the truck

and, then, it was their story too.
After I ate, I thanked them
and walked into the sunset
happy that life was still here.

In the morning, I woke up
and looked at my room.
I could stay here
and know my tale

Tell it to others,
as they might know
the truth behind it all
and divulge it to me.

But, I smiled,
and walked out my door
because I knew the truth
did not lie there.

I flagged down a trucker
to ask him for a ride,
and we rode off again
to our conclusion.

Where Has the Sun Gone?

Where Has the Sun Gone?

Run across the endless plain
Trying to find the sun
Which continues to float
to laugh and to shun.

The ground smiles
and cries and screams
crushed under footsteps
the smell of broken dreams

Here and there,
the reminders sit
a purse, a legging,
the scarf she knit.

A small pile of stones
sitting all alone
devoid of flowers
a name you've always known

All behind
as you race ahead,
left behind
as forgotten or dead

For the gods you seek
for the organs that leak
the pleasure you want
left you barren and gaunt

For the sun you'll find
despite the rays that will bind
and as you reach to touch it
it burns as you see what's writ

And find that, all in all,
it was always you that would fall
always you were the cause
because you never gave pause

That the truth was behind you
in the ground you strode
the cries and lives too
but you never slowed.

And as you burn up in the sun
a glowing barreled gun
the people will reach down
and push you into the ground.

The Challenge Begins

I have decided that this month, perhaps longer if necessary, will be my attempt to revitalize the use of my free time toward writing. I am going to try to compile a single poem for each day of this challenge. I will create three for this past weekend, and will try to maintain this challenge for approximately forty days, and hopefully onward.

Attention all!
This is a test
of my good skills
and all the rest.

To force upon
the sunlit stage
my lack of prowess
for laughs or rage-

to force myself
to keep my craft
to stay sane
or, rather, daft!

A poem a day
for one month I'll play,
then at the end
it all depends.

Five stanzas
no less!
God willing,
God bless!

A challenge presented
a gauntlet to win
to rekindle a flame
that has grown thin.

Read, respond,
rage or scoff,
nice or badly done
and finally, I'm off!