Daddy
1969 age 11
I remember watching Daddy play
With Grandma's dog on Christmas day.
Their faces so full of joy
As Daddy stood and threw the toy.
Off ran the dog! after the toy
While Daddy stood laughing
Like a little boy.
That's why now that my daddy's not here
The dog to me is very dear.
For shining through the dog's kind face
I see my daddy in another place.
A place where one will always play
Like the dog and Daddy on Christmas Day.
Life
1972 age 13
Life is a game
a constant race
You've got to keep up
or you'll lose your place.
The die is cast
before you're born
Your grave is dug
your casket worn.
For every man
there is a slot
Intowhich he falls
to be forgot.
A Thought
1973 age 13
Here's a thought
to ponder about
Although probably one
you could do without.
Let's say God
is a mass of minds
Ten multiplied by
infinite times.
We're not here
according to this
Could you believe
that you don't exist?
What I'm trying to say
is believe it or not
There is a chance
that you're only a thought.
Drifter
1973 age 14
On a day that dawned you were here
And like a doe a fawn we seemed so near.
But a blink of the eye and I turned around
and empty sky was all that I found.
You had drifted on following your soul
The urge to be gone too strong to control.
It lives in the heart of many a man
You'll never depart from the drifting demand.
So be off and away and travel far free
but return someday my drifter to me.
A Rock
1973 for my brother Herbert
Deep in the jungle the path runs narrow
Winding and twisting yet straight as an arrow.
All along the path the animals call
The wild ones scream! with no sound at all.
Life is as definite as all of this
Pure hell, it's true, but too pure bliss.
These days a rock is all you can trust
"So solid!" you say, but Lo!
It's mere dust.
The Shadow Behind
1973
You walk through life with a shadow behind you
Always seeking, trying to find you.
You work, you play, try to run away,
But look behind and the shadow you'll find.
Silent it is for many long years
Until the distance between you it clears.
Elusive the voice, little your choice,
You are the prey and you can't get away.
You run down the road but the road runs back!
Shadow, now substance, makes the attack.
Take your last breath and surrender to death
The race is done and death has won.
The Promise
1973 for Tom Rogers age 15
My foortateps echo through hospital halls
I want to turn back as each foor falls.
Doors slide by, I'm searching for one,
At room 12 C my search will be done.
The nurse at his door stopa me to speak
Saying, "Maybe he'll live; be careful he's weak."
I enter his room praying him sleeping,
The horror of my mission upon me creeping.
I gazed at his face through gauze and tape,
Memorizing forever every feature and shape.
The doctors had said, "Maybe he'll live,
If that blessing God chooses to give.
But remember, my girl, he won't be the same,
Feebleminded and crippled he will always remain."
If only the coctors knew my promise to him!
They would never dare predict a future so dim.
Slowly his eyes opened blinking, adjusting to the light,
A few moments taken to regain clear sight.
Then he looked at me, pleading, I knew,
For the one thing I wished never to do.
But with tears in my eyes I nodded my head,
And once again sleeping was the man in the bed.
One quick glance showed the room clear,
Of all but us two no one was near.
Opening his mouth with fingers that shook,
I dropped in my promise; all my courage it took.
Driving home through streets wet slick,
My heart was heavy and my soul felt sick.
"Promise me you'll never let me suffer and cry,
If I'm aver disabled please help me to die."
His existence ceased and his words were my own,
Now I suffer and cry and feel I'm alone.
Then a horn blares loud and lights flash bright!
Where am I? Lord! I feel light.
There are people here all reaching to me,
but among them all only one face I see.
I'd kept my promise and felt bereft,
I should have know I would never be left.
Laughing together we began to run,
Hand in hand to touch the sun.
We had sworn to love 'till death did us part,
But even death couldn't
It hadn't the heart.
Randy
1974
Long blond hair, bedroom eyes,
Innocent looking yes, but just a disguses.
Another night spent in jail; another time put up for bail.
Too many times this scene's been flashed,
Bummer times, spent in the past.
He's 19 now and fresh from the cell,
A crab-ridden place; Mexican Hell.
Depression exists and makes no sound,
As he laughs and jokes and plays around.
But through it all he's still the same,
(He may have crabs but the jail's to blame!)
His kikker boots are, gee, just dandy,
But I love him still, This is Randy.
I had the best taste in boyfriends...
My Kingdom
1974
My home is my kingdom,
My mind is my throne
That keeps me from boredom
in my Kingdom alone.
To Steal
1974 No, not about Randy! The night was black
as a stack of black cats
And the crime didn't lack
a knack of tact
but of course
the law saw
And did what they could
and thought they should
To stop the young young hood
Who did a job good
from committing this crime
in the nick of time
before he stole even a dime.
He was sentenced to jail
no bond nor bail
left alone to wail
his misfortune
To cement walls
and guarded halls
Where nobody balls
or gets any ass
or smokes any grass
and nothing is real
Living from meal to meal
Paying with youth
for the crime
To Steal.
Today is Yours
1974 for Herbert
Today is yours
I give it to you,
(I know it was God's
but my posessions are few.)
Trace the pattern
of today with your mind
Make it your own
and chaos you'll find.
Because man is nothing
but a whispered breeze
and all men will know it
when they fall to their knees,
Praying that the ground
will shake no more,
and that their hearts
won't break,
and their souls will soar,
Beyond the skies
Beyond this earth
And through new eyes
you'll see it was worth
all of the pain
it cost to remain
alive so long.
Yea, this is your poem,
your song,
your words from me,
And this is Life
the way I see.
The Bitch
1975 Rhoda meets Jim
He wakes with a roar
and before you're warned,
He beats down your door,
Yea, shit over warmed.
Ask him anything
and "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!"
is the song he'll sing,
like only he can.
He'll bitch about life,
He'll bitch about death,
No cares for other's strife,
if he has a bitching breath.
"Do me a favor, Jim"
Hell, don't waste your time,
He'll say "Hell NO!"
not maybe,
"Your troubles are not mine."
Well yea, Mr. Cooper,
You've got a mean mouth,
But ya ain't got a clean swoop,
Cuz ya ain't the worst in the south.
Bitch at me Babe,
and I'll bitch right back,
Soon will come the day
When I'm gonna knock you flat.
But for now I'm mild
Sweet as fresh grass,
And until I go wild,
Just kiss my ass!!
Unbelievable I would go on to marry this guy not once but twice!
Last Wish
1975
If by some power
beyond my mind's reach,
I were to lose the gift of speech,
And I had one word to say
before silence took claim,
My only wish
is to whisper your name.
And if someday
like a thief in the night,
I was crept upon
and robbed of my sight,
And I had one minute to see
by God's good grace,
I'd spend it gazing
at your beautiful face.
And if one day
before my death,
I were to learn
I'd soon be deaf,
If the good Lord
gave me a choice,
I'd spend my time
hearing only your voice.
If I were to lose
the feel of touch on my skin,
I'd thank God I could still
touch souls within,
But if I had
an extra minute of time,
I'd spend it feeling
your lips on mine.
When I die
and leave you & your charms,
My only wish
is to die in your arms.
Sun Child
1975
Someone who carries the beauty of the world,
Within their soul peacefully curled,
Amidst the hate and sorrow today,
So rare I could kneel and reverently pray.
I'd like to surround them with flowers and sun,
A summer's breeze and laughter and fun,
To protect their soul more sensitive than mine,
I'm just a sinner scarred by time.
Sometimes I meet someone good to the core,
Who makes me want to know more and more,
From evey angle every inch of their mind,
And I run through my veins the beauty I find.
And as a rushing chill touches my skin,
I know I have touched the soul within.
(No title)
????
Blood drips and drips
and drips
And the devil sits
and samples
the drips
Delicately touching
the tips
of his fingers
To his lips...
The Musician
1975
He leaves for work
early each day,
While the guitar cries
and wants to play.
But he kisses it good bye
saying,What can I say?
I'd love to play
but gotta earn my pay."
While his hands
hammer and nail
and terrible things,
In his mind and heart
they caress six strings.
Their reunion is touching
as they tunefully embrace,
The guitar sings
and never cries
in its favorite place,
Resting across his
workworn knees.
Indeed no lovers
Could be quite like these.
Yellow Fellow
1975 listening to a drunk pee
Flowing and flowing
I'm flowing away
My God! That beer
can sure make you pay!
I grow weak
as I see myself in yellow,
Liquidated
I'm not a handsome fellow.
As the sound of the flow
pounds in my ears
Death by drowning
is the worst of my fears.
I can see the headlines
of tomorrow's day,
"The poor drunk fool
just pissed his life away!"
Maranatha
1975
As time goes by
I find each day
That the urge to cry
just won't go away.
Tired of living
in a timeless daze
Where it's no use giving
and nothing pays,
The people gather
in a cirle and cry,
"God, send us a miracle
or let us die!"
As their roaring voices
cresdendo to a peak,
A hush falls;
a gentle voice
is heard to speak.
"My people come to me
and take my hand,
and let us flee
this terror land.
Gaze into my eyes
that you know so well,
And surrender yourself
to my powerful spell.
I will give you riches
and laughtr galore,
Do you know anyone
who can offer you more?"
A cheer rises as the people
gather at his feet,
But then a second
hush falls
Another voice
begins to speak.
"You who wish to lead
these people away,
First let them hear
what I have to say.
For I am the Mesiah,
the only true king,
And love and light
are the gifts I bring."
A murmer of confusion
spreads through the crowd
And the first voice speaks
and says,
I hope you're proud!
Look how you've
confused them!
Abusingly so!
Why not let them
be happy and go?"
And he raises his arms
for silence with power
and riches fall
around the people
in a shower.
Jewels in her hand
a woman faces the "king"
and in a taunting voice
begins to sing,
"What have you got
to show us, Dear Sir?
Are you responsible
for our life
as it were?
I've starved so much
I don't know how to eat
with no place to even
rest my tired feet .
And here I have riches!
Right in my hand!
Show me more!
If you are King
you can."
All around her people
are echoing her speach,
All the while grabbing
all the riches
they can reach.
The love lord looks up
with the power in his eyes,
Silence again falls
as he painfully cries,
For the souls to be lost
in a moment's time,
By their own foolish choice
To be left behind.
"What I have to offer
is too great to be seen,
unless your soul is pure
and your mind is clean.
I am the power
to which you should turn
All who hear my voice
should listen and learn.
Belief in me
must be based on faith,
Judge my every word
for depth and weight.
With love my friends
you'd never have wanted
Shadows and darkness
would never have taunted.
You need never have suffered
had you loved one another
You'd never have starved
If you'd shared
with one another.
Come to me
and I will show you love,
A life full of peace
in Heaven above."
Half the people rushed him
with grateful tears,
All carrying their Bibles
not opened for years.
While the other half
turned him away,
Not even caring
what he had to say.
They could see
the riches fallen all around,
To them this "love"
was just a sound.
So divided the people
followed their choice,
No obhections left;
no doubts to voice.
Tired of years
of sadness and grief,
They walked away
with a sigh of relief.
A single figure walks
down the empty street,
With no one to recognize
His scarred hands and feet.
No one to hear
the trumpets sound,
See the eagles fly
or the light rebound.
And Jesus cries out
completely frustrated,
"My precious children!
If only you'd waited."
I and many others don't think I will ever top Maranatha which means I already peaked at 17!
What a follow up the next one is!!!
Eat Me
Jim's will by Jim & Rhoda
Eat me, eat me.
yea, you're gonna eat me
Though I'm dead
life ain't gonna beat me,
Cuz when I die
I'm gonna get my rocks
being sold in hamburgers
at Jack in the Box.
And after I've rested
on my vulture feather pillow
I want a moseleum built
Shaped like an armadillo,
Too hold all of
my hamburger wrappings,
Well deserved
after all life's ass chappings.
Smoke me, smoke me,
Yea, you're gonna smoke me,
Though I can't toke you
you're gonna toke me.
Cuz when I die
I want my lungs
cut up and sold,
To be smoked by freaks
czarefully rolled,
So they can get high
off of what I've done,
So maybe they, too,
can touch the sun.
That's my last testament,
Yea, my last will
To make me one mother------
You won't wanna kill.
Prayer for Death
11/05/75
Tears well up
and spill from my eyes,
From too many lows
and too few highs.
Until I find myself
with a jolt of surprise.
Envying every
man who dies.
God, where are you?
Are you still there?
What makes my life
always seem so bare?
Please don't let me
live and cry,
If nothing else
please let me die.
Damn You
1976 for Jim
Damn you, damn you,
Damn your eyes,
Damn all you do
from each sunrise.
Die, Baby, die,
just die from me
for every lie
and wrong you've done me.
I've had enough
of your boackened soul
Of your being rough
without control,
