First they say do this, do that
When that's exactly what we did
Then they change what they just said
Up and down then round again

This is good, that is bad
More of this, less of that
This is bad, that is good
More or less misunderstood

Then they say not that, not this
Adding more onto the list
Stop it now avoid the crunch
The whole bunch is out to lunch

Do or don't be too surprised
As much as we all change our minds
If we knew the who's and why's
We'd all be running for our lives

There's soon to come a day where this
And all else cease to exist
Where every line and stich in time
Will make its way into the light

All the saints that have been called
From daily battles they have fought
To rightly claim their reward
Eternity with their Sweet Lord

Without its sting, death lost its curse
Where first is last and last is first
Every plan once made by man
Will reach its final bitter end

Every tear that ever wept
All dried eyed in a flash
A promise made a promise kept
On the day the Lord comes back

And on that day, all this you see
Including sin, will cease to be
When every line and stich in time
Makes its way into the glorious light

you decide today
is going to be the day
in how you do
in what you say
to make your move
the way you choose
let go the old
grab hold the new
with further thoughts
in attitude
just when you think
couldn't possibly
you take a breath
then dive in deep
moving past
what you once had
straight to the point
of beyond all that
into the new
with gratitude
in what you say
and how you do
feeling good
at letting loose
today's the day
that you choose
a new course
set up for you
grounded in
the word of truth

It had its run when you were young
Back in your High school days
#1 it wasn't fun
#2 it was hard to escape

Everyone wants to be noticed
At least to stand out in the crowd
Every teenagers hope is
One day they'll have friends roll around

The fire burns inside fueling anguish
Lord knows the throes take their toll
Not sure how you're going to make it
In this land of Invisible

Then adulthood rolls around with its up's and down
Again not sure how you're going to make it
With so many rules being enforced by fools
And you afraid to say it

Life's 9 to 5 being the tip of the grind
You either love it or you hate it
In case you haven't heard, hates a strong word
But it's the word that perfectly explains it

If your cubicle only had a window
That might shine a glimmer of hope
Remembering  the days you tried to escape
The land of Invisible

Now that's the place that you'd love to go...

if you want to change
what you're all about
it's best you start
from the inside out

where the cracks aren't
so easily seen
you most often have
the greatest need

as you work on it
with trowel in hand
a lifetime spent
with filling in

word to the wise
take this advice
start with the cracks
on the inside

i once wrote a poem
that touched both our hearts
way back when
we were in love

so much so
with the feeling then
that i'd love to have
it all back again

where i pledged my life
to you in rhyme
from the here and now
through eons of time

that's where you said
you loved me back
in your very best
poetic finesse

two lovers caught up
inside of the rhyme
when i wrote a poem that time
of your love and mine

I only dream at night
When I'm fast asleep
It's in broad daylight
Where my dreams can't see
As they look
All around
At the sights
At the sounds
That is when I see
That I lose my dreams

I picked up a poem on the side of the road
It'd had its thumb out for some time
I kindly asked which way I should go
All that it said was just drive

So we drove along admiring the scenery
As it spoke to me in riddles and rhymes
Talking of all the places that it had been
And how it was enjoying its time

This poem had seen its share of exotic places
And fallen in love more than once or twice
Around every corner were always new faces
With new situations to put down in line

It brought up a few childhood memories
Some of them happy with some of them sad
A few of them really spoke to me
And I was really thankful for that

After a while we rode on in silence
Both of us enjoying the drive
With me thinking I'm glad I stopped today
And picked this poem up for a ride

I pray for all the sinners
I pray for all the saints
I pray for those that can
I pray for those that can't

I pray for all the boys
I pray for all the girls
I pray for all of those
That are living in this world

I pray for all the does
I pray for all the dont's
I pray for those that will
I pray for those that wont

I pray the will of God
In every life will be
I pray for all of you
I even pray for me

I pray for all the colors
That walk upon the earth
It really doesn't matter
We all have special worth

I pray for all the sick
I pray for all the lame
I pray for all of those
Whose lives are forever changed

I pray for those who hate
That they find measures of true love
More than they can stand
Over and above

I pray all eyes will open
And hearts will do the same
All of this I'm hoping
As I pray in Jesus name

In these days I often find
I pray all the time
When life is going well
Or standing at the gates of hell

You often will find me
Battered, down on my knees
Mind you, not knocked down
I'm kneeling there on solid ground

To make it through this life
I pray all the time
No use in worrying
Talking with The Risen King

You might see me, a lowly debtor
Forgiven, blessed, and delivered
One that's been set free
By The One who rescued me

That's why I have in mind
To pray all the time
It's in my plan to never cease
With Christ being my greatest need

Even if the walls are closing in
I don't waste time in worrying
The bible tells all I need to know
My God is in complete control

And that my friend is why
I pray all the time...

If there is anything
That I could promise you
It would be my love
Until my days are through

Until you feel my breath
Leave my dying chest
The love I have for you
Would be the last thing left

And then when
I am dead and gone
I will have the wind
To carry my love on

To gently toss your hair
Plant kisses on your cheek
To let you know my dear
The wind is a caress from me

I remember used to be
When there was you and there was me
That was before we split the scene
Now all that's left is used to be

I remember way back when
Boys and girls now women and men
Too far too fast, the way it went
From off the cuff of way back when

I remember giveaways
And what it was that broke that day
The tears that flowed at my say
And how I regret the giveaway

I remember when Twitter was
what your heart felt like when falling in love

I remember Pinterest was when you put pushpins on
the map hanging on the wall for where you planed to travel

I remember back when the only Facebook
was Mom's photo album

I remember when Tumblr was
rolling down the hill for fun as a child

I remember when Gay used to mean you were happy
And a Joint was a bad place to be

When I Hooked Up it was usually my stereo
All these newfangled meanings are so confusing to me

Or when Bad really meant Bad
And sick was what you did all over the floor

Now they both seem to mean a good thing
Can anyone tell me what for?

And don't even get me started on Thongs
That we wore on our feet to go to the beach

Now they're used to cover up what?
The rear with a piece of string?

I remember when we did not have to worry
about being politically correct

Or even have to worry about
who we might offend back

I remember back then
we were free to speak our minds

And not have to worry about how
everything would be perceived by society as a whole

I sure do miss back then
But at least I still remember when...

Given little glimpses
By the wandering of mind
A slight peak thru picket fences
Of a different time in life

Flashes of remembrance
Abstract in the make
Clouded by the distance
The way I remember yesterday

Delighted every time in
Child like memories
Finding them enlightening
Every time they are set free

A simple game of fishing
Tossing lines into the wake
Pull out what I've been missing
The way I remember yesterday

Further than I figure
Farther than it seems
Differences remembered
In the shadow of my dreams

A ball that keeps on rolling
Frame by frame this give and take
For whom the bell keeps tolling
The way I remember yesterday

I sat down to write another poem
Spill out a slew of rhyme
Sat down to write another poem
Jot down a mess of lines
Conjure up a new idea
Knock loose my noggin in finding it
I sat down to write another poem
But nothing comes to mind

I sat down to write another poem
Not too lame, not too deep
Sat down to write another poem
To entertain both you and me
Climb rhymes tree to the furthest limb
The one with the swing to take a swim
I sat down to write another poem
But can't seem to take the leap

I sat down to write another poem
Of all  I have to say
Sat down to write another poem
But this blank wall is in my way
With inspiration everywhere
But it's over there and I'm stuck over here
I sat down to write another poem
Perhaps today is not the day

I seen a people being lead away
Miles and miles of railway trains
Fingers cling to chain link fence*
Seen them once ain't seen them since

I seen chimney's bellow out angry smoke
So thick with sin a man could choke
Is this how far down we've taken life
Jesus wept as the nations cried

I seen power hungry grow like weeds
I seen them prey on the least of these
Rise almost as fast as they fall
Still festering beneath the soul

I seen lessons that we never learn
I seen the pain, I seen the hurt
It goes by different names but I seen it strike
*The snake that takes the bite of life

I seen yet another tragedy
A people born in the land of free
A proud people to this day
Here before the white man came

A nation tossed on the funeral pyre
Cut down in life by angry sticks of fire
Only want was to live in peace
Run down hard by mans own greed

Softening of once callused hands
No longer welcome in their land
No relative, this Uncle Sam
Nothing left of what they once had

I seen lessons that we never learn
I seen the pain, I seen the hurt
It goes by different names but I seen it strike
The snake that takes the bite of life

I seen a people dark as the night
Taken from their former life
Then I seen em tossed in chains
Put on a boat that sailed away

Land of the free home of the brave
But not for this man made slave
Who finds it so hard to stand up
Underneath the masters thumb

I seen the whip slice through the air
I seen indifferent eyes that do not care
In the fields I hear them weep
In their own waste, a nation deep

I seen lessons that we never learn
I seen the pain, I seen the hurt
It goes by different names but I seen it strike
The snake that takes the bite of life

You can be the one to open up
The very first to rise
Beat the drum on things to come
Counter all the lies

Tell past tells as they were told
Keep the flame lit bright
Tightly hold your generations torch
So others may see by the light

You can wave a sign of the times
Calling out all bluffs
Walk the thin and narrow line
But will it be enough

You can make friends with the unfriendly
Pack an extra smile
Give to those in desperate need
Walk the miracle mile

Bring it all to the forefront
Leaving nothing behind
You can be on time in all you do
Spend the extra dime

You can unpack the hidden secret
Sprinkle it with love
But unless all this is really meant
Will it be enough

is it ignorant to know the answer
is it ignorant to know the truth
is it ignorant to want to share
my beliefs with the likes of you

is it ignorant that those beliefs
differ from this world of loss
is it ignorant to heed the sound
when you've learned to count the cost

is it ignorant in the land of plenty
to let so many go unfed
whether food for the stomach
or for knowledge of the head

is it ignorant to know and see
what the hardened heart won't accept
is it ignorant to want to keep
this world away from ignorance

is it ignorant to see the plan of man
for the ignorance that it is
is it ignorant to raise my hand
and say love is where i'll make my bed

When I look in front of me
Is it Jesus that I see

When I open my mouth to talk
Is it Jesus that comes out

Whenever I open up my heart
Do I let Jesus in the door

In light of changing my mind
Is it Jesus that I find

Do I walk the walk
and talk the talk
Out of all that I've got
is it Jesus I want

Out of all of my needs
and all of my wants
Inside of me
is it Jesus I've got

Whenever I take a step
Am I Jesus lead

At the table where I sit
Is Jesus at the head

To truly live this life
Have I handed Jesus the rights

When I give all that I have
Is Jesus all that I have left

Is it possible to get another shadow
Cause mine no longer shadows me
It went away the day,
you said you couldn't stay
There was no brightness left so it had to leave

Is it possible to get another heart
Cause mine no longer beats inside of me
It feels no need to carry on,
since you took a part of it and gone
It's done bled all it intends to bleed

Is it possible to get another soul
Cause all mine does is ache inside of me
With an empty loneliness,  
ever since the day you left
And to think it used to be so carefree

Is it possible to let go of love
When I can't rid myself of your memory
Of the time we spent,
and all to me it meant
And how that now is all that I can see

Is it too late to trade my kids in?
They don't do a thing I ask of them
All they do is eat and ****
They need a change in their attitude

Is it too late to sell my kids out right?
To some unsuspecting couple out of their minds
With no idea of what they can do
Once the Duct tape and Super glue is removed

Is it too late to take them someplace ?
Drop them off then drive away
Hoping against hope they won't find their way back
Pack up and move before they get the chance

Is it too late to give my kids back?
Before I lose what little sanity's left
If I could somehow loosen these chains
As their domestic slave I'd run away

Is it too late too rethink this again?
Open the womb, shove them back in
Call it a day on this mistake
What do you think...is it too late?

There is an island...

That keeps on calling my name
Begging me, step out of the game
Before it's too late

There is an island...

With the sweetest of breeze
Gentle swaying of palm trees
That keeps beckoning me

There is an island...

Much more than just in my dreams
To me a reality
Where one day I'll be free

There is an island...

In the middle of the ocean blue
One day that I will swim to
Where there's nothing to do

There is an island...

That is wanting my time
Hoping I'll make up my mind
And leave it all behind

I'm afraid
We're going to isolate
Even further than we are

If we don't get a grip
On this sinking ship
Going down for the third

Being all I, me, mine
Where we spend our time
Inside our solitary rooms

This constant creep of self
Will soon be our death
If we keep humming this crazy tune

Our social butterfly
Has up and died
Cut off in mid-bloom

The once abundant life
Took to flight
With nothing much to do

But to isolate
I'm afraid
Even further than we are

With no flotation devices left
On this sinking ship
Going down for the third

I sometimes feel like...
a wobbly tornado
making my way
what ever direction the wind blows
with back and forth motion
and no way of knowing
how destructive the path
that I am flowing

I sometimes feel like...
a wave on the ocean
tossed back and forth
in erratic motion
the salt from my tears
help with my knowing
how shallow or deep
these days I am coping

I sometimes feel like...
a cloud in the sky
while on top of things
some still pass me by
dealing with fluff
in the midst of this life
amongst other stuff
as I look to the sky

I sometimes feel like...
the wildest of flowers
in a field filled with weeds
passing the hours
wanting someone to come along
and pull me out
or take a sling blade
and cut us all down

I sometimes feel like...
a musician on tour
I know that I'm here
but at times why, I'm not sure
could be any number of things
between the why's and what for's
but one things for sure
I feel like all this and more

I sometimes feel like...

A worn out stitch on a winter sweater
The last thought when you think you know better
The tear in the page of a glamour magazine

The far off sound of inclement weather
The nagging thought when you hear the word never
The discarded peal of a tangerine

I sometimes feel like...

The postage stamp on a Valentine letter
The fluttered path of a floating feather
What comes to mind when you hear indeed

The mighty swing of a grand slam batter
The super glue to pottery shattered
The first morning note that a bird sings

I sometimes feel like...

The moment when nothing is sadder
The other side of all the laughter
The skeleton in the closet you keep

The lost time when things really mattered
The last rung on a broken ladder
Someone that's never seen

I sometimes feel like...

A seven course meal that has been catered
A superhero the moment he saves her
The do in the doing

The now rather than later
The plus sign on a calculator
The remembrance of a dream

Can't help but sometimes wonder
Where it is that I'd be at
If I had turned to the right
Instead of to the left

If I had for that second
Took the time to hesitate
And the moment I was too meet you
I was running late

Would I now be here alone
If our lives they had not crossed
Would the memories I have of us
Be forever lost

What if I'd taken the elevator
Instead of that flight of stairs
Would we still have met somewhere down the line
Would you still be standing here

Can't help but sometimes wonder
If I would have ever had such love
If I had missed that opportunity
And there never had been us

Is this what old age
Is talking about
And why am I the last
To find all of this out
That my due North
Is heading straight  South
With all of my hair
And most my teeth falling out

For me gradually
Losing my sight
Saving me from
What I'd rather not find
The wrinkles to
My  drooping eyes
As the younger me
Dawn's an old age disguise

I seem to wheeze
More now than I breath
Check out my pants
Each time that I sneeze
When did my thoughts
Pack up and leave
Taking with them
My precious memory

Is this what old age
Is talking about
And why am I the last
To find all of this out
I used to be king
But somehow lost that crown
The only other thing....

Now what was I talking about?

Is this what the Government
When I see how my money's spent
Taxing me of my last breath
Controlling voices in my head

Should have been a magician
Being so good at slight of hand
The only thing up his sleeve
Is the last dime of my money

Is this what the Government
Telling me how I should live
When I should smile when I should speak
To whom I should be listening

With Big Brother here to hold my hand
To tell me he will represent
Pretty please give me the keys
I'll be in charge, you won't need these

I'll keep you safe I'll keep you warm
Keep you away from all harm
Under my thumb you'll be kept
Isn't this what the Government

I'm getting "It" together
Whatever "It" might be
I'm sitting down and putting "It" now
At the top of my list of needs

Getting round to "It"
Getting "It" done
"It" will be my top priority
With a bullet #1

"It" will be my focus
"It" will be my front page news
Although "It" might have its up's and down's
"It" still I will not lose

So step outside if you ain't ready Clyde
This might hurt a bit
Being the part in life where you don't think twice
Because this my friend is "It"

Do you want to hear
What I've found out
When I think of you
It makes me smile

Gives me a grin
From ear to ear
The way I am
Right here my dear

And something else
That needs be said
I love the way
You hold my hand

Holding tight my right
With your left hand
Gentle yet
With a firm grip

Since I've taken
It this far
You also warm
This once cold heart

I just thought
You ought to know
That all of this
Is going on

And when I think
About it all
It brings about
Another smile

it didn't take too long
to finally hit this day
like a brick wall
run out of things to say
it's my own fault
for getting in the way

i'm afraid

it didn't take too long
to blink and draw a blank
with nothing going on
i only have me to thank
all bought for a song
but the gang already sang

ain't it a shame

it didn't take too long
for me to take a break
to give up hope
on what i wanted to say
to lose a slice of the pie
or a piece of the cake

the day

didn't take too long
for my thoughts to up and leave
to find this kiddy pool
entirely way to deep
what took so long
is the only thing i can think

see what i mean

if you see me out late at night
looking like i'm about to cry
please believe it's allergies
and not the fact she's not with me

though i'll never really understand
the main reason that she left
so if my head is hanging low
it's not the fact i miss her so

if she's near me and my heart skips a beat
that's not to say she's my greatest need
or i miss her more than i let on
since the day that she's been gone

i'm doing fine, the time of my life
remember these aren't tears i cry
all a part of being a man
nothing to do with lost romance

as anyone can plainly see
all this doesn't mean a thing

i took some time to think
and what it is i thunk
double time inside my mind
is i don't think enough

whether on this side of smooth
or the other side of rough
is mostly what i thought it was
when it was i thunk

when i'm on the brink of think
my mind in overdrive
thinking what i thunk i thought
is what i thought this time

mercy sakes alive
goodness gracious please
now that i've thunk all of this out
why do i even think

This morning when I rubbed the sleep from my eyes
I heard a cry coming from the outside
And wondered at it as I reasoned to why
Of course it was the Earth again

Things have not been going so very well
In fact you could say it's going to hell
Any hand baskets you'd like to sell
To help out an old friend

Everything that can has been going wrong
Sold down the river for a nickel and song
The good times Earth had is all but now gone
On the verge of a has been

With all the pollution clogging her pores
Not to mention the headaches with all of the wars
Vibrating her brain with the planes, trains, and cars
Mother Earth feels about done in

So if you ask her what her problem is
She used to say nothing but nothing is no longer hid
Just add everything onto the list
Who was she trying to kid

All she needs are people to hold her tight
Tell her all's well and is going to turn out alright
Tuck her in bed, kiss her goodnight
Keep her warm until she mends

Then start the abuse all over again...

With a landscape that's ever changing
So many different tunes this man has hummed
I juggle life and rearrange it
I am what I have become

If you'll kindly throw me a lifeline
I'll do my best not to drag you in
This thing called life, I should have it down in time
If you'll allow me to begin again

It comes and it goes
It goes and it comes
What it is I held onto once

It goes and it comes
It comes and it goes
What it is that I used to know

This life has become a pass time
That at times I only dream about
If I could I'm sure that I would
Dig out from this mound of doubt

What looks familiar to me now
Tomorrow, the wind of change
A complete 180 turnabout
I can only try and save

It comes and it goes
It goes and it comes
What it is I held onto once

It goes and it comes
It comes and it goes
*What it is that I used to know

Don't give away
To the day after day
All you have fought for
All you have saved
All of the meaning
In all that you say
As you move forward
Making your way

Never give into
The thoughts in your head
As life lays itself out
Not fitting your plans
Less of an answer
More a demand
Between mounting pressures
Just know that you can

Past, present, or future
We all have the right
Whether you've peacefully been there
Or put up a fight
Please just remember
That over time
You're sure to find
Everything will be fine

It's a fine line...

Between love and hate
Between good and bad
Between the heart and the break

It's a fine line...

Between what is and what was
Between here and there
Between it all and never enough

It's a fine line...

Between right and wrong
Between hope and despair
Between silence and song

It's a fine line...

Between you and me
Between joy and sadness
Between the sky and the deep blue sea

It's a fine line...

You say that you are Catholic
What exactly does that mean
That you eat fish on Fridays
Instead of red meat?

You say that you are Baptist
Never smoke, drink, cuss, nor dance
But what else do you try otherwise
Given half a chance

You say that you are Muslim
And pray 3 times a day
Does what you love outside the Mosque
Make it all okay

You say that you are Jewish
And only Kosher touches your lips
Is that as far as the thoughts of God
Rumble in your head

Please believe me sincerely
I'm not trying to put religion down
Just the thoughts and practices
That we have let slide to far South

It's when we say we are okay
Is when we ought to worry
As we try and find heavens lights
Always in a hurry

We take the path of least resistance
In our forever foggy minds
All along insisting
With God we're doing fine

Basing our salvation
On what it is we do
In our work relation
Instead of on the truth

So whether it is you eat fish
Or pray 3 times a day
Only let Kosher touch your lips
Don't dance the night away

Remember religion serves a purpose
In what at times we need to find
But God himself is what it's all about
And His great love divine

And when the time does come

Where I lose my very thoughts

Right before the last rung

On the verge of fall

When all that I have left to grab

Is this simple plea

With what little time I have left

Throw your arms round me

Then kindly whisper in my ear

As you hold me tight

At that point all I need to hear

Is it's going to be alright

And when the time does come

Where I lose my very thoughts

Right before the last rung

On the verge of fall

When all that I have left to grab

Is this simple plea

With what little time I have left

Throw your arms round me

Then kindly whisper in my ear

As you hold me tight

At that point all I need to hear

Is it will be alright

Where life can seem half empty
In a sandbox missing sand
In this land of plenty
It is still full of demands
You can follow along the playbook
Do the best you can
But it's hard to fight what's not right
When you're a fighter with no hands

You can star in your own movie
Play the highlights of your life
Show it on the big screen
A sensation over night
But when it all is said and done
I'm sure that you will find
It's really hard to convince anyone
When you're an actor with no lines

You can strike up the band
With Rock and Roll the pleasure cruise
Have the upper hand
In everything you do
Find the perfect song
Make all of the right moves
But it's hard to get the crowd to sing out loud
When you're a singer out of tune

To tell the truth
It should have been you
Who authored this sad poem

Instead of me
Who clearly didn't see
Your lies as they were told

The heart ache that I'm feeling
Goes beyond the measure of this man
The emptiness left inside my chest
Should be yours my dear instead

To tell the truth
It should be you
That's crying over me

Instead of the reverse
Held deep in this curse
Of what's hard to believe

If I had known
It would read out in poem
This pen you could have kept

As I guard my heart
Yes, even the aching part
With what little I have left