Blast! Where have I put them?
I've looked all through the place;
Can't find the instruction manual,
Nowhere is there a trace.

Never mind, I'm not that stupid,
Though some may think it so,
I'll show I can put it together;
I'll take it nice and slow.

Lets see now, this bit goes here,
Perhaps this bit goes there,
Yes got it, ooooooo! a wee bit tight,
A strong push, it'll be alright.

In the cool light of a grey dawn,
I look to the entrance of my cave.
The shuffle of the entity holding my heart
is music to my ears.

I peep out and watch eagerly
for the magical beast,
who having yawned and stretched,
now comes into view.

Be still, my beating heart
do not attract unwanted attention,
for she is not yet had time
to consume her magic elixir,
nor think great thoughts.

When I awoke, I felt so bad
I went to hug my favorite tree
I thought about the fears I had
no one would fear, but me

"Too bad", I thought I heard it say
The bark, it scratched my face
I hugged it all the tighter
As my mind began to race

I'm losing it, I really am
"Too bad", I heard it say
Are my ears deciving me
Have I gone all the way?

"I will comfort you my friend
hold me close again."
Take me down the rabbit-hole
Take from me, my pain.

When I awoke, I felt so bad
I went to hug my favorite tree
I thought about the fears I had
no one would fear, but me

"Too bad", I thought I heard it say
The bark, it scratched my face
I hugged it all the tighter
As my mind began to race

I'm losing it, I really am
"Too bad", I heard it say
Are my ears deciving me
Have I gone all the way?

"I will comfort you my friend
hold me close again."
Take me down the rabbit-hole
Take from me, my pain.

It begins with a gasp,
like the first time you see
a jeweled Indigo Bunting bathing
in the sun.
Brilliance.

It sings amid Parnassian hues,
fluttering about the garden,
absorbing the moments, the seconds
passing in time -

a fallen tear,
a dusty vase,
the shallow light in an empty room.

And there it scatters itself
like warm, welcoming effervescence,
its words falling onto waiting pages,

its poetic gems shining deeper,
then rising like wings into the bluest sky.

Just a day at the beach,
he wrote home to his girl...
"We'll roll up in floating barges
give the locals such a thrill."

He's deaf, he hears not a sound
but the sun is shining bright,
the sky is blue, the sea, it sparkles,
yet, something isn't right.

There's no sounds around him,
but plops and sprays of salty foam.
He jumps into the bloody water,
a steel pot upon his dome.

Ashen complexion, reflection
looking back through the crack,
shards of glass embedded in her wrists.
Today was supposed to be the happiest day.

A single tear, graced once rosey cheeks,
mascara smeared in devastated streaks.
Blood stained across betrayed lips,
waiting for the kiss that binds.

He chose her once upon a time,
but once was all it would ever be.
There was someone else
that would always be far greater than she.

I stood and watched the ocean's swell
When on my arm a hand it fell;
I turned, a stranger stood quite still
Wide staring eyes that brought a chill.

He commanded: "Look around" barked he:
"Tell me what it is you see".
Said I: "Rolling waves that billow white
That play on sands with orchestral might":

"No, look again from within your soul,
Let your eyes be a window for all that is whole;
See the dust of ages blow 'cross the strand
Sweeping in from a desolate land".

Words like knife blades,
shred the soul to ribbons,
soaked in invisible blood.
Have you ever really loved?

Drenched in your own sin,
covered with lies, broken promises
shatter like shards of glass.
Have you ever really hurt?

Toxic lover, steeped with hate.
Bite the apple, choke it down
Poison drips from your bitter lips
Have you ever looked at death?

Restless soul, abandoned body.
No one came, no one at all.
You burnt your bridge.
Now rot in hell.

And I thank you for Billy Collins,
George Carlin, and the Archie Bunkers of the world.
The laughter of our inner-most children
making snide jokes without rancor.

Too long have we been sleeping,
and not yet awoken
to the truth of loud and hilarious laughter,
hidden behind hands of protest.

What freedom, to imagine the joke on us,
letting no one in or out,
holding the rest of the world hostage,
with words of wisdom and grins.