For those of you who don't understand
I'll explain it slowly if I can
Do you see that writing on the wall
We're steps away from martial law

With the daily craze of escapades
Where you pillage and burn to get your way
What possibly could you think
Would bring us this close to the brink

You fuss and fight for your rights
Who gave you the right to fuss and fight
After all it's your call
One fall away from martial law

I'm no age-old prophet or modern Sage
The crazy I see not okay
Which side do you find you move to
When you search for hidden truth

Do you take what false teachers say
And run with it like sheep astray
Let me tell you a little secret ya'll
We're steps away from martial law

Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead

But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent

He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love

He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes

A life so young a life cut short
By the wicked in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call

To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live

Daddy somebody shot that man
I heard this eleven year old say
I didn't really understand at the time
I just knew a man was dead

But with the years that followed
I came to learn how much he meant
To this world in its great need
And how well that time was spent

He preached of equality he preached of peace
As he spoke of man as one
He marched his way down city streets
Facing adversity with the face of love

He was done with all the hatred
That fills so many lives
To him color was a vision
Of equality in his eyes

A life so young a life cut short
By the wickedness in us all
Will you stand with me and follow him
Will you heed his righteous call

To call every man your brother
The way Martin Luther King Jr. did
To keep the vision of this visionary alive
A reality in which all mankind should live

We need another Martin Luther King
Today now more than ever
Someone to take the faithful leap
That will bring us all together

Who sees the plight of man for what it is
All one race, no color
Where together in harmony we all shall stand
Sister to sister, brother to brother

A leader with a vision
With open arms and callused hands
That will peacefully fight for all that's right
Over every square inch of this land

To lift us out of this world in doubt
Not silent on what really matters
Raising our voices in joyful sound
A world where we love each other

One who hears the righteous call
And says here I am send me
For freedoms sake above it all
Like Martin Luther King

We need another Martin Luther King
Today now more than ever
Someone to take the faithful leap
That will bring us all together

Who sees the plight of man for what it is
All one race, no color
Where together in harmony we all shall stand
Sister to sister, brother to brother

A leader with a vision set on a mission
With open arms and callused hands
That will peacefully fight for all that's right
Over every square inch of this land

To lift us out of this world in doubt
Not silent on what really matters
Raising our voices in joyful sound
A world where we love each other

One who hears the righteous call
And says here I am send me
For freedoms sake above it all
Like Martin Luther King

Memphis heat in April
3 days past the fool
If  you ask me the fool would be
In what this man would do

He would grab hold of a nation
This man without a clue
That every color's equal
In the land of Red, White, and Blue

From what I see it seems to me
We lost something in-between
This nation full of sorrow
Needs another Martin Luther King

There will always be that someone
Who doesn't understand
That takes the measure of our worth
Into their own blood soaked hands

You can cry foul if you want to
But it won't do you much good
When peace, love, and understanding
Are never understood

From what I see it seems to me
We lost something in-between
This nation full of hatred
Needs another Martin Luther King

When you have those who force themselves
On the innocent among
Who take more than they're given
Violence does not make one strong

More instagator than peace maker
All vying for the top
With no care for a solution
In helping this to stop

From what I see it seems to me
We lost something in-between
A nation now without a clue
Needs another Martin Luther King

Marty the Mellow Mushroom
Far out in left field
Growing ever strong and tall
With cow manure his favorite meal

Everyday he contemplates
Life under the sun
That is until the fateful day
The hippies all showed up

They took Marty out to party
Now the only part of Marty left
Are the trippy little colors
Inside the happy hippies heads

mary never looks me in the eye
she's a tiny drop of rain
mixed in a river filled with pain

mary never asks the question why
why it all went down like this
looking for the goodbye kiss

mary is content with poetry
says it helps her to unwind
cleansing the pallet of the mind

mary is the height of mystery
always standing for a cause
her plight is one for the lost

mary ties her laces tight
so her feet don't run away
like they did the other day

mary used to own a dozen kites
till the day  down by the sea
cut the strings seting each one free

mary never shows her other side
if she ever made a list
it would include that goodbye kiss

No one out here knows
Or cares to expand
How issues sit with us
Exactly where we stand
Whether bathed in truth
Or whitewashed with lies
In all we say and all we do
Masters of Disguise

Flow this way and that
Courtesy of the wind
And if we find there's any left
We come back round again
You might have seen this all before
But look another time
You never know who's behind the door
Masters of Disguise

You can talk about what's going on
But don't dare mention names
In these times of all alone
These days of give away
Drawing of the shades
Blocking out the light
What else is there left to say
Masters of Disguise

The Masters of War
Are at it again
While the warmongers take
The young continue to give
We cry out for peace
And an end to this game
You give us that and take from these
It's all more of the same
Why do we continually hang
To the lies that you preach
Have we not learned
Hell is within your reach
The money you make
In the making of bombs
You feel that you have
Already won
But still, you press on
As the death tolls rise
It doesn't much matter
On which side they die
As long as there's profit
That can be made
Doing your will in those we ****
Being just another day
For the Masters of War
Who are at it again
But God's keeping score
And you lose in the end

We want it, you know it
We want it all now
A generation Jonesin
For the golden cow

Amazon craving
Easy to Prime
No hassle, no waiting
No standing in line

They make it, we okay it
The latest of ism's
We are the children
Of materialism

They tell us, they sell us
The latest in trends
To make us and break us
Bend to their whims

With tantalizing advertising
We're deer in headlights
As we run over each other
To be first in line

They make it, we okay it
The latest of ism's
We are the children
Of materialism

We we want it, you know it
We want it all now
A generation Jonesin
For the golden cow

Amazon craving
Easy to Prime
No hassle, no waiting
No standing in line

They make it, we okay it
The latest of ism's
We are the children
Of materialism

They tell us, they sell us
The latest in trends
To make us and break us
Bend to their whims

With tantalizing advertising
We're deer in headlights
As we run over each other
To be first in line

When did this problem come along
As we divide ourselves while subtracting souls
There is no plus to any of this

What one and one used to do
Equalled out to the count of two
That must have been the old arithmetic

Now one and one are on their own
Finding it hard to add things up
When mostly now life is just a guess

Used to be as easy as one, two, three
Then we add in this minus society
And the problem that we have is with the math

Maybe it's the way she says my name
oh so syrupy sweet
Maybe it's a day like today
and every other day of the week

Maybe it's the way she makes me feel
when she makes me feel the way I do
Or maybe it's the way she gathers her stars
and tunes them to my moon

Maybe it's the way she makes my heart dance
when there's no music being played
Maybe it's how red she gets
when she's caught trying to misbehave

Maybe it's when the sunlight hits
the streaks of auburn in her hair
Or maybe it's her attitude of win or lose
she really doesn't care

Maybe it's the way the breeze carries
the smell of her perfume
Maybe it's the way she has her say
then leaves it up to you

Maybe it's the way she gives away
what most folk would miss
Or maybe if I think hard about it
it's more plus all of this...

Maybe it's you
Maybe it's me
Maybe it's both of us

Maybe it's true
Or make believe
Maybe it's what we've become

Maybe it's that
Maybe it's this
Maybe it's both of them

Maybe it's fact
But then again
Maybe it's just a whim

Maybe it's here
Maybe it's there
It may already be gone

Maybe steer clear
Of those who don't care
Maybe leave them alone

Because maybe it's me
Maybe it's you
I'm thinking it's both of us

I tend to believe
That maybe it's true
Maybe it's what we've become

No one knows what she really looks like
Without all her makeup on
Once she applied the first coat of beautify
She never once thought of taking it off

She just continually adds to the layers
Off the color wheel from which she gleens
Comes in an array of colors
From the 70's through the new millennium

Even her own mother would not recognize her
If she ever decided to come clean
A la natural in spite of it all
This Maybelline beauty queen

She never fell into a little dab will do ya
But far less than any glob fest
She lets her fingers do the walking as her makeup does the talking
Never once giving her face a rest

Never could guess how old she is
As she expertly fills in the lines
Every crevis and crack from forehead to neck
A little heavy-handed at times
Till even she doesn't know what she looks like

I think what I think
But why that way
Is it because of me
Or the way I was raised

Are my opinions factual
Or just what I've been told
And the standard I use
Is it tin or gold

Why do I try
and change your mind
When maybe
you're the one that's right

Why fuss and fight
Why kick and cry
It's not the end of the world
Nor is it do or die

We can dig and dig
Till it all caves in
Then dig our way out
To do it again

Why do I try
and change your mind
When maybe
you're the one who's right

Do we not want what's best
For all of us
And when it comes down to it
Shouldn't it be done in love

Love
Is how peace is made
Hate
Is a slap in the face

Why do I try
and change your mind
When maybe
you're the one who's right

I'm thinking maybe you and I should be lovers
It's in the stars, it's supposed to be
I'm thinking maybe before we try any others
We should go ahead and try you and me

Take a minute if you must to think about it
Then maybe you'll see that it's best
Like me you'll see you'll never doubt it
Then maybe your maybe, maybe yes

I'm thinking maybe if that really happened
If my dreams really did come true
Then maybe happiness would be ours forever
The perfect couple just me and you

So think about it, what all you'll be missing
Then maybe you'll come to the conclusion that's best
Read my lips but do it with kissing
Then maybe your maybe, maybe yes

If all of this looks normal
And never once makes you blink
If you ride the tide to whatever side
Flows into group think

If you do all they tell you to
And then ask them for more
If you play their game and all receive the same
Trophy at the door

If you nod in Bobble Head fashion
With their version of the truth
Never stepping off to question
Then maybe you've been brainwashed too

If you scream out heebie-jeebies
When opposite shows it's hand
And instead of calmly asking
It's more of a demand

If you turn blue when you talk green
And all you see is red
If in your realm of tolerance
You wish the other side was dead

If your blindfold covers both heart and head
On what is the gospel truth
The only conclusion there is left
Is maybe you've been brainwashed too

i may know the feeling
but have yet to find the words

i may have the question
but the answer i've not heard

i may know what's up
but can't seem to put it down

i may raise the cup
while i've yet to wear the crown

i may know the jest of it
but far from the whole affair

i may have my shoes tied tight
and still stumble everywhere

i may know what's right
and still mostly get it wrong

i may have the rhyme
but have yet to find the poem

Contemplating the versatility of Mayo
And all that can be done with it
From the slathering on whilst sun bathing
To globbing it on my bologna sandwich

I find it tantalizing to the tastebuds
And it sure does sizzle in the sun
I once applied to much and set my toes on fire
Lucky for me I lost only one

Thank goodness I was near the water
When my foot went up in flames
I guess that's why God gives us ten toes
In case we lose any along the way

As with anything you can even get bored with Mayonnaise
That's why I strive for different ideas
So I put my brain juices into overdrive
And came up with this amazing list

Instead of milk in a shake you can use Mayo
Please wait till the end for all the applause
I'm still having trouble dealing with thickness
And have yet to get it through the straw

Perhaps if I leave out the ice cream
And just add Mayo, milk chocolate, and ice
I guess I'll just keep on experimenting
When it's ready you can be the first in line

And who doesn't like mayonnaise on anchovie pizza
The perfect combination at best
Even better than peanut butter and jelly
If only I can figure out how to package it

Mayonnaise is also the perfect conditioner
You could leave it in your hair for days I suppose
But try to avoid to much time in the sun
After all...remember the toes

I'm going back to my room for more ideas now
Or as I like to call it..."The Mayo Think Tank"
I know my family thinks I'm a genius
Cause they always leave me in there for days

i said what i said
believe it or not
ideas swirl round my head
long before they are caught

one might slip in its dip
making little sense
before you know, there you go
another follows it

flying through fiery hoops
skedaddle de do
this is as old as it is new
may the farce be with you

take it with a grain of salt
before you pepper it
with the thing you ought not
adding to the mix

are you ahead of the times
or do you tend to lag
be the string that holds the kite
to the tail that steady's it

jumping through fiery hoops
skedaddle de do
i think a ***** is coming loose
may the farce be with you

Nothing ever seems to work for me
The way it normally is planned
When the crowd all sits down
That is when it is I stand

When they're no longer taking questions
That is when I raise my hand
No nothing ever seems to work for me
The way  it normally is planned

Things always seem to go
A tad bit different for me
Just a tick or two off
From what they call life's normal beat

People often wonder
Exactly what it is
That continually brings about
This life of quirkiness

I can hear the whispers
There must be a cure for what I do
But ten out of ten doctors surveyed
Say they have no clue

So I'll just continue living and loving life
Exactly how I am
As long as I'm happy with the way things are
I see no need to try and understand

This life I lead
Is a wide open door
You can see through me
Like a glass bottom boat

Read my inner thoughts
Like a comic book
Know what I'm about
From just one look

I'm a recipe
That's pretty simple to follow
A bit bitter to taste
Yet easy to swallow

You can write what you like
Be it right or wrong
Take what you find
You won't be too far off

A familiar tune
That's easy to sing
An under breath hum
In the key of C

In a wide open book
That begs to be read
Take just one look
You'll know me from beginning to end

I had hoped things would be different
Different model, different make
But when I look deep in the mirror
I see that nothing much has changed

Inside this constant battle
Always fighting to be free
No stronger foe have I met
me against me

A war that has been raging
From the day that I was born
Always misbehaving
A soul tattered and torn

Poking along with prodding
Why can't I leave me be
Always in the midst of plotting
me against me

You'd think by now that I'd found out
All the lessons to be learned
The tables to be turned
On the trouble that I've earned

How have I made it out this far
Into this knee deep
In the pulling of myself apart
me against me

i find
this mind
most of
the time
i have
inclined
                              meanders
like when a kite
in mid-flight
loses its tail
out right
goes flipping
and flopping
                              for answers
as it skips
to the beat
of its two
left feet
like a bee gees
wanna be
                              disco dancer
can be seen
in the shade
wasting its day
away
with no more
to say
                              mindless banter
taking up
a thought
then shaking
it off
pouring it out of
the box
                              like it matters
what does it hope
to find
bubbling up in
my mind
while it most of
the time
                              meanders

the further along
the longer i live
the more that i see
it's all meaningless

the day after day
all blends the same
as boredom sets in
then gets in the way

with nowhere to hide
this chasing of time
like that of the wind
always in flight

who's to save us from this
and from ourselves
repeat offenders
no more fingers to count

what do we gain
when it's all the same
this grueling reminder
of being awake

the up's and the down's
who are we trying to kid
round after round
is all meaningless

I've had more than enough
If you count everything
I'd gladly give it all up
And end up with nothing

How many years now
Have I up and lost count
The True meaning of life
And what it's all about

Take all that I have
And learn to accept
If it's not from the Lord
It's all meaningless

I've lived off the crumbs
That wither and rust
Ashes to ashes
Dust back to dust

Like a lost child
That plays in the mud
When it's all said and done
A mess is all we end up

Take all that I have
And learn to accept
If it's not from the Lord
It's all meaningless

MEANINGLESS ALL OF IT!*

Every bit of life
All for which we do
All for which we strive

The sun comes up, the sun goes down
Every single day
We work our fingers to the bone, but why
If not for more of the same

The wind blows and blows and blows and blows
North, East, South, and West
When it makes it's way around
It starts all over again

The rivers flow into the sea
And the sea is never filled
It gives itself back to the rivers
Just so it can be done again

Wearisome beyond description
Man is never satisfied
With what we have we're not content
Always wanting more in life

History again repeats itself
What you see has all been done
There is truly nothing new
Under the scorching sun

We may have new gadgets, new contraptions
But we're still victims of the past
Repeating all that's been done before
As our simple memories lapse

There will be future generations
When this one tragically bows out
Where they will repeat our same mistakes
Not remembering the ones we're making now

MEANINGLESS ALL OF IT!

meet me out in the open field
together we'll watch the stars align
a few will shoot adding to the thrill
as we wish them yours and mine

in the years to come we'll speak of this
with heartfelt memories
as we reminisce over a kiss
and call it meant to be...

Through the struggle and the strife
Every single day of life
Did it ever cross our minds to think
That the ladder we would climb
In our daily 9 to 5
Would turn out to be this slippery

We started down this crooked road
With the highest of highest hopes
Thinking there was nothing we could not achieve
Little did we know
Our daily do's would all be don'ts
And we would settle from mediocracy

Moving up and down, in and out
To the sounds of not allowed
Bringing it all close to the brink
We can try and figure out
This riddle filled with doubt
Humming to its tune while skipping beats

Now all we seem to do is strive
Just to try and make it by
Hoping we'll at least see some relief
It didn't start out this way
All out to break the bank
Now all we do is settle for mediocracy

i find overtime i strive
for mediocrity
if i never try and reach that high
no one expects too much from me

what occurs in lessons learned
take it all with a grain of salt
i might get burned when it's my turn
but i won't have far to fall

overtime what i tend to find
is i barely skip a beat
when in this life i find i strive
for mediocrity

Long before we came to the I do
Long before the moment we met
There were plans in the making for us two
Long before Adam and Eve drew breath

God laid out his plans for us to both be here
From meeting upon meeting through time
Paving the way so we'd meet up that day
Where I could love you for the rest of my life

Our ancestors all were kindly involved
Yours meeting yours and mine meeting mine
Where one day I'd be saved to pay the cost
Of loving you for the rest of my life

I'm sure none of them had or have a clue
Of my gratitude or how deeply I am in debt
Because without them neither I nor you
Would be here to ever have met

I know that you and I
Come from opposite sides
While you have kept to the left
I still side with the right

May I make a simple suggestion
Without further ado or long-drawn-out questions
If we could be a little less fickle
Maybe both meet in the middle

Try somehow to hash it out
Not sooner or later but here and now
Not give way to the same mistakes
In this constant persist of give and take

Meet in the middle and hug it out
No marking of tallies or keeping of count
Setting what differences, we have aside
Stand firm on the ground with the common we find

With all the signs that you and I
Come from completely opposite sides
You to the left, me to the right
Can't we come together and end this frivolous fight

Most of my time is spent in a Piggly Wiggly line
So you know the Hollywood rags I have seen
Scouring them inside out, top to bottom, back to front
I know all the skinny on all the skinny stars in-between

This day Mona in a Moo Moo says from behind me
Something about this must be done
So with the east in our rear (That doesn't sound right does it!)
Look out Hollywood California here we come

Not long after landing in Los Angeles
Before we even barely had time
We set up what "THEY" think is an organic juice hand squeezed by ******'s
and Himalayan soy Sushi bar
Out of our Hot Dog cart on the corner of Hollywood and Vine

And yes, we've added a little secret ingredient
Something to fatten those Hollywood types up
So they'll look like the rest of us in America
With the line around the block it looks like they can't get enough

With a little dab here and a little sprinkle there (wink,wink)
Our food has become the talk of the town
You'd think they would have figured it out by now
As each delicious bite adds a few extra pounds

And menu items with names like
-Add Another Roll Sushi-
Or the...
-Don't Look Behind You Sushi Surprise-
Then there's our most popular item
The -California Your **** SuperSize-

Now that we've fattened up most of the Movie Stars and then some
California's so heavy it may soon slide into the sea
With a new concoction we've developed to stimulate brain juice's
We're now taking our Hot Dog Cart to Washington D.C.

Most of my time is spent in a Piggly Wiggly line
So you know the Hollywood rags I have seen
Scouring them inside out, top to bottom, back to front
I know all the skinny on all the skinny stars in-between

This day Mona in a Moo Moo says from behind me
Something about this must be done
So with the east in our rear (That doesn't sound right does it!)
Look out Hollywood California here we come

Not long after landing in Los Angeles
Before we even barely had time
We set up what "THEY" think is an organic juice hand squeezed by ******'s
and Himalayan soy Sushi bar
Out of our Hot Dog cart on the corner of Hollywood and Vine

And yes, we've added a little secret ingredient
Something to fatten those Hollywood types up
So they'll look like the rest of us in America
With the line around the block it looks like they can't get enough

With a little dab here and a little sprinkle there (wink,wink)
Our food has become the talk of the town
You'd think they would have figured it out by now
As each delicious bite adds a few extra pounds

And menu items with names like
-Add Another Roll Sushi-
Or the...
-Don't Look Behind You Sushi Surprise-
Then there's our most popular item
The -California Your **** SuperSize-

Now that we've fattened up most of the Movie Stars and then some
California's so heavy it may soon slide into the sea
With a new concoction we've developed to stimulate brain juice's
We're now taking our Hot Dog Cart to Washington D.C.

Most of my time is spent in Piggly Wiggly lines
So you know the Hollywood rags I have seen
Scouring them inside out, top to bottom, back to front
I know all the skinny on all the skinny stars in-between

This day Mona in a Moo Moo says from behind me
Something about this must be done
So with the East in our rear ( That doesn't sound right does it )
Look out Hollywood California here we come

Not long after landing in Los Angeles
Before we even barely had time
We set up what "THEY" think is an Organic Juice Hand Squeezed By ******'s
and Himalayan Soy Sushi Bar
Out of our Hot Dog cart on Hollywood and Vine

Of course we've added a little secret ingredient
Something to fatten those Hollywood types up
So they'll look like the rest of us in America
And with the line around the block it looks like they can't get enough

With a little dab here and a little sprinkle there (wink,wink)
Our cart has become the talk of the town
You'd think they would have figured it out by now
As each delicious bite adds a few extra pounds

With menu items with names like
Add Another Roll Sushi
or the...
Don't Look Behind You Sushi Surprise
Then there's our most popular item
The California Your **** SuperSize

Now that we've fattened up most of the Movie Stars and then some
California's so heavy it may soon slide into the sea
With a new concoction we've developed to stimulate brain juices
We're now taking our Hot Dog cart to Washington D.C.

i remember you
and that twinkle in your eye
the one that griped my heart so tight
on the day that you took flight

i remember it
like it was yesterday
that was when you went away
now here we are today

just the two of us
me and my lasting memory
if you think about it technically
with you, guess that makes three

which always seems to make me think
if in turn you remember me
and if you do, do you see
the fool in love i'll always be

I'm thinking more often these days
Of childhood memories
Days spent at home with a wonderful mom
Ones that I will always cherish and keep

Days unafraid with you here to save
This child at the first sign of trouble
Never to condemn with the ever loving hands
That could only be held by a mother

There to play games the best in playmates
From hide and seek to peek-a-boo
Training me right to be the man you now find
Nothing for me that you wouldn't do

Now in a home you and your thoughts alone
Unclear of the secrets they keep
As I bend near, whisper into your ear
Mom do you remember me

There's an ocean of thoughts that we float on
A sea as wide as it's deep
Where age takes its toll on the weariest of souls
Along with lifes memories

From early age on to now fully grown
Those memories are what I cling to
In my heart they are kept where no words need be said
But if they did it would be I love you

Memories often linger
Till time takes their hand
Leads them down the lonely path
Of never back again

They start off bright, easy to recount
Clear as a churhes bell
As if they promise to always last
But they never fail to sing farewell

Yesterday's gone
And it's not coming back
Still saving the memories
That you once had

Keep them all tidy
In your bottom drawer
Pulling them out
Whenever you're bored

The ones that you're proud
Showing off to your friends
The ones that you're not
Never mentioning them

Does it not make you wonder
Why the bad ones we save
Wouldn't it be best
To toss them away

So clean out your drawers
Of the ones that don't shine
And keep only the good memories
You have in this life

Bury me
Neath an old oak tree
Where on a lower limb
You can tie a swing

And then when
You come to visit me
You can always swing
To the memories

Of the precious days
Playing in the park
I was your best friend then
Daddy‘s little girl

And when you feel a push
From the warm South breeze
You might just think the wind
But believe it’s me

Let's make a promise
Do us both a solid
When we fall asleep tonight
Invade each other's dreams

I will walk gently through yours
While you take a stroll through mine
Waking up in the morning to find
Left behind memories

Leaving soft touches of love
On the edge of conciseness
That way throughout the day
We will taste each other's dreams

When I walked and you strolled through mine
That promised night I hope we find
That over time it will come to light
We are each other's memories

I took a trip today down memory lane
Stopping off at a few friends graves
Not that they could but thought I would have my say
Knowing little difference it would make

I talked about all that we had done
Bringing in both the sorrow and the fun
A conversation of one on one
With every stone I sat upon

I brought up death, I brought up life
And how one must be lost for the other to find
To me that seems like such a crime
As the tears fell from my eyes

I wiped each stone gingerly as I walked away
Not sure they'd recognize me today old and gray
But I do feel better after having my say
From my stroll down memory lane