Folly often takes sweet youth

down pathways somewhat, strange,

confusing everything 'till way off track;

I understand each lesson

has a universal rule,

but, there are many found in each & every stack!

It's resulted in one large lump

words do my throat, betray;

is there nothing that will thwart the powers that be?

I reckon we'll find quite enough

of the evidence it will take,

to convince fate it weren't you, & it weren't me.

Just be quiet & imagine

Jesus, were am I
In heaven young one
What about my family

I promise they will be okay
Aren't you supposed to protect me?
From bad things

The almighty Jesus shed a tear
And said yes that’s why
I brought you home

Come let me show you the swings
The slide and all the candy
You desire my young son

I want my mommy
My brother and my teacher
I know you do
That’s why I built you a window
So you can see them everyday

I still have the old Browning shotgun
my father willed to me
and I pass it on to my own son
a bit before I cease to be

It's a semi-automatic style
stock and finish worn by his old hand
I hold it and it makes me smile
to think of him hunting the wild lands

I also own a rifle just for deer
I bought it used long, long ago
another semi-automatic, I fear
carried through rain and sun and snow

Gaunt the corridors of my mind,
their darkened passages dim lit by torches,
tongs of youth from fiery embers brandished
in my brain, to waken thoughts
that frightened with their pain.

Such memories of walking in the night,
hurriedly along the hedges, over streets,
when rain came lashing down
and thunder clapped the sky,
as if some danger stood close by.

I can visualize you
as a serpent
entwined
with another one
chaste at first
then roar like a lion

You emerge the strongest
of lovely men
robust
humorous
cantankerous

and
then like a rolling discus
the ones you twine with
will you curse…
when in them
you finally disburse…

the perilous
of all humanly wine
then once you un- entwine
you will find another
snaky one in line

till then lover poet
remain like wine
in a position you entwine...

ACETATE

squinting through lens
upon an epoch in time
the light appears darkest
the darkest appears light
I inhale oxides
reversing the negative
yellowed curled edges
refocus distortions
your frame clears

Their fear crept into my soul
I was caught watching your pain
They say I smiled at your demise
Yet I was only picking over your bones.

I did scatter them to the elements
They didn't know you'd asked me
I now cry for their stupidity to end
Can they not let you rest as I do?

Wretched souls caught in their world
We cannot tell them of their peril
Can't they see the evil they are
Dripping hate and greed on fertile soil

rumpled jeans outlandish jersey
tussled hair grass stained hi tops
rolled up pant legs
a study in concentration
serious business
the lawnmower whirrrs
a Fisher Price song
in random fashion
over newmown grass
green stained shoes
testimony to his calling
helping dad cut the lawn

the hard hits of life
seem so true,
when some one
who is in love with you
only then you do..
how love does ensue
along with you
in reverie we all dwell,
like summers gone blue
in memory we sway
either way...
when love sings songs
of life and dismay,

then we seek the far distance
our eyes closing bleak
Oh horizon
where are you going,
leaving me

notions in the dark
we are lands
capable of breath
hushed in a desparate
hate
this love we tender
the flame sharp
the kisses soft

nape of winter
rushing in its banks
past all the steady
knowns

and the rain is falling
like all our words