Karma?

sometimes
you think
or plan
effort is there
outside forces
cause a rift

future to be changed
redouble doings
this time
around
the planets
will
be
aligned
over time

You've Got Mail!

someone special
stops on by
time to share
thoughts of
the day

a quickening
of the pulse
good news
or bad
how are you today
a smile forms
someone cares

learn much
of one
or another
ups and downs
family life
been there
done that
me too

pain shared
joy too
work concerns
financial too
tired sleepy
sleep well
enjoy your day

very special
one day

we will meet

A Compliment

you write and
you wonder
did it make
sense
the feelings
and emotions that
were felt
at the time

words rush out
some funny
some sad
tell a story
in my own
little way

if it puts you
in the moment
another time
another place
in the shoes
of another

and you like
it too
my reward

my work
is done

The Hardest Lesson Learned

Friday, July 24, 2009


affairs of the heart
can not be wished
once upon a star

the planets must
align in
the right order

birds must sing
in the same key

bees making honey
never sweeter

sunrise most perfect
sunset brings hope
for more to come

walks by the ocean
two sets of prints
leaving their mark

thoughts to be shared
but never thought

searching the corners
universal emotion
sense of loss
sense of gain

joust at windmills
never give up
somewhere
sometime
someone
not imagined
will come calling

See me at
Coffee Table Poetry's GUEST BOOK

I am the Tin Man!

one should know
it will happen
one day
age creeping up
wear and tear
occupation contributes

wake from sleep
thought only
of pain
knee cries out
can't move
knifing shooting
left one aches

slowly move
careful
subsides for now
walking at work
right one starts
to click
heard by none

shrug it off
only thought
man's way
ignore it will
go away

suddenly
realized
my new world order
where is Dorothy
I need her now
oil can
oil can
squirt here
squirt there
squeak squeak
ahhh
feeling better
all better

wake up ToTo
no oil can
no relief
surprise
not in kansas
anymore


This poem can be found at
Coffee Table Poetry's GUEST BOOK

Pinball Man

sometimes daily events
make you feel
like a pinball
not a wizard
shooting for
a score
coming up empty
glancing blow
job
friends
social or not
money woes
life seems
empty

surreal
perception is truth
left hanging
alone
can't run up
the score
bells ringing
lights flashing

no offer of
free games
or do over
happiness
tenuous at best
beware
the wolves
howling in the night

the ball falls
past the outreached
flipper
flailing away
in vain
down the center
lost forever

life says
we owe you
an extra ball
try
we won't be
Lucy
yank the ball
away

again

but you find
you are
on your
own
once more

game over

When the Earth Moved

a day like
any other
preparing evening
meal for all
change quickly
happened
first rattle
sense uneasiness
feeling spread
quickly
sense of doom

unable to stand
walls shaking
flying through air
goods from walls
run they screamed
outside now
knocked to ground
crawling to door
who made it out
not me

walls collapsed
ceiling soon followed
cascade
tumbling
falling
weight of the world
no feeling in legs
unable to breathe
crushed below
gasping last breath
how quickly it ends
no goodbyes
no hug
no kiss
no last words
no time to say
love you

walking down hallway
fancy place in town
best place to stay
columns in place
sandy soil
short cuts taken
building heaves
earth shakes
snap crackle
foundation buckle
like a pancake
floor on top
of floor
collapse as one
no time to scream
gone

stagger into street
people crying
babies wander
blood washes roads
running running
after shock
again again
no end
why why
help me
all cry as one

policeman
fireman
doctor
no more
water gone
food gone
bodies waste
help us
no one cares
world unites
rally to help
docks gone
airport gone
roads gone
help on way

looking searching
pull back rubble
dog sniffs
cry is heard
baby brought out
cheer goes up
one is saved

pits are dug
deep and wide
bodies stacked
thousands now
pushed in covered
buried unknown

recovery begins
once again
slow and painful
how do you
take away
everything
from people
who have
nothing

See me at
Coffee Table Poetry's GUEST BOOK

Private Dancer

This poem is dedicated to Christine Macdonald whose life story inspired theses words.

together with friends
sometimes alone
he visits the building
holds promises
visions of beauty
his all alone

pay at the door
cover they say
begrudgingly one does
boom of the bass
quickens his pulse
familiar song
favorite tune
sets the mood
unsaid by burly
look don't touch

wanders in
darkened room
lights from stage
focal point
eyes adjust
drink is brought
table sought
eyes search
for the one

makes him feel good
warm inside
at what cost
everything
he has
always the same
game is on
pretend she cares
all is revealed
all that she has
enticing enchanting
moth to a flame
drawn he is
morning after
alone again
head pounding
wallet empty
vows never ever
will be back

started young
legal she was
pushing drinks
wondering would
she could she
money an issue
week to week
pick the path
devil in details
if only for awhile
keep it business
not personal

made her debut
a night
to remember
soon to forget
three song set
tips would come
tried to act
done before
screw up courage
dance like others
finished with money
good job honey
cruise the tables
mine them for more
lap or table
make them pay

too many married
made her wonder
another transaction
business deal
a guy comes in
asking for her
laughter dance
money exchanges hands
she is gone
looking
for someone else

how long
can this go on
just to get ahead
always tired
energy needed
do a line
forbidden fruit
not so young
time passes by

change ones life
what to do
income different
can't survive
time to move on
younger ones
alway at the door
ones self critical
still pretty maybe
always tired
long for more

no white knight
none to rescue
not looking
personal choice
whats it gonna be
tina said it right
dance while looking
at the wall

Desperate Times

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2009


reading local newspaper
things are getting
bad to worse
marti forman she wrote
"beaten down people

hot tired lost
hopeless poor
unemployed sick
elderly confused
tired keep coming
food bank
overwhelmed scared
very scared"

recovery from
economic ills
slow to come
good times
for many
gone forever

houses gone
cars gone
work gone
loved ones
gone

hope

gone

TV people
read reports
economy recovering
companies post profits
how they wonder
cut costs
cut jobs
cut people
sense of purpose
lost

someone somewhere
needs help
don't look away
ask
how can I
help you today

Cold and Alone

seen unseen
know they exist
forgotten ignored
huddled as one
dampness soaking
into the bones
chilling the soul
what needed more
warmth or food

hide in shadows
break from the wind
cars drive bye
people walk by
avert ones gaze
not be seen
constant growl
stomach empty

constant shiver
shuffle of feet
blowing of wind
temperature drops
looking for shelter
anywhere will do
pretend to fit in
be a shopper
read a book
please don't look
ask me to leave

hunger cold
constant feeling
will not pass
only purpose
to survive
another day

and wonder
why

See me at
Coffee Table Poetry's GUEST BOOK