week 514 ~ jungles of words

jungles of words
but none for me
fleeing in herds
jungles of words
wild squawking birds
laugh at my plea
jungles of words
but none for me

week 496 ~ I am writing for a future

I am writing for a future
a time when my voice will be heard
now it’s too bold so not a word
marks the world but that won’t deter
art music love all these infer
a presence as life is passing
by all the paint I can I fling
at the wall sonic graffiti
claws out through the work sets it free
to land somewhere where hopes can sing

week 476 ~ magnets like words without meaning

magnets like words without meaning
will either attract or repel
significant verbs missing tell
false stories obliquely leaning
as the hearer intervening
knocks them off course into a slot
unintended or perhaps not
for propaganda is wily
as it upends reality
and truth often misses its shot

week 424 ~ simply put my friend

simply put my friend
life isn’t pretty
truths you can’t defend
simply put my friend
will always upend
words you hoped witty
simply put my friend
life isn’t pretty

week 390 ~ don’t ask me what it takes

don’t ask me what it takes
if you’re not listening
communication breaks

remaking old mistakes
destroys a fragile thing
don’t ask me what it takes

to knit faith back up fakes
are worse than loss doubts spring
communication breaks

down words falter earthquakes
rock this tale past trying
don’t ask me what it takes

to circumvent heartaches
time’s disintegrating
communication breaks

faith pushes back the stakes
are high for denying
don’t ask me what it takes
communication breaks

week 319 ~ why does the roof fly off the world

why does the roof fly off the world
from time to time leaving me bare
I reach out in the darkness where
will I find sustenance words hurled
in frustration fall broken curled
up in a ball at my feet they’ll
evaporate by morning sail
away even from memory
as my heart’s song no longer free
lies tattered trying to inhale

week 316 ~ I feel naked in front of the mirror

I feel naked in front of the mirror
of truth what exactly am I looking
for what more could I expect do I fear
exposure commitment what should I bring
to the table do I still have cards to
play as I stare down the void double check
the map the clock the appointment where do
I line up who’s waiting to stack the deck
in the dark as the world begins to spin
out from under my feet I jump something
catches my parachute the silent din
of waiting words which one the golden ring
I sit up drink in hand searching for rhymes
the damn muse just slaps you around sometimes

thanks to my friend Alec for the last line.

week 306 ~ words launched from gaping mouths pile up around

words launched from gaping mouths pile up around
us errant paper airplanes valiantly
striving to carry big ideas sound
gesture belief shot precariously
into the void to die there purpose spent
success was never guaranteed we know
but still we hoped our hard-birthed missives went
toward a sympathetic ear to show
their merit thereby demonstrating ours
making the days years of this journey worth
their cost lost pursuit of secret dream hours
that haunt us knowing what-if time on earth
limits everything as these words now fall
silent perhaps not mattering at all

week 269 ~ swimming through solitary darkness

swimming through solitary darkness
in limbo where I shouldn’t belong
knocked overboard and under duress
swimming through solitary darkness
mistakes compound that I can’t address
caught in a spiral of words gone wrong
swimming through solitary darkness
in limbo where I shouldn’t belong

week 193 ~ wanting to fly

wanting to fly
her words on the ground
a reason to try
wanting to fly
and wondering why
they still make no sound
wanting to fly
her words on the ground