Final Chapter

I’ve been dancing with the devil

Where once I walked the line

I’ve been hiding from the truth

Trying to find some peace of mind

It’s so hard to write the ending

It’s so hard to play the part

It’s so hard to get these words out

Writing with a broken heart

There’s a pain that seems unending

And a fear of the unknown

Afraid to turn this final page

And feeling so alone

All the laughter and the good times

All the hard times and the tears

All those memories behind me

As I face my final years

I don’t know how not to love you

So, we shake our heads and cry

And we wonder how we’ll ever

Find the words to say goodbye

Letting all of love’s bright promise

Fade away into the past

And the burning flame of passion

That was never meant to last

It’s so hard to fight these feelings

That have been there from the start

 Leaving all the care and comfort

Left with just this broken heart  

cn12142012

For Tommy - Four Years Gone

Where is my son
Where is his laughter
Where is my one baby boy
Why was he taken
Leaving just memories
Where is my pride and my joy

Where is my brother
Does he miss his sisters
The way that we miss him each day
I wish he were here now
I wish we could tell him
The things that we never could say

Where is my uncle
Has he seen the new ones
Including the one on the way
I know he would love them
And they would love him
Why can’t he be here today

Where is my grandson
What is the purpose
Of taking him long before me
It doesn’t seem fair
That he should go first
For reasons that no one can see

I wish we could see you
To tell you we love you
With a love that is forever strong
And each day that we live
We know you are with us
And will be until we’re all gone

For love is eternal
Although life goes so fast
These feelings forever will stay
Until we cross over
And find you there waiting
In the land of the unclouded day

1/6/2010

In Memoriam - Thomas E. "Tomcat" Tarr, Jr. 12/5/81 - 1/8/06

I saw his soul ascending
Flying towards the light
A silhouette of wings spread
A young bird taking flight
I saw the nest he left behind
So full of broken hearts
I feel their loss and sorrow
Each time a tear drop starts
I haven't seen the other side
But I know he's safe and warm
Somewhere the senseless acts of fools
Can never bring him harm
He left behind a sadder world
For all of those who care
But when it's time for us to fly
I know we'll see him there

A Christmas Poem

‘Twas days before Christmas
On the cold city streets
As I slumbered in comfort
On four hundred count sheets
The presents were wrapped
No meals left to fix
But the spirit of Christmas
Was lost in the mix
We had counted our blessings
With no expense spared
While others went hungry
And nothing was shared
No gifts for poor children
Who can’t choose where they live
No joy for their parents
With nothing to give
A small act of kindness
Can go very far
For those who have nothing
You can be their star
Please, take time to reach out
And answer the call
Spread peace on the earth
And goodwill to all

cn 121910

12/3/2012

The world from my perspective

Hasn’t changed much through the years

At times it’s out of focus

Obscured by my own tears

And the road still lies before me

But the journey wears me down

Marked by haunting, nameless faces

Who speak, but make no sound

And the ones who came before me

Who tried to make a stand

Gave way to waves of sadness

Like footprints in the sand

While the world grows mean and angry

Driven by an endless greed

Turning blindly from the sorrow

Of the ones who live in need

Still  the tyrants use the soldiers

And the soldiers give their lives

In some pointless war for profit

Where the poor are sacrificed

And my soul, just like my body

Wears the wounds of battles lost

And a heart that was born broken

Pays the price and knows the cost

I am tired, lost and lonely

And there’s nothing left to do

But to dream of bright tomorrows

Where the road leads back to you

Angel

Angel, take this pain away

And ease my troubled mind

Take me to that sacred place

That only lovers find

Take this heart into your hands

And heal it with your touch

Let me know the kind of love

That lives in dreams and such

Lose me in your loving eyes

Find me in your heart

Mesmerize me with your smile

As you have from the start

Let me hear your laughter

And tell me they’ll be more

Give me hope for one day

And all it has in store

Slip your hand inside of mine

These feelings I can’t hide

Always live inside this heart

Forever by my side

Adam and Steve

Adam was a lonely boy

Who kept to himself

With his dreams in the closet

And his heart on the shelf

A cold world had forced him

Those feelings to hide

Denying his longings

He kept them inside

Steve was an outcast

He was a prodigal son

Tried and convicted

For nothing he’d done

Society viewed him

As something unclean

In a world filled with hatred

So angry and mean

Then Adam found Steve

And they fit like a glove

You see, people are people

And love is just love

No matter what your religion

Or what you believe

If there’s a God up above

He loves Adam and Steve

cn11172012

Slings and Arrows

I have no defenses

For liars and fools

For dark hearted spirits

Who make their own rules

The world that they live in

Must be dark and grey

I have my opinion

But I really can’t say

They made me a target

I paid a steep cost

I’m nobody’s savior

But I’m here on this cross

They say that they love you

And plot their attack

A hand reaches for you

With a knife for your back

You know who you are

And now so do I

You live like a martyr

And so shall you die

The darkness inside you

Will leave your heart torn

And when you are gone

There'll be no one to mourn

Hunger No More

Sweet child of this world
You’ve known only pain
You starve for attention
This world’s greatest shame
Sad eyed innocent
Skin over bone
Dying in a world
Of riches unknown

Does nobody wonder
What you’re dying for
Just close your brown eyes
And hunger no more

Senators, businessmen
Come join the feast
Stuff yourselves silly
Don’t look to the east
With mansions of glory
And nice things to wear
Don’t spend your time thinking
Of others out there

Does nobody wonder
What they’re dying for
Close your eyes and pretend
They will hunger no more

Brothers and Sisters
Who make up the whole
Union of souls
Accept your own role
Stand up and be heard
Let them know that you care
With the wealth we’ve been given
We must surely all share

The children are dying
They are mine and they’re yours
Is it only a dream
That they’ll hunger no more

The Truth

The truth reveals itself at times

And isn’t always kind

So, we lock those feelings deep inside

Afraid of what we’ll find

Because everyone’s a sinner

And everyone’s a saint

And everyone’s an artist

With the portraits that they paint

A picture filled with hope and dreams

A piece of captured youth

That ages with the painted lines

Revealed by time and truth

But the child survives inside each soul

No matter how we try

To lock away the pain of truth

We forget how to cry

And lose that childlike innocence

The joyfulness of youth

And all the burdens life can bring

Obscure all that is truth

Autumn

The days are getting shorter
The nights are getting cold
Stifled by my memories
And fears of growing old
The leaves are changing colors
The weather’s changing me
The pain is getting stronger
And it’s easier to see
The end is drawing nearer
But I am unafraid
To linger any longer
Isn’t worth what must be paid
The soul sees many changes
As the seasons roll on by
So, you stop in search of reasons
Why you’re willing to still try
For winter will soon be here
And your story will be told
When the warmth inside you passes
Giving way to dark and cold

cn 10/2/2010

Gospel Truth

I can’t bring back the dead

Or give sight to the blind

The only truth that I know

Is “you’ve got to be kind”

I won’t hang from your cross

And my blood is not wine

       No sweet sacrament       

No fruit of the vine

I don’t walk on water

For the river is dry

So Father, forgive me

And Mother, don’t cry

Sweet sisters and brothers

Why are you looking above

When hidden inside you

Is the secret to love

It’s not in your scriptures

Or the stories you’ve told

Not stored in some vault

With your treasures of gold

Put all your commandments

Away on some shelf

Try loving your neighbor

As much as yourself

Note to Self

In times like these I need someone

Who sees all that I see

So in my darkest hours

I always turn to me

The only things I find are real

Are from my point of view

The universe inside me

Is really nothing new

It has lived for generations

And seen the pain of war

Yet still I am a dreamer

Who hopes for so much more

I have my friends and family

But the truth is plain to see

When I search for truth and meaning

I always turn to me

cn10192012

A Dream for Humanity

A bit more understanding

A lot less hate and greed

A little more attention

To those who are in need

The end of needless hunger

For those who do without

A world where we all live as one

Is what I dream about

Where every weapon is put down

And wars forever cease

Where foes embrace their enemies

And build a lasting peace

I dream of faith that lies within

Its truth found in the soul

Of every pilgrim searching

For their own place or role

Unfettered by religion

Or by some rules of state

Where how we live our daily lives

Determines our own fate

For what we do is who we are

And in the starlight’s gleam

We are children in this garden

Who try to live the dream

cn10182012