Labyrinth

There are memories that get lost around,

in a winding path that never ends,

no magical orb will lead to a truth,

no cart to carry them happiness-bound. 

You will find yourself on that road,

wandering like a spirit with no home,

an apparition looking for more. 

I looked for a way to heal my heart,

yet memories pushed out of every pore,

causing a ruckus,

dashing all hope. 


A hopeful thought popped in my head,

this final turn could hold a happy end,

I never imagined what would be found,

a path left behind,

it lead to the broken part in your chest,

a labyrinth of stone,

where all things final find their rest, 

obstacle upon obstacle, 

meant to break even the sturdiest of bones. 

Ghost

I remember! 

Clear as a blue-sky day, 

in that window there is a ghost at play! 

Dipping and swerving, 

wonderfully maneuvering,

smooth like Cassius Clay. 


Tongue sticking out, 

mouthing with glee

every time I look up, 

the ghost disappears on me! 

It prances around,

partner with shadows, 

one moment there, 

next one gone on a haunting spree. 


A fractured illusion, 

with its seductive dance,

it moves to one side, 

shuffles to the other,

no way this is by chance

The ghost waving, taunting to get closer, 

Its shadow moves like an oily serpent, 

seductively dancing, 

mouth stuck open,

it’s asking me a question,

it wants to know the art of human romancing

Intentions set, 

I should not risk, 

quite frankly, 

I don’t want to go about and with death go clashing,

the ghost is stuck in limbo, 

seems like the devil is holding love for ransom.


A ghost of the past, 

a ghost of the future, 

forever stuck in an embrace, 

staring at each other with lovingly grace. 


I remember! 

Clear as a blue-sky day, 

in that window it is me at play! 

Dipping and swerving, 

distracted by the ghost of my future,

I never saw the car coming way. 

Attention

Pay attention. 

Life passes us by, 

it flaunters through our eyes, 

its luster constant, 

relentless. 

Yet we deviate, 

our focus constantly on progression with no reflection, 

reality warped tragically into tidbits reflected on screens. 

A make-belief existence we all wish to partake in, to be someone else, to have what another has, to live another more absolute life. 


Yet here we are, 

the past cannot be changed, nor the future foretold. 

All we have is now. 

We look yet never observe, 

we listen to the other to respond, 

not to understand,

noises made with our mouths, 

yet what we speak is a hodgepodge of ingrained nonsense, 

all jumbled in the brain, 

like a stew left out for too long. 

It’s as if the lips had a mind of their own, blurting and spewing, 

the brain left aside for other things, certainly not for thinking. 

We have been blessed (or cursed?) with the awareness of our consciousness,

death is an absolute for all of us, we know it’s coming, speeding towards us in a dark tunnel, barreling with no concern, knowing it will take that which it sees fit. 


Yet we sleepwalk through life,

missing our surroundings. 

Guilt, remorse, fear and melancholy holding us back. 

Overthinking existence, 

my personal nemesis of the mind, overruling the beauty before my eyes. 


So I try mightily to hug tight, 

love hard, 

kiss deeply,

to choose my words so they are gentle,

I know harm will come my way, 

we will all suffer,

more than once your heart will be crushed,

many nights our heads will hit the pillows and think the world has ended, 

yet the next day we begin anew. 

New choices, new reflections. 


We are unaware of our breath, 

our lungs deflated with shallow inhales and exhales,

we miss the slight uptick in our heartbeat when we see the ones we love,

the feeling in our soul when we kiss the person we once thought unattainable, 

that tight hug from you mother after long months of absence,

the inside joke with your friends or family after thinking all was lost. 

We miss the sparkle in a stranger’s eye when we do something nice, 

a simple hello, 

a gentle smile, 

to let them know, 

“I know, life is rough and hectic, but I notice you and wish you well.” 

We miss the  feeling of pride when your child hands you a precious drawing,  

scribbled direct from their curious mind, 

a drawing that reflects the purity of what we once were. 


I stopped to pay attention the other day, while walking with my furry friend, a Red Robin perched itself nicely on a stone ledge by the park. 

How beautiful it was, 

I dare to say, to notice such a perfect creature, flying about all day, and I never noticed, 

I never noticed. 

I saw the early morning dew on freshly mowed grass, 

the sun just above the  horizon, 

always present, 

never failing to bring us warmth 

and life. 

Teenagers skating in the park, music blaring, 

parents patiently waiting by, 

young children running up the hill, climbing the trees, 

engrossed in the moment, 

because they know,

yet don’t know, 

life is about being in the moment. 


We are here to give life meaning, 

not to discover an inherent purpose hiding in a cave, scribbled on an ancient wall, clearly for all to see. 


Pay attention, 

because life passes us by. 

Linger

These days, they just linger on

These nights, eternal with no dawn. 

Ceaselessly continuing 

biting, cutting

It’s hard to explain 

what goes through this brain


If only one incident 

for it not always ripped from my hands

Every single chance

ripped from my embrace 

slipping from my fingers 

like water being strained 

It’s all ghostly apparitions 

One day there

next one gone 

A story with nowhere to go

In that style

I am forlorn. 

Long Story

If I told a story, would you even wait that long? 

What if I wrote you a song? With words painted a new dawn

If I composed the perfect verse, would universal harm be crushed by an enormous mastodon?

What if I sketched my heart out? Set on canvas, something for you to gaze on

If I pranced around musical notes dancing in the air, would I feel like less of a pawn?

What if I acted out my fears for you? A jovial theater act, shining like a worldwide phenomenon

If I framed the perfect photo, would your smile light up like a roman pantheon?

What if I spoke of myths & legends? I bet my sanity you would start to believe in leprechauns

If I could train my body, would I glide above a smooth lake like a pearl-white swan? 

What if my legs never tired? You could wait for me after a long marathon

If I cut the story short, no spices or herbs, would you still love me after everything is gone?

Memories

What if memories linger on

an ethereal form up above

awake like a blazing dawn


Atoms mixed in a plane not seen 

stirred together in a ghostly cup

fused by heat in a godly machine

All around, a world apart

recollections thought to be lost 

what is seen is only dark



Memories cast by a nostalgic soul

with all his heart refused to give up 

in hindsight learning there is no control


Miniature pieces of remembrance 

an otherworldly existence of the beloved 

Unattached and in full transcendence


What if memories wait for an alarm

starting over with intense love 

another world to do no harm. 

Furrow

In the shadowed halls of my heart

search and find, one light stays on,

take a moment, no need for fright

In the lonely room that is not dark

the light awaiting is a new dawn,

run for it with all your might

On the wooden desk I left a mark

words instead, the light is gone,

furrowed deep our last goodnight.  

Knock Me Off

Oh! Will you look at me

One day I was sleeping

Next day I’m here

Brought in kicking and screaming

Now I’m a buffoon

Like all of you

This is simply absurd

Behind the curtain there is lore

So without further ado

Welcome to the show!

It’s all glitz and glam

One enormous glow

Don’t worry about the explosions

Nor disturb yourself with the gore

It’s all in good fun

It’s the Earth expo!

Tent is up, lights are on

Welcome all to the pantheon

The big spectacle, full of twinkling dreams

Glowing mirrors, new and pristine

All is well under the pavilion

Pleasantry follows, just obey the rules

Do not be fools

Rebels here tend to fall off their stools

Exhibits are up

Everything perfect, shiny and new

No flaws

It’s just our world

Made of sparkling dust

Oh! Look at that glossy one!

All pretty and pristine

Not one spot

Not one scratch

Perfection to the dot!

Keep on looking

Desire rampant with lust

Oh! What a surprise

Nothing is what it seems

It’s really just rotten to the core

So why do we want more

Everywhere you look

Skittering animals all about

‘Round around they go

This is the big circus

Under an enormous canvas we are

Galavanting under a watchful eye

Up above like a light

The eternal sun

Up in the sky

Who will one day burn us all

Leaving nothing behind

But not to worry

Just go from exhibit to exhibit

Pick and choose

Walk on over and mooch over there

Meander next to that heir

Relax my friends

There is no care

Just keep on galavanting

Until you hit that snare

It’s insanity this dance

A macabre maneuver

Perfect for another shot

Perfect for another round

In this gimmick we are stuck

Wiggle and shake

It does not matter

Unravel those bones until they break

Next day you’ll wake up

Stuck again in this big mistake

So I think I’ll just rebel

Go ahead

Knock me around

Slap me insane

Leave me with nothing but drool

My head left spinning

Many a thing I have been considered

None of them a fool

So go ahead

Just knock me off my stool.

No Lament

Putting it all into this intent 

Smoky mist

In it I see my dissent

Only happens in my dreams

Where specters go

Where all things revolve 

Round and round they go

On giant motion

One enormous blur 

In that incantation

I splurge 

Swim around

Paddle onward

Don’t blame me 

I love to indulge 


At times it feels I’m drowning

Gasping for air 

Deeper I’m diving

For in those depths 

Is something I don’t get 

It is truly a mess

Everything is so unkempt 

Yet into the profound I go

Surely I’ll get lost 

Please don’t hold any resent 

In my absence it seems all is down

Just wait a bit 

There will be nothing to lament

To bring you out into this reality

It will be worth the maddening descent. 

Haze

It’s all just hazy 

Another sleepless night

Rambling by dark corridors

Can’t even feel fright

This sensation at best is shaky 

So here we go again

This is just a simple prose

No spices or herbs 

The lights are out 

Don’t expect brilliance 

Don’t expect the end of doubt

One dose of spiked tea

Revelations still won’t come

In darkness looking 

Find myself ignoring the answers

Drowning in the existence sea

All the questions coming at once

Listen, dear

My only conclusion 

Something surprisingly peaceful 

Chaotically aligned 

Yet simple and clear 

I’ve managed to sand down what’s grainy

Realization smacking me blind

Life is nothing but a trunk full of crazy.  

Perplexed

Oh these things I’ve said

Things I’ve done

Chasing something down 

Step by step 

Slow as a leech 

Barely out of touch

I don’t know what

Maybe something I will never reach

Jumping over wrecks 

My mind can’t keep up 

I still feel so perplexed 

Words seemingly escape 

Trying to find a way to say this

It’s just a jumbled mess

I think I’ve been hexed 

Rummaging through the brain

I find a reason 

Because I know something is hidden

Behind all that suspense. 

Shallow

Those shallow waters

Comfortable and warm

Beckon always to stay

Linger and eventually falter

Under false illusion make you broader

Under false security make you hunger

Believe it or not

Drowning in these waters

Will be hell to endure

Face down, holding your nose

Eyes shut

I’m sure you’ll feel the burn

What’s the point

Of falsely becoming stronger

Those shallow waters decay

They don’t last much longer

They simply evaporate

Drying out in the sun

Everything turning to gore

Your body will not resist

Your skin burnt to charcoal

Out there in the deep waters

Wonder is always much farther

Guaranteed to be much more

Wisdom hidden

The sweetest of all the forbidden

Your legs kicking, getting better

Muscles growing stronger

Your mind comes along

As a whole you fill with honor

Scary at first

Full of intrigue and mystery

Sometimes those profound, dark waters

Are closer than you believe

No such thing as monsters

Those shallow liquids

Drowning in these waters

Will be hell to endure

Face down, holding your nose

Eyes shut

I’m sure you’ll feel the burn

So just lift your damn head,

Stop the eternal churn.

Lessons

Learning lessons the hard way

Running headlong into a brick wall

Always trying to prove a point

Now I’m just trying not to disappoint

Blood running down my face

A reminder of the pain coming from within

My soul going down a slow drain

Where most agony ends up,

Stuck like a clogged vein

Coating everything in tar

Black and hard

Poisoning like acid rain.

Stare

Nothing comes out 

Staring at this blank screen 

Stopping me in my tracks from doubt

Feelings urging to pour out

Like a crack in a dam

Turbulence ready to pounce 

Strike down the cement in my judging contemplations 

Flood the rivers

Overflow the banks

Let it explode outward like a nebula at its end

Flush out the poison stuck inside,

It feels like hot tar on a summers’ night

To drown the mundane 

Bury it deep in a spectacular wave 


Nothing escapes 

All locked up tight like the vacuum of space

Dammit, it’s all just a drag 

Losing my silly mind 

Longing to spit it all out 

I can’t agree with myself 

So I knock the brain around

Going on without any bounds 

Handcuffs placed on every murmuration,

It’s hard to escape from those gentle palpitations

If only one chance, to lose the hinges

Soften the blows 

Scream into the air 

And just let it all go 


Nothing at all 

A dark empty screen

Staring back at me 

If I could, with a gasp I’d be good 

Haunting perceptions 

All coming back out of the blue 

I hear them calling 

Spooky memories 

Flooding all back 

Like a thousand raging tsunamis

Soon the dam might burst open

A majestic explosion 

Flying concrete and debris

Knocking it all down like a tower of ice in the middle of hell

I agree, its all self destruction 

The urge to burn it all down  

Start anew, 

Rebel in the dystopian 

And speak it all out, 

No more going around


Nothing has ended 

Staring at a full screen

Something happened when the stars aligned 

One day it takes for life to change 

The ultimate force of nature 

Driving me forward with spectacular agitation

What is it they say? Objects in motion tend to stay in motion

So push me forward until I tilt over 

These words insisting to come out

A lifetime of things left on the back burner

So different choices made 

Soaking in a sweet rain

And even with so much

I try and I try, 

And Nothing comes out.