The Reason is Simple

Why do I dress 
the way I do?
My polka-dot tie
tucked into my shoe

this cammo shirt 
these striped dress pants
an orchid broach
that I think was my aunt's

socks of many colors
hats of many sizes
are generally of what 
my wardrobe comprises

my belt is bandanas 
and twist tie tops
my shoe strings from
a ukulele that belonged to my pops

my underwear I shall not mention
because when unmentionables
are mentioned there is no prevention
for the lingering tension
that's beyond comprehension:
they're just there for suspension!
(there is the contention 
they get too much attention
at least in Victoria's 
secret dimension)

my gloves don't match
my watch has a scratch
infinity begins
for my scarf never ends

So why do I dress 
the way I do
looking like 
I have no clue?

the fashion police
had no warning
my wife wasn't up 
when I left home this morning.

**********************Angel's Holiday

She came to us in the dark of night

we had never seen such a brilliant light

A cry of life was her first refrain

and her music arrived like a springtime rain

Almond eyes in a diamond frame

so many lives would never be the same

Angels came to us, then went away

and left us their daughter for a holiday

and I sit and I wonder

in the shade of a tree

how fascinating

she found her way to me

and I don't know why

it's so hard to tell her

that my love runs deep

and it goes on forever...

She came to us in the dark of night

we had never seen such a brilliant light

A cry of life was her first refrain

and her music arrived like a springtime rain

Hallelujah, it's a holiday

Hallelujah! she decided to stay

Hallelujah- it's an angel's holiday

Hallelujah! she's decided

she's going to stay!

Fire

You took
my pile of wood
and destroyed it

that woodpile
has dogged my every step
across the yard 
and down to the creek

for years it has gotten taller
wider deeper
wetter greener
bullying me
taunting me

hiding yellow jacket nests
maybe hornets
maybe mice or moles
hiding dark unknown things
my mind reels

getting higher and wider
stressing me out
never thinking about it
but always on my mind
it had to go

my pile of wood now
in one short day
decimated
ashen
gone

fire
a flame from a match
starts tiny, weak
grows into a power
indefensible 
a wonderment
it gives me awe

it takes my woodpile
Yes! I am free!

Mr Rabbit

I was just sitting there

with a cup of dreams in my hand

when everything went blank

and black

and I woke up on a hillside

under a tree

with a rabbit next to me

he sat quietly

while I came to be

on that hillside

we were looking out over a small valley

with a creek running through

you could tell by the line of trees

winding like a lost shoestring

"I used to live down there" said Mr Rabbit

"My warren was near that next little rise 

just beyond the creek."

He smiled at me, or seemed to.

Rabbits aren't good at smiling--

just conveying the feeling of a smile

was good, though

"I love the earth," he said 

cleaning some dirt from his rabbit paw with his other

"I love how it smells when I dig,

how it's a bit damp and soft

how it holds so much life.

And after rain it returns to form.

In our warren it's dry, but the smell of rain on the earth 

is beautiful."

He looked up at me

as I leaned against the tree and said,

"Well, I'm off now. Enjoy your time here."

And as he hopped off

I lost my way again

and I awoke 

cup in hand

Walter and the Crossing (the Lost Train)

Walter has been gone from his old hometown
for longer than he can remember
which isn't saying a lot, I guess;
he can't recall the first of November

and it's been longer than that
you and I know
and the way it's going he may be gone
until after the winter snow

The Trancharian lord came to some tracks
traveling as far east as he could see
turning, he found the tracks traveled west
as far as he knew, to eternity

he was at a crossing on a not busy road
when lights started flashing and arms came down
not a car was in sight, not a bird made a noise
and of trains there were none to be found

in either direction nothing locomotive appeared
east was horizon and west was the sky
Walter thought, "oh dear the poor train is lost"
then for a moment, a fleeting moment, realized, "so am I."

He tried to piece together the cars that connected
his engine to his caboose
but when he got to the car full of coal
the connection just seemed to come loose

and just when a tear came into his thought
a man on a handcar pushed by
not a group of cars or four big engines
just a simple handcar, slow, but wanting to fly

The man looked at Walter and Walter stared back
a glint of recognition in his eye
"that man looks like me," Walter thought (to himself)
and he waved as the man pumped by

Walter blanked out but just for a bit
and got a wry look on his mouth
then he picked up his feet and headed forth
on that road that led north or south

My Attention

People
what's with people?
they're either trying to live their own lives
or they're trying to get me to notice them

here's a few people I'd like to see:

at the grocery store, the mom with five kids
pulls out a cane and a top hat
and starts dancing and singing
"I got rhythm, I got music
I got five kids, who could ask for anything more!"

that would get my attention

on the corner, the guy with the sign
it says "don't need anything just wanted to say hi
and how much I liked listening to 
'I know this much is true'
by Spandau Ballet
when it was on the radio"

right on, dude! Everyday he'd put up a different song.

the gas station attendant
who blows the beginning of
'Boogie boogie bugle boy"
on a bugle
every time he comes out from inside
the store

until I roll my eyes because I've seen it so many times

a checker at Roth's who juggles my stuff
as he bags it.
whistles 'Sweet Georgia Brown'
and winks at me like it's all a big joke

not to me it isn't, buddy!

a runner who wears a flamboyant yellow outfit
with wings and fins
and jumps up and all around
running down the sidewalk for five miles
doing tricks and twirls every 20 feet or so

now that's exercise! 

If you want to get my attention
don't be subtle
give it to me!
and I'll give it to you.

Midnight

midnight
I'm awake again and I'm thinking about my life
I've been 
traveling on the edge of a knife
one side is endless searching 
one side's gray, the same old shade
time for me to cut my losses
and get off of this blade

always
searching for something I thought I had to prove 
my heart
stuck in the mud while my feet were on the move
leading me to dead end streets
leading me to wonder how
can I see the future without taking care of now?

and I want to know how...

He was brave, he was brave until the end
and he saved me, he saved me from within
he forgave me, he forgave me of my sin
won't you tell me His story again?

every
thing I've done comes tumbling back to me
many times 
I forgot to ask for grace and dignity
now I stand before His glory and I ask forgiveness please
let me start again in you
I have fallen on my knees 

and I want to know how..

you were brave, you were brave until the end
and you saved me, yes you saved me from within
you forgave me, you forgave me of my sin
won't you tell me your story again?

Midnight
I'm awake again and I'm thinking about my life...