Find that which gives you peace...
hold it in your reserve.....
find it to give you strength
when all seems to unnerve.
With out the peace that calms the soul..
the weight of the world seems a unbearable load.
Call upon the reserve you have , tucked away...
let peace come to you, the storm at bay.
We create our own Hell sometimes it seems...
yet healing can come with a little peace.

It' been ten days since I spoke to you..
nine days since my heart was torn in two...
Eight days since you spiraled at what ever we said..
Seven days since you did'nt respect me as your Dad..
Six days  days of me trying to stay calm..
five days of geting phone calls from your Mom..
four days you have slept back under my roof...
three days of us trying to work it through...
two days of us laughing again...
And one day since you said you were sorry!
But who's counting!

I see leaves from trees, winter wind just a blowing,
making an assualt like paratroopers on folks  lawns.
I hear the geese  gather up and form their formations,
quaking loudly that they are up and gone.
Morning rush to the work has to be coordinated,
that old truck needs time to warm up.
frost on the winshield, wind just a blowing,
time for one more coffee warm up.
Evening breeze brings the smell of wood stoves going,
holiday baking  and burning leaves from the yards.
Yes I do believe ... Winter is here!

His Daddy always would stop and stare,
in the window, back in town, at the boots displayed there.
These stops did not go un noticed, to the sons' alert eyes...
yes these boots come Christmas, yes these will be the surprise.
Our world is entangled, a war we do not believe,
these wars seperate family, even on Christmas eve.
Some of our sons and daughters, husband ,brothers
and wives, all fight for a call for freedom.....some
the ultimate sacrifice.
Twas the ringing of the door bell,
a sound some have become to fear,
that brought this waiting family to the brink of endless tears.
Yet there in the door way, not a messenger of bad news,
stood the returning father, home from the war so soon.
Arms hold each other. Son  and Father unite.
This is a Merry Christmas.This is an awsome sight.
The son rushes to the tree, the present  to retrieve.
In his blind joy of his fathers return, there was something he had'nt seen.
As the boots are presented, tears run down the fathers face.
Yes son these are  the very best boots but there is something out of place.
You see I have been wounded, these feet are not really mine.
I lost both of my good ones with a few of my friends lives.
Hey though little buddy, these boots I will always keep.
This Christmas I am still home with you, it only cost me two feet!




* As Long as Our Troops  Are There, We Should Be there Too. If not Physical, then in Mind and Spirit! Ironbutt

The scene of the accident, folks all standing around.
Everybody's cell phone out , must text this now.
Post this on Facebook, got to Tweet my friends.
Someone is reading this text while driving
and BANG...it starts all over again!
Couples don't gaze into each others eyes
while in a restaurant  no they are texting with one hand, what the hell is wrong?
For a world that objects to invasion of their privacy,
like the security check for a plane seat,
Yet we see more of them  then need to see
every time they Tweet!

I have spiraled this way to the ground before.
From the highest pinnacle of happiness
to be crashed on failures rocky shores.
The taste of emptiness, bile of reject.
The pain of a heart torn from my chest.
I have felt all of these way before you could speak.
Now you have laid these  same feeling on me.
I am not a newcomer to this way , I know what to do.
I have walked in the shadows long before you.
To maintain my sanity I have Black and White,
cross neither of these lines and I sleep well at night.
My heart is an *****, a God given gift.
Though I may feel like dying, I know I still live.
Me still living ..well that's the Black and White...
for if I feel pain...I know Iam still alive!
They say one day knowledge will come.
All that was said will be undone.
I  cover this thought with a pain hidding smile
I had these same thoughts as I raised you woman from a child.
They say it is sad that no words from me  to you part.
I say it is best to remain silent , only speak with my heart.
If you can not see what your actions have wronged,
then I feel such a fool  to have trusted the bond.
They say if you love it, let it be free...
if it returns ..then it was to be.
I say a Father never lets go..
for if she must run, he becomes the road.
If she must fly, he becomes her wings.
If she is in danger , he becomes the steel.
You may  deny your status , cut family ties..
but a Father is a Father till the day that he dies.

Dedicated to 'Big John' 1954-2002


It's time to prep for the nights show,
the band is already unloading at the back door.
Got to brief the new guy and rewalk the floor,
let too many in here the night before.
Use cardboard and tape to protect the ribs.
Shin guards in place  for all those low hits.
Take off the jewlery and tie back the hair,
leave nothing for them to grab when you step out there.
Drink lots of water, swallow a pain pill...
it's show time for a bouncer they say is over the hill.
Crowds looking good for a Saturday night.
Plenty of women, yet somebody will fight.
Seems  when not enough space and too much *****,
messes up the calculation of one and one equals two!
Got two female bouncers that are a special class act.
They know how to work it and come in real fast.
Big John gives me the nod and it time to open the doors.
Lets Rock and Roll baby we are here until four!




* Big John was a bouncer that took me under his wing ( a huge wing) taught me to be polite yet forcefull. 99% of folks just come to have a good time.It's that 1% that will try to ruin it.That's where we come in.