Pardon me waiter
But there's a fly in my soup
Doing the backstroke

My hair is not falling out
It's just turned around
Instead of growing North
It's now flowing South

Out of my nose
And off my ears
Plus other locations
I'll not mention here

It's been said of her, she's heartless in nature
There's nothing that beats inside her chest
But something like that works two fold
Where most don't take the time to know
What could be the reason for this

With so many hurts it's hard to recover
The way love bites it's pain she finds
She's given away so much of it
That there is hardly any left
It's not like her heart she's trying to hide

She doesn't come with a load of questions
Just where's true love and why's it take so long
Hidden out amongst the weeds
Often makes love hard to see
Where you can go and pick your own

No, it's not like she has no heart at all
She's just afraid to give the rest away
As life imitates art through the bitter parts
She'll draw it out with only half a heart
Living come what may from day to day

From the moment that
We both laid eyes
We forever knew
It'd be you and I
Where love's taken us
In its whirlwind
We will always land
Hand in hand

There are no words
We need to say
As they would only
Get in our way
What we both have
We fully understand
As we walk this life
Hand in hand

Where if we stumble
Or one should fall
The other is here
To hold tightly on
In the sifting through
Times grains of sand
Always me and you
Hand in hand

When the years fly by
And we're at that age
With the final chapter
On the last page
Both nodding knowingly
That we understand
Going out the way we came in
Hand in hand

Hold me tight
Don't let me go
Say you love me
Though I already know
It's good to hear every now and then

Say that you'll be
By my side
All throughout
This crazy ride
From here on out all the way to the end

From point A
To point B
If necessary
All the way to Z
Closer to me than my next of kin

And when the time comes
That we are done
We'll move this gig
To the great beyond
Where we'll start it all over again

With you and I
Holding tight
Forevermore
Through the afterlife
Hand in hand the way it's meant and been

You gave me your hand
I gave you mine
We took our fingers
And intertwined
How can something so simple
Simply feel right
As we walk hand in hand
This journey called life

We picked up the pace
About mid-way
Stepped on the gas
Foot off the brakes
As we slid past
The life that we made
Into these golden years
With touches of gray

Comfortable in
Each other’s hand
How ever long, we’re given left
From the first intertwine
Of fingers we had
We knew it was right
The perfect life
Both hand in hand

your hand me down life
has never quite fitted right
it's either too small or too big
will you ever get used to it

still you take what's handed to you
whether too tight or too loose
you've come to accept it as truth
with hand me downs you don't get to choose

so you take your hand me down life
put it on without thinking twice
not really sure about the fit
but feel one day you may grow into it

every second

of every minute

of every single day

i'm hanging onto sanity (reality)

as fragile as i can

Standing on a busy street corner
When a limo pulls up next to me
Out pops the head of Johnny Depp
(Not the body mind you, just the head)
And asks where's the nearest Dairy Queen

Not one to miss an opportunity
I blurted out I'll show you the way
So that's how the head of "The Depp" and I
Spent time together that day

In his limo he had his makeup artist
Which seemed a bit odd to me
Everywhere the head of Johnny went
It had to dress up for the scene

Since Johnny was drooling a Dilly
First stop Dairy Queen
With Johnny's head as the Mad Hatter under my arm
It was a very strange scene indeed

With me holding onto the Dilly's
And Johnny's head on the counter up front
Mr. Depp was the King at the Queen that day
Though his ice cream licking habit did turn some peoples lunch

Later on passing a Piggly Wiggly
Johnny's head said what's up with that
Told him it's nothing more than a grocery store
His reply was let's give it a crack

So undergoing more of his makeup
And in the blink of an eye
I have the head of Jack Sparrow
In the grocery cart with a bag of Funions by his side

Yes, Johnny Depp's head loves Funions
Which to me really ranks the breath
But who am I to tell a Big Time Movie Star that
I'm not the keeper of his head

He even dressed as Edward Scissorhands
Which didn't turn out quite right
Since Johnny's head has no hands
To hold the famous Scissorhand knives

That day we went to so many places
With every stop a new disguise
I guess for entertainment you do what you can
When all that's left is your head and some of your mind

Whelp, that's about it on this days adventures
Not a whole lot more to be said
As I stood on the street corner waving bye, bye
To the limo pulling off into the sunset, along with the head of Johnny Depp

Standing on a busy street corner
When a limo pulls up next to me
Out pops the head of Johnny Depp
(Not the body mind you, just the head)
And asks where's the nearest Dairy Queen

Not one to miss an opportunity
I blurted out I'll show you the way
So that's how the head of "The Depp" and I
Spent time together that day

In his limo he had his makeup artist
Which seemed a bit odd to me
Everywhere the head of Johnny went
It had to dress up for the scene

Since Johnny was drooling a Dilly
First stop Dairy Queen
With Johnny's head as the Mad Hatter under my arm
It was a very strange scene indeed

With me holding onto the Dilly's
And Johnny's head on the counter up front
Mr. Depp was the King at the Queen that day
Though his ice cream licking habit did turn some peoples lunch

Later on passing a Piggly Wiggly
Johnny's head said what's up with that
Told him it's nothing more than a grocery store
His reply was let's give it a crack

So undergoing more of his makeup
And in the blink of an eye
I have the head of Jack Sparrow
In the grocery cart with a bag of Funions by his side

Yes, Johnny Depp's head loves Funions
Which to me really ranks the breath
But who am I to tell a Big Time Movie Star that
I'm not the keeper of his head

He even dressed as Edward Scissorhands
Which didn't turn out quite right
Since Johnny's head has no hands
To hold the famous Scissorhand knives

That day we went to so many places
With every stop a new disguise
I guess for entertainment you do what you can
When all that's left is your head and some of your mind

Whelp, that's about it on this days adventures
Not a whole lot more to be said
As I stood on the street corner waving bye, bye
To the limo pulling off into the sunset, along with the head of Johnny Depp

Do you feel your knee deep in the river of doubt

Where the current is swift and the piranhas hang out

If you don't know what I mean or what I'm talking about

Hang on to your wallet cause your soon to find out

This mean old world can be bitter at best

It'll grind you up, spit you out, then use you to clean up the mess

Believe we've been here before so don't expect any less

How much more can we take is anyone's guess

We have the lawyers, judges, politicians, with the jury still out

Telling us they know what's best for us and like it or not we're going to find out

Up to our necks now in that river of doubt

Anymore from anyone of them and I think that we'll drown

There is the group on the left and the group on the right

Thinking the other sides wrong and their willing to fight

One side brought guns and the other side knives

Was that Miss Liberty I just saw waving bye, bye

The sides are to steep on the riverbank we are in

We all just might drown cause we haven't learned how to swim

In the tank with the sharks, also known as the politicians

No one to lend us a hand with nothing more there to lend

That's the way it now is from beginning to end

Where we're soon to break cause we no longer can bend

Let's just throw them all out and start all over again

Before it's to late my friends and we do ourselves in

Some see me on the street
With my hungry sign held high
A few might stop to toss a buck
But most just pass me by

With no earthly idea
Of how I'm getting along
And if the position I am in
Is or isn't my own fault

If they dared look beyond the stare
They might see outright
As they're on their way to work
I'm living out my life

Without all the thick walls
Where at night I pitch my tent
That are used to keep me out
Or sadly, hold them in

My celling's are the open skies
Where at night I see the stars
And as the day rolls round to my delight
The sun is there to keep me warm

Without a single worry
Piled high upon my plate
No pressure and no hurry
To fall into a life, I hate

Like those I see passing me
In the prison of their cars
People ruled by mounting bills
On their way to work

It's not what you have
But what you don't
Not what you need
But what you want
That you think will make you happy
But it won't

It's not what you know
But what you see
Not what's going on
But what you tend to believe
That you think will make you happy
However brief

It's not in the moment
But the moment to come
Or how much you give
But the amount taken from
That you think will make you happy
But it won't

But the thing that will
Is the giving of self
When you focus on others
Being willing to help
That will make you happy
Above everything else

Last year in order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in it's place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

In order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in it's place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

In order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in it's place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

In order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and our toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in it's place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

In order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and our toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in it's place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

Standing at the pantry
As another year flies by
I take out the same candles
I blew out this time last July

To celebrate your birthday
Another one you've missed
Maybe celebrate is to strong a word
When the death of you brought it all to this

I always bake your favorite cake
Store bought just won't do
You always said you liked the icing best
So I add an extra spoonful or two

The same number of candles from last year
As your years are put on hold
One thing about you not being here
Is you never do grow old

When the party's over
Candles burned a little further than before
I take them off with a lump in my throat
And close back the pantry door

Let me be the first to set the record straight
Yes I have Happy Feet
That play to the tune inside my head
First the right then the left then back again

At times it's hard to keep them still
They tend to move at their own will
They stomp and jump, run and dance
And even more given half a chance

That's why I take my Happy Feet
Everywhere I go with me
You never know when a tune might hit
That needs a beat to go along with it

Here's a shout out
To all the Ladies out there
Who want a boyfriend so bad
But haven't found him just yet

Don't worry girls
It's not a hopeless cause
The man of your dreams
Hasn't found you yet is all

You see he's out there
And he's searching  too
Looking for the perfect women
And that perfect women is you

When it does happen
You will know this is it
Because both you and he
Will be the perfect fit

So go out and enjoy
Galentines with your girl friends
Because this time next year
You may all have boyfriends

Here's a shout out
To all the Ladies out there
Who want a boyfriend so bad
But haven't found him just yet

Don't worry girls
It's not a hopeless cause
The man of your dreams
Hasn't found you yet is all

You see he's out there
And he's searching  too
Looking for the perfect women
And that perfect women is you

When it does happen
You will know this is it
Because both you and he
Will be the perfect fit

So go out and enjoy
Galentines with your girl friends
Because this time next year
You may all have boyfriends

Here's a shout out
To all the Ladies out there
Who want a boyfriend so bad
But haven't found him just yet

Don't worry girls
It's not a hopeless cause
The man of your dreams
Hasn't found you yet is all

You see he's out there
And he's searching  too
Looking for the perfect women
And that perfect women is you

When it does happen
You will know this is it
Because both you and he
Will be the perfect fit

So go out and enjoy
Galentines with your girl friends
Because this time next year
You may all have boyfriends

Here's a shout out
To all the Ladies out there
Who want a boyfriend so bad
But haven't found him just yet

Don't worry girls
It's not a hopeless cause
The man of your dreams
Hasn't found you yet is all

You see he's out there
And he's searching  too
Looking for the perfect women
And that perfect women is you

When it does happen
You will know this is it
Because both you and he
Will be the perfect fit

So go out and enjoy
Galentines with your girl friends
Because this time next year
You may all have boyfriends

Some are born into this world
To either win or lose
It all depends on where you land
Inside that attitude

You can whine and cry, roll your eyes
But why not try something new
It may sound upside down or inside out
The happy-go-lucky blues

As a teen you try your best to angst
Cause that's just what teenagers do
Not sure what it is but you know that
You've got something to prove

Of course you hate your parents
And all they put you through
To you life bites so why not try
The happy-go-lucky blues

It's not like you ever change your mind
That's what we all expect from you
But this time try and keep it light
You'll be surprised what that can do

I can almost guarantee, believe you me
You're going to like this new you
It may sound odd but it's really not
The happy-go-lucky blues

woke up today
and knew right away
i needed a happy meal

one to toss down
to wipe off this frown
happy to help me deal

as some days for sure
can be rather coarse
before you even step outside

the perfect meal
of happy to deal
with the unhappy part in life

In order to save some money
Which in hindsight wasn't smart
Me and my buddies got together
To make our own fireworks

And as luck would have it
We found all we need under the kitchen sink
The whole time looking to do this cheap
Instead, we came out free

Knowing this day would draw a crowd
As soon as the rumor mill filled up
So in our vast wisdom with a few cells missing
We mixed the batch up in Jimmy's tub

Not being exact on science
As illustrated in that magazine
We felt no need to measure
And might have gone a bit extreme

As soon as the stuff started bubbling up
That thought did cross our minds
Remember at the start, saying it wasn't smart
And that little mention of hindsight

With the size of the flash, little wonder we're not ash
And still have all our fingers and toes
It's hard to explain the size of the bang
And why now Jimmy's house is one big hole

But we did put on a show not soon forgotten
That could be seen from outer space
And where Jimmy's house used to be
There's now a community pool in its place

So come and join us on this holiday
Burgers, beer, and of course fireworks
In fact, we're heading to Davy's house now
To mix a few things up...

Taking my January break...I'll be back!

What once kept us warm
We seem to have run from
Which makes me think the gig is up
Put a fork in us, I think we're done

What used to be all smiles
Is overloaded now with frowns
We picked it up only to put it down
Whatever happened to "Happy Town"

Slicing and dicing mincing words
Letting our mouths run off course
Nothing sadder than this soup de jour
Being spoon-fed with pitchforks

We often dream but wake to doubt
In black and white, we find this out
One eighty in our turn around
Whatever happened to "Happy Town"

When did our plans all fall through
Out of our hands, we let them loose
We lost the gander and the goose
******* in knots with a noose

Is it so hard to figure out
All we have is heading south
In line at the slaughterhouse
Whatever happened to "Happy Town"

What once kept us warm
We seem to have run from
Which makes me think the gig is up
Put a fork in us, I think we're done

What used to be all smiles
Is overloaded now with frowns
We picked it up only to put it down
Whatever happened to "Happy Town"

Slicing and dicing mincing words
Letting our mouths run off course
Nothing sadder than this soup de jour
Being spoon-fed with pitchforks

We often dream but wake to doubt
In black and white, we find this out
One eighty in our turn around
Whatever happened to "Happy Town"

When did our plans all fall through
Out of our hands, we let them loose
We lost the gander and the goose
******* in knots with a noose

Is it so hard to figure out
All we have is heading south
In line at the slaughterhouse
Whatever happened to "Happy Town"

Why do some folk always smile
While others only frown
One of the great mysteries
We never may find out

Is it a run on circumstances
Or differences of heart
Taken from what life hands us
That denotes who we are

The one that's happy with surroundings
Or the one that groans and gripes
Have you ever stopped to wonder
Which one you are in life

They say the happy ones live longer
Is it because the sad don't care
Instead of on life's bus they're under
Waiting to be dragged away from here

With me being one of the happy ones
I have yet to figure out
Why some are always smiling
While others only frown

...makes me sad to think about

Am I winning at this game
Or is life beating me
Sometimes it's hard to tell  
Sometimes it's hard to see

When my chips are down
I try and quickly pick them up
Are you ready for another round
Or have you had enough

Sometimes it's hard to tell
If you're the monkey or the cage
I have yet to figure out
Am I the turkey or the baste

On life's shinny lock
I often fumble with the keys
When you find I'm in mid-sneeze
Would someone please bless me

While enter and exit signs
Loom everwhere I go
Not sure if I should stick around
Or pack my bags and hit the road

Sometimes it's hard to tell
If you're the noose or the rope
I have yet to figure out
Am I the grass or the goat

If ever there was a sliver
Of sun in this shade of doubt
It's that in life it is hard to tell
And even harder to figure out

Did you seriously just hashtag a hashtag
Is something like that even allowed
People will be tripping over themselves
You really know how to rile up a crowd

You're bringing all that is known to the tipping point
What's left of what's sane to the brink
Turning civilization onto its head
Before you tried this stunt, did you stop to think

That you would be creating a mob of angry villagers
Digging out their pitchforks and their torches
Stirring the posse into a frenzy
Before they've even mounted the horses

Or that this fiasco would upset the apple cart
Spilling its contents all over the floor
Cause an epidemic of heebie jeebies
Perhaps even the war of all wars

I'm not sure when you hashtaged the hashtag
You were aware of what it might do
Is it to late to take it all back
Otherwise I believe we're all *******

#I'mserioushere

I took my time
And saved my dimes
So I could buy
The best of rhymes

But in my haste
I gave away
The best of all
That I had saved

From my first rhyme
To the last dime
Every bit of it
That I could find

Then remembered Ben
One time did say
Haste makes waste
I'm afraid...

You started out this walk
In the early days of youth
Letting others actions and talk
Get the best till nothing's left of you

Is it in a badge you earn
Or does it come au naturale
Into your psyche it seems to be burned
A fever hotter than hell

Although it's where you live
You've no idea of what it does
Hate is a deep dark dusty valley
Some never climb out of...

You've paid time and time again
And still can't get out of its debt
One of the original sins
You haven't figured out quite yet

If only the world around
Would learn to do right in your eyes
Then you wouldn't always be found
Trying to pick a fight

Never invited to the dance
Love holds no chance to overcome
When hate is a deep dark dusty valley
Some never climb out of...

Continually gasping for air
In this your dry and dusty land
Walking in circles of despair
With no one to hold your hand

People keeping their distance
No one dares conversate with you
As you fume like nobody's business
In a constant hateful loop

You'd think by now in your burning tower
That you would have had enough
But hate is a deep dark dusty valley
Some never climb out of...

I tell you what
Here's the thing
Could someone else please
Throw their hat in the ring

Who will proudly stand up
For the country they serve
Not be the disease
But the much-needed cure

Where if there's any problems
That come up per say
Will grow a backbone
And take them on face to face

Who will take random questions
From out in the crowd
Give short simple answers
And not hee haw around

Get us all back
Into holding hands
Could there be such a man
Anywhere in this land

Someone who'll say
And do what is right
Is there anyone anywhere
We could ever hope to find

That will do their very best
To slim the government
Watch the money grab
And how it is spent

A person who's willing to
Be up front with us
Supply our basic needs
Treat all of us just

A special someone
To take over the lead
In this home of the brave
Land of the free
We're begging you please,
To throw your hat in the ring

out of all that you now have

you wish you had what you once had

but out of all that you had

not everything is meant to last

take for granted what you have

until you have nothing left

then you will end up wishing that

you now have what you once had

have all the poems been written
have all the words been said
have all the rhymes been used over time
until there's nothing left

have all the ideas faded
nearly impossible now to find
with no way for them to say it
leaving all the poets in a poetic bind

have all the chances been given
to display the perfect line
years of insisting now one of the missing
hidden in broad daylight

have all the poems been written
in one form or another
now a no show giving little hope
there's more to be discovered

11:45
make sure the straps are tight

11:46
all the time i've spent
wonder where it went

11:47
now
as the sweat beads on my brow

11:48
how did it get this late

11:49
what has happened to the time

11:50
here
how did it so soon appear

11:51
the count down is almost done

how could time be so cruel
11:52

to do this to me
11:53

feel the knocking at my door
11:54

11:55
i ponder life

all the wrong i did
11:56

11:57
now
next stop heaven or hell

for me it's much to late
11:58

11:59
again where went the time

as
12:00**
rolls around
can't help but think about
the horrid way that i lived
when they pull the switch

There are the have's
And the have not's
Can someone explain
Why the have's always want
More than they have
And all that they don't
Never happy with
The lump of their sum  

Then the have not's
See all that they don't
All that they could
If they could have bought
Less out of will
More out of want
Without being still
And giving much thought

Why can't the have's
Find it better to give
And the have not's
Be happy with
All that they have
Whatever that is
All satisfied
With what they do and don't have

You say you've heard of me
And most of what I've done
Why is it that your standing there
Why don't you turn and run

Didn't your mom and dad
Teach you anything
After this, after all
You say you've heard of me

The reputation that I have
Has been buried deep
In the souls of many
But just shy of six feet

Some people find it sad
If the truth you must
I can be both good and bad
Just ask the two of us

You say you've heard of me
Perhaps you should exam
Look further in the deep
To find out who I am