FORGIVING
I'M TIRED OF NOT FORGIVING
SO I FORGIVE YOU NOW
FOR EVERY UNJUST PRETENSE
YOU'VE PUT ME THROUGH;
FOR EVERY LOVELY LIE
YOU'VE LED ME ON WITH;
FOR EVERY MISTY TEAR
YOU'VE STOLEN FROM MY SOUL.
YES ---
I FORGIVE YOU, NOW I MUST LEARN HOW TO FORGIVE MYSELF.
WAITING FOR YOU
WAITING FOR YOU,
I CREATE THOUGHTS LIKE BUBBLES
TO DRIFT THRU MANY SKIES
AND PERCHANCE TO PASS THRU YOUR UNIVERSE.
AS THE SUN IGNITES THE DEWDROPS CLIMBING THRU THE GRASS
LIKE DIAMOND BEADS DANCING ON A WARM WET CARPET,
I JEWEL MY THOUGHTS THRU DAWN'S FADING GLOW
AND BARE MY MOST NAKED DREAMS
TO FLOW LIKE A RIVER OF TRUTH BEFORE YOUR EYES.
I'M STILL WAITING:
WAITING FOR THE MOON TO TURN SHOCKING PINK,
WAITING FOR THE SUN TO BURN OUT COMPLETELY.
I AM WAITING,
STILL WAITING, FOR YOU.
FRACT AND FLECT
DO REFLECTIONS RE "FRACT"
OR DO REFRACTIONS RE"FLECT",
AND WHAT THE HELL IS A "FRACT" OR A "FLECT" ANYHOW?
DO I BREATHE
OR DOES MY BREATH MAKE ME?
AND, WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR WHICH ONE IS REALLY ME?
THE ONE I CAN TOUCH AND FEEL
AND YET NOT SEE FROM INSIDE MY BODY,
OR THE ONE I CAN ONLY SEE
WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR,
AND AM I REALLY LOOKING AT ME
OR AM I SEEING WHAT I AM REALLY NOT?
WHAT IS A MIRROR ANYWAY
AND WHAT IS GLASS?
A MIRROR IS GLASS THAT RE"FLECTS",
OR DOES IT RE"FRACT"? AND, WHAT IN THE HELL IS A "FRACT" OR A "FLECT" ANYHOW?
GENTLE EARTHQUAKE
YOUR MOUTH,
NOT SMILING,
NOT FROWNING,
SILENTLY CREATING A NEW LANGUAGE.
YOUR BREATH,
COMMANDING INTIMACY,
SUSTAINING DESIRE,
DESTROYING ALL FRAGMENTS OF FEAR.
I FLOW TO YOU
AS WAVES TO A SILENT SHORE,
NOT CRASHING,
NOT BREAKING,
BUT GENTLY BENDING,
SOFTLY WASHING.
SEEING YOU,
EVEN THE FIRST TIME,
SHOOK MY UNIVERSE LIKE A GENTLE EARTHQUAKE.
HEARTS BREAK
HEARTS BREAK SILENTLY
NO ECHOES IN HEARTACHE CANYON
HEARTS MEND SOUNDLESSLY
NO NOISY NEEDLES KNITTING
HEARTS BREAK
LIKE WAVES IN A VACCUUM
HEARTS MEND LIKE BRUISED ATMOSPHERE
HAZING
SOMETIMES , WHEN I LOOK AT YOU
I SEE MYSELF.
OTHER TIMES ,
YOU REFLECT NO TRACE OF ME AT ALL.
MOST TIMES,
I SEARCH YOUR SOUL
TO FIND THAT CREVICE I BECAME LOST IN.
IN MY DARKNESS
I REALIZE I AM AFRAID TO BE ALONE,
SCARED OF THE EMPTINESS AND THE WAY IT ECHOES.
DARKNESS BECOMES MY DREADED CHAMBER OF SILENCE.
WHEN I'M ALONE, MY DARKNESS HAS A RED EDGE
AND THE SILENCE IS SAW TOOTHED, CUTTING THRU MY MIND
LIGHTING ALL THOSE FOGGY MIST COVERED
DRAWERS OF BURIED MEMORIES. -- MY SECRETS HIDDEN WITHIN.
ALONE, IN THE VACUUM OF MYSELF,
I WITNESS FRIGHTENING THINGS COMING TO LIFE:
DRAGONS I HAVE SLAIN IN THE PAST
THAT WILL NOT STAY DEAD;
MONSTERS WITH RED EYES AND BONY FINGERS
POINTING AT ME, ACCUSING ME.
I AM AFRAID TO BE ALONE,
AFRAID TO THE BONE,
BECAUSE I FEAR THE ME I MIGHT BUMP INTO
IN THE DARKNESS; IN MY DARKNESS.
WATERFALL
BEFORE I LEFT
I VISITED A WATERFALL.
NOW I AM DIVORCED FROM SUN AND STARS
AS IT ONLY SEEMED BEFORE.
NOW I KNOW THE COLOR AND SHAPE OF LIFE AND DEATH.
I COME TO GRASP THEIR MEANING A LITTLE DEEPER
WITH EACH SETTING SUN.
I FEEL THE TEXTURE OF HOPE
AS A BLIND MAN FEELS THE PLEASURE OF BRAILLE.
I WILL RETURN
TO RENEW MY VOWS WITH THE SUN AND STARS.
THIS REUNION OF DARK AND LIGHT
WILL BE MORE THAN IT SEEMED BEFORE.
I WILL NEVER VISIT A WATERFALL AGAIN.
ITS COLOURS AND SHAPES ARE TOO PAINFUL TO DEAL WITH.
MURDERER
THE ME YOU KNEW YESTERDAY IS DEAD.
YOU KILLED ME SOFTLY WITH THE SIGHS
I NEVER HEARD YOU SIGH.
THE BULLET OF YOUR LOVE
SET MY SOUL AFIRE AS IT ENTERED.
CRACKED MY HEART AS YOU REMOVED IT.
YOU HAVE MURDERED THE ME YOU KNEW LET THIS CERTAIN KNOWLEDGE BY YOUR PRISON.
MIDNITE RIDE
LAST NITE ON A FENDER BENDER MIDNITE RIDE
I CHOSE TO RETURN MY TICKET TO HELL.
THERE WAS NOWHERE I DESIRED TO VENTURE FURTHER.
I HAD BEEN EVERYWHERE,
SEEN EVERYTHING,
AND DONE IT ALL,
I DON'T THINK I'LL TAKE THESE MIDNITE RIDES ANYMORE. I REALLY SHOULD BE IN BED BY ELEVEN ANYHOW.
GOODNIGHT MR. DAVIDSON
LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF A STORYBOOK
OR AN OLD JIMMY DURANTE MOVIE,
WITH THE STANDARD “GODDNIGHT MRS. CALABASH” SIGN OFF LINE,
IT’S SO WARM AND FAMILIAR BUT STILL ONLY FANTASY.
IT’S ALMOST LIKE A SPECIAL KIND OF RHYTHM
TO A HEARTBEAT YOU RECOGNIZE IMMEDIATELY,
BUT WHEN THE TIMING IS WRONG
WE WALTZ OUT OF EACH OTHER'S LIVES.
YEARS LATER TWO SHIPS PASS IN THE NIGHT ONCE AGAIN
BUT THIS TIME THE FOG HAS LIFTED
TO SHOW JUST HOW MANY DREAMS WE LOST.
I WILL THINK OF YOU, AND WHEN I DO,
PERHAPS YOU WILL BE THINKING OF ME TOO.
IT IS CERTAIN WE WILL BOTH BE A LITTLE LESS ALONE
AFTER TONITE.
GOODNIGHT MR DAVIDSON, WHEREVER YOU ARE.
A TASTE OF LIFE WITH MYSELF
FIGHTING IN THE ARMY AND A LONG WAY FROM HOME
IS SOMETIMES HOW I FEEL,
WHEN I'M ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS.
SHIPWRECKED ON AN ICEBURG, IN THE MIDDLE OF A FLAMING DREAM,
IS HOW I VIEW THE LANDSCAPE OF MY LIFE:
TOO HOT AND TOO COLD. AND NEVER QUITE DEEP ENOUGH
TO REALLY GET MY FEET WET.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS WIDE AWAKE DREAM
ITCHYCOO PARK SEEMS SO FAR AWAY,
AND I DON'T THINK BETTY CROCKER IS MAKING HER ICING
QUITE AS CREAMY AND TASTY LATELY.
THE CHOCOLATE IS A LITTLE TOO MILD
AND THE VANILLA IS TOO PEPPERMINTY. JUST LIKE A TASTE OF LIFE WITH MYSELF.
LIGHT SWITCHES
THE LIGHT SWITCH IN MY MIND GOES ON
FOR A FLEETING INSTANT,
POWER SURGE,
POWER FAILURE,
LIKE A SANDBAR LEFT TOO WET
BY THE UNCARING OCEAN.
SOME SANDCASTLES
DON'T DISAPPEAR WITH THE WAVES,
AND THEY NEVER BELONG TO THE SHORE.
SOME SANDCASTLES ARE MEANT TO BE LIVED IN.
YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL THE HABITABLE ONES. THEY COME EQUIPPED WITH LIGHT SWITCHES.
HUMAN KNIVES
THE HUMAN KNIVES CUT SO DEEP.
THE PAIN IS TOO POWERFUL.
THIS BLOOD SPILL COULD FLOOD THE UNIVERSE.
THE WOUND CRIES OUT.
HEARTACHE HEARS AND RUSHES IN.
DEEP,
POWERFUL,
SILENT TEARS
SPLASH RANDOMLY
OOZING INDELIBLE WHISPERS OF PAIN.
LIFE'S CANVAS IS STAINED WITH TEARS
BALANCED PRECARIOUSLY ON THE EDGE OF THE HUMAN KNIVES.
HOW MANY MILES
HOW MANY SIGHS LONG
IS YOUR SMILE?
HOW MANY SORROWS WIDE
IS YOUR HEART?
HOW MANY OCEANS DEEP
ARE YOUR TEARS?
HOW MANY DREAMS LONG
IS YOUR SOUL?
DARE I ATTEMPT CROSSING
YOUR VALLEY OF WOUNDS AND SCARS?
PULLING ON MY HIKING BOOTS,
I SIGH
AND WONDER, HOW MANY MILES?
MICKEY & MINNIE MOUSE
I WONDER WHAT MICKEY & MINNIE MOUSE ARE UP TO TONITE?
ARE THEY DODGING CATS,
OR ARE THEY MUNCHING ON CHEESE MORSELS?
MAYBE THEY'RE TALKING ON THE TELEPHONE
TO PLUTO OR DONALD DUCK,
OR MAYBE THEY'RE PLAYING MOUSTRAP
WITH TWEETY BIRD AND SYLVESTER.
THEY MIGHT EVEN JUST BE SITTING SILENTLY
TWIDDLING THEIR PAWS,
OR TWITCHING THEIR WHISKERS,
BUT WHATEVER THEY ARE DOING RIGHT NOW
HAS TO BE MORE INTERESTING AND SATISFYING
THAN WHAT I AM DOING RIGHT NOW,
WHICH IS , WONDERING WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN
OUTSIDE,
A CAT MEOWING,
CRYING FOR LOVE
AND THE WARMTH OF INSIDE.
INSIDE,
A PERSON LISTENING
AND IDENTIFYING WITH
THAT FELINE DESPERATION.
SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN THEY SHARE A LONELY SIGH.
ICICLES
THE TERRIBLE TRANQUILITY OF YOUR WASTED WORDS,
AND YOUR HARD EDGED SEE SAW EMOTIONS,
HAS LEFT ME QUITE SPEECHLESS.
ME,
A MASTER OF ORATORY,
SPEECHLESS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I FEEL LIKE A THOUSAND TEARDROPS
PIERCED BY A MILLION STILETTOS.
CALM TO FOUR HUNDRED AND TWENTY DEGREES ABSOLUTE ZERO
YOU HAVE LEFT ME COLD,
SO COLD MY SPEECH HAS TURNED TO ICICLES.
YOU WERE THERE TOO
LOST IN MY MANY ONE SIDED THOUGHTS,
YOU SHINE IN CONSTANT DENIAL OF ALL DARK ELEMENTS.
IF I’M EVER CAUGHT SHINING, IT’S JUST ONE OF THOSE RARE MOMENTS
WHEN I LEAVE REALITY BEHIND, AND REALLY,
IT’S NOT EVEN ME SHINING, IT’S JUST SOME GHOSTLY APPARITION
THAT BORROWED MY BODY FOR A LAMENT.
IF EVER I REALLY THOUGHT I COULD SHINE,
IT MUST HAVE BEEN IN SOME OTHER UNDISCOVERED DIMENSION,
AND IF I EVER REALLY THOUGHT I LOVED YOU,
THEN THERE MUST HAVE BEEN SOME TRUTH TO IT.
I WON’T EVEN TRY TO MEASURE IT HERE AND NOW
BECAUSE WE’VE BOTH TRAVELLED TOO FAR
FROM THAT ELUSIVE TIME WE ONCE CALLED LOVE.
IF EVER I BELIEVED I WAS A SHINING SPECTRE,
AND IF EVER I BELIEVED I WAS A LOVER,
IT MUST HAVE BEEN WHEN I WAS LOST
IN ONE OF MY MANY ONE-SIDED THOUGHTS,
AND BELIEVE ME, YOU WERE THERE TOO.
NEVADA AND YOU
I RECALL NEVADA EVENINGS,
SUN SINKING LOW,
A SOFT MOJAVE CANDLEGLOW.
GENTLE DESERT BREEZES
SILKY LIKE YOUR TOUCH.
SOMETIMES THE SIMPLE BEAUTY
WAS ALMOST TOO MUCH.
THOSE WARM NEVADA EVENINGS AND TWILIGHT SKIES
STILL PAINT MEMORIES AND TEARS IN MY EYES.
I SWEAR I STILL HEAR YOU WHISPERING GOODBYE.
SOME NEVADA EVENING MAY FIND US AGAIN
GLISTENING WITH LOVE IN THE WARM DESERT RAIN.
WITH THE COOL EVENING DEW FRESH AND NEW ON MY TONGUE TASTING JUST LIKE NEVADA AND YOU.
REBORN & BAPTIZED
IN THE WARM WELCOME WAVES OF OUR LOVE
WE BATHE LANGUIDLY AND FEROCIOUSLY.
A WATERFALL FLOWS BETWEEN.
WITH TENDER FINGERS YOU PLAY ME,
SO CAREFULLY ROUGH,
LIKE A CHIMNEY SWEEP DUSTING ANTIQUES.
IF I COULD CAPTURE THE GAZE IN YOUR EYES ON CANVAS
THE MYSTERY OF MONA LISA'S SMILE
WOULD NO LONGER FASCINATE.
WE ARE THE EMPIRE.
WE ARE
REBORN
AND BAPTIZED IN EACH OTHER’S EYES
SMOKING
ASHES,
PAINTING BLOW AWAY PICTURES
OF HALF ENVISIONED ASTRAL VIEWS,
THE BURNT OUT RESIDUE
OF A FLAMING THOUGHT
SURRENDERING TO GRAY OBLIVION.
AND I THINK
THAT CIGARETTES HAVE SOMETHING BETTER TO TELL.
HAVE YOU EVER LISTENED TO ONE OF THEIR SECRET STORIES?
I HAVE
AND NOW I KNOW WHY THE EARTH IS TIPPING
A LITTLE MORE ON ITS AXIS EACH DAY,
AND NOW I KNOW WHY I LOVE
A LITTLE MORE EACH DAY,
AND NOW I KNOW EVERYTHING,
BECAUSE I SMOKE.
STOLEN NIGHTMARE
LIKE A BLUE MIDNITE HAZE,
A DISASSEMBLED FEELING HANGS BY A THREAD
AT THE EDGE OF THIS STOLEN NIGHTMARE.
DAMP
AND WAXING WETTER,
IT'S THE CENTRE OF AN AGING TEARDROP
THAT HAS CARELESSLY FALLEN DOWN
A STAIRCASE OF BROKEN DREAMS.
THERE IS A HEARTPRINT ON THE MIRROR
REFLECTING BROKEN WINGS AND FRACTURED MEMORIES.
IN SEARCH OF SOME OBSCURE UNANSWERED QUESTION,
MINDLESS AND MOTIONLESS,
STEERING WITH A CRACKED COMPASS,
I’M LOST AT THE EDGE OF THIS STOLEN NIGHTMARE. I WONDER WHY I EVER STOLE THIS NIGHTMARE.
