everyday

some hold on a little

longer,

some a little less,

but eventually,

the sun does set

on us all,

in the end we all

become equal,

as cruel as this

might seem,

at least it is

unconditional and

without favor;

God is no respecter

of persons;

I think about all the

missed opportunities,

all the special individuals,

all the moments which

slipped through my fingers,

the chances to tell them

how very unique they were,

how much I loved them,

but the time came and went;

now they are gone;

everyday I wait for freedom,

everyday I hang on for tomorrow,

everyday I fight the battle,

everyday I lose the war;

life is not about happiness and joy,

life is not about self-discovery,

life is not about self-satisfaction or

self-motivation,

life is not about any kind of self at all;

life is about love

and forgiveness,

life is about doing unto others

as you would have them

do unto you,

life is about loving your neighbor

as you would love yourself,

life is about coming to the

realization that we all have

fallen short,

that none of us are going

to escape on our own,

life is about loving God

with all your mind and

heart;

everyday I wait for freedom,

everyday I hang on for tomorrow,

everyday I fight the battle,

everyday I lose the war.

.

.

Just One More Breath

I am tired of living a life,

in a world where nothing

really matters,

whose only function

is self-satisfaction,

where goodness is measured

in terms of self-indulgence and

self-glorification,

and success by total

net worth;

I am tired of a life

without You;

I think about

how wonderful it will be,

when I am where

You are;

no more worry,

no more fear,

no more disappointment,

no more turmoil,

no more struggle,

no more doubt;

I think about

how I long to leave

this life behind,

step out of this

fleshly prison

and walk into Your

waiting arms,

but then I remember

how you lived Your

life for me,

without ever once

thinking of Yourself,

struggling and sacrificing

through the agony and pain,

bearing the isolation and shame,

giving up Your life

that I might live,

and I realize that You deserve

every minute of my life,

every thought, every action,

every breath,

that You and You alone

are my Lord and King,

that You have so much

more for me to do,

so many things left unfinished,

so much wasted time

to make up for,

so I ask for just one

more breath,

that I might serve You,

just one more breath

that Your name might

be glorified;

just one more breath

that I might breathe it

for You.

.

.

This One's For You Scott

had a meeting today

with all the big boys,

it made me realize

just how small

I really am;

I sat there a long time

after that meeting,

just staring at the pages

of an open tech manual;

I thought about a good friend

I once knew,

I thought about the times

we got falling down drunk together,

laughing our asses off and

how I loved him like the

brother I never had,

I thought about how he sat

in his car,

in the parking lot of the

navy prototype in

upstate New York,

put a gun to his chest;

and pulled the trigger;

I thought about what he

must have felt,

all the things which went

through his head in those

last few seconds;

and now I knew;

now I knew what it felt like

to have your soul raped,

and be powerless to

prevent it;

fuck all the big boys everywhere!

they got it all covered,

they always did,

but they ain't gonna take me,

they never will,

no matter how much shit

they pile on,

if you wait long enough

even this passes,

just like everything else;

this one’s for you Scott (brother).

.

.

Some Things

dark, empty playground,

little girl all alone,

dirty little secrets

so afraid to share,

believing inside

no one’s gonna care;

some bruises

never show;

so many years,

so many fears,

so much silence

between the invisible

tears;

some things

can never be

forgotten;

no where to turn,

no one from which to learn,

no one to take her by the hand,

no one to help her make a stand,

no one to caress her

forehead and whisper;

“it’s alright baby”

so many years,

so many fears,

so much silence

between the invisible

tears;

some things

can never be

forgotten.

.

.

Dangerous Combinations

Cold, rainy, Monday afternoons,

thick, rich, dark glasses of Guinness,

Stevie Ray Vaughn on the jukebox and

attractive, strong-willed, red-headed

Irish women named Susan,

make for

dangerous combinations

so far from home,

yet they leave a

sickly sweet sensation,

deep within this darkness

called a soul,

like when I was a child,

stealing forbidden cookies

from the kitchen cupboard;

wishing

it would never end;

but soon

it will all be part

of the never ending ocean

of old memories and

forgotten stories,

that could have been,

that should have been,

but were not

and never were;

I always was

a pushover,

for attractive,

strong-willed,

red-headed,

Irish women.

.

.

The Price of Success

laying here,

just trying to sleep,

quick,

close your eyes,

I think I feel

a twinge of drowsiness

creeping up;

nope;

false alarm;

I haven’t slept

in days now,

I miss it,

taking sleep aids now,

don’t make me sleep,

but they sure do

mess my head up

in the morning.

.

.

Big Tipper

Vicki,

the barmaid,

excites me

to no end,

she’s so big,

and round,

and firm,

and lusty,

when she moves

you can almost hear

the sexual energy field

crackling and popping,

as it rises and collapses

around her;

one time her hip

accidentally brushed against me

as she took our order;

I almost came

in my pants;

she’s the kind of woman

you could get lost in,

buried within her huge

soft mounds,

and heavenly valleys;

yes,

she excites me to no end,

but then

it wouldn’t be the first time,

it is funny though,

the thoughts which go

through your head,

when you’re lying in bed

with a 102 degree fever;

oh well;

and since I have nothing

she could possibly want;

I always leave

a big tip.

.

.

All There Is

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”                                         John 6:66-69

dark clouds on the horizon,

the storm rapidly approaches,

no escape, no where left to run;

eventually the end

catches us all;

within Your sanctuary

I seek shelter,

You are my safe haven,

You are my only refuge,

to You alone do I run;

You are all there is;

time grows short,

soon there will be

nothing left,

I wait for the day,

I long to be

where You are,

there is nothing else,

I cannot escape

even if I wanted to;

You are all there is;

Lord, I am so lost,

I am so blind,

I am so hopeless,

I am so pathetic,

I am so helpless,

without You

I am nothing;

You are all there is.

You teach me truth,

cutting through all

the hypocrisy and hate,

giving the example;

You are all there is.

.

.

Do Not Be Afraid

You are my child,

I have loved you from

the moment you were

created in the womb,

I will always love you,

I will always be beside you,

I will see you through every trial,

I will hold your hand

through every test;

I will be with you forever;

I know there are things

that you do not understand,

I know that you are

frightened and confused,

I know there are things that

do not make sense,

things beyond your ability

to comprehend,

I know how you were formed,

I know you better than

you know yourself,

I know your weakness,

I know your strength,

I know what you can withstand

and what you cannot;

there are some things

in which you must simply

put your trust in me;

turn to me,

and I will give you comfort,

seek me with all  your heart,

and you will find me;

you are my dear,

precious child,

who I have loved

from the moment of creation,

do not be afraid,

just believe;

for I am with you

always.

.

.

I Am Ready Lord

Old friends return,

wooing, soothing,

inviting, cajoling;

standing just outside the door,

hiding among the dark

angry shadows,

waiting for the show

to begin,

patiently biding

their time;

all night diners,

endless cups of coffee,

lonely highway lines,

empty roads leading nowhere;

how far is the bottom?

where do the lies end?

where does truth begin?

emotional roller coaster rides,

painful days and nights,

forgotten dreams,

silent memories;

who cares?

all I ever wanted

was for someone

to recognize the pain,

understand the depth,

salute the effort,

but no one ever does;

no one but You;

don’t let me fall Lord,

hold me above the killing zone,

keep me safe from the

slaughter below;

I hear Your precious voice;

I am ready Lord,

I am ready;

all I want is to

belong to You,

all I need is You;

I am ready Lord,

I am ready.

.

.

Sanctuary

The touch returns,

the cold black night closes in,

dogs return to their vomit,

sows freshly cleaned,

wallow in the mire

once again;

am I really so far,

will I ever escape

from these prison walls

surrounding me now?

and now I see,

now I know,

just how far it goes,

just how costly it becomes,

what fools we are;

trapped within snares

of our own doing;

I see my life play out,

I remember all the

wrong decisions,

I relive all the wasted

opportunities,

I count up all the

lost minutes;

and I am so tired;

the darkness waits

once more,

thick and black,

silently enveloping my soul;

does no one see?

does no one know?

does no one care?

everything fades,

everything passes by

like shadows in the night,

everything changes

with the morning dawn;

save me O Lord,

let me rest in Your

powerful arms,

let me find sanctuary

within Your sacred walls;

bring me home to You.

.

.

My Sister-in-law is a Whore

my sister-in-law is a whore

and the town drunk;

it wasn't always this way;

I remember when she was

young and beautiful,

not the tired, worn out,

old woman she is now,

wild and free like the breeze,

full of laughter and excitement,

making the blood flow hot in every guy,

as she teased and captivated,

always the center of attention,

like a queen holding court

before her loyal subjects;

I knew my sister-in-law

before I married her sister,

and when the bar lights came on

at the end of the night,

I was right there,

with all the other hypnotized,

horny bastards,

praying to be the one she

went home with,

but time caught up with her,

as she refused to give in,

living each day for drugs, sex

and rock n roll,

the laughter started sounding

more like a cackle than some

musical melody,

and no one has much tolerance

for a loud, foul mouthed, old hag,

with spotted, yellow skin

from liver damage,

and rotting, missing teeth;

but every now and then,

I close my eyes and smile

at the memories,

remembering there was a time

when we were both much better,

and I realize just how much

I loved that drunken old whore.

.

.

My Eyes Do Not See

That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:10

My eyes do not see,

but I have eyes

with which to see,

my ears do not hear,

but I have ears

with which to hear,

my mind does not understand,

but I have a mind

with which to understand;

I have You

and that is all I need;

this fleshly body

slowly crumbles into

the dust,

yet I continue to rise,

man-made ideas and thoughts

come and go,

but in the end

they mean nothing at all;

I have You

and that is all I need;

through weakness

Your strength is

made perfect,

therefore I shall glory

in all my weakness,

for when I am weak

I am made strong

by Your grace alone;

I have You

and that is all I need.

.

.

Psalm 103

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Psalm 103:11-18

When I turn to You

light comes pouring in,

darkness slips away,

hope rises within;

I am set free;

You are a sweet summer breeze,

a clear mountain stream,

a warm, gentle touch,

innocence and purity;

truth complete;

as far as the east is from the west

have You removed my transgressions from me,

as a father has compassion on his child

have You had compassion on me;

through Your unfathomable sacrifice

have I been redeemed from the dead,

by Your mercy and grace

has my soul been restored;

forever shall I belong to You,

forever shall I sing of Your greatness,

forever shall I praise Your name,

forever shall I love You above all others;

let Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven,

remove all that is not of You,

cleanse the filth and iniquity

abiding within this imperfect temple,

make me into a new creation;

fill me with Your love;

You are my strength,

You are my rock,

You are my comfort and joy,

You are my God;

You are my Everything.

.

.

Anatoly

The Great War

I lost a great deal in that war,

we all did,

we lost friends and

neighbors,

homes and wealth,

family members,

possessions,

we lost everything,

yet because we lived

we lost nothing,

I sometimes wonder

who the lucky

ones were;

those who perished or

those who survived.

No one could say

how it began,

like most wars it had

no beginning or end,

it simply came and

went,

like measles,

or smallpox,

or the flu,

when it was over

those who were left

simply picked up the pieces

and started over\

again;

there was very little choice

otherwise;

they said it was the war

to end all wars,

just like all the wars

before it,

no one really cared one

way or the other,

the time for caring

had long since come

and gone,

now there was simply

living or dying,

breathing or not breathing,

seeing or not seeing,

surviving or perishing;

a world of our own creation,

a nightmare of our own doing.

Collateral

I held her in my arms

as the life slipped out of her

small, frail body,

she couldn't have been more

than 7 or 8 I thought,

as I looked into her cold,

lifeless eyes,

staring blankly into the clouds

up above,

only moments before

the roar of the jet  had filled

the afternoon sky,

then a blinding light followed

by deafening sound;

then silence;

now this child

lay broken and torn

in my bloody arms,

I had seen her in the

neighborhood before,

always laughing,

always smiling,

beautiful;

innocent;

later the news would

say the attack was a

coordinated effort

by government forces,

dropping a laser-guided smart bomb

on a known terrorist safe-house,

killing 15 with only minor

collateral damage and loss

of life;

all-in-all a pretty good

day for the 'good guys'.

Tukarov

Tukarov was dead,

it seemed like only yesterday

we had danced at his wedding,

now his body lay quiet,

face down in the mud,

a gaping hole where

his chest had once been,

ripped apart by a 50 caliber shell

from a sniper’s gun;

I wondered if he had felt anything

as the bullet ripped through

his flesh,

tearing out pieces of his lungs

with it,

it couldn’t have been much

I thought,

he was dead before

he even hit the ground,

perhaps it was better this

way,

only a few months earlier

he had lost Ulena

in an air strike,

after that he had never

been the same;

“we must do something,

we must fight back,

we must not die like

sheep”;

he had insisted,

convincing me to

join the ‘cause’ with him,

now I could not

remember what

the ‘cause’ was,

only that I was cold

and afraid,

as I sat with the rest

of our patrol,

listening to our commander

brief us on tomorrow’s

raid,

wondering when this

nightmare would ever end;

Tukarov was dead,

long live Tukarov.

Spared

Quietly we waited for the dawn attack,

silently hiding within the refuge of the

dark, lonely night,

sleep was impossible as we tried

to hang on to every minute,

every second,

knowing they would likely be

our last,

on the other side

the enemy waited also,

just as afraid,

just as unsure,

soon it would be us or them,

kill or be killed,

for most this would be the

last day on earth;

many openly wept,

remembering mothers and fathers,

sisters and wives,

brothers and children,

I saw the face of my wife

as she had looked before

the war,

before the madness,

before the chaos,

before the hatred,

sweet and serene,

I was glad she had died

early,

being spared the emptiness

of what we had now become,

the monsters we had all been

reduced to,

capable of any cruelty,

living only for death and revenge,

reflections of what had

once been human;

I was glad she had been spared.

Sunrise

there was mostly silence now,

broken only by an occasional

scream or moan,

flashes of far-off cannon fire

lit up the distant horizon,

an eerie reverence permeated

the air,

we rested slumped against

one another,

staring blankly into the early

morning sky,

only hours before it was insanity,

unimaginable horror,

a great tidal wave of madness

and fury,

everywhere,

bodies locked together in death,

covered in blood,

covered in guts,

everything a weapon,

broken guns,

bayonets,

rocks,

fists,

fingernails;

in the end it had

come down to teeth;

the sun was beginning to rise,

steam rolled off the sea

of carnage that lay

before us,

our nostrils saturated

with the stench of rotten flesh;

it was sacred,

almost holy.

Gas

then came the gas,

silent and deadly,

just a soft whump here

or a thump there,

followed by

swiftly rolling fog,

at first we weren’t even sure

what was happening,

many started dropping

before the thought

of donning a mask could

even be thought;

it seemed like such an ironic,

and cruel twist

of fate,

to have come so far,

only to be destroyed by

such a thing

as this;

everywhere men lay choking,

gasping for breath,

their faces twisted in deadly

agony,

those who managed

to put on their masks

powerless to help,

the burning of skin

hardly noticed by the joy

of protected lungs and

internal organs

from this slow and

evil death;

I thought of Tukarov,

I thought of my wife,

I thought of innocent little girls,

lying cold and limp in my

trembling arms,

I thought;

such a waste,

such an incredible,

stupid waste;

who has won?

who has lost?

all I could do

was cry.

Anatoly

I awoke to darkness,

my eyes were open but

they could not see,

my hands could move

but I could not raise

them up;

“help me!” I screamed,

“help me!”

I heard a door open

then close;

“so, you are awake at last”,

a female voice casually

spoke out;

“where am I?” I demanded;

“try to relax Mr. Aleksandar,

you are in a hospital,

you are safe now,

let me check your bandages”;

I felt her soft, warm hands

run lightly around the side

of my head and over my eyes;

“am I blind?” I asked,

without trying to sound afraid;

“the doctors are not sure yet” she replied,

“it’s too early to tell,

your eyes were burned

very badly by the gas,

we will not know just how much

long term damage there is

for a few more days”;

“you are luckier than most” she added,

“why can’t I move my arms?” I asked,

“the doctors wanted your arms restrained,

they knew when you awoke you would most

likely be in a state of panic,

if you promise me you will be a big boy

I will remove the straps”;

I could detect a slight trace of humor

in her voice;

“I will try” I replied;

I felt a slight tugging at my

right arm then my left,

my arms were free,

my first thought was to reach

for my face,

and as if she read my mind

she called out;

“don’t try to remove

the bandages on your face

or I will be forced

to put the straps back on!”

“what of the men who were

with me?”

there was a silence;

“there were a few” she quietly replied,

“most were in worse shape

than you, some died shortly after

they brought them here”

“I’m sorry”, she added;

“the doctors have said you could

have some hot broth if you are up to it,

would you like some Mr. Aleksandar?”

it had been so long since I had heard

a female voice,

I had almost forgotten just how

soothing it could be;

“please” I said, “call me Anatoly”

she didn’t say a word,

but I could feel the smile.

.

.

Every Breath

when we are young

we dream of all that could be,

as we grow old

we come to the bitter realization

of all that we are not,

and what will never be;

it is then dreams die,

it is then that hope fades,

it is then truth is lost;

for everything there is a season,

for everything there is a purpose,

for every push there is a shove,

for every action there is a reaction;

overwhelm me with Your truth,

fill me with Your light,

let today be the day,

let now be the time;

in You we become something greater,

in You we are made complete,

in You dreams live once more,

in You hope is restored,

in You we shall live forever;

let every breath taken

be taken for Your glory,

let every word spoken

be spoken of Your majesty,

let every creature under the sun

praise Your name;

be my King,

be my Lord,

be my Master,

raise this vessel from the dust,

make me a noble instrument

useful for Your holy will,

let me be Your humble servant

for all eternity.

.

.

The Best We Can

everywhere there is anger,

everywhere there is meanness,

everywhere there is ridicule,

everywhere there is despair,

men no longer search for truth,

men no longer thirst for righteousness,

it has become much too dangerous,

political correctness has become

the brave new frontier;

compromise the name of the game;

the world as we know it

is falling down with no

relief in sight;

answers no longer have meaning,

questions are no longer asked;

I close my eyes

and imagine days gone by,

I close my eyes

and see days too come,

I hold on to the hope

while letting go of the reality,

I search for winding, empty roads

where few have ever traveled,

settling in the end

for safety and comfort,

following paths well taken;

broken promises and lost paradises

tumble down,

like building block houses

on a child’s playroom floor,

failure hurts,

fantasies and foolish feelings

become lost,

slipping forever from your grasp,

always just a reach too far,

always a little more than

you can hold;

time and flesh fade

until finally

words are all that is left,

when in truth

they are all there ever were,

overcoming the night

is never an easy task,

yet still we try,

the best we can;

letting go of the dreams

was never part of the plan,

yet still we do,

the best we can;

somewhere little boys are free

to play the games of men,

while dreaming of days ahead,

without running from the demons

of their past;

I am still here,

quietly waiting,

I will wait as long

as You require;

I will wait forever;

I belong to You,

I always have,

I always will,

You are my Lord,

You are my Master,

You are my God;

You are my Everything.

.

.

Discipline

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” declares the Lord, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.   Isaiah 55:6-9

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  Proverbs 14:12  

Once more,

You open my eyes,

once again,

You hold up the mirror

before my wretched and

pitiful face,

revealing inner things

I could not see on my own,

showing the conceit

of all my preconceived ideas,

humbling the lofty and

haughty spirit by which

I have walked,

crushing the self-righteous throne

upon which I have sat,

deflating the egotistical vanity

living inside;

proving that You alone

know the hearts of men,

making me understand

that You, and You alone,

have the right to judge,

that there are ways

which seem right to a man,

but in the end lead to death;

Lord forgive my selfish pride,

have mercy upon my wicked ways,

guide my blinded eyes,

lead me down Your holy paths,

use me for Your righteous will,

teach me Your perfect ways,

rebuke my errors and mistakes;

discipline me as a beloved son.

.

.

All Things

Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:25

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:11-13

In the morning the pain is more

than my mind can fathom,

my body barely able to move,

my spirit humbled and broken,

the thought of facing another day

more than I think I can bear;

how long Lord?

how long?

then You fill me with strength,

the pain lessens,

movement becomes possible,

the day becomes bearable;

You have taken me

to new depths,

humbling me,

teaching me,

training me,

preparing me;

showing me the misery of

so many others,

struggling to survive

just one more day,

in this life that is

not a life,

in this world that is

not a home;

now I can see,

now I understand;

the fear,

the hopelessness,

the despair,

the bitterness,

the anger;

the hatred;

Lord cleanse me,

remove the filth and

impurities,

discipline me,

teach me Your ways;

Your words are life,

I want that life;

I want only You.

.

.

I know

I know that in the end

You will make everything

come out right,

I know that this darkness

surrounding me now will fade

with the morning dawn;

I know that You will

wipe away every tear,

I know that You will make

all things new,

I know that You will

heal the damage,

I know that You discipline

and teach only those

whom You love,

I know that You will stand

by my side through every

trial and test,

I know that You will never

give me more than

I can withstand;

I know;

inside I have always known,

just as I have always known

that You are the truth,

that You are the light,

that You are the way;

I knew it when I lay

on that gym floor

so many years ago,

Your soft still voice

bringing reassurance

that You would be there

when I stepped onto

the football field,

I knew it when I stood at the edge,

staring into the eternal darkness

waiting before me,

as You pulled me back

into Your precious arms,

before I was forever gone;

I knew it then,

I know it now;

no matter where this road leads,

I know that I will always love You,

that I will always be Yours,

that You will always be my King,

my Lord,

my Savior;

my Everything.

.

.

Once More

The end draws near,

it speaks from within

as surely as the wind

blowing through the

swaying trees;

the last breath awaits,

silently and patiently lingering,

as final as ocean waves

crashing down upon

deserted winter shores;

I do not fear it,

I do not seek it,

it is what it is,

it will be what it will be,

part of the final story,

a small piece of who

and what I was,

the completion of

a journey;

I know it will not be easy

dealing with the anxiety and pain,

I know there will be times

when my patience and tolerance

will grow short,

when the anger and fear

of the flesh will come out,

but I know it will be harder

on those around me,

my wife, my family,

what few friends I have,

than it will be on me;

because I know

my Lord and Savior,

the One who was sacrificed

for me,

the King who laid

down His life

that I might live,

will be there the whole time,

I know He will

give me the strength

to endure every trial,

I know that He will be

by my side through every

moment of suffering and pain,

I know He will never leave me,

never forsake me,

never stop loving me;

it is in His hands

that I place my life,

to Him do I submit

all that I have,

in Him do I place my trust,

through Him shall I live

once more.

.

.

Anonymity

for most of my life

I have endured anonymity,

accepting the mental and emotional abuse,

withstanding the humiliating onslaught,

listening to the voices of the proud and vain,

as they crush and demean the weary and worn,

trampling underfoot the helpless and weak;

without mercy,

without reservation,

without compassion;

for most of my life

I have endured anonymity,

with all its darkness and corruption,

hiding in the shadows,

weeping unknown tears,

asking questions with

unanswerable answers,

living a lifeless life,

waiting for a definitive end;

yes, I have endure anonymity,

with all its cruel subtleties

and ironic mysteries,

silently watching and observing,

forever imagining and wondering,

continually seeking and searching;

then there was freedom,

then there was hope,

then there was light;

then there was You;

great is the Lord,

vast are the lessons of His wisdom,

holy are the paths on which

He walks,

righteous are all His ways;

my spirit cries out for Your presence,

my mouth thirsts for Your knowledge,

my eyes long for Your beauty and grace,

my soul searches for Your glory and light.

.

.

The Edge

Another from the past. All I can say is be careful what you seek, because you just might find it.

The Edge

I want to explore

the edge,

where no man goes,

and from which

no man returns,

I no longer wish

to be held back

by places and things

that are safe

and warm,

I want to soar

to heights unknown,

explore caverns

hidden from sight,

where creatures of the night

prowl and hunt,

as majestic gods

look down in pity

upon frightened herds,

running

from their own slaughter,

I seek a truth

that is more truthful

than that

which is offered,

by the distorted,

twisted words,

of those seeking

only the obvious;

oh yes,

give it all

to this simple,

single wanderer;

throw it all away,

give it all back,

come run with me

through fields of crimson fire,

caress the eternal beast,

and drink

with the thirst

of a thousand dying men;

even if for a moment.

.

.

Peasants

Must be closet cleaning day, found another one in that 20 year old closet.

Peasants

America,

you have become a nation

of middle managers

and silk ties,

built on the sweat

of the common man,

you cringe at the thought

of getting your hands

dirty again,

it’s all about

making the fast buck,

it’s all about

two kids,

two cars,

two careers;

and a 4 bedroom house;

you’ve created peasants

to do your manual labor,

you pay them minimum wage

then shake your head

when they don’t fill up your car

fast enough,

or take away your garbage

soon enough;

they sell your children

the finest clothes,

while shopping for their own

at garage sales,

they serve your families

at the best restaurants,

while watching their own

go hungry,

they listen to you talk

of a better future,

while they pray

to make it past

tomorrow;

how much longer

do you think

they’re gonna take it?

how much longer

America?

how much longer

will you look the other way

when the police

beat and kill anyone

who does not fit the mold

in the name of law and order?

how much longer

will you give away

that which was fought for

by those who sought

something more?

freedom?

YOU NO LONGER CARE ABOUT FREEDOM!!

it is safety and comfort you seek,

perhaps you should just change the words

to security and comfort for all,

(except peasants)

and quit fooling yourselves;

how much longer

America?

.

.