I am pretty sure
that this pretty girl
is going to wreck
my fragile world.

I’ve spent a lifetime
hardening my skin
to keep anyone
from creeping in;

But my barriers
have been dropping,
and this lead heart
has stopped stopping
potential intruders.

I feel very vulnerable,
like she is going to go
and turn my armor plating
into something pliable
and I am liable
to let go of my old
cold septic skeptic soul.

She is a rush,
as my breath
exists thus,
what this addict craves
that which will enslave
as I cave
to her encroachment,

and we haven’t even
had our first date.

I haven’t rested
in several days
and all the energy
I ‘ve invested
does not pay
back anything but
black rays of pain.

My mind is foggy,
my fingers fumble.
I am not coherent.
I merely mumble
as I stumble out
to deal with my doubt.

So, tired and I need
just a little bit of
sweet relief sleep.

My eyes are red.
My head is sore
I’d like an hour
but could take seven more.

My vision blurs,
and smoky mists
split apart in front of me
even though I know
they don’t exist.

Little off white flakes
fall like fake
snow,
but I know this is more ash
to feed the fast growing
sleep deprived madness
that I am showing.

The screen is becoming
a blur of red marks
meant to remind me
that my spelling
is worsening,

and I can’t find the end
of this late-night poem
because I am so freaking
tired.

It was stained glass dreams
of fire red rays
that burnt blood rivers
and sent blues sprays
of infinite squares
to cut up my madness
and sit me silent
in my stupefied stares
of chaos’s natural contemplation.

The glittering lights
Of the City below
Shimmer in the
Sunrise glow
As I perch on
My rocky throne
To admire them.
Neon snails slowly
Inch their way along
The distant highway.
Flocks of starlings
Spray themselves
Across the rosy sky
And I am content.
           LJM

the bird I saw at the water park
that bird flew so freely
it seemed so happy to me
because it has wings that I don't have

it is able to go anywhere it wants to go
but that bird is very lonely,  
because it's flying after departing its mother

the bird I saw at the water park
the bird I saw at the playground
the bird I saw on the plane

the bird that was always alone, will fly
freely to find friends
it's not lonely anymore as it flies together

hey, bird bird bird bird

the bird that was always alone, will fly
freely to find friends
it's not lonely anymore as it flies together

hey, bird bird bird bird

I am tired of poor perspectives,
of the hues that abuse the views
of abstract paths and messed up avenues.

I am tired of prior cues,
signal that set poets on cruise
as the roads roll up
like the broken blunt
used to burn through
the black and soulful blues.

I am tired of the cutsie fluff
that distracts us from the stuff
we should be paying attention to.

But mostly I am tired of
the muffled muse I once used
being stretched and torn
to make other artists conform
to the boring norm
of trying to sale things
we don’t need.

T’was the king of crows,
who cawed at me,

pecking and plucking
my straw furiously,
cause he was curious to see
what would become
of this straw man
he once flew from.

Eyes burning red,
whilst mine turn to dread
as a ****** of his brethren
began to follow him
and dig into my cloth skin.

I could not stop them,
with their plucking
and pulling
all my hay innards out.

They had no doubt,
nothing to fear here
it was very clear
because I could not
shoe them away.

So, they knocked of the hat that
was stitched to my head,
and ripped up the fabric
that held my button eyes.

If I was ever alive
then that was the night
that I died,
silently screaming,
begging, and pleading
for the crows to stop
chewing and eating
certain bits of my body.

T’was early the next morning
when the farmer found
a mess of straw and fabric
spread across the ground.
Though, to his surprise
no crows filled the skies
and not one part of his corn stalks,
not one pod, or kernel was taken,
or even shaken,
only my flaccid body lay there
exposed to the cold fall air.

A little lady cardinal
One morning perched upon my deck,
Spying the seeds I had placed there,
Hungrily, she began to peck

Soon she was joined by her lover,
With his "tweetheart" he came to dine;
What a lovely couple they made,
Standing there underneath the pine

I stood in awe of their courtship,
Then came a moment of mystique --
Lovingly, he took a peanut
And gently placed it in her beak

His wing lifted to caress her,
So much in love they seemed to be;
Tears started to well in my eyes,
Seeing love's pure simplicity

Suddenly, there appeared a hawk,
A dark shadow touring the sky,
All chirping hushed, fear filled the air,
And then sounded the warning cry

All the birds in the area
Sought trees, left and right they did veer,
But little lady cardinal
Just sat there, paralyzed with fear

Death was gliding on wings outspread,
Lady cardinal in his sight;
Then down he swooped to claim his prize,
Suddenly her lover took flight

Up he flew into death's cold grasp,
Downward fluttered a tattered wing;
Satisfied with his handsome catch,
The hawk soared away, revelling

The red bird gave his life for love,
But his bravery was not in vain,
Each dawn finds his lady grieving,
Singing for him her sad refrain

Used to be
you and me
against this sick
degrading
society,

but you up
and left.

So, while
you were away
the world went strange,
people got crueler,
shoulders got colder.

We all found out
what politics
and the medical
profession
is really about.

The corrupt got dumber
than a redneck plumber,
but due to their massive egos
they still put on a good show
to show how stupid they are.

Technology,
created
more transparency,
so their stupidity
became clearer to see;

Even, by a man
as foolish as me.

That’s what happened
when you decided to
up and leave.